I can still picture my poor friend Lisa in seventh grade. Seated as inconspicuously as possible in the back of the room, Lisa did everything she could to avoid the stares from fellow classmates. Her skin was always red, inflamed and punctuated by a galaxy of acne lesions. Oil almost literally dripped from her face. Back then, Lisa wouldn’t have had nearly the treatment options afforded her today. However, even today, according to a number of top experts who treat acne, many dermatologists aren’t taking advantage of the most effective treatments. What’s New is Actually Old When it Comes to Treating Acne According to the experts who were interviewed in this month’s cover story, “Should You Change the Way You Treat Acne?” beginning on page 30, some old evidence is just recently (finally) taking hold in mainstream dermatology. Dr. Alan Shalita is one of the experts who points out that using topical retinoids to treat inflammatory acne was shown to be effective as far back as the early 1970s. Yet, this treatment tactic has taken decades to catch on, and many dermatologists still haven’t embraced the idea. Dr. Neil Shear explains that the reason most dermatologists have been slow to use topical retinoids for treating inflammatory acne is that it’s counterintuitive to use these agents for this condition. “When you have something that is quite inflammatory, you don’t tend to think of it as potentially anti-inflammatory . . . but the retinoid idea is a good one. I’ve found that it has changed the way I practice,” Dr. Shear explains in our cover story. The acne treatment experts discuss other ideas about treating acne that involve a paradigm shift in the way many dermatologists now treat this common condition. Other Treatment Pearls This article and others form the basis of our special themed issue this month on acne and rosacea treatment. Here are some other article highlights on acne and rosacea in this month’s issue: • Is big business stealing acne patients? Turn to page 36 to read what Dr. Richard Fried has to say about this issue. • Are you aware of common myths surrounding the use of retinoids in treating inflammatory acne? Turn to page 44 to read what Dr. James Del Rosso has to say about myths and facts regarding this issue. • Can you guess why one patient’s isotretinoin treatment failed? Turn to page 54 to see if you can decipher the reason why Dr. Scott Goffin’s patient was so perplexing. n Larisa Hubbs Executive Editor lhubbs@hmpcommunications.com
Something Old Is New
I can still picture my poor friend Lisa in seventh grade. Seated as inconspicuously as possible in the back of the room, Lisa did everything she could to avoid the stares from fellow classmates. Her skin was always red, inflamed and punctuated by a galaxy of acne lesions. Oil almost literally dripped from her face. Back then, Lisa wouldn’t have had nearly the treatment options afforded her today. However, even today, according to a number of top experts who treat acne, many dermatologists aren’t taking advantage of the most effective treatments. What’s New is Actually Old When it Comes to Treating Acne According to the experts who were interviewed in this month’s cover story, “Should You Change the Way You Treat Acne?” beginning on page 30, some old evidence is just recently (finally) taking hold in mainstream dermatology. Dr. Alan Shalita is one of the experts who points out that using topical retinoids to treat inflammatory acne was shown to be effective as far back as the early 1970s. Yet, this treatment tactic has taken decades to catch on, and many dermatologists still haven’t embraced the idea. Dr. Neil Shear explains that the reason most dermatologists have been slow to use topical retinoids for treating inflammatory acne is that it’s counterintuitive to use these agents for this condition. “When you have something that is quite inflammatory, you don’t tend to think of it as potentially anti-inflammatory . . . but the retinoid idea is a good one. I’ve found that it has changed the way I practice,” Dr. Shear explains in our cover story. The acne treatment experts discuss other ideas about treating acne that involve a paradigm shift in the way many dermatologists now treat this common condition. Other Treatment Pearls This article and others form the basis of our special themed issue this month on acne and rosacea treatment. Here are some other article highlights on acne and rosacea in this month’s issue: • Is big business stealing acne patients? Turn to page 36 to read what Dr. Richard Fried has to say about this issue. • Are you aware of common myths surrounding the use of retinoids in treating inflammatory acne? Turn to page 44 to read what Dr. James Del Rosso has to say about myths and facts regarding this issue. • Can you guess why one patient’s isotretinoin treatment failed? Turn to page 54 to see if you can decipher the reason why Dr. Scott Goffin’s patient was so perplexing. n Larisa Hubbs Executive Editor lhubbs@hmpcommunications.com
I can still picture my poor friend Lisa in seventh grade. Seated as inconspicuously as possible in the back of the room, Lisa did everything she could to avoid the stares from fellow classmates. Her skin was always red, inflamed and punctuated by a galaxy of acne lesions. Oil almost literally dripped from her face. Back then, Lisa wouldn’t have had nearly the treatment options afforded her today. However, even today, according to a number of top experts who treat acne, many dermatologists aren’t taking advantage of the most effective treatments. What’s New is Actually Old When it Comes to Treating Acne According to the experts who were interviewed in this month’s cover story, “Should You Change the Way You Treat Acne?” beginning on page 30, some old evidence is just recently (finally) taking hold in mainstream dermatology. Dr. Alan Shalita is one of the experts who points out that using topical retinoids to treat inflammatory acne was shown to be effective as far back as the early 1970s. Yet, this treatment tactic has taken decades to catch on, and many dermatologists still haven’t embraced the idea. Dr. Neil Shear explains that the reason most dermatologists have been slow to use topical retinoids for treating inflammatory acne is that it’s counterintuitive to use these agents for this condition. “When you have something that is quite inflammatory, you don’t tend to think of it as potentially anti-inflammatory . . . but the retinoid idea is a good one. I’ve found that it has changed the way I practice,” Dr. Shear explains in our cover story. The acne treatment experts discuss other ideas about treating acne that involve a paradigm shift in the way many dermatologists now treat this common condition. Other Treatment Pearls This article and others form the basis of our special themed issue this month on acne and rosacea treatment. Here are some other article highlights on acne and rosacea in this month’s issue: • Is big business stealing acne patients? Turn to page 36 to read what Dr. Richard Fried has to say about this issue. • Are you aware of common myths surrounding the use of retinoids in treating inflammatory acne? Turn to page 44 to read what Dr. James Del Rosso has to say about myths and facts regarding this issue. • Can you guess why one patient’s isotretinoin treatment failed? Turn to page 54 to see if you can decipher the reason why Dr. Scott Goffin’s patient was so perplexing. n Larisa Hubbs Executive Editor lhubbs@hmpcommunications.com
