By Ava Malkin
Acne vulgaris, commonly known as acne, is a prevalent skin condition that affects millions worldwide. Despite its numerous origins, severities, and treatments, acne does not necessarily have to be confusing or distressing.
At SKNV, we understand acne’s complexity, and we offer tailored medications to address its various forms.
Let’s explore the causes and types of acne and discover how our customized medications aim to help you achieve clearer, healthier skin. We also spoke with our expert consultant, Alissa Bramble, who works with acne and other skin conditions, about how she believes SKNV is revolutionizing dermatology.
Acne appears when oil/sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells clog hair follicles, creating whiteheads, blackheads, and/or raised bumps called pimples. This is often caused by hormones, diet, stress, cosmetic/hair products, sports equipment, smoking, pollution, and medications.
Inflammatory acne vulgaris is marked by redness, swelling, and the presence of bacteria, which trigger an inflammatory response. It includes:
Papules: These are small, red, inflamed bumps. They are pimples that form when bacteria and debris get trapped in hair follicles.
Pustules: These are similar to whiteheads, but they contain pus. They are pimples that form as a reaction to a bacterial infection.
Nodules: These are large, painful, and hard lesions that form deeper within the skin.
There are many active ingredients in topical medications that can help with inflammatory acne treatment, including:
Clindamycin: a topical antibiotic that helps reduce acne-causing bacteria on the skin [5]
Benzoyl Peroxide: a topical antibiotic that decreases acne-causing bacteria by drying the skin [6]
Topical Retinoids: chemical compounds that help with oil production, acne-causing bacteria, and inflammation (e.g., Tretinoin [7] and Adapalene [10])
Salicylic Acid: a compound that helps control excess sebum production and decrease the number of spots [3]
Niacinamide: an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant substance that helps control oil/sebum production and reduce swelling and redness [4]
Topical Spironolactone: a topical medication used to treat acne with a strong hormonal component [8]
Dapsone: an anti-infective and anti-inflammatory substance that kills acne-causing bacteria on the skin and keeps the pores clean [9]
In certain conditions, people suffering from moderate to severe acne require oral medications as treatment, including:
Minocycline, Doxycycline, & Bactrim: oral antibiotics used to treat acne with a bacterial component
Isotretinoin: an oral medication used for treating acne with a hormonal component
SKNV offers a menu of topical medications dedicated to targeting inflammatory acne by combining various potencies of the active ingredients above. While SKNV does not offer oral medications, our medications may serve as an initial topical, as determined by individual providers, or as step-edits before obtaining oral treatment.
SKNV cares about helping you target your acne. Ask your provider for SKNV.
Non-inflammatory acne vulgaris, often referred to as comedonal acne, is characterized by clogged pores and an absence of swelling or redness. It includes:
Whiteheads (Closed Comedones): Closed comedones form when pores are clogged with sebum and debris, and the outer layer of the pore closes, trapping the contents inside.
Blackheads (Open Comedones): Open comedones form when clogged pores remain open, allowing the sebum and debris to oxidize and turn black.
There are many active ingredients in topical medications that can help with open and closed comedone acne treatment, including:
Salicylic Acid: a compound that helps control excess sebum production and decrease the number of spots [3]
Niacinamide: an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant substance that helps control oil/sebum production and reduce swelling and redness [4]
Clindamycin: a topical antibiotic that helps reduce acne-causing bacteria on the skin [5]
Benzoyl Peroxide: a topical antibiotic that decreases acne-causing bacteria by drying the skin [6]
Topical Retinoids: chemical compounds that help with oil production, acne-causing bacteria, and inflammation (e.g., Tretinoin [7] and Adapalene [10])
Topical Spironolactone: a topical medication used to treat acne with a strong hormonal component [8]
Dapsone: an anti-infective and anti-inflammatory substance that kills acne-causing bacteria on the skin and keeps the pores clean [9]
SKNV offers a menu of topical medications dedicated to targeting comedonal acne, using various combinations of different potencies of the active ingredients above. Ask your provider about SKNV.
Our innovative system streamlines the process, ensuring that you have immediate access to the medications your patients require, bypassing the bureaucratic hurdles that often delay care.
Imagine the freedom of prescribing without the anxiety of waiting for insurance approvals. With SKNV, it’s not just a vision—it’s a reality. We believe that when dermatologists are liberated from administrative shackles, they can fully unleash their potential to transform patient outcomes and experiences.
