Acne

Biofilms are increasingly implicated as the reason why currently available acne treatments sometimes prove ineffective in acne vulgaris patients, begging the need for more effective targeted therapies directed against biofilm formation.

Dermatologists may need to beef up their dosing to boost their patients’ chances of experiencing sustained remission of severe acne via isotretinoin.

Active chemicals found in the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) have important benefits for a variety of skin disorders, according to one expert who spoke at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Gluten and gluten-sensitive enteropathy have become hot topics among the lay public and in medical practices. John Zone, M.D., from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, discusses how gluten sensitive enteropathy may impact many areas of dermatology.

I thoroughly enjoyed the lead article about “antimicrobial stewardship” in the October edition of Dermatology Times (“Antimicrobial stewardship: How dermatologists can be part of the solution, Vol. 34, No. 10). It succinctly and effectively detailed that for healthcare providers in general and dermatologists in specific, it is our duty to utilize antimicrobials appropriately.

New drugs, data and guidelines on acne and rosacea treatment were among the takeaways from days two and three of MauiDerm 2014. Presenters also described evidence-based suggestions for managing pigmentary disorders and updated information on infectious diseases.

Most patients that complain of acne within 48 hours of applying sunscreen probably are not experiencing true acne with follicular rupture, but rather irritant follicular contact dermatitis or possibly miliaria rubra and miliaria pustulosa. It may be worthwhile to suggest patients try a spray formulation.

While government funds for research in dermatology and other medical specialties seems to be dwindling, there are forces at work that could help to pick up at least part of the slack.

Antiperspirants and not deodorants are the culprit in skin irritation. The antiperspirant decreases sweating while the deodorant simply provides a pleasant scent to the armpit.

The acne medication Clindagel (clindamycin phosphate 1 percent) topical gel is now owned by Onset Dermatologics, according to a news release.

Although the symptoms of acne and rosacea are well established, clear and definitive etiologies of these conditions have largely been unknown. Recent research, however, has shed new light into the pathophysiology of these conditions, paving the way for more targeted therapies.

Dermatologists are using an evolving collection of combination therapies designed to address different aspects of disease, monotherapy limitations and failures, as well as enhance treatment.

Dermatologists generally know that the sensitivity of many pathogens to the antibiotics used to treat them is decreasing, experts say. But many dermatologists may not appreciate their specialty’s role in potentially fueling the problem.

Popular media coverage of purported links between isotretinoin and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are largely overblown, as are patients’ concerns regarding the risks of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for acne, according to an expert.

Even though bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes share the same genus and species, says an expert, recent research suggests that different P. acnes strains may behave differently, which could have profound implications for acne treatment.

With isotretinoin disappearing from continuous medical education (CME), says an expert, dermatologists must take the initiative in promoting best practices for this indispensable acne drug.

Women and men are not always created equal when it comes to their dermatologic concerns, frequency and presentation of several dermatologic conditions, treatment options and outcomes.

ArteFill (Suneva Medical) may fill a void in the long-term treatment of acne scarring, initial study data indicates.

Even though patients may present with clinically similar acne, says an expert, their expectations and preferences for particular treatments may differ vastly.

With acne presenting in increasingly younger patients, new guidelines developed by the American Acne and Rosacea Society (AARS) promote more consistent care for pediatric patients, according to an expert.

While topical and oral therapies remain the gold standard approach for treating acne, laser and light sources are effective for acne lesions and scarring, and can be particularly useful in cases recalcitrant to standard therapeutic approaches.

Recent developments regarding acne and rosacea in skin of color include studies showing that combination topical products for acne appear safe in this population, and the fact that rosacea is perhaps more prevalent than many might expect.

Clinicians can sift facts from fiction on diseases such as acne by checking Twitter, a letter by Boston-based Center for Connected Health researchers suggests.

Newly released expert recommendations from the American Acne and Rosacea Society are the first evidence-based clinical guidelines for the management of acne vulgaris in children and adolescents.

Promius Pharma has launched Zenatane (isotretinoin) capsules for the treatment of acne vulgaris.