There are many pathological conditions that never endanger but often ruin life. Foremost among these "harmless" conditions is acne of the adolescent, which in its more serious forms extends well into the third decade of life and in its scarring variety may leave unsightly pockmarks visible through a lifetime. In our age, which glorifies the unblemished milky complexion in women, and the smooth, clean-shaven face in men, the psychological, economic, and social implications of acne, as indicated in the report to the Committee on Cosmetics in this issue ofThe Jounal(page 1117), are great. Progress has been made during the last decade in a better understanding of the local pathogenesis and hormonal constellation of seborrhea and acne. Nutritional and climatic influences have become better appreciated, and the role of bacterial infection has been analyzed; but real progress in therapy is still missing, possibly with the remarkable exception of the