Evaluation of essential clinical components and features of current acne global grading scales.

BACKGROUND: Acne research is hindered by the absence of a universal, consistently applied standard for severity grading. Acne experts recently identified 4 essential clinical components and 2 features for an ideal acne global grading scale (AGGS).

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated current AGGSs against consensus criteria previously identified as necessary.

METHODS: AGGSs were identified by systematic literature search and then evaluated independently by 4 raters against criteria (components and subcomponents; features and subfeatures) identified as essential.

RESULTS: Eighteen AGGSs fulfilled selection criteria. Three scored 1 full SD above the mean for categorical scores. We also identified highest-ranked AGGSs for subcategory scores.

LIMITATIONS: Only English-language scales were selected. Efficiency and acceptance were not evaluable.

CONCLUSION: Although no singular scale fulfilled all essential criteria, this study did identify highly ranked AGGSs. Incorporation and rationalization of their components and features should facilitate development of an ideal standard.