Acne, depression, and suicide

The topic of acne and depression is completely overshadowed by the more pressing issue regarding the role played by isotretinoin in the causation of depression and its extreme outcome, suicide. This is an issue that has generated worldwide concern and has spawned several organizations dedicated to the investigation of duplicity by the manufacturer and to the assignment of legal culpability. This article systematically examines the literature on (1) the prevalence of depression and suicide in adolescents and young adults; (2) the psychologic impacts of acne on anxiety, depression, and suicide; and (3) the evidence for an association between isotretinoin and depression and suicide.