Although topical therapies alone can be very effective for milder acne, there are often cases for
which oral antibiotics are needed to control disease. Through both antibacterial and antiinflammatory
effects, oral antibiotics in combination with other drugs such as retinoids and benzoyl
peroxide can be highly effective in the treatment of more severe disease. Patients and their
parents often have many questions regarding the safety and efficacy of long-term antibiotic use.
It is important for the physician to have a thorough understanding of the antibiotics at their
disposal as well as their side effects. Through careful discussion, antibiotic compliance can be
optimized and side effects minimized ultimately resulting in treatment success.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 27:183-187 © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acne is the most common disease of the skin, yet only a fraction of acne sufferers are
treated with prescription products by physicians. There is, however, a large and expanding
market for over-the-counter (OTC) medications, many of which are not only effective but
also well tolerated and cosmetically elegant. Given the presence of OTC acne medications
on the television, the Internet, and store shelves, patients will be acutely aware of these
OTC remedies and will have questions. Patients will expect dermatologists to advise them
regarding products to use either as a sole therapy or in combination with prescription
drugs. Recently, combinations of OTC acne medications in treatment regimens or “kits”
have gained popularity and appear to have increased patient compliance. Quality-of-life
outcomes from OTC medication use, in at least one study, have demonstrated good benefit.
The most common OTC ingredients include benzoyl peroxide, a potent antibacterial agent,
and salicylic acid, a mild comedolytic and antiinflammatory medication. Other, less-common
OTC ingredients include sulfur, sodium sulfacetamide, and alpha hydroxy acids. Zinc,
vitamin A, tea tree oil, and ayurvedic therapies also are available OTC for acne. Additional
and better studies are needed to clarify the benefit of these latter medications.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 27:170-176 © 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Acne is a very prevalent skin disorder, affecting more than 85% of adolescents and often
continuing into adulthood. Active acne and its sequelae, especially permanent scarring,
may cause longstanding psychological or emotional harm in patients. Novel and promising
treatments with laser/light devices (such as blue light, red light, pulsed dye laser, infrared
lasers, light-emitting diodes, and pulsed light) have been reported to have varying degrees
of efficacy for treatment. The authors compiled a summary of evidence-based literature on
laser/light treatment for acne to assist clinicians to more appropriately identify treatment
options, should they choose to supplement current medical antiacne therapies.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 27:207-211 © 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Acne affects more than 40 million people, of which more than half are women older than 25
years of age. These women frequently fail traditional therapy and have high relapse rates
even after isotretinoin. Recent advances in research have helped to delineate the important
role hormones play in the pathogenesis of acne. Androgens such as dihydrotestosterone
and testosterone, the adrenal precursor dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estrogens,
growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factors may all contribute to the development of
acne. Hormonal therapy remains an important part of the arsenal of acne treatments
available to the clinician. Women dealing with acne, even those without increased serum
androgens, may benefit from hormonal treatments. The mainstays of hormonal therapy
include oral contraceptives and antiandrogens such as spironolactone, cyproterone acetate,
or flutamide. In this article, we discuss the effects of hormones on the pathogenesis
of acne, evaluation of women with suspected endocrine abnormalities, and the myriad of
treatment options available.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 27:188-196 © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) is widely used for the treatment of severe acne as well as
for disorders of conification, for psoriasis, and for skin cancer prevention. As a member of
the retinoid family, it has a wide spectrum of side effects, including reproductive, cutaneous,
ocular, neurological, musculoskeletal, and hepatic. As long as patients are able to
tolerate these side effects, it can be a very effective treatment option. This article examines
both the most common and the most concerning side effects as well as ways in which
providers and patients may best manage them to be able to benefit from isotretinoin
treatment.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 27:197-206 © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.