Archive for December, 2005
The FDA has approved a new program that will soon be in effect that will require more strict guidelines be followed when prescribing and taking isotretinoin (Accutane, Sotret, Amnesteem, Clarivis). New requirements will include more thorough counseling by physicians, mandatory enrollment by all patients wishing to take isotretinoin, and closer monitoring of patients during therapy.
In addition, only those physicians that are enrolled may prescribe the medication, only patients registered by prescribers in iPLEDGE can receive isotretinoin and only pharmacies registered with and activated in the iPLEDGE program can dispense isotretinoin.
Pharmacies and wholesalers must be registered to receive isotretinoin by December 30, 2005 and by March 1, 2006, only prescribers enrolled in iPLEDGE will be able to prescribe isotretinoin.
To learn more, visit the iPLEDGE website
December 10th, 2005
A recent article in Dermatology Times addressed the fact that there are still many myths that remain in regards to acne. The article nicely addresses these myths as well as the extent that each is believed to be true and then talks a bit about each acne myth and any science that may exist to support these beliefs.
Read the article here.
December 9th, 2005
As winter rolls around and the cold weather settles in, those of you who are on topical treatments for your acne may experience some dryness and irritation. Many of the medications used for acne can contribute to dryness. There are ways to decrease this dryness however so that you can continue to get the benefit that these excellent medications provide.
First of all, if you are experiencing extreme dryness, it is best to hold the medications until the dryness eases up. After that time, it is best to slowly restart the medications, starting every other day at first. Once you get used to them, you can increase the frequency of application as tolerated.
Another helpful hint is to wash your face with cool water prior to applying the medications. In addition, it is best to wait about 15-20 minutes after washing your face to apply the medications. This can help to decrease the irritation.
If this still doesn’t help, you should consult your doctor.
December 8th, 2005
During pregnancy, some women may experience an improvement in their acne, while others may notice a flare. The good news is that for those women whose acne worsens, there are safe treatments that can help acne without harming the developing baby.
When looking for medications, it is important to understand that each medication has a specific pregnancy category. During pregnancy, it is safest to only use those medications labeled as categroy A or B.
Most acne medications fall into Category C, D, or X, however there are still good medications that fall in the B category. Those medications are the topical antibiotics erythromycin (Erygel, Emgel, Aknemycin) and clindamycin (Cleocin T, Clindamax) as well as azelaic acid (Finacea, Azelex). In addition, the oral antibiotic erythromycin is also category B (Eryc, Erytabs, and others).
So, if you are pregnant, and you are interested in treating acne, know that there are medications that are both safe and effective.
December 7th, 2005
We were recently asked whether or not is was safe to be on spironolactone for an extended period of time. Looking through the literature, there is no evidence that demonstrates any negative effects that occur from long term spironolactone use.
It is important to remember that spironolactone should not be used in those with kidney problems, those who have abnormal uterine bleeding, women who are pregnant, or those with a personal or family history of breast, ovarian or uterine cancer.
An article from 2002 assessed the long term safety of chronic spironolactone use and showed that the long-term use of spironolactone in the treatment of acne in women appears to be safe.
Read the abstract of this article here.
December 6th, 2005
Adoxa (doxycycline) tablets are now available in 150mg. This adds to the other 75mg, and 100mg sizes that are also available. Bradley Pharmaceuticals hopes that this can increase dosing possiblities allowing a larger dose as a single tablet a day to increase compliance.
Get a rebate for your Adoxa tablets here.
December 6th, 2005
To this day, isotretinoin (Accutane, Sotret, Amnesteem, Clarivis) remains one of the most successful medicatons available in the fight against more severe acne. Unfortunately, media pressure and a few anecdotal stories have over-exaggerated the risk of depression related to isotretinoin use. As a result, we wanted to provide real evidence in regards to this highly publicized issue. We will periodically post references that can help shed light on the fact that to date, there is no scientific evidence that consistently proves that isotretinoin increases the risk of depression and suicide and the fact that this relationship remains quite uncertain.
A recent Australian article evaluated patients’ perception of depression and its relationship to isotretinoin use and found that the overemphasis of serious psychological adverse events in patients might discourage the use of isotretinoin by those who might benefit from it.
Read the full article.
December 5th, 2005
In the November/December edition of Skinmed, Dermatology for the Clinician, one of the aritcles focused on the use of benzoyl peroxide cleansers. The article pointed out many key factors in acne therapy.
First, it stressed the importance of incorporating a benzoyl peroxide into the acne regimen. Benzoyl peroxide can either be given as a leave on gel or cream, or as a cleanser/wash. As winter time rolls in, it seems that several acne therapies may be quite irritating. The longer a medication is on the skin, the more irritating it is likely to be. As a result, the thought of short contact therapy with a cleanser is quite appealing.
Second, as already mentioned, compliance is a key factor in the successful treatment of acne, and decreasing irritation can certainly increase compliance.
Finally, it is obviously important that a given therapy works. Studies have shown that even short contact with benzoyl peroxide can reduce the amount of p. acnes, the bacterial largely responsible for the formation of acne.
So, if you find yourself getting irritated from your topical acne regimen, consult your dermatologist about trying a benzoyl peroxide wash. Several branded prescription medications exist including Brevoxyl Creamy Wash, Triaz Cleanser, and Zoderm Cleanser.
December 4th, 2005
A recent article in a supplement to Cutis magazine featured a roundtable discussion with some of the foremost pediatric dermatologists in the country.
Conclusions from the roundtable discussion focused on an inclusive approach to treatment that should take into consideration lesion type, severity, and distribution, as well as any prior treatments, age of the patient, level of maturity and commitment, motivation, the role of parents, and most importantly the patient’s perception of the disease.
Treatment options focused on over the counter benzoyl peroxide but more so on prescription medications including combination therapies, topical retinoids, oral antibiotics, and accutane (isotretinoin). In choosing the best treatment, the ability to commit to treatment regimens and the ability to work through potential early irritation need to be considered. Ongoing education and follow up was sited as being an important part of acne treatment.
Finally, the article stressed that patients must understand the chronic nature of acne and that realistic treatment expectations should always be discussed. With the proper understaning of each patient and their needs, the experts agreed that most cases of acne should be able to be controlled.
December 3rd, 2005
Welcome to the Everything Acne.com Blog! As our site strives to be the most complete resource for acne related information on the web, we have decided to start a blog to give you up to the minute information regarding everything acne. From new information on treatments and products to ways of preventing acne, you’ll find cutting edge information from journals, studies, and reviews. So check back often becuase as new information arises, you can be sure to find it here on the Everything Acne.com blog!
Comments are always welcome so please feel free to comment on any of the posts. We look forward to hearing from you.
December 3rd, 2005
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