Dermocosmetics in the management of acne vulgaris: A New Zealand perspective

Acne is the eighth most common disease worldwide, affecting around 85% of people aged 12 - 25, and can persist into adulthood, including in up to 25% of women in their 40s. It carries a significant psychosocial burden and accounts for the highest number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among skin diseases, with this burden continuing to increase.

The pathogenesis of acne is multifactorial, involving complex interactions between follicular hyperkeratinisation, increased sebum production, and Cutibacterium acnes dysbiosis, causing inflammation. Accordingly, management strategies should be individualised and guided by disease severity, lesion morphology, patient characteristics, and psychosocial impact.

Current acne vulgaris treatment guidelines primarily emphasise prescription pharmacotherapies and frequently underrepresent the role of dermocosmetics. However, many over-the-counter dermocosmetic formulations contain active ingredients that target key pathogenic pathways and may serve as effective adjuncts to medical therapy, with potential benefits in improving tolerability, adherence, and overall treatment outcomes.

In this presentation, Dr Peggy Chen will review the ANZ Acne Consensus Guidelines on the use of dermoscosmetics in acne treatment and propose a structured framework to support healthcare professionals in integrating dermocosmetics into evidence-based acne management strategies.

Peggy is a vocationally registered Specialist Dermatologist, and an American Mohs College certified Mohs Micrographic Surgeon, currently practising in both New Plymouth and Queenstown at Skin Expert Centre. She was raised in Christchurch and earned her medical degree from the University of Otago. Peggy completed her basic training in Dermatology in the Waikato and Auckland regions. She then furthered her training in London, working at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and subsequently undertook her fellowship training at an American Mohs College-accredited facility in Perth, Australia. On top of her clinical work, Peggy is an associate editor of the Australasian Journal of Dermatology, a member of the New Zealand Society of Mohs Surgery and a member of the New Zealand Advanced Dermatology Training Committee.

This talk is sponsored by: