Contemporary Treatment Approaches to Acne and Psoriasis

A supplement to Skin & Allergy News supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Connetics Corporation.
The Skin & Allergy News supplement “Contemporary Treatment Approaches to Acne and Psoriasis” is recognized by the American Academy of Dermatology for 1 hour of AAD Category 1 CME credit and may be used toward the American Academy of Dermatology's Continuing Medical Education Award.
This supplement is based on clinical dialogues held with the faculty.

•Topics/Faculty
•Target Audience
•Educational Needs
•Learning Objectives
•CME Recognition

To view the supplement, click the image above. To take the CME test, download and print out the PDF file, and follow the test instructions on page 12.

Topics/Faculty

Managing Acne in Adult Women
Diane S. Berson, MD
Assistant Professor of Dermatology
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
New York, NY
Advisory Boards: Allergan, Inc., Connetics Corporation, Dermik Laboratories, Galderma International, and Medicis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

New Developments in Therapy for Acne Vulgaris: A Preview
Lee T. Zane, MD
Clinical Instructor
Department of Dermatology
University of California at San Francisco
Advisory Boards: Connectics and QLT, Inc. Discusses the unlabeled use of new retinoic acid derivatives of isotretinoin and alitretinoin; clindamycin in a foam vehicle; dapsone in a topical formulation; zileuton in an oral formulation; clindamycin/tretinoin gel combination product; laser and light devices and photodynamic therapy using lemuteporfin.

The Role of Oral Retinoid Treatment for Psoriasis in the Age of Biologics
John Y.M. Koo, MD
Professor and Vice Chairman
Department of Dermatology
Psoriasis Treatment Center
University of California at San Francisco
Funding for Clinical Grants: Allergan, Biogen, Inc., Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and Serono S.A. Consultant: Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Inc., Biogen, Centocor, Inc., Genentech, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Fujisawa. Discusses the unlabeled use of acitretin in combination with other agents.

Advances in Combination Topical Therapy for Psoriasis
Linda F. Stein Gold, MD
Director of Dermatology Research
Henry Ford Health System
West Bloomfield, Mich.
Principal Investigator/Consultant: Connetics.

Target Audience

This activity has been developed for dermatologists and other health care professionals involved in the treatment of acne in adult women and/or psoriasis.

Educational Needs

Acne in adult women and mild to moderate psoriasis are common conditions seen in dermatologic practices. In acne, clinicians can anticipate advances in technologies (such as new photodynamic techniques), new drugs and drug classes (including retinoic acid metabolism blocking agents, or RAMBAs), and novel drug delivery systems (such as foam vehicle for clindamycin). In psoriasis, combination therapies offer renewed hope for both patients and clinicians: oral retinoids plus other topical and/or systemic treatments for patients with moderate to severe disease, and, for those with mild to moderate disease, combinations of calcipotriene and tazarotene with corticosteroids offer enhanced efficacy in topical treatment. Improved vehicles in the topical category also offer improved efficacy, convenience, and comfort, and, therefore, are likely to improve patient compliance. Clinicians must be informed about these developments that will help them to meet the treatment challenges presented by patients with acne and psoriasis.

Learning Objectives

By reading and studying this supplement, participants should be able to:

• Discuss the role that oral retinoids play in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

• Describe how the range of systemic psoriasis treatment options (eg, cyclosporine, oral retinoids, and the biologic agents) may be used in combination or sequentially to optimize therapeutic response and long-term management in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

• List and describe the new and investigative topical combination treatments for psoriasis and describe their mechanism of action.

• Explain the characteristics of acne in adult women, and list the treatment options that are currently available.

• Discuss the treatments for acne vulgaris that are now in development, including the classes of retinoids, antibiotic/immunomodulatory agents, combination agents, and laser/light techniques.

CME Recognition

The Skin & Allergy News supplement “Contemporary Treatment Approaches to Acne and Psoriasis” is recognized by the American Academy of Dermatology for 1 hour of AAD Category 1 CME credit and may be used toward the American Academy of Dermatology's Continuing Medical Education Award.

This program was developed in accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education guidelines.

Term of approval: February 2005-January 31, 2006.

Copyright © 2005 by International Medical News Group

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