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Acne is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition, most prevalent among adolescents and young adults, affecting ~50 million people in the United States. It impacts about 85% of teenagers and often persists into adulthood. Acne is a complex inflammatory disease of the skin's pilosebaceous units (pores). It is caused by sticky skin cells which clog pores, bacterial overgrowth, oil over-production, and excessive inflammation. Hormones, diet, genetic, and environmental factors may also contribute to the development of acne.
Signs & Symptoms
Comedonal acne is characterized by the presence of open or closed comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). Inflammatory and hormonal acne demonstrate papules, pustules, or nodules (commonly referred to as cysts).
Treatment
First-line treatments for mild acne include: topical benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, topical antibiotics, or combination of these medications. Oral antibiotics and spironolactone are often added to topical therapy when moderate acne is encountered. Isotretinoin, a oral retinoid, is given to non-childbearing patients with severe, recalcitrant, or scarring acne.
Reference: Zaenglein et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2016. PMID: 26897386.
Who We Are
Katherine Hunt, MD, FAAD
Dr. Hunt grew up in Hoover, Alabama and attended Hoover High School. She started her career in business and engineering at the University of Alabama.
As an undergraduate, she gained national attention and was named "USA Today National Academic All-Star" for creating a self-sustaining peer mentoring program which measurably improved students' computer science performance at Alabama.
Her extensive work experience at Huron Consulting Group and GE Healthcare helped her realize that she would be most fulfilled in the field of medicine, helping patients one-on-one.
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