About the Acne-ID study
Acne is a common skin condition, particularly for teenagers and young adults. It can cause blackheads, whiteheads, red bumps and cysts. Severe acne may lead to pain, bleeding and permanent scarring, and can impact self-esteem and wellbeing. Acne is usually treated with creams and antibiotics. For severe acne, a tablet called ‘isotretinoin’ is often used.
In the Acne-ID study we will compare two different doses of Isotretinoin to see if giving a lower dose is as effective as the dose currently used now.
Who can be involved and what does it involve?
We are looking for 800 young people between the ages of 12-24 to take part, who have not used isotretinoin to treat their acne before. Young people with acne will be invited to join the study only once the decision to start isotretinoin tablets has been made. The study will be running in around 20 hospitals across the UK and is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research part of the NHS.
People who take part will be asked up to use the isotretinoin tablets for up to 12 months. So we can collect information on how you’re doing after you stop the tablets, we will ask you to complete questionnaires for a year after stopping.
All people will take the isotretinoin tables until either:
- There are no new spots for 4 weeks
- The maximum dose is reached
- They have been on the treatment for 12 months
Who can be involved and what does it involve?
The most important part of the study is how clear a participant’s acne is when they finish treatment. We also want to know if the acne comes back and if so, how long this takes. The study also collects data on side effects, quality of life, how satisfied participants are with the treatment, and how much money they spend on their acne. This will help us consider the cost of both doses.
We hope the results of the study will help patients, doctors and the NHS make more informed decisions about how to treat acne in young people.