Acne complex|health women for better life

 Acne Complex

Truly, Acne is a complex type of disease. Both sexes have to suffer from this irritating problem. Let us discuss acne and its treatment in detail. I shall try to simplify the medical terminology as far as feasible.

types of acne

Acne is of two types – Acne vulgaris and Acne rosacea. Acne vulgaris is the principal form that we see regularly. We shall know about both of them, but first Acne vulgaris.

comedonal acne

It is a self-limiting disorder primarily in adolescents and teenagers, though some adults face the same disease. The etiology of the disorder is the increased production of sebum from the sebaceous glands which are situated in the epidermis (the part of the skin just below the keratinized layer of the skin). This excess production is usually seen when the child attains puberty. Comedones, a tiny cystic structure form in the opening of the hair follicles as there is obstruction due to the retention of sebum and some keratinized debris. This is the time when the normally occurring bacteria turn hostile and play some deleterious role. They dissolve the sebum and other materials inside the comedones. This releases some free fatty acids which are irritable to the skin. Ultimately the cyst ruptures. The end result is what we as acne.

Acne Vulgaris most commonly occur in the face. But the chest and the back side can also be involved. In most cases, acne remains mild and does not necessarily cause scar formation. It is noticed in some patients that the tiny cysts collapse together and major scar formation occurred.

acne treatment

Now let us discuss the treatment of acne. The affected area of the skin must be kept clean and dry. You should clean your face three to four times a day. Any brand of good quality oil-free face wash will suffice. However, there is no need to scrub actively. It may aggravate the situation by opening up cysts that would not rupture in a normal course. Specific antimicrobial creams (which contain Azelaic acid, Benzoyl peroxide, Clindamycin, or Erythromycin cream) are the first line of medicine. It should be applied over the whole affected area three times a day after washing with oil-free face wash. The technique should not involve rubbing, only gentle laying keeping a thin layer will do. Some topical creams such as Benzoyl peroxide and Retinoic acid are also helpful. They act by changing the pattern of desquamation of skin, as a result lowering the formation of comedones. The dose of these two creams is also the same – three times a day. In women, synthetic estrogen cream or oral contraceptive pills are prescribed. Estrogen acts by inhibiting the production of androgen in the body. Low levels of androgen will reduce the chance of production of sebum. In resistant cases of acne, the use of synthetic retinoids is extensively prescribed. The only drawback of synthetic retinoids is that they can not be used in pregnant women as there is a chance of fetal anomaly.

acne rosacea

Now let us discuss something about Acne rosacea 

Acne rosacea is mostly seen in women although most severe cases are found in men. Persons, who suffer from flush or blush, are prone to develop the disease. After a prolonged and active flushing period, rosacea develops. The other triggering factors are alcohol, spicy food, emotional stress, and hot drinks.

It responds well to sodium sulfacetamide or metronidazole cream. More severe and resistant cases may require oral tetracycline.