How does Differin work?

Differin (or adapelene) is a gel that doesn’t have any odor to it. Many users like that because so many other acne medications have a strong scent to them. This product is able to penetrate deep down into the pores so it can help to stop acne outbreaks before they even start.

Differin also prevents skin cells from clogging your pores. This means dirt and bacteria can’t get trapped and result in acne outbreaks.

What are the benefits of using Differin for acne?

Differin doesn’t contain oil or alcohol so it leaves your skin feeling great. It also is one of the most aggressive prescription medications for acne treatment. Many individuals who have suffered with acne and tried everything out there had given up. Yet they are seeing positive results with prescription Differin.

This is a very thorough product as it prevents new outbreaks from happening. At the same time Differin is able to clear up outbreaks you have. It is also believed to help reduce scaring that is the result of previous acne outbreaks. This means you can put the problems of it into the past. You also won’t have scarring to make you self conscious or to remind you of your struggles with acne.

Therative announced today that their FDA-cleared Acne Clearing Device, ThermaClear, will expand retail distribution into Sephora stores nationwide. Once exclusively available on the web, including Sephora.com, ThermaClear’s new widespread partnership with the leading specialty beauty retailer will mark its first availability on store shelves.

“The decision to move from online to in-store distribution has been a natural progression for the company,” said Sandra Lawrence, CEO of Therative. “We hope that by maintaining our accessibility on the web and bringing ThermaClear to over 200 Sephora store locations, we can better serve our customer, the millions who suffer from acne and breakouts.”

Recognized for its proprietary 2-second acne-clearing technology, ThermaClear is a specially designed spot treatment that effectively heals both visible and non-visible pimples, enabling users to treat blemishes before they surface. It continues to lead the hi-tech beauty industry and will be positioned among the other top selling skincare tools available at Sephora.

“Advanced beauty technology is a growing segment of our business as our clients are more educated than ever about how to use these professional-style tools at home,” said Margarita Arriagda, Sephora’s SVP of Merchandising. “ThermaClear has been a best-selling skincare device online since day 1 so it’s exciting for our clients to have better access to this product, which offers a revolutionary way to treat skin.”

ThermaClear is redefining how we treat our skin. The device delivers a controlled pulse of heat directly to the blemish using a unique proprietary 2-second per pimple application time technology. Clinically proven to clear acne up to four times faster than pimples not treated by the device, and in as little as 24 hours, the tool neutralizes the acne causing bacteria and prevents underlying blemishes from surfacing on the skin. It is effective on all skin types and tones and does not cause skin hyper-pigmentation, drying or irritation. ThermaClear is similar to laser treatment therapy used by dermatologists to treat mild to moderate acne, only you can use it at-home for a fraction of the cost. Best of all, ThermaClear’s replacement tip eliminates the need for expensive monthly replacement tips.

The product is available for $149 at Sephora stores nationwide and Sephora.com.

Yes, you read that right. Apparently, there is a new iPhone app you can purchase that supposedly helps you clear acne as you talk on the phone. Blown away? I was too.

Called AcneApp, it’s meant to turn your iPhone into a miniature version of a professional light treatment. Once on, the iPhone will alternately send out both blue and red light, in theory zapping zits while you chat with your BFF. AcneApp is the brain-child of Houston based dermatologist, Greg Pearson, MD.

The idea behind AcneApp is based in science. Many dermatologists use blue light therapy to treat acne. It’s thought to kill the bacterium that contribute to acne breakouts. Red light therapy can be used to treat inflammation.

But before you get to excited over this latest innovation, know that effectiveness of AcneApp has not been proven, and it isn’t FDA approved. There is also no way of knowing the specific wavelength coming from your own iPhone.

Skeptical? I am. But I am totally intrigued by the concept. And who knows? Maybe in the future we will be treating many medical conditions with our cell phones.

