Heredity: a prognostic factor for acne.
BACKGROUND
The role of heredity in acne severity and therapeutic response remains unclear.


OBJECTIVE
A prospective epidemiologic study was performed to compare clinical and evolutive features of acne and response to treatment in 151 patients with acne with (A+) or without (A-) family history of acne.


METHODS
A+ and A- patients were compared on clinical and therapeutic criteria. A+ patients were then distributed into subgroups (M+, F+, M+F+) following the origin of family history (father: F, mother: M).


RESULTS
The clinical profile was similar in the A+ and A- populations. Acne occurred earlier and more often before puberty in the A+ population, in which oral treatments and relapse after isotretinoin were more frequent. Retentional lesions (number and extent) were more important in the M+ and M+F+ populations.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the importance of heredity as a prognostic factor for acne. Family history of acne is associated with earlier occurrence of acne, increased number of retentional lesions and therapeutic difficulties.
Department of Dermatology, Hôtel-Dieu, FR-44035 Nantes, France.
F
F
Ballanger
P
P
Baudry
J M
JM
N'Guyen
A
A
Khammari
B
B
Dréno
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D040941:Heredity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index