ArticleCureus2025
A Cross-Sectional Study Analyzing Recent Trends in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: Prescription Patterns and Demographic Data From the 2018-2019 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) Database.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Divergent System Organ Class Safety Profiles of Isotretinoin Versus Topical Retinoids: An EudraVigilance Disproportionality Analysis.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Optimal Use Recommendations and Stewardship Principles with Oral Antibiotics in Acne Vulgaris Management: An Expert Consensus Panel.The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionAcne vulgaris is one of the most common inflammatory skin conditions worldwide, with notable psychosocial ramifications. Despite the availability of multiple treatment options, evolving clinical guidelines and healthcare policies may influence prescription practices over time. This study examines the latest trends in acne management using recent data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS).
methodsWe analyzed 2018-2019 NAMCS data to characterize acne treatment patterns across all age groups in outpatient settings in the United States. Treatments encompassed oral isotretinoin; hormonal therapies, such as oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and spironolactone; systemic antibiotics, including minocycline, doxycycline, sarecycline, and tetracycline; and topical therapies, such as benzoyl peroxide, topical antibiotics, topical retinoids, azelaic acid, and salicylic acid.
resultsA total of 8,756,594 acne-related visits were recorded, with 41.5% occurring among patients aged 13-19 years. Female patients constituted 65.4% of visits. Isotretinoin emerged as the most frequently prescribed treatment among women (31.1%), followed by oral antibiotics (17.4%) and spironolactone (11.2%). Spironolactone usage nearly doubled compared to prior data (5.1%-11.2%), while oral antibiotic prescriptions decreased from 22.9% to 17.4%. The use of OCPs slightly declined (5.7%-4.5%).
conclusionOur findings indicate a shift in acne management patterns, characterized by a rise in antiandrogenic therapies and a reduction in oral antibiotic use, suggesting heightened antibiotic stewardship efforts. The elevated frequency of isotretinoin prescriptions likely reflects the iPledge program requirements for periodic follow-up visits rather than an actual increase in disease severity. While these trends underscore ongoing changes in clinical practice, further longitudinal research is warranted to assess how these prescription shifts influence long-term patient outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.