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# Acne - Whole blood and components

## Essential information

Definition/s

  With regard to drug treatment:

  Topical: applied to the skin only.

  Systemic: taken by mouth or other routes so that it has an affect on the whole body.

Includes

  Acne rosacea

Obligatory

  Must not donate if:

  1. Has ever taken etretinate (Tigason®).
  2. Less than 36 months from the last dose of acitretin (Neotigason®).
  3. Less than 4 weeks from the last dose of isotretinoin (Roaccutane®).
  4. There is secondary infection.
  5. Less than 7 days from completing systemic antibiotic treatment for secondary infection.
Discretionary

  If using topical treatments (including retinoids), or taking oral antibiotics, diuretics (such as spironolactone) or oral co-cyprindiol (Dianette® [cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol]), accept.

## Supporting information

Additional information

  Etretinate (Tigason®), acitretin (Neotigason®) and isotretinoin (Roaccutane®) taken systemically can cause birth defects in babies exposed to them while inside the womb. It is important to allow time for the drug to be cleared from the blood of a donor. It takes longer to clear some drugs than others. There is no published data that topical retinoids cause birth defects.

  Secondary infection of acne is usually obvious with swelling and redness of affected spots. There is a risk of bacteria entering the blood. This could be a serious threat to anybody receiving blood or blood components. This is because bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels after collection.

Reason for change:
  The deferral period after acitretin therapy has increased from 24 to 36 months.
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 55 (21 January 2021)

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