Treating acne in pregnant patients requires being proactive and willing to ask for help, said an expert.

Although it’s difficult to find consistent figures, said Jonette E. Keri, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the high prevalence and psychosocial burden of acne in pregnant patients warrants dermatologists’ best efforts. She is also chief of the dermatology service at the Miami VA Medical Center.

To set the stage for a healthy pregnancy, she advised getting acne as well-controlled as possible before the patient starts trying to conceive, and managing expectations throughout the treatment process.