Within the general category of inflammatory acne vulgaris, several types of severe acne exist. These forms of severe acne and their methods of treatment include:
Nodulocystic acne: This involves numerous large papules and pustules (and occasionally inflamed nodules). It often appears on the face and chest, containing blood and resulting in scarring.
Treatment for nodulocystic acne: Topical treatments with the above active ingredients can work to lessen nodulocystic acne symptoms. Oral isotretinoin and/or steroids are the most effective in reducing cysts and preventing scarring.
Acne conglobata: This is a severe form of nodulocystic acne that involves interconnected, inflamed lesions beneath the skin.
Treatment for acne conglobata: Similar to nodulocystic acne, this form of acne often requires strong systemic treatment.
Acne fulminans: This involves a sudden onset of severe, ulcerated nodules that can bleed.
Treatment for acne fulminans: Systemic steroids, oral dapsone, high-dose antibiotics, TNF-a inhibitors, or ciclosporin. Topical treatments are generally ineffective.
Acne mechanica: Also referred to as acne maligna, this involves small bumps caused by heat, friction, and pressure, often from sports equipment.
Treatment for acne mechanica: Topical treatments often include one or more of the following active ingredients: mild retinoid/tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, or sulfur/salicylic acid.
Acne keloidalis nuchae: This involves follicular bumps at the nape of the neck that can lead to keloids.
Treatment for acne keloidalis nuchae: Topical treatments often include one or more of the following active ingredients: salicylic acid, clindamycin, tazarotene, and adapalene.
At SKNV, we know that acne vulgaris requires tailored remedies, which is why we offer a menu of customized medications dedicated to addressing acne needs. As the first pharmacy for sensitive skin, we want to help patients target their acne concerns by recognizing that branded treatments, generic medications, and over-the-counter products are not one-size-fits-all for skin conditions.
With all of our medications being manufactured at our Florida FDA-Registered 503B Outsourcing Facility, we provide quality, tailored solutions to address your skin needs. Whether you are dealing with non-inflammatory acne, inflammatory acne, or even more severe forms like nodulocystic acne, SKNV offers personalized topical medications that aim to help you achieve healthy skin. Your prescriber will determine which SKNV medication will make a clinical difference for you.
Your journey to clearer skin starts with SKNV.
SKNV offers 39 customized acne medication formulations, each dedicated to targeting acne and sensitive skin concerns. These formulations use a combination of active ingredient potencies in various vehicles.
SKNV makes your journey to clearer skin as simple as 1, 2, 3.
To access our range of topical acne medications formulated for your skin’s unique needs…
Ask your provider about SKNV medication and discuss which formulation is suitable for you.
Your provider can find our Rx through their Electronic Medical Records.
Providers can prescribe directly from their office, OR you can receive your medication at home with free shipping.
Alissa Bramble is a SKNV consultant who is dedicated to creating partnerships with dermatological practices in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Before working for SKNV, Bramble was a medical/surgical technician in a dermatology practice in Eastern Maryland. At this practice, Bramble discovered SKNV and our various acne offerings, including our benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, tretinoin, dapsone, and spironolactone formulations.
“I started to deep dive into SKNV because, oh my god, it was just making my life so much easier,” Bramble said. “I got really accustomed and familiar with SKNV medications: their accessibility, their convenience, and their affordable price point.”
Bramble adapted to the responsibility of a SKNV advocate, explaining to patients why SKNV’s formulations are suited to address their skin concerns.
“I always touch on the affordability and the convenience. They could get it right here right now. Super easy. It was likely very much plus in their copay, and many SKNV medications don’t have inactives like parabens and preservatives,” Bramble explained.
Realizing these benefits of SKNV’s high-quality, accessible medications, Bramble began working in the field as a SKNV consultant in October 2023.
Now, Bramble is an experienced consultant who fully understands the appeal of SKNV and the advantages of our customized medications.
In terms of acne specifically, Bramble has a unique perspective on SKNV’s benefits and providers’ desires, especially considering her previous experience within the dermatological realm of acne therapy. While speaking to providers, Bramble tends to touch upon five general appeals of SKNV’s acne medications: convenience, accessibility, quality, positive feedback, and usefulness.
Often, in terms of acne regimens, doctors struggle with insurance, prior authorizations, and medication substitutions.
