Latest Acne and Rosacea Therapies Unveiled at Dermatology Week

At Dermatology Week 2025, Shannon Maranti, PA-C, presented a session titled “Breakouts to Breakthroughs: New Insights on Acne and Rosacea.” Maranti delivered a comprehensive review of emerging treatments and clinical strategies grounded in the pathophysiology of both conditions.

The session began with a refresher on the 4 pillars of acne pathogenesis: increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, and inflammation. Maranti emphasized that modern treatment regimens should aim to target as many of these pillars as possible to optimize outcomes. Topical retinoids remain the backbone for comedonal acne, while new agents like clascoterone cream now provide a topical option for targeting excess sebum by blocking androgen receptors. On the systemic side, spironolactone and isotretinoin are key tools for female patients with hormonally influenced acne.

Addressing inflammation, Maranti pointed to both topical and systemic treatments, from retinoids and benzoyl peroxide to tetracycline-class antibiotics. She urged caution with oral antibiotics, advocating for stewardship and always combining them with benzoyl peroxide to minimize resistance.

A standout moment in the session was Maranti’s introduction of a new US Food and Drug Administration-approved triple-combination topical therapy (adapalene 0.1%, benzoyl peroxide 2.5%, and clindamycin phosphate 1.2%), launched in early 2024. This once-daily product, housed in a specialized vehicle to stabilize all 3 ingredients, showed greater than 70% reduction in lesion counts in 12 weeks—outperforming dyad combinations and even some oral regimens in a recent independent analysis. “Simplicity drives compliance,” Maranti noted, emphasizing the product’s potential to streamline treatment without sacrificing efficacy.

Maranti closed with a humorous but pointed reminder: “Friends don’t let friends write generic tretinoin only.” She encouraged providers to move beyond autopilot prescribing and truly personalize regimens based on patient history, skin type, and the full scope of pathogenesis.

Transitioning to rosacea, she touched on updated phenotype classifications and the multifactorial nature of disease triggers, from immune dysregulation to microbiome imbalance and neurovascular factors. Treating rosacea, she reminded the audience, also means protecting and restoring the impaired skin barrier—a lesson often overshadowed by focus on inflammation alone.

For more meeting coverage, visit the Dermatology Week newsroom.

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Reference
Miranti S. From breakouts to breakthroughs: new insights on acne and rosacea. Presented at: Dermatology Week; May 14–16, 2025; Virtual.