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Current Newsletter
Skin Care News
Apr 21, 2009April is National Rosacea Awareness Month
New research continues to suggest that rosacea may be far more common than is widely recognized. The National Rosacea Society (NRS) has designated April as Rosacea Awareness Month to alert the public to the warning signs of this conspicuous, red-faced condition now estimated to affect well over 14 million Americans.
Individuals may call the Society's toll-free telephone number at 1-888-NO-BLUSH to receive free information regarding rosacea.
American Academy of Dermatology - Highlights
The recent 67th annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology was held in San Francisco where several new developments in the field of dermatology and skin care were highlighted.
Atopic Dermatitis – Emerging Therapies
Several new therapies that target different aspects of atopic dermatitis are being developed to help patients find relief from atopic dermatitis.
Topical corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, or desonide, are used to reduce the skin’s inflammatory response and a standard component of treatment for atopic dermatitis. New formulations of topical corticosteroids in gels, foams and oils have been approved for use in younger patients.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors, such as Elidel and Protopic, have been shown to be effective in maintaining control of flare-ups. Applying a topical calcineurin inhibitor 2 to 3 times per week has been shown in some studies to successfully control atopic dermatitis for months, on average, before a significant flare of dermatitis.
Barrier creams, such as Mimyx or Atopilcair, are newer FDA-approved topical agents that are designed to improve the barrier function of the skin that is compromised in atopic dermatitis. The barriers help prevent skin dryness due to less water loss, reduce inflammation and lessen the need for more potent anti-inflammatory agents.
Systemic therapies that are taken by mouth or are injected may be recommended for severe cases of atopic dermatitis that do not respond sufficiently to other treatment options. These systemic therapies include immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine, and new biologics used more commonly for psoriasis.
Learn more about atopic dermatitis therapies at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Website.
Family History and Higher Incidence of Sunburns Associated With Rosacea
Researchers disclosed their findings that people with rosacea were three times more likely to have a family member with rosacea compared to those in a normal control group. Specifically, 34 percent of people with rosacea reported a family member with rosacea, compared to only 10.5 percent of those without rosacea.
In families with a history of rosacea, parents are advised to consistently protect children from sun exposure with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and to practice other sun protection measures to minimize the risk of sunburns. From the research, it could not be determined if sunburns were a contributing factor to rosacea or if patients with rosacea were more likely to sunburn due to the nature of their skin condition. In either case, sun preventative measures could help lessen the severity of rosacea in people prone to develop this skin condition.
Read more about these rosacea findings at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Website.
New Guidelines for the Management of Psoriasis with Topical Therapies
The new psoriasis guidelines present the latest recommendations for treating patients with psoriasis with topical agents (those that are applied to the skin). These include corticosteroids (clobetasol, Clobex, Olux, Vanos) , vitamin D analogues (Vectical), combination calcipotriene/betamethasone propionate ointment (Taclonex), tazarotene (Tazorac), and calcineurin inhibitors (Elidel, Protopic)
According to these guidelines, topical therapies can be used safely and effectively in the majority of patients with mild to moderate psoriasis. However, topical therapies should not be used exclusively without other complementary treatments in cases of moderate to severe psoriasis or when the condition is limited but hard to manage.
The guidelines provide dermatologists with the framework for determining if a topical therapy alone or in conjunction with ultraviolet light, systemic or biologic medications will effectively manage a patient’s condition. Nonetheless, treatments should be tailored to meet individual patients’ needs, which vary depending on body location, characteristics of the psoriasis being treated and patient preferences.
Read more about these psoriasis guidelines at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Website.