Acne

What is Acne?
Acne is an extremely common skin condition characterised by comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and pus-filled spots (pustules). It usually starts at puberty and may vary in severity from minor breakouts on the face, back and chest (commonly in adolescence) to a more severe problem that may cause embarrassment and physical and emotional scarring. In the majority of patients, acne tends to resolve by the late teens or early twenties but can persist for longer into adult years.

What Causes Acne?
The sebaceous (oil-producing) glands of patients who get acne are particularly sensitive to testosterone levels. This is a hormone present in both men and women and causes the sebaceous glands to produce an excess of oil. At the same time, the dead skin cells that are continually being shed from our skin and line the pores are not shed properly and clog up the follicles. This all results in a build-up of oil causing blackheads (where a darkened plug of oil is visible) and whiteheads.

Furthermore, in this environment, the acne bacterium (known as Propionibacterium acnes) which lives on everyone’s skin can multiply. This triggers inflammation and the formation of red or pus-filled spots.


What Does Acne Look Like?
The classical appearances of acne include the following:

1 - oily skin,
2 - blackheads and whiteheads,
3 - red spots ,
4 - pus-filled pimples, and
5 - scars.

How Can Acne Be Treated?
Many patients will try over-the-counter preparations with variable success. Sometimes, these treatments may not be effective and therefore it maybe advisable to visit your doctor or skin specialist – these treatments may be prescription-only or non-prescription (such as cosmeceuticals).

These treatments fall into the following categories:

• Topical treatments (applied to the skin)
• Oral antibiotics (tablets taken by mouth).
• Oral contraceptive pills Isotretinoin capsules
• Other treatments – microdermabrasion, chemical peels light therapy, IPL lasers, cautery, subcision, surgiwire and surgery

Cosmeceuticals
Many patients prefer to avoid prescription medications but want something more effective than those preparations obtained in the shops. Many skin specialists will therefore also offer ranges of medical grade cosmeceuticals (eg. ThreeFIX skin clarity system) that can also be extremely effective in targeting all forms of acne. Niacinamide reduces sebum production and salicylic acid aids shedding of cellular debris (this can be used daily in lower doses or in higher doses as part of a chemical peel regime) Find out more.

Chemical Peels

Topical Treatments
There are a variety of active anti-acne agents such as benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics (erythromycin, tetracycline and clindamycin), retinoids (such as tretinoin and isotretinoin), azelaic acid and nicotinamide.

Chemical Peels
Beta-hydroxy acid (salicylic acid) is attracted to the lipid content of skin, particularly sebum, found predominantly in follicles. This peel helps to regulate the turnover of epithelial cells and shed unwanted cellular debris. This helps to unclog pores, reducing blackheads and spots. BHA peels help in the treatment of acne and excess surface oil. These peels are performed on a monthly basis in clinic and can be used alone or in conjunction with other Procedure Peels. They are often used in combination with the ThreeFIX acne product range.

Oral Antibiotic Treatment
Your doctor may recommend a course of antibiotic tablets that should be taken in combination with a suitable topical treatment.

Antibiotics need to be taken for a minimum of two months, and are usually continued until there is no further improvement. Some should not be taken at the same time as food, so read the instructions carefully.

Oral Contraceptive Treatments
Some types of oral contraceptive pills help women who have acne. The most effective contain a hormone blocker (eg. cyproterone), which reduces the amount of oil the skin produces. It usually takes three to four months for the benefits to show.

Isotretinoin
This powerful treatment may be very effective but has the potential to cause a number of serious side effects and must therefore be prescribed only by a skin specialist. Isotretinoin can harm an unborn child. Women have to take full contraceptive measures and need to have a negative pregnancy test prior to starting treatment. Pregnancy tests are repeated every month during treatment and five weeks after completing the course of treatment. Effective contraception must be used whilst on treatment, and for four weeks afterwards.

There are concerns that isotretinoin may cause depression and suicidal feelings. Details about any personal and family history of mental illness should be discussed with your own doctor and skin specialist prior to considering treatment.

Most courses of isotretinoin last for four months during which time the skin may become red and dry. Often, acne becomes a little worse before improvement occurs.


ThreeFIX SKIN CLARITY SYSTEM
ThreeFIX is our new topical skincare regime for acne. Outstanding results can be seen without the need for oral prescription medication. It is the first acne range to combine niacinamide, benzoyl peroxide and hydroxyacids all of which target acne in different ways. Find out more.

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Click to visit www.wellbournecosmetic.com

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