J Tan1, D Thiboutot2, H Gollnick3, S Kang4, A Layton5, J J Leyden6, V Torres7, J Guillemot8,9, B Dréno10. 1. Western University, Windsor Campus, Windsor, ON, Canada. 2. Department of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA. 3. Universitätsklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany. 4. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 5. Department of Dermatology, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, Harrogate, UK. 6. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 7. Department of Dermatology, Juarez Hospital Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico. 8. Amaris, London, UK. 9. Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), School of Medicine, Quito, Ecuador. 10. Department of Dermatology, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acne is a chronic dermatological disease predominantly afflicting young adults and is often associated with the development of scars. Acne scarring is usually avoidable when acne is managed early and effectively. However, acne patients often fail to seek early treatment. New and innovative tools to raise awareness are needed. OBJECTIVE: This study presents the development and assessment of a tool aiming to assess the risk of atrophic acne scars. METHODS: A systematic literature review of clinical risk factors for acne scars, a Delphi-like survey of dermatological experts in acne and secondary data analysis, were conducted to produce an evidence-based risk assessment tool. The tool was assessed both with a sample of young adults with and without scars and was assessed via a database cross-validation. RESULTS: A self-administered tool for risk assessment of developing atrophic acne scars in young adults was developed. It is a readily comprehensible and practical tool for population education and for use in medical practices. It comprises of four risk factors: worst ever severity of acne, duration of acne, family history of atrophic acne scars and lesion manipulation behaviours. It provides a dichotomous outcome: lower vs. higher risk of developing scars, thereby categorizing nearly two-thirds of the population correctly, with sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 43%. CONCLUSION: The present tool was developed as a response to current challenges in acne scar prevention. A potential benefit is to encourage those at risk to self-identify and to seek active intervention of their acne. In clinical practice, we expect this tool may help clinicians identify patients at risk of atrophic acne scarring and underscore their requirement for rapid and effective acne treatment.
BACKGROUND: Acne is a chronic dermatological disease predominantly afflicting young adults and is often associated with the development of scars. Acne scarring is usually avoidable when acne is managed early and effectively. However, acne patients often fail to seek early treatment. New and innovative tools to raise awareness are needed. OBJECTIVE: This study presents the development and assessment of a tool aiming to assess the risk of atrophic acne scars. METHODS: A systematic literature review of clinical risk factors for acne scars, a Delphi-like survey of dermatological experts in acne and secondary data analysis, were conducted to produce an evidence-based risk assessment tool. The tool was assessed both with a sample of young adults with and without scars and was assessed via a database cross-validation. RESULTS: A self-administered tool for risk assessment of developing atrophic acne scars in young adults was developed. It is a readily comprehensible and practical tool for population education and for use in medical practices. It comprises of four risk factors: worst ever severity of acne, duration of acne, family history of atrophic acne scars and lesion manipulation behaviours. It provides a dichotomous outcome: lower vs. higher risk of developing scars, thereby categorizing nearly two-thirds of the population correctly, with sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 43%. CONCLUSION: The present tool was developed as a response to current challenges in acne scar prevention. A potential benefit is to encourage those at risk to self-identify and to seek active intervention of their acne. In clinical practice, we expect this tool may help clinicians identify patients at risk of atrophic acne scarring and underscore their requirement for rapid and effective acne treatment.
Authors: Jerry Tan; Stefan Beissert; Fran Cook-Bolden; Rajeev Chavda; Julie Harper; Adelaide Hebert; Edward Lain; Alison Layton; Marco Rocha; Jonathan Weiss; Brigitte Dréno Journal: JAAD Int Date: 2021-12-23
Authors: Alison Layton; Andrew Alexis; Hilary Baldwin; Stefan Beissert; Vincenzo Bettoli; James Del Rosso; Brigitte Dréno; Linda Stein Gold; Julie Harper; Charles Lynde; Diane Thiboutot; Jonathan Weiss; Jerry Tan Journal: JAAD Int Date: 2021-08-17