Intended for healthcare professionals

Research Article

Acne and anticonvulsants.

Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1983; 287 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.287.6406.1669 (Published 03 December 1983) Cite this as: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1983;287:1669
  1. R Greenwood,
  2. P B Fenwick,
  3. W J Cunliffe

    Abstract

    The severity of acne and rate of excretion of sebum were assessed in 243 patients with epilepsy taking various anticonvulsants who were in hospital long term and in matched controls derived from a normal population of 2176 people. Neither the prevalence of acne nor the sebum excretion rate significantly increased in the patients compared with the controls or in patients taking phenytoin compared with those not. It is concluded that anticonvulsant treatment does not cause acne.