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THE NEW GLOBAL ALLIANCE CONSENSUS RECOMMENDATIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ACNE THERAPY IN CANADA
Neil Shear
Acne therapy has changed dramatically over the past 10 years, and new
research has influenced the potential use of products, but this information has not become part of routine practice. In July of 2003 The Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne produced a report on the management of acne that appeared as a supplement to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1). The mission of the Global Alliance was to develop consensus recommendations for the treatment of acne that are the product of input from several countries and are evidence and mechanism-based. As a result an updated Acne Treatment Algorithm was produced that attempts to match best available therapies to the different stages and clinical presentations of acne vulgaris.
There are some notable recommendations. Since adapalene is
anti-inflammatory, the guidelines include topical retinoids as first choice for base therapy in most stages of acne except for the most severe. In addition topical retinoids have been recommended as an appropriate therapy for maintenance of acne once symptomatic control has been achieved. Other changes include the addition of hormonal therapies, the falling into disfavour of isolated antibiotic therapies due to increasing resistance, and separating initial therapy from maintenance regimens.
The guidelines have proven useful in other countries, and the opportunity exists to consider the development, dissemination, use, and relevance of specific guidelines for Canada.
(1) Gollnick H, Cunliffe W, et al. Management of acne: A report from the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003; 49 (supp 1): S1 - 37.
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