New Expert Opinion Page

Patients with acne can now find the opinion and expert advice of leading dermatologists online.

A recent Los Angeles Times article by Dr. Valerie Ulene covered her experience seeking acne treatment for her teenage daughter and the over reliance on OTC and at-home therapies which are often ineffective.

The article indicated that most dermatologists think that non-prescription topical medications might be advised for the first line treatment of mild acne, but that only benzoyl peroxide has sufficient evidence to support it's use as acne treatment.

Dr. Ulene concluded that in order to combat acne, her daughter needed a dermatologist. Her acne had progressed beyond what over-the-counter products could do to help her with her condition. "When it comes to anything beyond mild acne, doctors hold the cards. The most effective medications all require a prescription."

These expert opinions are a great resource for getting up to the minute advice from practicing dermatologists with specific knowledge of your condition. The clinical judgments provided by dermatologists are published by Vivacare, a patient education company that provides dermatologists with tools to educate their patients and the public about skin conditions and skin care advice.

Latisse Safety and Benefits for Eyelash Growth Reviewed by Leading Dermatologists

Patients considering Latisse, a popular prescription medication that grows longer and darker eyelashes, can now learn the opinion and experience of skin care experts.

Dermatologists have published their expert opinion about Latisse, providing patients with a reliable source of health information.

Latisse (bimatropost) is applied once a day to the eyelashes with a disposable eyelash brush that dispenses the recommended dose. Results are usually reported after 4 to 6 weeks of use with full results seen after 12 to 16 weeks.

Many patients have been satisfied with the results and the Los Angeles Time recently ran a story that quoted a Latisse patient who said ."It does what it says it's going to do and my lashes look nice and healthy. It gives me a more youthful appearance. Younger gals have gorgeous lashes, and now I don't have to wear false lashes." However, some concerns of side effects remain, including eye redness, itchiness, irritation, infection, darkening of the skin around the application area. A possible change in eye color is also reported, particularly in people who have any amount of brown pigment in their eyes.

Christine Brown, M.D., a Dallas dermatologist in private practice, suggested that the incidence of side effects, such as pigmentation of the eye or surrounding skin is exceptionally rare. The most common side effect is redness, which is a transient problem. Latisse works well, especially under the supervision of a dermatologist."

Amy McMichael, M.D., a dermatologist at Wake Forest University Medical Center, pointed out that "The data for the safety of Latisse is well studied since this medication has been around in eyedrop form for more than 8 years. The post-marketing studies of Lumigan [the active ingredient of Latisse] and the more recent FDA pivotal studies for Latisse underscore the safety of the drug. Anecdotally, many patients who used Lumigan for glaucoma in one eye only have applied the Lumigan to the other eye to even out the lash growth--under the supervision of their ophthalmologist and without unwanted side effects."

The clinical judgments provided by dermatologists are published by Vivacare, a patient education company that provides dermatologists with tools to educate their patients and the public about skin conditions and skin care advice.

The Link Between Diet and Acne Still Unclear

An acne survey of 461 acne patients, 98.5% of which had an acne breakout in the last 12 months, concluded that people suffering from acne are still uncertain about the relationship between what they eat and the frequency and severity of their acne. 47.7% of the respondents indicated that they think "eating some foods" can make their acne worse, while only 22.8% report noticing their own acne worsening after eating certain foods.
Chocolate and french fries are two foods that are often thought to contribute to acne breakouts. In this survey, each participant was asked to determine whether or not they believe that these foods affect acne outbreaks and, also, whether or not these particular foods affect the participant's own acne. Though 76.3% of the survey participants reported hearing that chocolate can make acne worse, only 25.1% reported that chocolate made their own acne worse. Similarly 69.4% reported that they believe French Fries can make acne worse, but only 16.6% reported that French Fries worsened their own acne.
Vivacare recommends that people suffering from acne seek the help of a board-certified dermatologist. To find one in your area visit Find a Dermatologist. Furthermore, you can find additional information about acne as well as many ways to combat outbreaks and prevent future ones.