A review of infantile and pediatric acne.

Acne occurs primarily in the first year of life and at puberty. Neonatal and infantile acne may reflect the relatively high androgens from the adrenal in girls and the adrenal and testes in boys characteristic of this age. Early in puberty, acne in boys and girls is primarily comedonal and midfacial. The best predictors of severe acne are early onset of comedones and serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Early recognition and therapy of acne may prevent scarring and psychological stress.