Rachel H. Gormley, MD
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Dermatology
2013 Research Grant Recipient
Research Grant Proposal
The Acne Microbiome – The Effect of Doxycycline and Spironolactone Therapy on Microbial Flora in Acne Patients
Acne is a common dermatologic complaint in the United States, however, there is an incomplete understanding of the role of microbial flora in the pathogenesis of the disease. The purpose of this study is to apply molecular methods to better characterize the skin microbiome of acne patients at baseline and after therapy. The target population is acne patients at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The primary aim of this study will be to characterize the acne microbiome compared to controls without acne. The secondary aim of this study will be to characterize changes in the microbiome after treatment with doxycycline or spironolactone.