While summer has its own issues, fall brings on a range of new skin-care challenges.

As humidity decreases, skin tends to get drier. And, as we move indoors and turn on the heat, this dryness only increases. Furthermore, not only does skin become drier, but our skin’s tolerance to acne regimens can also change with the seasons — the seasonal decline in UV rays may have an impact on the way our skin reacts to acne treatment. For those with acne, fall may see a spike in acne, particularly if a person has slacked off on their summer treatments.

Fall is a perfect time to re-evaluate your skin care routine. For most young adults, going back to school can mean added stress, and for many college freshmen, the numerous changes make it an ideal time to get a handle on skin and acne care. Skin care may require a change in cleansing and moisturizing as the transition through fall progresses. Developing and sticking to an effective skin-care regimen is of the utmost importance to healthy skin.

“Compliance is important year-round if you are using an acne treatment,” says Dr. Charles Hudson, dermatologist. “The No. 1 reason that acne treatments don’t work is because of lack of compliance. Even if your skin is improving, keep using your medication. And, if you have acne and haven’t started treatment, speak with a dermatologist.”

Add the challenges of inflammatory acne to those already present during the transition from summer to fall skin care, and we all welcome treatment options. The first new chemical entity for topical acne treatment to come along in 10 years, ACZONE (dapsone) Gel 5 % has proven useful in clinical studies, where patients saw notable reduction in inflammatory acne in as little as two weeks. As well, ACZONE was found to be well tolerated. Ask your dermatologist if Aczone is right for you.