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Acne: Myths, Facts and Therapy 

Acne, although being a very common skin problem, leads to a lot of heartache and corresponding increase in expenditure on off the self-cosmetic products, which may or may not help. The present paper throws the light on the acne, its cause, facts, myths and finally the drug therapy, which are used in suppressing the acne. Also, attempt was done to collect the herbal therapy for the acne since they are safe, easily available and free fron major side effects.

  

ACKING ACNE: MYTHS, FACTS AND THERAPY

KAUL, SHEFALI 1* DUBEY, RAGHVENDRA2 AND DWIVEDI, SUMEET 2

1, QC DEPTT. PLETHICO PHARMA LTD., INDORE, MP-INDIA

2, CHORDIA INSTITUTE OF PHARMACY, INDORE, MP, INDIA

*  CORRESPONDING AUTHOR

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mob. No. 09893156578   

ABSTRACT

Acne, although being a very common skin problem, leads to a lot of heartache and corresponding increase in expenditure on off the self-cosmetic products, which may or may not help. The present paper throws the light on the acne, its cause, facts, myths and finally the drug therapy, which are used in suppressing the acne. Also, attempt was done to collect the herbal therapy for the acne since they are safe, easily available and free fron major side effects.

INTRODUCTION

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the hair follicle and their associated sebaceous or oil glands. Acne appears not only on the face, but also on the neck, chest, back, upper shoulder, scalp, upper arms and legs or other areas of the body, where there is a large concentration of oil glands. It is related primarily to hormonal changes that occur during adolescence. These hormonal factors play a significant role in the onset of acne and since oil gland activity and sebum production are under the controls of androgens, the role of these hormones are crucial. There are factors, such as physiological factors as in puberty, pregnancy and menophase; pathological factors, as in ovarian cysts, adrenal hyperplasia; drug induced e.g., cortisone bodies, iodides, anabolic steroids for body building, antileptics, antituberculosis treatments etc. then there are mechanical factors such as infrequent washing and thus clogging on the pores, drandruff, constipitation etc.

TYPES & OCCURRENCE

Adolescent, heredity and hormonal imbalance are three different and major types of the acne. Acne can occur right from the pre-puberty stage up to adult, till the late 4th day, which is because of the dip in the estrogen levels because of which the circulating male hormone brings about this break out. The teenage acne appears between 12 and 16 and is again due to androgen activity on the oil glands during the puberty. The skin becomes very oily because of which the pores open wide, may get clogged with sweat. This leads to formation of black head, which latter on may become pustular lesions. This type is normally treated with topical application of adapelene, benzoyl peroxide or certain erythromycin gel or if severe, with the oral antibiotics. The scars and acne fade away with the time. The adult acne is usually concentrated around the jaws, chin and upper neck and usually cystic and nodular and takes very long to fade.

MYTHS ABOUT ACNE

1. Caused by poor diet

In most cases, diet and hygiene has no influence on the acne, but certain things like not taking tetracycline along with milk product should be remembered. Otherwise there is no need to avoid milk products. Hygiene is very important from head to toe and from with in control acne.

2. Role of stress in acne

Stress brings about certain hormonal changes which in turn activate the oil gland or even cause syndrome like polycystic ovarian disease which results in a nodular cystic acne, unwanted body and facial hair and may be irregular periods.

SOME FACTS ABOUT ACNE

  • Acne is a disease of adolescence, but can develop in women up to there forties.
  • Acne is more common in girls and can afflicts young men and women alike, as a matter of facts; the severe cystic form of acne is more common in men.
  • Acne increases before periods, due to the peak in hormone, which stimulates the oil glands and there is a flare up of the exciting acne.
  • Acne lessens during the pregnancy, if pre-pregnancy acne is due to a hormonal imbalance, the change in hormone and that happened during pregnancy act as treatment for the problem.
  • Hormonal treatment or birth control pills can treat acne.
  • Moisturizer can worsen acne.