The Knowledge Board:
Acne
The most common form of acne is known as "acne vulgaris", meaning "common acne". Acne is not a serious health threat, but severe acne can lead to permanent scarring which can upset those who are affected by this skin condition. Acne is a skin disease, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Mild and moderate acne is usually non- inflammatory, and are often referred to as pimples, spots, or zits. Severe cases of acne are can become inflammatory and are usually known as nodulocystic
Acne usually occurs during adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers. For most people, acne tends to decrease or disappear, during their early twenties, but there are some cases where people continue to suffer with it for many decades later. The most common affected areas are the face and upper neck, but acne can also appear on the chest, back, and shoulders and on rare occasions the upper arms.
Acne can also cause psychological effects like low self-esteem, depression and according to one study suicide also, due to the scars it leaves behind. Therefore for some individuals, early and aggressive treatment is needed to reduce the overall impact acne has on their lives.
There are currently many products available for the treatment of acne, but not many of them have any scientifically-proven effects. Successful treatments take around 1-3 months to see a noticeable acne decrease, however short bursts of cortisone can give very quick results, and other treatments can rapidly improve some active spots. Treatments that suggest that they can cure acne within two weeks, are usually not true and can lead to disappointment.
The exact way of how treatments improve acne is not necessarily fully understood but in general the treatments are believed to work in at least 4 different ways the best treatments providing multiple simultaneous effects. These are:
There are a number of proven effective treatments:
·Topical bactericidals. These arewidely available OTC (Over the Counter). Bactericidal products containing benzoyl peroxide may be used in mild to moderate acne cases, but care must be taken when using this product, because it easily bleaches.
·Topical antibiotics. Externally applied antibiotics such as erythromycin, aim to kill the bacteria that are harbored in the blocked follicles. While topical use of antibiotics is equally as effective as oral use, this method avoids possible side effects including upset stomach and drug interactions but can prove to be awkward when applying over large areas.
·Oral antibiotics. Oral antibiotics can be used to treat acne. However, reducing the acnes bacteria will not reduce the oil secretion and abnormal cell behaviour which is the initial cause of the blocked follicles. Also acne is now becoming more resistant to someantibiotics, making it less useful. Another flaw of using antibiotics is that the acne often reappears after treatment.
·Hormonal treatments. Women can be givenhormonal treatments, to improive their acne. The common combination of oestrogen and progestogen hormonal contraception have some effect, but research has shown that the combination of the anti-testosterone, Cyproterone, with an oestrogen (Diane 35) is particularly effective .
In cases where there is a large pimple that has not reacted to other treatments, a dermatologist can administer an injection of cortisone directly into it, which usually immediately reduces the redness and inflammation. This flattens the pimple, making it less visible, and also helps in the healing process. The side effects are minimal, it carries a much smaller risk of scarring than surgical removal.
Some less widely used treatments:
Please feel free to click here if there are any other conditions we should add.
Below is a list of conditions. The highlighted conditions are the active KnowledgeBoards.
The Patients Voice The Patients Voice is one of the many patient-focused services from Healthcare Landscape. Healthcare Landscape is a medical and healthcare research company, which conducts interviews with all the different kinds of people involved in the healthcare process. They range from patients and their carers, to medical professionals like nurses, pharmacists, physicians and academics. Our mission is to find out what they think and what their experiences have been.
We can interview over the web, at home or at a special research facility; depending on what type of study it is, the choice is often yours. We also run patient diaries and blogs, so you can air your views as honestly and informally as you like. We want to ensure that you have access to the best research experience, and in turn, our clients will learn from your story. Our clients are quite diverse. They range from pharmaceutical or medical device companies, to charities and government bodies. The Patients Voice is open to anyone in the world who wants to give an opinion and would like to try to make a difference. This forum gives you power by allowing you to get YOUR VOICE HEARD.
You should always consult your physician regarding any medical issues. While we attempt to make sure the information on this site is as accurate as possible consulting a medical professional is always to be advised.
Membership of the Patients Voice is Free and open to anyone.
To become a member of the Patients Voice please enter your email below and click Submit.
Bookmark with: