Graded abrasion--a treatment for acne.

Long term continuous superficial abrasion with abrasive compounds of various degrees of roughness was used over an 11-year period in over 1,500 patients with acne of all types. The following observations were made:* That when a material with a specific abrasive quality is used for a period, desquamation stops despite continued use of the material, and then use of material of the next higher degree of roughness is indicated until the patient's skin is blackhead-free and minutely flaky.* When long term continuous superficial graded abrasion is used alone or with other treatment, it permits the young patients to outgrow the disease with little or no scarring.* The routine of abrasive washing seems in a large measure to replace the constant fingering of lesions by the patient.* No untoward effects were observed clinically. There was no hyperpigmentation of Negro or Caucasian skins.