Acne Medication Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Over-the-counter (OTC) innovations:  New OTC products feature improved formulations with higher efficacy, combining active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and niacinamide in innovative ways to better target acne and reduce adverse effects. Moreover, microencapsulation or slow-release technologies ensure that active ingredients penetrate the skin more effectively and provide prolonged actions, leading to better results with less frequent application. These innovations contribute to increased consumer confidence, better management of acne, and greater market growth. For instance, in 2023, OTC revenues of acne products and medicines in the U.S. totaled USD 540 million.
• Acne patients opting for personalized solutions: The personalization trend is expected to boost the acne medication market growth in the coming years as many individuals across the world are opting for skin-specific solutions. The increasing awareness that the one-size-fits-all strategy may not offer effective outcomes is driving the demand for customized acne therapeutics. Innovations in the skin care field such as the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) are aiding dermatologists to offer personalized care to target patients. AI-driven tests and specialized skin care routines are enhancing treatment efficacy and boosting patient satisfaction. For instance, Nivea offers an AI skin care app SKiN GUiDE for optimal skin care routines including freckles, acne, and pigmentation.

Challenges

• Risk of side effects: To treat acne, various medications are used such as antibiotics, retinoids, and isotretinoin, these medications offer effective results when administrated correctly. Some studies reveal that improper or excessive use of acne medications may result in severe side effects such as scaling and dryness. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infection cases are detected in the U.S. each year.

• High cost of advanced acne treatment options: Advanced acne treatment solutions and dermatology medical devices such as AI skin detectors and laser treatments are quite expensive than conventional treatment patterns. Patients with low earnings are deterred from advanced treatment options because of their high costs and unawareness. Acne treatment also often requires multiple visits to the doctor and a long medication course, which increases the overall treatment cost.