Acne

In the last three to five years, there has been a tremendous increase in interest in prescription treatments for acne and rosacea, resulting in many promising products entering the marketplace for these conditions.

The popularity of laser and light devices has recently grown among acne patients, not only due to their efficacy but also because treatments are quick and clean, says Michael H. Gold, M.D.

The topical combination of tretinoin 0.05% lotion and azelaic acid 15% foam improved truncal acne and may be an alternative to oral antibiotic treatment, according to recent case studies.

In honor of June being Acne Awareness Month, Thayers has launched a new line of acne-tailored skincare products.

The authors of a recently published commentary report they’ve developed a glycolic and salicylic acid combination serum they say could disrupt traditional use of topical benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics to treat acne.

A recent clinical review proves trifarotene 0.005% cream is an effective and safe treatment for acne vulgaris on the face and neck in patients 9 years and older. Currently, the drug is one of four topical retinoid acne treatments available on the market.

Menlo Therapeutics announces its wholly-owned subsidiary Foamix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.  is entering a licensing with Cutia Therapeutics for the company’s FDA-approved 4% topical minocycline foam (AMZEEQ, Foamix) for acne vulgaris in pediatric and adult patients.

Speaking about device-based acne treatments at Maui Derm for Dermatologists 2020 meeting, Fernanda Sakamoto, Ph.D., M.D., discussed PDT and other approaches for targeting the sebaceous gland.

Hilary E. Baldwin, M.D. discusses advances in acne treatment that have expanded treatment options, allowing physicians to improve outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe acne.

Read more on the variety of new treatment options for acne, with even more awaiting approval.

Read insights from James Q. Del Rosso, D.O., as he discusses antibiotic resistance, isotretinoin relapse, and laboratory monitoring for patients on isotretinoin and spironolactone.

James J. Leyden, M.D., has four decades of experience prescribing isotretinoin for the treatment of severe acne both in clinical practice and clinical research. Read his conclusions about dosing and use of the oral retinoid in this article.

Although the fractional ablative CO2 laser is a first-line treatment for acne scarring, the potential for side effects from repetitive treatments leaves room for improvement with additive therapies, according to a recent review.

Sun Dermatology is launching an acne awareness advertising campaign, Take on Acne, that focuses on the skin condition’s impact on teens and young adults’ quality of life.

Sun Pharma introduces a lower dose isotretinoin capsule in the U.S. for the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne.

A novel gel formulation combining tretinoin 0.04% and clindamycin 1% using a controlled release microsphere delivery system effectively treats acne vulgaris without the skin irritation associated with topical tretinoin alone, according to recent data.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) shows promise as an adjunctive treatment for atrophic acne scarring, but experts say more research is needed. 

Sol-Gel announces updates to their drug pipeline and their goals for 2020, which include submitting multiple provisional patents and NDAs for the treatment of a variety of skin conditions.

In a skit depicting Carnac the Magnificent, Drs. Rosen and Bhatia presented on 2020's new drugs and technologies at the current Maui Derm for Dermatologists, all with a magical twist.

Recent phase 3 clinical trials reveal positive results for tazarotene lotion 0.045% in patients with moderate-to-severe acne.

Sol-Gel’s new investigational microencapsulated benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin combination cream, Twyneo, for the treatment of acne vulgaris shows promising results from recently released phase 3 data with both clinical trials meeting all primary endpoints.

Early results from the first patients treated for back acne with Nano-Pulse Stimulation in a controlled study show that use of this nonthermal energy modality is providing rapid and sustained clearance of inflammatory lesions, reported Mark Nestor, M.D., Ph.D., at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Trifarotene may become the European Union’s first new retinoid molecule acne treatment for the face and trunk in 25 years following upcoming individual member state marketing approvals in 2020.

The choice of treatment for acne in adolescence may impact the risk of later scar formation when the condition persists into adulthood, shows a recent study.

Treating all acne early with a topical retinoid and an antibiotic can help patients avoid scarring and its psychosocial consequences, experts say. The aggressive approach also may help stave off medicolegal concerns, they add.

Studies support using microneedling as monotherapy to treat acne scars; however, mixed evidence requires more direct comparisons with other minimally invasive treatments.

A 40mg doxycycline dose with a topical containing adapalene 0.3% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% is an effective and safe treatment option for severe acne, according to a single-center pilot study published recently.

Adult female acne should be treated differently than teenage acne. There is a hormonal component at play rather than a bacterial pathogenesis that should be considered, one expert says.

Several retrospective analyses indicate  spironolactone may have similar efficacy to oral antibiotics in the treatment of acne in women. Underuse of this off-label treatment option may be due to lack of efficacy evidence. The two options should be directly evaluated in future studies to guide practice.