Zeno is a hand-held battery-operated device designed with a tip that heats to a pre-set temperature. The heat from the device starts improving blemishes within an hour and, according to FDA trials, eliminates or significantly reduces blemishes within 24 hours for 90% of users.

There are several different options available, from the Zeno Acne Clearing Device ($129) to the Zeno Mini ($89). The bio-compatible tip is designed for direct contact with a blemish on the skin, and each treatment takes about 2 minutes.

According to Galderma, the combination gel “treats both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions with no evidence of promoting antibiotic resistance, simplifying the management of mild-to-moderate acne.”

The approval followed a 517-patient phase II trial published last year in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology that found the gel reduced the median number of total acne lesions by more than 50% by the end of the 12-week study.

That was significantly better than monotherapy with either adapalene or benzoyl peroxide (median reduction in total lesion count 35.4% and 35.6%, respectively), said the company.

A long-term safety and efficacy study published last year in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology found that discontinuation of the medication because of adverse events was low, occurring in 2% of all patients.

Common adverse effects included redness, scaling, dryness, stinging, and burning. Skin irritation and contact dermatitis may also occur.

Excessive exposure to sunlight and topical products containing resorcinol, salicyclic acid, and sulfur should be avoided while using the drug, said the company.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is launching a special Web page to warn consumers about the dangers of buying isotretinoin (Accutane) online. Isotretinoin is a drug approved for the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne that does not respond to antibiotics. Improperly used, isotretinoin can cause severe side effects, including birth defects. Serious mental health problems have also been reported with isotretinoin use.

The Web page, http://www.fda.gov/buyonline/accutane, will be positioned as a search result on Google and other search engines when a consumer initiates an online search for the drug under any one of its four names (Isotretinoin is sold under the brand name of Accutane and in generic versions called Amnesteem, Claravis, and Sotret.) The web page warns that the drug “should only be taken under the close supervision” of a physician or a pharmacist, and provides links to helpful information, including ways to check that drugs purchased online come from legitimate pharmacies.

“This Web page is yet another step we’re taking to ensure the safe use of a drug that can provide significant health benefits when used properly, but that can also cause very serious side effects if used without supervision of a health professional,” said Steven Galson, M.D.,M.P.H., Director, FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

FDA and the manufacturers of isotretinoin have put in place special safeguards to reduce the risks of isotretinoin, including a strict distribution program, called iPLEDGE. The aim of the distribution program is to ensure that women using isotretinoin do not become pregnant, and that women who are pregnant do not use isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is available only at a pharmacy that is registered for this distribution program. Additionally, the distribution program is designed to prevent the sale of isotretinoin over the internet. Dispensing must comply with the agency’s risk management requirements.

There are a couple of products that I have recommended in the past to combat and cure acne. The first one is the herbal product Acnezine and the other is the Acne no more program

Of course, there are creams of all kinds that can treat blemishes for you, everything from simple over the counter fixes to the stuff you see on the TV infomercials. The problem for most guys is that they don’t want to mess around with something they have to apply every day, and they don’t want their skin to look dry and cracked either.

There is a high tech solution that makes this annoying problem go away. It’s a little gadget you can keep on your bathroom counter, or carry along with you in your gym bag or briefcase. Luiz Da Silva invented ThermaClear, a hand-held anti-acne device that many men say they can’t live without. It uses heat technology, similar to the laser treatments you’d receive in a dermatologist’s office, only on a much smaller scale, to fight mild-to-moderate acne.

Da Silva explains how it works: “Unlike creams and soaps that only treat pimples at the surface, this device generates a quick heat pulse that neutralizes the bacteria and starts the healing process,” he says.

Since there isn’t any medicine involved, you don’t have to worry about the treatment drying out or irritating the skin; and you don’t need to have a bad case of acne for it to be effective. Sometimes that one pimple can be just as annoying as a full-on breakout — and you want to get rid of it, ASAP.

