• An individualized approach to acne management is needed. Recommendations from the Personalising Acne: Consensus of Experts (PACE) and the Personalised Acne Care Pathway (PACP) allow clinicians to optimize their patient acne consultations to facilitate personalized, longitudinal care¹ 

• Truncal acne should be proactively discussed in consultations and managed with equal importance to facial acne² 

• Acne sequelae should be considered and discussed with all patients throughout their journey, with prevention and mitigation of sequelae a key goal of acne treatment³ 

Lausanne, Switzerland – December 14, 2021 – The PACE panel of 13 expert dermatologists have generated new recommendations and developed a clinical ‘road map’, to help doctors manage their patients’ acne better, and improve patient outcomes through personalized care. This consensus shines a light on the need for greater awareness and proactive management of combined facial and truncal acne, and acne sequelae, in addition to personalized, longitudinal care. The results of these three reports from a modified Delphi approach, led by co-chairs Professor Jerry Tan and Professor Alison Layton, are recently published in JAAD International.^1–3 

The PACP, developed by the PACE panel, is a practical tool to help doctors address all domains of acne management from first visit through treatment and eventual discontinuation, and highlights points to consider that may influence management decisions and contains discussion topics to help facilitate personalized care. Focus areas include¹: 

• The importance of assessing a patient’s individual profile, e.g., family history and risk of sequelae, acne location 

• Prioritizing topics for discussion with patients to ensure they feel supported e.g., satisfaction with treatment, application technique 

• Setting achievable, individualized goals with the patient and managing expectations (including timeframes) 

• Reviewing, assessing, and modifying treatment while considering tolerability concerns, adherence issues, development of sequelae and adequacy of response to treatment 

"With personalization at the heart of these new recommendations, the PACP complements existing clinical practice guidelines by providing a framework to manage patients in a dynamic and holistic way.” 

PROFESSOR JERRY TAN 

PACE CO-CHAIR, WESTERN UNVERSITY, CANADA 

Key recommendations for truncal acne (in addition to facial acne) and acne sequelae patient management are also published in JAAD International.^2,3  

The panel advocates prompting patients to discuss truncal acne during consultations to identify those who would benefit from treatment. Personalized treatment, taking into consideration burden of disease and patient- and treatment-related factors, is also recommended.² 

Additionally, the panel proposes clinicians discuss acne sequelae during the first consultation with all patients and assess individual risk of sequelae.³ All experts agree family history is an important factor.³ The need for control of active acne is emphasized and the role of modifiable risk factors were highlighted as essential for managing patients’ expectations.³ Visual aids and digital aids are recommended as practical strategies for improving acne sequelae management.³   

"The importance of addressing acne scarring early on in the patient journey cannot be overstated. Recognising the risk factors and taking steps to mitigate them is critical from the outset if we are going to minimize sequelae in our patients.” 

PROFESSOR ALISON LAYTON 

PACE CO-CHAIR, UNIVERSITY OF YORK, UK 

About acne  

Acne is a common skin disease that consists of non-inflammatory (open and closed comedones) and inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules). It is estimated to affect up to 85% of people aged 12–24 years, however, it can also affect a significant proportion of individuals outside this age bracket.^4,5 Acne is primarily known to affect the face, although around half of those with facial acne are also affected on their shoulders, chest and back (known as truncal acne).^6,7 If acne is not adequately controlled, or if an individual has certain risk factors, it can lead to long-term physical effects including scarring and pigment changes (known as acne sequelae).⁸ 

Both active acne and its sequelae can lead to emotional distress, a negative impact on acne sufferers’ school, work and social lives, and poor mental health.⁸ Although facial acne is well researched and is addressed in clinical management guidelines^9–11, some aspects of acne – such as truncal acne, acne sequelae and long-term management – need more attention.^8,10,12  

About the PACE panel 

The Personalising Acne: Consensus of Experts panel included 13 dermatologists from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the U.K, and the U.S.A. Panelists reached consensus on critical aspects of acne evaluation and management by a modified Delphi approach (e-surveys and virtual group meetings), by voting on each statement: strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or strongly agree (consensus defined as ≥75% agree/strongly agree). Statements that did not reach consensus in e-surveys were refined through nominal group discussion in a virtual group meeting and re-voted on. All voting was electronic and blinded.  

PACE panel members were invited by Galderma, who funded the planning and delivery of this project but was not involved in the voting or handling of data. 

About Galderma 

Galderma is the world’s largest independent dermatology company, present in approximately 100 countries. Since our inception in 1981, we have been driven by a complete dedication to dermatology. We deliver an innovative, science-based portfolio of sophisticated brands and services across Aesthetics, Consumer Care and Prescription Medicine. Focused on the needs of consumers and patients, we work in partnership with healthcare professionals to ensure superior outcomes. Because we understand that the skin we’re in shapes our life stories, we are advancing dermatology for every skin story. For more information: www.galderma.com. 

Media Contact 

Rachel Mooney

rachel.mooney@galderma.com

+41 76 261 64 41 / +33 674 06 34 61

Sébastien Cros 

Head of Corporate Communications 

sebastien.cros@galderma.com

+41 21 642 76 94 

1. Tan J, et al. The Personalised Acne Care Pathway – recommendations to guide longitudinal management from the Personalising Acne: Consensus of Experts. JAAD Int 2021;5:101–111.
2. Tan J, et al. Gaps and recommendations for clinical management of truncal acne from the Personalising Acne: Consensus of Experts. JAAD Int 2021;5:33–40.
3. Layton AM, et al. Identifying gaps and providing recommendations to address shortcomings in the investigation of acne sequelae by the Personalising Acne: Consensus of Experts. JAAD Int 2021;5:41–48.
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12. Tan JKL, Dirschka T. A New Era for Truncal Acne: Emerging from a Legacy of Neglect. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2021;11:665–668