SUPPLEMENT INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES: Update on Truncal Acne: A Review of Treatments for a Neglected Disease and the Re-Emergence of Tazarotene.

Acne vulgaris of the trunk carries with it a major psychosocial impact and an unmet need for adequate management. Approximately 50% of patients with facial acne also exhibit involvement of the back, chest, and/or upper arms. The trunk poses a therapeutic challenge given its occlusion by clothing, the tendency for mechanical rubbing, a sebum physiology that differs from the face, as well as the fact that there is a large surface area for topical therapies to cover. Furthermore, truncal acne is underreported for a variety of reasons such as cultural barriers, sentiments of embarrassment, and prioritization of facial acne. To date, few medications have been studied specifically for truncal acne. In this article, an updated review of truncal acne and available therapies is provided. The most recent evidence for tazarotene, a third-generation retinoid previously approved for psoriasis and facial acne vulgaris over two decades ago, is also reviewed and compared to trifarotene, a fourth-generation retinoid that is the only approved tropical retinoid for both facial and truncal acne. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21:12(Suppl):s5-14.