Newer therapies for acne include the use of anti-inflammatories, which can be used in some cases to lessen the severity of acne. Photo Credit: Video GrabMarch 05, 2010, (Sawf News) - Newer therapies for acne include the use of anti-inflammatories, which can be used in some cases to lessen the severity of acne.
Speaking today at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), dermatologist Jenny J. Kim, MD, PhD, FAAD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles, discussed the latest treatments for acne and rosacea and how ongoing research into the causes of these conditions holds promise for future therapies.
In the past, most cases of acne were treated solely with antibiotics. While these treatments can be very successful, a growing concern about long-term antibiotic use is that bacteria are evolving to become resistant to these medications. As a result, the development of other effective therapies and combination therapies has evolved.
For example, Dr. Kim noted that some of the newer therapies for acne are anti-inflammatories, which can be used in some cases to lessen the severity of acne.
Controlled-release of lower dose doxycycline is a newer anti-inflammatory oral medication that some dermatologists use to reduce the redness and swelling of acne.
Combination therapies, which may include an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects that can decrease resistance and are more convenient to use for patients, has made combination therapeutics increasingly common treatments used to manage acne.
Another newer approach to treating acne is the use of lasers and light-based technologies as a complementary treatment to traditional medical therapies. Dr. Kim noted that these technologies include the pulsed-dye laser, red and blue light, and photodynamic therapy, which target the sebaceous (or oil) glands and can reduce acne flares. While Dr. Kim does not recommend lasers and light-based technologies as first-line therapies for acne, she believes it is a promising new area of research.
Dr. Kim added that many patients are concerned about scarring that can result from acne, and many acne scars can be very aggressive and difficult to treat. For mild scarring, retinoids, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and lasers can give mild improvement. In addition, fillers can be used successfully to fill in depressed areas and improve the appearance of scars.
Another therapy that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for acne scarring is fractional laser resurfacing. This laser technology works by targeting damaged skin in columns of microscopic treatment zones, which include the outermost and underlying layers of skin known as the epidermis and the dermis. Fractional laser resurfacing thermally damages the tiny columns of scarred skin while the surrounding healthy skin is left intact.
"One of the main benefits of fractional resurfacing is wound healing and increased collagen production that reduces acne scars," said Dr. Kim. "However, most patients will notice only a modest improvement in acne scarring and multiple treatments are required. For more severe scarring, such as deep 'ice pick' scars, several acne surgical procedures can be used - including punch grafting or punch excision - to remove, raise, fill or separate the scar tissue from the underlying skin. These surgical procedures in combination with other therapies, including lasers and fillers, can produce improvement for severe acne scarring."
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