To get the healing process started, all you have to do is place the ThermaClear device on a pimple, press the pulse button, and in two seconds – you’re done. Lotions and cleansers can take up to eight weeks to work and won’t necessarily get rid of the pimples you already have. However, an FDA reviewed clinical study shows that ThermaClear can clear pimples in just a few days – sometimes in as little as 24 hours.

In decades past UV was used as a light source. It has the beneficial effect of killing the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria that plays a role in acne formation. But, when studies showed that UV can increase the odds of skin cancer, the treatment became much less popular.

Other forms of light don’t have that problem.

Blue Light to treat acne

One form is called ‘blue light therapy’, where the name derives from the color of the light used. The main effect is to kill the bacteria, but there is some effect on the skin oil. It can cause a slight dryness. The narrow band light contains a negligible amount of UV wavelengths.

Patients receive treatments twice per week over a period of about a month. It’s effective on forms other than more severe acne, such as those that produce nodules or cysts. The latter can actually be made worse with blue light treatment. Improvements ranged from complete remission to about 40% decrease in the number of lesions, in several studies. About two-thirds saw between a 59% to 67% reduction of inflammatory acne lesions.

Light Heat Energy to treat acne

Other forms of light therapy, such as LHE, have similar effects – they kill acne bacteria – but do so by a different means. LHE also tends to decrease sebum (the natural skin oil). Excess sebum production is considered one of the major factors encouraging acne development. This green light tends to shrink sebaceous glands.

The therapy is approved by the FDA for treating mild to moderately severe acne. Both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne can be reduced by two treatments per week over a period of one month. Drug-based treatments tend to take two or three months or longer.

In some cases, though, light treatments are combined with the use of prescription medications.

ALA to treat acne

ALA is a compound applied to the skin. It doesn’t have any of the antibacterial properties of standard acne treatments like Accutane. It works by making the skin more sensitive to light, thus increasing the effectiveness of light treatment.

It’s kept on for 15 minutes to an hour, during which the patient receives blue or red light treatment. The jury is still out so numbers are sketchy, but early results suggest the treatment is safe and effective.

Lasers to treat acne

Normal light contains waves that scatter in all directions. Laser light is called coherent because the waves all move in an organized train in the same direction. That’s one of the reasons lasers can do all the things they’re used for.

The chief difference, though, between different lasers (just as it is with other forms of light) is the wavelength. In the case of acne treatment lasers, one popular type produces waves of 1450 nm (nanometers, a billionth of a meter). This type is particularly safe and effective.

In one study, one treatment reduced acne lesions by nearly 40%. Two treatments decreased them by nearly 60% and with three the number rose to over 80%. There is some mild pain associated with the treatments, however, so a topical anesthetic is used during the procedure.

1) Hormones, stress: “No one’s too old to have acne,” Green says. “It’s not restricted to puberty.” Factors that can aggravate acne include an increase in male hormones in males and females, menstruation, emotional stress, hair products and oil and grease from cosmetics. Vigorous face-washing can also make acne worse, as well as astringents, which strip skin of natural moisturizers.

2) Stop squeezing: “The most important thing is to prevent scars,” Green says. “Do not pop, squeeze or pick at acne. Seek medical treatment early if it doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medications.” Several therapeutic regimens prevent future eruptions and therefore take about eight weeks to work. The first line of therapy is a retinol — retin A micro, Tazorac or Differin. As an added bonus, they also have FDA approval to treat fine lines and wrinkles. Salicylic acid and strong versions of benzoyl peroxide are good, too. A salicylic chemical peel is a quick way to improve current acne.

3) Scarring: Microdermabrasion, in which a machine scrapes away the surface of the skin, is good for mild scarring. For more severe scars, breakthroughs include the Fraxel laser, Fractional laser and the fillers Radiesse, Juvederm and Perlane. Accutane, an oral retinoid, “causes all the sebaceous glands to shrink down, but it’s the big guns we use only for severe scarring acne or acne that doesn’t respond to other treatments,” Green says. Pregnant women cannot take Accutane. Women must get a blood and urine pregnancy test as well as complete blood work done once a month when taking Accutane, and men must also have blood work done to check their liver enzymes and cholesterol levels. A link between Accutane and depression is still being debated.

