The pathogenesis and treatment of acne.

Acne is a follicular disorder of the skin occurring in specialized pilosebaceous units on the face and trunk. An abnormality of the keratinizing epithelium of these follicles, thought to be due to the action of sebum synthesized and secreted by the androgen-sensitive sebaceous glands, leads to inflammation induced by the follicular bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes. Therapy involves treatments that modify these pathogenic factors and includes drugs with antikeratinizing, antibacterial, and antiseborrheic actions.