Tag Archives: Acne treatment

Acne Awareness Month in June

June is National Acne Awareness Month, as established by the American Acne and Rosacea Society (AARS).

Acne Awareness Month

In honor of this public health effort, more than 3,000 dermatologists have published in-depth acne education content to their practice Websites to help their patients manage their acne and understand their acne treatment options.

Dermatologists have published patient handouts that cover a wide range of skin care topics, including:

  • Teenage acne and adult acne
  • Mild acne, moderate acne, and severe acne.
  • Acne medications, including topical retinoids (Differin, Epiduo, Retin A Micro), isotretinoin and oral antibiotics (minocycline, Solodyn)
  • Acne scars and treatments for acne scars, including fractionated lasers

“Acne is a common skin disorder, and over reliance on over-the-counter medications may be ineffective and lead to the development of acne scars”, said Mark Becker, M.D. “We are pleased to expand our acne education content in support of Acne Awareness Month, because even mild acne can benefit from professional treatment.”

Nearly 80% of people will experience some form of acne during their lifetimes. Acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States, affecting 60 million Americans at any one time, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and American Acne and Rosacea Society. Acne Awareness Month is promoted as a means to increase awareness of the impact of acne on people’s lives and the various acne treatment options that are available.

Topical Retinoids for Acne Treatment Reviewed by Lisa Benest, M.D.

Lisa Benest, M.D.Lisa Benest, M.D. , a Los Angeles dermatologist in private practice, provided her clinical opinion regarding the use of topical retinoids for the treatment of acne.

Topical retinoids are a standard component of acne treatment. They are useful for the management of both comedonal acne (blackheads and whiteheads) and inflammatory acne. In addition to generic tretinoin, there are several commonly prescribed brands of topical retinoids, including Differin™, Retin A Micro™, Tazorac™ and generic tretinoin. There are also newer brands that combine a topical retinoid with another acne medication, such as Epiduo™ (adapalene combined with benzoyl peroxide) and Ziana™ (tretinoin combined with clindamycin).

Dr. Benest wrote that “Topical retinoids (vitamin A related creams) play an integral role in the treatment and also prevention of acne. Almost all patients will benefit from a topical retinoid. The process of unblocking pores takes time and patience, often months. However, some results are seen almost immediately, they just continue to improve over time.”

Topical retinoids may be prescribed alone, particularly for cases of mild acne, or in combination with other topical or oral acne medications. They may also be prescribed for long-term use after the acne lesions have cleared to provide long-term acne control.

Dr. Benest provided her expert opinion regarding acne treatment with topical retinoids along with other leading dermatologists enrolled for the Vivacare patient education service.

Differin Acne Medication Now Available as a Lotion.

A lotion formulation of Differin, the popular prescription acne treatment, has been approved by the U.S. FDA and should be available for prescription in April 2010.

Adapalene, the active ingredient of Differin, is a topical retinoid. Topical retinoids are a category of dermatology medication derived from vitamin A. They are a fundamental component of acne therapy and have also been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of psoriasis and aging skin.

Differin has been available as a 0.1% gel, a 0.1% cream and a 0.3% gel. The new lotion is formulated for efficacy, tolerability and spreads easily. It will be available in a convenient, easy-to-use pump dispenser.

Like other topical retinoids, Differin may be prescribed for use alone or in combination with other acne medications, particularly for cases of moderate acne or severe acne.