“Doctors are kind of in that space where they know their patients need to be treated, and they know exactly the medication that they need to get the patient. But, the insurance companies saying, ‘Okay, well, we may cover that down the road, but the patient needs to try doxycycline, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, tretinoin topical.’ Four things. It’s going to take four to six months to try to get Accutane covered,” Bramble explained. “SKNV is basically telling them, ‘If that’s the medication that you wanted to put the patient on, we don’t expect you to try this, this, this, and that. You’re the doctor. You should be able to give the patient exactly what you want to give them right here, right now.”
So, SKNV is giving providers their prescribing authority back, allowing them to provide their desired medication without contending with insurance. This then permits patients to have a treatment plan determined by the prescriber without having to go to the pharmacy or try an array of products before finally arriving at their ideal acne treatment.
SKNV ensures that our acne medications are accessible by eliminating trips to the pharmacy, prior authorizations, medication substitutions, and insurance troubles. We make sure there are no hidden costs when it comes to targeting your skin concerns.
“On a scale of one to 10, I would put SKNV at one, being most affordable. Then every other insurance company is a 10, to be honest with you,” Bramble said.
When consulting with providers, Bramble uses her knowledge of the needs of practices to appeal to providers.
“I know that you care about your patients. I know that you want to give them the best possible fit. I know that you don’t want to give them medications that are full of dyes, parabens, and preservatives,” Bramble often says. She then follows up by explaining that SKNV’s advantages assuage these concerns by ensuring quality.
SKNV offers acne medication options that are formulated without certain inactive ingredient(s) that could be potential allergens or irritants for certain patients, as determined by their prescriber. Many formulations aim to eliminate ingredients like trolamine, methylparaben, isopropyl myristate, and propylene glycol.
Not only does SKNV eliminate certain inactive ingredients, but our manufacturing processes ensure the quality of our medications.
As an FDA-Registered 503B Outsourcing Facility, we manufacture our medications under strict adherence to strict FDA regulation standards and state boards of pharmacy regulations; we also operate under compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) to ensure the quality of our products.
We manufacture our medications in large batches and conduct thorough testing to release drug batches. So, if you receive your SKNV Rx, you can feel confident that this acne medication underwent extensive testing before arriving in your practice or your home.
In Bramble’s experience, SKNV’s acne medications are appreciated by practices and patients in her territory.
Specifically, SKNV’s combination of benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and tretinoin is successful in Bramble’s area. She explained that this formulation “does really, really well” because it eliminates the need for three separate treatment methods, which is why Bramble says she has also recognized a boost in compliance.
“Acne mostly affects teenagers, or young adults, which are the type of people that don’t necessarily put a lot of time effort into their medication regimen. It’s really hard to get them to use one medication, let alone three medications. So, I present our benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin/tretinoin combo to a lot to providers throughout my entire territory. And essentially, they basically say that their compliance goes up with their patients, that they love that they can give them three copays in one / three steps and one, and that they basically look forward to having better compliant patients,” Bramble explained.
Bramble noted that SKNV also offers other customized acne medications in addition to its benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and tretinoin formulations.
“The one that I honestly think we are leading the market by storm with is our topical dapsone/spironolactone… In my territory, these medications are doing extremely well. The feedback that I’m getting from the dermatologists is extremely good,” Bramble said.
SKNV’s two dapsone/spironolactone formulations, Diadimaxia Cream and Diasdimaxia Cream, differ in their dapsone potencies, which are 6% and 8.5%, respectively. Both medications contain 5% spironolactone and 2% niacinamide, dedicated to targeting the hormonal and bacterial aspects of acne.
Bramble noted that SKNV acne medications are different from branded or generic treatments, as they combine active ingredients that can target specific acne sub-diagnoses, as determined by each provider, and they do so at a cheaper price than most copays.
SKNV’s medications can also act at step-edits, or a protocol of topical medications to try before insurance will cover more extensive acne treatment.
“Even if the patient has to go on a lot of step-edit medications before they can get on something like Accutane, they can use us a step-edit, and typically, the copay on our medications are cheaper,” Bramble said.
While we hope our topical medications may alleviate inflammation and other troublesome symptoms for those with severe acne, we recognize that severe forms like nodulocystic acne often require oral medications.
“Because benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and tretinoin are three things a patient has to try to be able to go on Accutane, that’s typically three copays. So, if we just put them on our benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin/tretinoin combo, there’s all three medications only for one copay and $51 (versus having to buy three different medications to get one medication covered),” Bramble explained.
Take proper care of your sensitive skin and address your acne concerns with SKNV.
As Bramble explained, whether it be our convenience, affordability, quality, positive feedback, or usefulness, SKNV wants to help you on your healthy, clearer skin journey.
