How do you manage lamotrigine or lithium-induced acne?

For Lithium, I have referred patients to dermatology but it seems the interventions suggested such as Doxycycline, Spironolactone, or Bactrim do not fully help. I try to reduce the dose if possible or switch to another mood stabilizer if the acne is severe and bothersome that it is making the patien...

As a derm, I have only treated one patient for cystic acne caused by lithium. I treated with accutane and it was successful.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Consensus Conference: “There are no known absolute or relative psychiatric contraindications to isotretinoin therapy in a pat...

If the acne is mild to moderate and there are no other obvious or possible inducers of acne other than lithium or lamotrigine that have alternate treatments, it can be managed by topical acne creams such as benzoyl peroxide.

If the acne is severe, it is important to collaboratively come up with a p...

If the medication cannot be discontinued, a trial of photodynamic therapy, which consists of the application of levulenic acid incubated for 1 hour or more, followed by application of blue light for 16:40 seconds. Patients must strictly avoid the sun for 48 hours after. Even ambient light can cause ...

Does Lamictal actually cause or worsen acne? What is the evidence for that?

If the acneiform eruption is induced by lamotrigine or by other factors, isotretinoin can be a very useful adjunct in therapy.

If there is a pustule or lesion present that has sufficient material for culture or PCR analysis (i.e., Vikor swab), this can assist in therapeutic decision-making.

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