Divergent Trends in Acne Vulgaris Interest and Research: A Decade of Lost Face Value in the United States
TLDR Interest in acne is rising, but research funding has significantly decreased.
The document highlighted the significant social, psychological, and economic burden of acne vulgaris, noting that it was the second highest cause of lost DALYs among skin diseases. Despite its prevalence and the increasing public interest, as evidenced by a doubling of internet searches since 2004, acne research was chronically underfunded. By 2015, acne received only 0.5% of total dermatology funding, less than diseases with a smaller global burden. NIH funding for acne research had sharply declined to $1.8 million in 2017, just 26% of its 2008 total. Areas like skin microbiome and sebum regulation saw some growth, while immunology research funding dropped to $0. The document called for a reassessment of acne research priorities to better align with public interest and emerging trends.
