Dear Editor,
Infantile acne is considered when it occurs between one and 16 months of age.11 Barnes CJ, Eichenfield LF, Lee J, Cunningham BB. A practical approach for the use of oral isotretinoin for infantile acne. Pediatr Dermatol. 2005;22:166-9. Topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide at low concentrations, and oral antibiotics (except tetracyclines) are used in the treatment of children.22 Eichenfield LF, Krakowski AC, Piggott C, Del Rosso J, Baldwin H, Friedlander SF et al. American Acne and Rosacea Society. Evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric acne. Pediatrics. 2013;131:S163-86.
This report describes the case of a two-month-old boy who presented papules, pustules, and a cyst on the malar region, bilaterally, as well as closed and open comedones, compatible with the diagnosis of infantile acne (Fig. 1). The laboratory hormonal evaluation of the child and mother (who also had severe acne) was normal. Initially, oral erythromycin was used for two months, oral cephadroxyl for another two months, as well as the fixed combination of adapalene and benzoyl peroxide associated with non-comedogenic emollients.
Infantile acne. (A) At two months of age, papules, pustules, and comedones on the face; (B) At seven months, even with the implemented therapy, the patient had a draining cyst, scars, and active papulopustular lesions.
Despite the prolonged use of oral antibiotics and topical medications, progression of lesions and scar formation occurred. At seven months of age, oral isotretinoin was started at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day (target dose 960‒1200 mg). The 10 mg capsule was frozen and half of the tablet was administered to the child in the milk.11 Barnes CJ, Eichenfield LF, Lee J, Cunningham BB. A practical approach for the use of oral isotretinoin for infantile acne. Pediatr Dermatol. 2005;22:166-9.
After reaching the 150 mg/kg dose nine months later and with gradual adjustment according to weight gain (up to ¾ of the tablet), there was no disease activity (Fig. 2) throughout a 12-month follow-up. During treatment, the patient had mild cheilitis and xerosis, without laboratory alterations. As post-isotretinoin maintenance therapy, the fixed combination of adapalene and benzoyl peroxide was prescribed, as well as non-comedogenic emollients.
Infantile acne treated with oral isotretinoin. (A/B) One year after the end of treatment with oral isotretinoin, the patient shows residual normochromic scars.
The androgenic hormonal laboratory investigation is mandatory in cases of refractory infantile acne, although most cases are not related to underlying endocrine diseases.11 Barnes CJ, Eichenfield LF, Lee J, Cunningham BB. A practical approach for the use of oral isotretinoin for infantile acne. Pediatr Dermatol. 2005;22:166-9.,33 Miller IM, Echeverría B, Torrelo A, Jemec GB. Infantile acne treated with oral isotretinoin. Pediatr Dermatol. 2013;30:513-8.
Oral isotretinoin, as well as topical therapy, are off-label treatments at this age; however, the many recently published cases demonstrate not only important clinical improvement in refractory cases but also their safe use in infants.33 Miller IM, Echeverría B, Torrelo A, Jemec GB. Infantile acne treated with oral isotretinoin. Pediatr Dermatol. 2013;30:513-8.,44 Brito MFM, Sant'Anna IP, Figueiroa F. Avaliação laboratorial dos efeitos colaterais pelo uso da acitretina em crianças portadoras de ictiose lamelar: seguimento por um ano. An. Bras. Dermatol. 2004;79:283-8.
Acitretin is used in recessive congenital ichthyosis throughout life, since birth, being the confirmation test of retinoid safety in childhood. Early closure of epiphyses in children treated with oral retinoids is a rare event, associated with previous diseases, use of high doses, or prolonged treatment.22 Eichenfield LF, Krakowski AC, Piggott C, Del Rosso J, Baldwin H, Friedlander SF et al. American Acne and Rosacea Society. Evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric acne. Pediatrics. 2013;131:S163-86. In the meantime, oral isotretinoin, when prescribed for refractory infantile acne, is a short-term treatment that requires low doses.44 Brito MFM, Sant'Anna IP, Figueiroa F. Avaliação laboratorial dos efeitos colaterais pelo uso da acitretina em crianças portadoras de ictiose lamelar: seguimento por um ano. An. Bras. Dermatol. 2004;79:283-8.
The oral isotretinoin dose for infantile acne varies among publications between 0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg/day, with a total treatment period of five up to 14 months.11 Barnes CJ, Eichenfield LF, Lee J, Cunningham BB. A practical approach for the use of oral isotretinoin for infantile acne. Pediatr Dermatol. 2005;22:166-9. According to the latest acne consensus, the cumulative dose of isotretinoin should be the one in which complete clearing of lesions is attained, with drug maintenance for two more months, in contrast to the strict recommendation of reaching 120‒150 mg/kg in all patients.55 Thiboutot DM, Dréno B, Abanmi A, Alexis AF, Araviiskaia E, Cabal MIB, et al. Practical management of acne for clinicians: An international consensus from the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78:S1-S23.
Delay in the diagnosis of infantile acne is mainly due to the rarity of the disease at this age, as well as undertreatment and delay in the introduction of oral isotretinoin in these children.11 Barnes CJ, Eichenfield LF, Lee J, Cunningham BB. A practical approach for the use of oral isotretinoin for infantile acne. Pediatr Dermatol. 2005;22:166-9. It is therefore important that infants with severe, chronic acne, refractory to conventional treatment, be evaluated for underlying endocrinological disorders, not delaying drug use when there is resistance to oral antibiotics as well as the formation of scars.
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Financial supportNone declared.
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Study conducted at the Hospital de Doenças Tropicais Dr. Anuar Auad, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
References
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1Barnes CJ, Eichenfield LF, Lee J, Cunningham BB. A practical approach for the use of oral isotretinoin for infantile acne. Pediatr Dermatol. 2005;22:166-9.
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2Eichenfield LF, Krakowski AC, Piggott C, Del Rosso J, Baldwin H, Friedlander SF et al. American Acne and Rosacea Society. Evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric acne. Pediatrics. 2013;131:S163-86.
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3Miller IM, Echeverría B, Torrelo A, Jemec GB. Infantile acne treated with oral isotretinoin. Pediatr Dermatol. 2013;30:513-8.
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4Brito MFM, Sant'Anna IP, Figueiroa F. Avaliação laboratorial dos efeitos colaterais pelo uso da acitretina em crianças portadoras de ictiose lamelar: seguimento por um ano. An. Bras. Dermatol. 2004;79:283-8.
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5Thiboutot DM, Dréno B, Abanmi A, Alexis AF, Araviiskaia E, Cabal MIB, et al. Practical management of acne for clinicians: An international consensus from the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78:S1-S23.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
16 June 2023 -
Date of issue
May-Jun 2023
History
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Received
3 May 2021 -
Accepted
24 May 2021 -
Published
15 Feb 2023