Acne life cycle: the spectrum of pediatric disease.

Acne is no longer simply a diagnosis based on the appearance of characteristic lesions on the skin of adolescents. The presentation of acne differs across age groups, and the population of younger pediatric patients with acne continues to grow. This article addresses the changing epidemiology and demographics of acne, with specific emphasis on the 7- to 11-year-old acne patient population; the differences and similarities between pediatric acne and adolescent acne; age-based acne epidemiology; and current perspectives on acne etiology.