Adolesecnt acne treatable

Implications: This article is important in that, for the most part , it describes a basic therapeutic regimen for adolescent acne patients. The only error is describing the inflamed lesions as "infections." Acne is predominantly an inflammatory condition, not an infectious one, though a bacteria is involved in creating inflammation. I prescribe a retinoid such as tretinoin- Retin A, Differin, Ziana, or Tazorac to "unclog the blocked oil gland. For inflammation I use a topical clindamycin, or combination products such as Duac,etc. Oral antibiotics like tetracycline, doxycycline ( Doryx), minocycline ( Solodyn), are added. Finally Isotretinoin ( Accutane) is used fpor more severe or resistant cases. Oral contraceptives such as Yaz can be used in females.  The new Allergan aquisition ,Aczone, offers promise as the first non antibiotic topical anti inflammatory agent. Lasers/IPL and home based devices  have not been found to offer enough or sustained relief.

Analysis: Companies that have significant products in acne are Stiefel ( Duac, Evoclin, and Brevoxyl), Skin Medica( Neo Benz Micro), Galderma ( Differin), Medicis ( Ziana, Solodyn), Allergan ( Tazorac, Aczone), Warner- Chilcott ( Doryx). These will all benefit from increased use of their products with educational articles such as these. This is especially true for articles targeted to primary care doctors and physician assistants/ nurse practitioners who are increasingly taking care of even the most severe acne patients.

Again the laser/ IPL /home based devices do not  currently offer sustained or enough relief . Future resarch will beneficial in this area.