Treatment options for Acne conglobata

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Medical treatment

  • Oral isotretinoin: 0.5–1 mg/kg/day for 4–6 months ( treatment of choice).
  • Isotretinoin and systemic steroids ( prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day for 2–4 weeks ).
  • Combination of isotretinoin and oral antibiotics ( erythromycin 1 g daily or trimethoprim 200–300 mg b.d ).
  • Dapsone : 50-150 mg/d for resistant cases.
  • Tetracycline

Tetracyclines should not be combined with oral isotretinoin because it may induce pseudotumor cerebri.

  • Etanercept : 25 mg twice a week Plus isotretinoin 20 mg weekly for 3 months. Etanercept then tapered to once a week for 1 month then alternate weeks for 2 months and isotretinoin reduced to 10 mg daily.1
  • Infliximab: 3 mg/kg. Week 0, 2 and 6. Alternate months thereafter.2
  • Adalimumab: 80 mg loading dose followed by 40 mg twice monthly.3


Physical treatment

  • Surgery may be required to lay open abscesses and sinus tracts
  • Resultant scarring may be improved with the fractional laser postsurgical intervention
  • Large nodules may be aspirated and injection with intralesional triamcinolone or cryotherapy may be benefcial
  • Fluorescent light energy
  • Modern beam radiation


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