Five recent developments in acne

The FDA’s approval of Allergan plc’s Aczone Gel, 7.5% as a once-daily topical treatment for patients with acne was a recent development reported on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other recent developments included research presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting on acne treatment and the public’s misconceptions of patients with acne:

FDA approves Aczone Gel, 7.5% for treating acne

Allergan plc announced that the FDA has approved Aczone Gel, 7.5% as once-daily topical treatment for patients aged 12 years and older with acne.

“Aczone Gel, 7.5% is a new once-daily option that was shown to have significant improvement in patients’ acne after 12 weeks of use,” Linda Stein Gold, MD, study researcher and director of dermatology clinical research, and division head of dermatology at Henry Ford Health System in Michigan, stated in the release. Read more

Dapsone acne treatment demonstrates antimicrobial activity

WASHINGTON — Topical dapsone gel showed in vitro activity against gram-positive cocci, according to data presented at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting.

To assess in vitro activity of dapsone against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in the CANWARD study, the researchers used 15 medical centers in Canada to obtain 3,511 isolates from any wounds, blood, urine, and respiratory tract. Read more

Misconceptions may lead to stigmatization of patients with acne

WASHINGTON — Images of acne were upsetting to healthy people, with more than half of study participants believing that acne was caused by poor hygiene, and half believing it was contagious, according to research presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

“Acne is a very visible condition, and it affects many patients during adolescence, when they’re especially vulnerable,” researcher Alexa Boer Kimball, MD, MPH, FAAD, director of the Clinical Unit for Research Trials and Outcomes in Skin and professor of dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, said in a press release. Read more

SB204 gel safe, effective treatment for acne

The topical nitric oxide-releasing gel, SB204, is safe and effective, and further research on the novel treatment foracne vulgaris is warranted, according to research presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

“This study is exciting in that a new, novel nitric oxide releasing gel showed efficacy in standard study parameters in patients with moderate-to-severe acne,” Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, of the University of California, San Diego, reported. Read more

Nonablative fractional laser, microneedling comparable in treating acne scars

Both a 1,340-nm nonablative fractional erbium laser and microneedling were comparable and effective in treating atrophic acne scars, with the microneedling treatment producing fewer adverse effects, according to recently published study results.

Researchers in Brazil randomized 42 patients (21 males; mean age, 26.33 years) with atrophic facial acne scars to microneedling (Dr. Roller; MTO Importer and Distributor; 20 patients) or 1,340-nm nonablative fractional erbium laser (ProDeep, Etheria/Industra platform; 22 patients) treatments with three sessions performed monthly. Read more