Differences In Acne Therapy Prescribing Patterns Between Pediatricians And Dermatologists

Many children and adolescents with acne seek care from both pediatricians and dermatologists. However, the acne treatments that patients receive may differ between these two specialties. This study sought to determine if differences exist in acne prescribing patterns between pediatricians and dermatologists. We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2002 to 2016 for pediatric patients (ages ≤18). There were approximately 45.8 million (weighted) outpatient acne visits between 2002 and 2016 for pediatric patients; 54% of visits were conducted by dermatologists, 28% by pediatricians, and 18% by other providers. Compared to pediatricians, dermatologists saw older patients (mean age 15.4 ± 2.22 vs 13.1 ± 4.49; p