Handbook on acne management launched

FROM left: Doctors Winlove Mojica and Carolina Carpio, PDS social media administrator and skin safety campaign head, respectively; Riza Magallon, A. Menarini Philippines senior brand manager; Doctors Pacita Belisario, PDS Southern Philippines Chapter secretary; Georgina Pastorfide, A Guide on Dermocosmetics in Acne (GDA) author; Noemie Salta-Ramos, PDS board director and head of communications cluster and GDA cochair; Ma. Purita Paz-Lao, PDS committee on public relations and external affairs head and GDA chair; Digna Almeida, A. Menarini Philippines medical director; Rosalina Nadela, PDS president; Mary Jane Uy, Zharlah Flores and Maria Juliet Macarayo, GDA authors; and Teresita Gabriel, PDS immediate past president.

Strengthening its campaign for skin safety, an organization of dermatologists launched a new handbook on acne and its treatment.

“A Guide on Dermocosmetics in Acne,” according to the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), is a handbook for Filipino physicians that will serve as a comprehensive and easy-to-understand source of information about dermocosmetics, their mode of action, and scientific evidence supporting their efficacy. It will be an informative and accessible reference on the important role of dermocosmetics in acne management, PDS said.

Launched on Nov. 4, the handbook is meant to support the group’s skin safety campaign, which was started six years ago utilizing the quadri-media (radio, print, TV and the Internet). The campaign is advocating public safety on skin health through information dissemination and consultation with competent and certified dermatologists.

Contents

The handbook contains topics on acne and its pathology and classifications; as well as dermocosmetics and acne treatments that are scientifically proven. Dr. Ma. Purita Paz-Lao, chair of the editorial board that developed the handbook, said it will be the newest intellectual tool of PDS.

She explained: “Though a tiny book, it is heavy-duty in content. It will help doctors steer treatment toward a better direction.”

The handbook aims to provide both dermatologists and general practitioners with an informative and accessible reference on the important role of dermocosmetics in acne management, said Paz-Lao. Sponsored by A. Menarini Philippines, it is to be given for free to dermatologists and general practitioners who mostly deal with acne patients.

The handbook focused on acne since, according to PDS president Dr. Rosalina E. Nadela, it “is the most common skin condition requiring consultation in the 11 PDS-accredited dermatology training institutions in the country.”

Acne vulgaris is a common chronic skin disease involving blockage and/or inflammation of the pilosebaceous units. It comes in different forms: whiteheads, blackheads and inflamed red growths (papules, pustules, nodules and cysts).

Three factors contribute to the formation of acne: overproduction of oil (sebum), irregular shedding of dead skin cells resulting in irritation of the hair follicles of the skin, and buildup of bacteria.

Dermocosmetics

Dr. Carolina Carpio, head of PDS skin safety campaign, said:“While medical management is the cornerstone of acne treatment, it is important to note that a daily skin-care routine improves patient adherence to treatment. This easy-to-read-and-understand guide on dermocosmetics in acne provides evidence-based information on the use of adjunctive therapy to help balance the effects of treatment,”

Dermocosmetics are adjunctive cosmetic treatments that may result in a synergistic effect when used with the standard/conventional acne treatment or may minimize the side effects of acne therapy and aesthetic problems associated with acne. It includes cleansers, topical sebum-controlling agents, corneolytics, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents, moisturizers, photoprotectives and camouflage makeup.

According to Paz-Lao, dermocosmetics reduce the side effects of standard acne treatment regimens, thereby promoting treatment compliance. Moreover, they possess established pharmacologic properties that combat the causes of acne, making them viable alternatives.

Aside from the handbook, PDS is also engaged in social and quadri-media campaigns on promoting skin care. Dr. Winlove Mojica, PDS social media arm administrator, said the group has been managing a website, pds.org.ph, and accounts in Facebook, Twitter and Instragram to target more viewers and the public. It has introduced the app PDS Skin Care, which can be used to locate a PDS-certified dermatologist near his/her location.