4) Quick acne fixes: If you need a quick fix for a date, prom night or wedding, mix a crushed aspirin, which is an anti-inflammatory, with a bit of water and apply it to a pimple overnight to decrease redness. Visine “gets red out of your eyes and can also get redness out of your nasty pimple,” Green says. Just soak a swab and apply it for 15 seconds.

5) No sharing: “We always discourage patients from sharing medications because of potential side effects,” Green says. Medications recommended by a doctor are tailored to the individual. What works for one patient might not work for another.

Q) My daughter is 18 years old. She has swelling in her left cheek that is now moving into her eye. Her dermatologist says it’s cystic acne. We tried tetracycline and erythromycin, to no avail. What can we do? Your help would be appreciated

A) Let’s start with some basic facts about acne. First, despite popular belief, acne can occur to anyone at any age but is most common in teenagers. Because of this, it is thought that hormones may play a role. For some women, the week before menstruation, pregnancy or starting/stopping birth control may also cause outbreaks.

When pores that contain hair follicles become plugged by an overproduction of oil, a buildup of bacteria and/or irregular shedding of dead skin cells, acne can occur. It primarily affects the face, shoulders, back, neck and chest because these areas have the greatest number of functional oil glands.

There are five types of lesion associated with acne

• Papules are small, raised bumps that may be red and tender, and typically signal inflammation or infection of the opening of the hair follicle.
• Nodules are large, solid lumps beneath the surface of the skin and may be painful, indicating infection deep within the hair follicles.
• Pustules are red, tender, pus-filled lesions.
• Comedones occur when the hair follicle becomes plugged by oil and dead skin. When the pore is open, the plug becomes dark and is referred to as a blackhead. When the pore is closed, the lesion is referred to as a whitehead because it remains flesh-colored.
• Cysts are pus-filled lumps beneath the skin that are often painful. They are boil-like and are the most likely form to cause scarring. Because of this, cystic acne is the most severe form of acne and the hardest to treat.

In most cases, a physician doesn’t need to treat acne. If the lesions resist over-the-counter remedies, cover a large area, or are adversely affecting your social interactions or self-esteem, referral to a dermatologist may be beneficial.

There are several over-the-counter remedies. Most are topical lotions or ointments. These may contain salicylic or lactic acid, sulfur, resorcinol or benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient. Their primary purpose is to dry oil and aid the removal of dry skin

Some prescription topicals work similarly to OTC products but are more potent, while others include topical retinoids and antibiotics.

• Antibiotics (oral and topical) are used to treat infection that may be present and are most commonly used by those with moderate to severe forms.
• Topical ointments are often used simultaneously. Oral contraceptives can be considered, especially if menstrual-cycle irregularities are also present.
• Chemical peels and microdermabrasion may be helpful. Laser and light therapies may be recommended for people who can’t tolerate acne medications.

When cystic forms do not respond well to other options, isotretinoin may be considered. It is highly effective but carries some potentially serious side effects, so users must be closely monitored. Women of reproductive age must participate in an FDA-approved monitoring program in order to receive the drug because of the high risk of birth defects should the woman become pregnant. These effects can last for several weeks after stopping treatment.

Home remedies and prevention include using a mild cleanser and warm water to wash the affected areas no more than twice a day. Scrubbing or using strong cleansers may worsen the condition. Avoid touching the areas, using oily or greasy cosmetics or sunscreens, and picking or squeezing the lesions. Remove all makeup before bed, keep applicators clean, and don’t use outdated products. If the back, chest and/or shoulders are affected, avoid wearing tightfitting clothing.

Write to Peter Gott, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., Fourth Floor, New York, NY 10016.