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Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent, debilitating, and frequently misdiagnosed inflammatory skin disease that often requires surgical intervention. To assess the prevalence of HS patients in surgeons' practice and surgeons' approach to treating HS patients, we created a self-administered, Hurley stage-based questionnaire that was distributed during the Latvian Association of Surgeons meeting. Of the total 60 questionnaires distributed, 56 (93%) were collected and 53 (88%) of them were considered valid. Overall, 73.6% of the surgeons confirmed having seen patients with chronic inflamed suppurative lesions in the skin folds during their practice. Median reported number of HS patients in the surgeons' practice was 3, ranging from 0 to 30. Similarly, 73.6% of surgeons would undertake HS treatment. The proportion of surgeons undertaking treatment was higher if the surgeons had diagnosed HS by themselves but was not affected by personal knowledge of HS. Surgeons chose monotherapy for Hurley stages I, II, and III in 64.2%, 64.2%, and 62.3% of the cases, respectively. The most common therapeutic choice for monotherapy was topical antiseptics (26.4%) or topical antibiotics (20.8%) for Hurley stage I and surgery or systemic antibiotics for Hurley stage II (20.8% or 17.0%, respectively) and Hurley stage III (32.1% or 11.3%, respectively). A wide diversity of treatment approaches in specified clinical scenarios was observed, which indicates the need for local guidelines.

Medications should be used with caution in women of childbearing age who are pregnant, or are contemplating pregnancy. Although topical medications are considered safer than oral or parenteral agents, their safety data in pregnancy must be assessed carefully. The available information on medication use in pregnancy is limited, and not always aided by the FDA pregnancy letter category system. Thus, in this article, we aggregate human studies, animal studies, and pharmacokinetics data to provide recommendations on utilizing topical antibiotics in pregnancy.

Acne and rosacea compromise a substantial portion of the dermatology clinical practice. Over the past century, many treatment modalities have been introduced with antibiotics playing a major role. Today, both oral and topical antibiotics are used in the management of acne and rosacea, with several novel formulations and/or combination regimens recently introduced. The latest studies suggest anti-inflammatory actions to be the most likely mechanism of antibiotics in acne and rosacea, shifting the focus to subantimicrobial-dose oral antibiotics and/or topical antibiotic regimens as the preferred first-line agents. Here we will discuss the most recent oral and topical antibiotic therapies available for treatment of acne and rosacea, with special focus on efficacy data, indication, dosing, and mechanism of action.

Topical antibiotics are used for various purposes in dermatology. Some of the most common uses include treatment of acne, treatment and prevention of wound infection(s), impetigo or impetiginized dermatitis, and staphylococcal nasal carrier state. It is important for the dermatologist to be familiar with the spectrum of activity, the mechanism of action, and the variables that may interfere with the antibiotic of choice. The following discussion will review an update on topical antibiotic use in acne, wound care, impetigo, and in staphylococcal nasal carriers.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a common, chronic, inflammatory skin disorder seen mainly in individuals with curly hair. This condition is seen most frequently in black men who shave their beards but may also be seen in women of all races who wax or shave the axillary and pubic skin. The etiology of PFB is multifactorial, and heretofore a cure has been considered impossible for those desiring a clean-shaven face. The following article serves to discuss the current medical and surgical therapies available for this condition. Medical treatments for this condition include various combinations of topical antibiotics, corticosteroids, and retinoids. In the surgical arena, laser therapy has revolutionized the treatment of PFB and has enabled cure for the first time for those plagued by this disorder and for whom a beardless face is acceptable.