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Acne vulgaris - Management
When should I refer a person with moderate acne
- People who have severe psychosocial problems, including a morbid fear of deformity (body dysmorphic disorder), or people who have suicidal ideation, should be referred soon to psychiatry.
- Refer for a routine dermatology appointment:
- People who are developing scarring, or are at risk of developing it, despite primary care interventions.
- People who have moderate acne that has failed to respond adequately to treatment. Treatment should generally include several courses of both topical and oral drugs over a period of at least 6 months, and treatment failure should be judged on the person's perception of their condition.
- People with features that make the diagnosis uncertain.
- Refer routinely to endocrinology or gynaecology, those women suspected of having an underlying endocrinological cause of acne (such as polycystic ovary syndrome) that needs assessment.
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