Galderma Laboratories, L.P. joined the American Acne and Rosacea Society (AARS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Get Smart About Antibiotics Week 2014 (November 17 – 23). AARS and Galderma Laboratories, the first dermatology partner to join with AARS on the initiative, are raising awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic use.
“Antibiotic use, appropriate or otherwise, in any specialty contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance,” said CDC's Lauri Hicks, DO, Medical Director, Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work. “In dermatology, this is true for acne medications that contain antibiotics. This year, Get Smart About Antibiotics Week continues to provide healthcare providers with resources to determine whether antibiotics are truly necessary, and empower patients to learn more about their treatment options.”
In 2013, approximately 5.8 million prescriptions for oral antibiotics and 3.5 million prescriptions for topical antibiotics were dispensed for dermatology related issues.1 In general antibiotic resistance is a well-known phenomenon, and resistance in acne may be a contributing factor to the overall resistance issue.2 However, there are effective3, antibiotic-free3 topical acne treatment options available on the market today.
“Through its meeting of the Scientific Panel on Antibiotic Use in Dermatology (SPAUD), the AARS is committed to providing clinicians with updated recommendations on optimal antibiotic prescribing and focused on monitoring patient information on antibiotic resistance and its significance in dermatology,” said Dr. Lawrence Eichenfield, President of AARS and Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology at Children's Hospital, San Diego and at the University of California, San Diego. “Dermatologists are one of the main prescribers of antibiotics among all physicians, and we aim to collaborate with healthcare providers to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for conditions such as acne and help curb rising resistance rates.”
Acne is the most common skin condition in the U.S., affecting 40-50 million Americans nationwide4, and long-term use of antibiotics for the treatment of acne may contribute to the problem of antibiotic resistance5. In fact, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), a bacteria linked to acne, is increasingly becoming resistant to topical and oral antibiotics5, which may potentially cause a decrease in treatment efficacy against acne5.
“Galderma is committed to providing millions of acne sufferers with topical acne treatment options that are safe, effective and antibiotic-free,” explains Stuart Raetzman, President of Galderma Laboratories L.P., and Senior Vice President North America. “Galderma's participation in Get Smart About Antibiotics Week underscores our commitment to the dermatology community and to the patients that they treat.”


1. According to data from Symphony Health Solutions, Pharmaceutical Audit Suite, Prescription Monthly Audit, January 2013 – December 2013.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work. http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/antibiotic-resistance-faqs.html#acne-medication. Accessed on October 28, 2014.
3. Highlights of Prescribing Information. 2013. Available at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/022320s004lbl.pdf.
4. American Academy of Dermatology. Acne. https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/a---d/acne/who-gets-causes. Accessed on October 28, 2014.
5. Humphrey S. Antibiotic Resistance in Acne Treatment. Skin Therapy Let. 2012;17(9).