Rethinking the Acne Cascade: A Severity-Stratified Approach from Trigger to Clearance

Acne vulgaris is rarely just a bacterial problem, yet most treatment protocols are built as if it is. In this clinical webinar, board-certified dermatologists Chesahna Kindred, MD and Cheri Frey, MD trace the full acne cascade from its earliest inflammatory triggers through to clinical clearance. They will challenge the field's longstanding reliance on antimicrobial-first strategies and the misconception that laser therapy is a treatment of last resort.

Drawing on current evidence in acne pathophysiology, Dr. Kindred and Dr. Frey build the case for targeting inflammation early and consistently, then translate that framework into a practical, severity-stratified acne treatment protocol clinicians can implement immediately. See how the Aerolase NeoDerm and its 650-microsecond 1064nm laser technology functions as a consistent clinical backbone across the full acne severity spectrum: as monotherapy for comedonal and mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne, in combination with topical retinoids for moderate disease, and as an adjunct to reduce antibiotic duration and systemic burden in severe nodular and cystic presentations.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the full acne cascade and why inflammation — not bacteria — should anchor your treatment strategy
• Learn why early, consistent intervention produces more durable clearance and reduces long-term sequelae including PIH and scarring
• Explore a severity-stratified protocol using Aerolase as monotherapy for mild-to-moderate acne and as a combination adjunct for severe and cystic presentations
• Gain phototype-specific guidance for safely and effectively treating acne across Fitzpatrick skin types I–VI
• Identify where laser therapy fits within — not after — your existing treatment algorithm to reduce antibiotic dependence and systemic burden
• Leave with an immediately implementable clinical framework adaptable to your practice and patient population

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Register to watch this webinar live on June 15, 2026 at 8:00pm EST!

Presented by Chesahna Kindred, MD, MBA, FAAD

Dr. Chesahna Kindred is a board-certified dermatologist, researcher, and national speaker specializing in skin of color. She is an attending dermatologist at MedStar Physician Partners Dermatology and founder of Kindred Hair & Skin Center in the Baltimore-Maryland area, where her practice integrates medical, cosmetic, and procedural dermatology with a focus on empowering patients through evidence-based care. Dr. Kindred's clinical research includes published work on acne and acne-induced post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with darker skin tones, and she is a contributing author to leading dermatology textbooks.

Presented by Cheri Frey, MD, FAAD

Dr. Cheri Frey is a board-certified dermatologist, assistant professor of dermatology at Howard University in Washington, DC, and director of cosmetic dermatology and residency program director at Howard University Hospital. A member of the board of directors of the American Acne and Rosacea Society, her clinical and research interests include acne, dyspigmentation, and alopecia, with a particular focus on safe and effective treatment strategies for patients with skin of color.