What Is Acne?

July 2nd, 2009

Acne is a disease that affects the skin’s oil glands. The small holes in your skin (pores) connect to oil glands under the skin. These glands make an oily substance called sebum. The pores connect to the glands by a canal called a follicle. Inside the follicles, oil carries dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. A thin hair also grows through the follicle and out to the skin. When the follicle of a skin gland clogs up, a pimple grows.
Most pimples are found on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Acne is not a serious health threat but, it can cause scars.
Sometimes, the hair, sebum, and skin cells clump together into a plug. The bacteria in the plug causes swelling. Then when the plug starts to break down, a pimple grows. There are many types of pimples. The most common types are: l Whiteheads. These are pimples that stay under the surface of the skin.l Blackheads. These pimples rise to the skin’s surface and look black. The black color is not from dirt.l Papules. These are small pink bumps that can be tender. l Pustules. These pimples are red at the bottom and have pus on top.l Nodules. These are large, painful, solid pimples that are deep in the skin.l Cysts. These deep, painful, pus-filled pimples can cause scars. Acne is the most common skin disease. People of all races and ages get acne. But it is most common in teenagers and young adults. An estimated 80 percent of all people between the ages of 11 and 30 have acne outbreaks at some point. Some people in their forties and fifties still get acne.

Pathophysiology

July 1st, 2009

The origin of acne vulgaris is complex and incompletely understood. At least 4 pathophysiologic events take place within acne-infected hair follicles:
(1) androgen-mediated stimulation of
sebaceous gland activity,

(2) abnormal
keratinization leading to follicular
plugging (comedo formation),

(3) proliferation
of the bacterium Propionibacterium
acnes within the follicle, and
(4) inflammation.

In addition to these
4 basic mechanisms, genetic factors,3
stress,4 and possibly diet may influence
the development and severity of acne.

Treatment of Acne Vulgaris

July 1st, 2009

THE MANAGEMENT OF ACNE VULGARIS
by nondermatologists is increasing. In this blog we attempt to answer the question:
what treatments in acne vulgaris have proven efficacy and how are these treatments best administered and individualized to optimize results and minimize complications?We considered the efficacy and safety of topical retinoids, topical antimicrobials, systemic antibiotics, hormonal treatments for women, and oral isotretinoin.