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Acne - Patient's guide

Acne Treatment: OTC (Non-Prescription)

Clindoxyl® Gel
Diane-35®

OTC Topical Medications For Acne:

OTC means “Over The Counter”, in other words, your patient would not need a prescription to buy an OTC product. If the patient has minimal acne, they can often get reasonable results using these preparations, which are primarily directed at reducing the blockage of pores. In general, these products include cleansers and some topical treatments, such as lotions, pads, gels, and creams that are applied onto the surface of the skin.

There are 2 main categories of topical products available for treating acne that include:

  1. Acne cleansers (containing)
      2. - Salicylic acid
      - Glycolic acid
      - Antibacterial components
  2. Benzoyl peroxide

Things Patients Can Do For Themselves:

  • Avoid aggravating factors
  • Try medicated cleansers first
  • Next, try Benzoyl Peroxide
  • If there is no improvement after 6-8 weeks, see a doctor

Application Of The OTC Product:

When applying topical acne medications, patients should apply them to the entire area where they have acne, not just to the visible blemishes. In this way, they will also be treating small microscopic blemishes that are not yet visible to them.

Patients need to use these products regularly as directed on the label and they will need to continue to use them for a while, typically for 6-8 weeks, before they will see significant improvement. They may also need to continue to use them in order to maintain the improvement.

Patients Faced With Dryness?

If the patient should notice that their skin becomes too dry or irritated because of the therapy, trying the following in order, may allow them to continue treatment:

  1. Use a mild non-acne cleanser or soap, the acne cleansers may compound the dryness and irritation.
  2. Use topical products for a shorter period of time, and then progressively lengthen the time of application as tolerated by his/her skin. For example, apply a topical product and leave it on for 30 minutes a day for 1 week, then increase by doubling the application time every week so that eventually the product can be left on all day or night. If his/her skin becomes irritated, then reduce the frequency and time the application is left on.
  3. Consider adding moisturizers that are non-acnegenic or non-comedogenic (does not cause acne or comedones) if irritation persists.
Note: If, after the patient has tried these suggestions, the irritation or excessive dryness persists, they should seek further advice from a physician.

Clindoxyl® Gel

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  • INTRODUCTION
    Clinical experience confirms what has been shown in clinical trials, that Clindoxyl Gel is effective and well tolerated Once daily application of topical that combines two active anti-acne agents may well increase patient compliance...   |   Read more ...


  • CLININCAL EXPERIENCE
    More than six international studies involving over 6,000 patients have shown reductions in the PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) of approximately 40% after one week of treatment and 70% after four weeks...   |   Read more ...


  • INDICATIONS
    Moderate comedonal and papulo-pustular acne Approved in Canada as a once daily topical for moderate Acne in December 2000...   |   Read more ...


  • PATIENT PROFILE
    Any patient who has inflammatory acne can be treated with Clindoxyl Gel Acne patients with comedones only are best treated by topical retinoids Patients with cystic acne usually require systemic therapy...   |   Read more ...


  • DOSING
    Once daily application of Clindoxyl Gel is recommended The product needs to be applied to the whole region of skin that is affected with acne. In other words...   |   Read more ...


  • EFFICACY
    The following figures show pooled data from randomized, controlled double-blind trials involving 673 patients with acne...   |   Read more ...


  • COMPLIANCE
    Three factors to consider for good compliance of Clindoxyl Gel are: Well tolerated by most patients, results are often seen within 2 weeks...   |   Read more ...


  • SIDE EFFECTS, SAFETY AND RISKS
    Overall tolerance was rated as excellent in 94% of patients. Potential side effects expected in some patients...   |   Read more ...


  • COST OF TREATMENT
    This is a cost effective product. Reducing inflammation can reduce the risks of scarring...   |   Read more ...

View the entire Clindoxyl® Gel presentation.

Diane-35®

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  • INTRODUCTION
    There are limitations for regulators, pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical sales representatives to present clinical evidence following development of product monograph and drug approval...   |   Read more ...


  • CLININCAL EXPERIENCE
    Diane-35® (2mg cyproterone acetate and 0.035mg ethinyl estradiol) is approved for use in Canada to treat women with severe acne who are unresponsive to other available treatments and who have associated symptoms of androgenization, such as seborrhea and mild hirsutism. In addition to treating acne, Diane-35® also provides reliable contraception...   |   Read more ...


  • INDICATIONS
    Used to treat women with severe* acne and its associated symptoms of androgenization, including seborrhea and mild hirsutism..   |   Read more ...


  • PATIENT PROFILE
    Women who have acne associated or not with signs of hyperandrogenism. Any woman who has acne that is not controlled with topical medication...   |   Read more ...


  • DOSING
    Diane-35® is sold in blister pack units containing 21 tablets. Each tablet contains 2mg of cyproterone acetate and 0.035mg of ethinyl estradiol. Each cycle consists of 21 days on the medication and a 7-day interval without it...   |   Read more ...


  • EFFICACY
    Improvements in seborrhea are generally seen after 2 to 3 months. Improvements to acne are generally seen after 3 to 4 months. Numerous studies have proven the efficacy of hormonal therapy in treating acne over 6 or more months of use...   |   Read more ...


  • COMPLIANCE
    Patients should take Diane-35® at the same time each day with liquid...   |   Read more ...


  • SIDE EFFECTS, SAFETY AND RISKS
    Side effects are typical of most oral contraceptives and can include breast tenderness, headache, nausea, breakthrough bleeding, ankle swelling and weight gain. These side effects are typically mild and tend to resolve by the second or third cycle of therapy...   |   Read more ...


  • COST OF TREATMENT
    Diane-35 is sold to pharmacy wholesalers at a cost of $19.00 per cycle...   |   Read more ...

View the entire Diane-35® presentation.

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