[Polymorphous Juvenile Acne (author's transl)].

Abstract

Many factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of acne, the most important of them lie in the sebaceous follicle, in disturbances of the cornification of the follicular channels and in the bacterial flora of the hair follicles. The latter consists of a yeast (pityrosporon ovale), coagulase-negative aerobic staphylococci and propionibacterium acnes. P. acnes is found in the depth of the follicle. It is of particular importance for the pathogenesis because it produces a lipase which releases fatty acids which stimulate the formation of comedones. Many questions are still unanswered. Presently, treatment consists of administration of estrogens or combination preparations of estrogen and progesterone (only recommended for women), of vitamin A acid and antibiotics. Tetracycline and its derivatives have proved particularly valuable for this purpose.