"I chose to take part in the ACNE ID trial as I wanted to share my experiences with others to help define what works best for different people. The research nurse spoke to me about the trial, she explained things very clearly and told me exactly what would happen. To family and friends, I would explain the trial as a monitored period of time that I take the isotretinoin, with lots of support from the trial nurses and other dermatologists. Thank you for letting me be a part of the trial, I feel very lucky to have been involved!"

— Participant in Acne-ID, teenage female

"What if we have been prescribing isotretinoin in the wrong way for the last 40 years? I have been prescribing 1mg/Kg most of my life, but I started to question this practice after seeing patients in Malaysia clearing their acne on lower dosing with very few side effects? I am now really unclear which strategy is best and am convinced that the only way to resolve this question is to take part in the Acne-ID study "

— Professor Hywel Williams, OBE, DSc, NIHR Senior Investigator Emeritus, FMedSci Professor of Dermato-Epidemiology and Co-Director, Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology

"Why do we need Acne-ID? Oral isotretinoin for severe acne has traditionally been prescribed starting at 0.5mg/kg/day with escalation to 1mg/kg/day if tolerated. However, over the 30 years of using oral isotretinoin, I have started to use lower dosing regimes which has resulted in positive outcomes clinically and avoided adverse side effects and helped tolerability and adherence but the evidence to support this approach is not yet available. In 2022 we conducted a systematic review to ask the question. This review highlighted the need for an adequately powered RCT comparing doses of oral isotretinoin in severe acne to establish an optimal dosing regime for treatment and prevention of relapse. Acne-ID therefore represents an important study to clarify these questions for our patients and will help us to optimise their care. Should we stick to cumulative dosing when prescribing oral isotretinoin for acne? A debate at the controversy symposium at the EADV 2024, confirmed that sticking to cumulative dose of 120-150mg/kg for acne is outdated, some patients will need more and some less therefore tailoring treatment to clinical response is now considered the most appropriate approach."

— Professor Alison Layton, Consultant Dermatologist, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Chair, Hull York Medical School