Skin care and cosmeceuticals: Attitudes and trends among trainees and educators.

INTRODUCTION: Patients often seek skin care recommendations from their dermatologist. The objective of this study was to determine the degree of education dermatology residents receive on skin care and cosmeceutical products, the source of education, and the attitude of trainees and their educators toward skin care and cosmeceuticals. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of dermatology residents and faculty via an online survey administered June 2015 and August 2015, respectively. RESULTS: In total, 104 dermatology residents and 50 dermatology faculty members completed the survey. Among the dermatology residents and faculty, equal distribution was represented across the country. The majority of residents and faculty (62% and 69%, respectively) report discussing skin care with up to 25% of their patients. Among resident participants, 76.5% "agree or strongly agree" that skin care and cosmeceutical education should be part of their education and the majority of residents (74.5%) report their education has been "too little or nonexistent" during residency. In contrast, the majority of the faculty (60%) reports their resident education is "just the right amount or too much" (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Skin care and cosmeceutical recommendations are often discussed in dermatology visits. Dermatology residents feel that education on these products should be a part of their residency training.

Do automated text messages increase adherence to acne therapy? Results of a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Acne is a common skin condition often requiring complex therapeutic regimens. Patient nonadherence to prescribed medication regimens is a factor in treatment failure. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine if daily automated text messages would result in increased adherence to recommended use of topical acne medication and consequently greater improvement in acne. METHODS: Forty patients with mild to moderate acne were prescribed clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide 1%/5% gel in the mornings and adapalene 0.3% gel in the evenings for 12 weeks. Each medication tube was fitted with an electronic Medication Event Monitoring System cap (MEMS, Aardex Group, Sion, Switzerland) (to record the date and time of every opening/closing of the tube). Twenty patients were randomly assigned to receive customized twice-daily text messages instructing them to apply their morning and evening medication. The remainder of patients (N = 20), who did not receive text messages, served as control subjects. RESULTS: Mean adherence rates for the correct application of both medications on a daily basis over 12 weeks was 33.9% for patients in the reminder group and 36.5% for patients in the control group (P = .75). Patients in both groups had similar clinical improvement of their acne. LIMITATIONS: The small sample size may limit the ability to detect differences between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic reminders in the form of daily, customized text messages were not associated with significant differences in adherence to topical medications in patients with mild to moderate acne and had no significant effect on therapeutic response.