Abstract: Acne is a common chronic inflammatory disease involving hair follicles and sebaceous glands in outpatient clinics. Patients with severe skin lesions are prone to facial disfigurement and may suffer certain psychological harms. Traditional therapeutic drugs such as topical antibiotics, retinoids, oral antibiotics, isotretinoin and androgen antagonists, have been widely used in clinical practice. However, some of the above drugs are not accepted by patients due to problems such as multiple side effects, long treatment courses and drug resistance. This article reviews the research progress on drug treatment of acne in recent years, which aims to provide more theoretical basis and treatment options for dermatologists.

Key words: acne, drug treatment, topical medication, systemic medication