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Acne causes profound negative psychological and social effects on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The European Dermatology Forum S3-Guideline for the Treatment of Acne recommended adopting a QoL measure as an integral part of acne management. Because of constantly growing interest in health-related QoL assessment in acne and because of the high impact of acne on patients’ lives, the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Force on QoL and Patient Oriented Outcomes and the Task Force on Acne, Rosacea and Hidradenitis Suppurativa have documented the QoL instruments that have been used in acne patients, with information on validation, purposes of their usage, description of common limitations and mistakes in their usage and overall recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Isotretinoin has revolutionized the field of dermatology, offering a cure for severe acne vulgaris and a therapeutic option for a variety of other chronic diseases and cancers. This drug has done more for many diseases in medicine than many drug classes have done for a single disorder, and yet, its use and availability have been threatened in the United States. Federal restrictions in the form of the IPLEDGE teratogenicity prevention plan have made the use of this drug more complex. Millions of dollars in litigation and claims of injury have fueled hysteria among laymen about the use of this drug. Overwhelmed with worries of its potential adverse effects, the public forgets that withholding isotretinoin therapy is not without its own risks. Isoteretinoin therapy can prevent lifelong and permanent physical and psychological scarring that comes as a matter of course with severe acne. Over 20 million people worldwide have taken the drug, with several studies demonstrating its safety and few long term adverse effects. This wonder drug''s continued availability depends upon its responsible and informed use. This paper will review and put in perspective the issues important to consider in the proper use of isotretinoin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: The increasing recognition of the finite nature of health care resources has prompted the evaluation of the economic impact and value of medical interventions through pharmacoeconomic analysis. Despite the relevance and importance of pharmacoeconomics to dermatologic practice, there is a paucity of available literature on this topic. The purpose of this paper is to assess the number and quality of pharmacoeconomic studies applied to acne therapy as well as to provide a basic understanding of pharmacoeconomic analysis, its application to acne therapy, and the complex factors affecting the study of acne pharmacoeconomics. Methods: A Medline search using the keywords acne, economics, cost-effectiveness, and pharmacoeconomics as well as a search of articles cited as references in the literature was used to identify pharmacoeconomic analyses for acne therapy. The quality of the studies was then evaluated by a standard model for evaluating the quality of cost-effectiveness studies. Results: Only six studies using a formal pharmacoeconomic evaluation of acne therapy were found in the literature. All were graded either good or excellent in quality. Discussion: There is a very limited amount of pharmacoeconomic data regarding acne therapy albeit good in quality thus far. Conducting further pharmacoeconomic studies could help maximize health care resources for the treatment of acne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 10 years, the increase in comprehension of the mechanisms behind acne has been truly exponential. Starting with the ethnological work of Cordain, accelerated by the epidemiological work of Adebamowo, supported by the clinical trials of Smith and Mann, Kwon, DiLandro and others, the interface of diet and acne is coming into focus. Melnik now presents an exceptional pair of papers that illustrate for dermatologists what translational research is all about. The Western diet, the role of dairy, FoxO1 and mTORC1, the interplay of agonists and antagonists, therapeutics present and future - the jigsaw puzzle is coming together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: No term exists to date describing the phenomenon of pink-to-red discoloration after an inflammatory acne lesion. Objectives: To introduce new terminology into the dermatology literature to describe erythema often seen after inflammatory acne vulgaris and to present a treatment option for this type of erythema. Methods: New terminology describing erythema after inflammatory acne is addressed, and a treatment option for postinflammatory erythema is presented. Results: Postinflammatory erythema is a new, accurate descriptor of erythema that occurs after inflammatory acne. Additionally, pulsed dye laser treatment improved postinflammatory erythema in the authors' patients. Limitations: This paper only presents anecdotal cases. Conclusion: The addition of postinflammatory erythema to the dermatology literature may facilitate accurate communication among providers and direct laser treatment for postinflammatory erythema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an abstract of the research paper 'Assessment of the Psychological and Social Impact of Acne Vulgaris on the Adult Population,' by V. Goulden, S.M. Clark and W.J. Cunliffe presented during the annual meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Presents an abstract of the research paper 'Acne Fulminans 'Sine Fulminans',' by K.F. Thomson and W.J. Cunliffe presented during the annual meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Presents an abstract of the research paper 'Infantile Acne–A Clinical and Therapeutic Study,' by S. Baron, W.J. Cunliffe and I.H. Coulson presented at the Annual Meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists in Edinburgh, Scotland.