Content about Acne vulgaris

CINCINNATI — In an effort to help women battle blemishes, Procter & Gamble's Olay skin care brand has introduced its new Olay Professional Pro-X Clear line.

Available as of July, the line is a three-step daily skin care regimen that is designed to treat acne, minimize the appearance of pores and refine texture.

The system ($42) includes:

• Step 1: Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Pore Clarifying Cleanser;

• Step 2: Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Skin Clearing Treatment; and

NEW YORK — New York-based retailer Duane Reade, which is owned by Walgreens, has inked a deal with Belli skin care and now is carrying the pregnancy skin care products in 200 Duane Reade stores.

Duane Reade stores will offer Belli's Complexion Protection Duo — Belli's acne clearing facial wash and anti-chloasma facial sunscreen — to help protect skin from breakouts and uneven skin tone. The product set, valued at $46, will be offered at Duane Reade for $39.99. The product set will be merchandised in the expecting and new mom section of the baby aisle.

LOS ANGELES — In celebration of its newly launched acne-fighting skin care line at Duane Reade, HappyMe Skincare is throwing a bon voyage bash for blemishes during the week of April 11 to 15 at select Duane Reade locations throughout New York.

To bid farewell to pimples, the "HappyMe Going Away Party for Pimples" will offer attendees a free consultation with an esthetician, plus HappyMe samples. HappyMe also is giving away an iPad to one sweepstakes winner.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals has proposed to buy Cephalon for $5.7 billion, Valeant said Tuesday.

The buyout offer, equal to $73 per share, includes a 29% premium over Cephalon’s stock price. Valeant noted it had made previous offers, but was “disappointed by Cephalon’s unwillingness to engage in discussions in a timely manner.”

GUILFORD, Conn. — Mitchell-Vance Laboratories, which specializes in the treatment and prevention of scars, has announced the introduction of its new ScarAway scar diminishing serum.

The product is launching at Walgreens stores nationwide in April for a suggested retail price of $17.99.

ScarAway scar diminishing serum is designed to effectively shrink, flatten and fade hypertrophic (raised) and keloid scars, which may result from surgical procedures, injuries, burns, stretch marks or acne.

EL PASO, Texas Merlot Skin Care, a natural grape-seed-based skin care brand sold at Walgreens and Ulta, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2011 with new product launches and new packaging.

"Merlot is a brand that knows the power of natural grape-seed antioxidants can be used to achieve beautiful skin," stated Wayne Beckley, founder and CEO of Merlot Skin Care."We are proud that our moisturizer has become a staple of so many women's daily beauty routines."

SILVER SPRING, Md. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new oral contraceptive from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.

The FDA announced Friday the approval of Beyaz (estrogen and progestin) tablets. The pills also contain a folate known as levomefolate calcium. Low folate levels in the body are associated with such conditions as spina bifida, and physicians recommend that women of childbearing age supplement their diets with folate.

PITTSBURGH Mylan has launched a generic treatment for acne, the company said Thursday.

Mylan announced the launch of minocycline hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 45 mg, 90 mg and 135-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Solodyn ER, made by Medicis Pharmaceuticals Corp.

Minocycline ER had sales of around $496 million during the 12-month period ended in March, according to IMS Health.