Update of Topical Retinoid Therapy in Acne

 

A continuing medical education supplement to Skin & Allergy News
Jointly sponsored by the Center for Advanced Medical Education and ApotheCom Associates, LLC.
This supplement was produced through an unrestricted educational grant from Allergan, Inc.

?Introduction
?Faculty
?Authors' Disclosure Statements
?CME Overview

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 15.

Introduction

In the past 30 years, dramatic changes in the treatment of acne have developed as much of the pathophysiology has been learned. One of the major therapeutic advances in dermatological therapy is the discovery that vitamin A derivatives or molecules that interact with retinoid receptors have benefit in many skin diseases, particularly acne. The first topical retinoid that was found to be useful in the treatment of acne was vitamin A acid, or tretinoin as it is now called. With the discovery of retinoid receptors, drug development was facilitated and we now have two new agents, adapalene and tazarotene. Topical retinoids work by normalizing the abnormal desquamation of follicular epithelium, which leads to the formation of the pre-clinical microcomedo. Microcomedones can evolve into noninflammatory comedones as well as creating an environment for P. acnes overgrowth, production of pro-inflammatory molecules, and the formation of inflammatory lesions. These mechanisms of action can result in involution of noninflammatory comedones and, more importantly, minimize the development of new lesions-both inflammatory and noninflammatory. Topical retinoids provide an extremely valuable therapy for combating acne at the central core of pathophysiology.

Faculty

Clinical Efficacy of Topical Retinoids in Acne
Alan R Shalita, MD
Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chairman
Department of Dermatology
State University of New York Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, NY

Tolerability of Topical Retinoids in Acne
James J Leyden, MD (Guest Editor)
Professor of Dermatology
Department of Dermatology
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Acne in Darker Racial Ethnic Groups: Special Considerations
Pearl E Grimes, MD
Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

Authors' Disclosure Statements

Disclosure

It is the policy of the Center for Advanced Medical Education that all faculty participating in continuing medical education activities are expected to disclose to the program audience any real or apparent conflict(s) of interest related to the content of their presentation. Faculty for this educational activity were asked to disclose any relevant information regarding relationships with commercial supporters. Faculty may have disclosed one or more of the following: grants/research support, consultant fees, speakers' bureau, major stockholder, honoraria/expenses.

Alan R Shalita, MD

Dr Shalita has disclosed that he receives grants/research support and honoraria from Allergan, Inc., Dermik Laboratories, Inc., Estee Lauder, Galderma Laboratories, L.P., Johnson and Johnson, Ortho Dermatological, Medicis, The Dermatology Company, and Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. He also serves as a consultant to Dermik Laboratories, Inc., Galderma Laboratories, L.P., Johnson and Johnson, Medicis, The Dermatology Company and Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. Dr Shalita is a stockholder of Johnson and Johnson and Medicis, The Dermatology Company.

The unlabeled/investigational or unapproved use of tretinoin swabs and tazarotene cream will be presented in Dr Shalita's article.

James J Leyden, MD

Dr Leyden has disclosed that he is a consultant to and receives grants/research support and honoraria from Allergan, Inc., Galderma Laboratories, L.P., Ortho Dermatological, and Roche Pharmaceuticals.

The unlabeled/investigational or unapproved use of tazarotene cream will be presented in Dr Leyden's article.

Pearl E Grimes, MD

Dr Grimes has disclosed that she receives grants/research support from Allergan, Inc., Medicis, The Dermatology Company, and PharmaKinetics, and is a consultant to Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The unlabeled/investigational use of the 0.05% formulation of tazarotene gel in the treatment of acne will be presented in Dr Grimes' article.

CME Overview

CME Overview and Intended Audience

Update of Topical Retinoid Therapy in Acne is a continuing medical education activity for dermatologists. The goal of this publication is to update dermatologists on the use of topical retinoids in the treatment of acne vulgaris and to highlight special considerations relating to such therapy in darker-skinned patients. This publication reviews the clinical efficacy and tolerability of topical retinoid therapy using recently available data from well-controlled clinical trials.

Readers may use the newly acquired information in this activity to enhance their own professional development and improve patient outcomes. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management; primary references and full prescribing information should be consulted.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this supplement, participants should be able to:

? Compare the efficacy of several topical retinoid formulations used in the treatment of acne vulgaris

? Explain how best to optimize the tolerability of topical retinoid therapy

? Describe how best to approach the treatment of acne in darker-skinned patients

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the Center for Advanced Medical Education and ApotheCom Associates, LLC. The Center for Advanced Medical Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The Center for Advanced Medical Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 hour in category 1 credit towards the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Disclaimer

This educational activity may include references to the use of products for indications not approved by the FDA. Opinions expressed with regard to unapproved uses of products are solely those of the faculty and are not endorsed by the Center for Advanced Medical Education, ApotheCom Associates, LLC, Allergan, Inc., or any of the manufacturers of products mentioned herein.

Release Date: June 2001

Expiration Date: June 30, 2002

Estimated time to complete this educational activity: 1 hour

 

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