Medicine for acne image
Acne can be frustrating especially in teenagers. It causes disfigurement which may result in psychological disturbance. An effective medicine for acne would have a marvelous effect both physically and psychologically. Selection of a medicine for acne depends upon many factors: 1- Type of skin lesion: whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. 2- Nature of skin: dry, oily or normal. 3- Severity of acne: mild, moderate or severe 4- Presence of inflammatory changes.
The goal of acne therapy is to get rid of existing lesions and prevent the formation of new ones. Most treatments resolve existing acne lesions and, with continuous use, discourage new ones from forming. Given the way acne occurs, acne treatments do one or more of the following: • Reduce sebum productionReduce P. acnesNormalize the shedding of skin cells. Two or more acne products are often used to treat different acne causes The most effective acne medicines are available only by physician prescription. As with any potent pharmaceutical agent, they should be used only after examination by a physician and under the supervision of a physician. Prescribed medications include antibiotics, topical retinoids, anti-androgen spironolactone; and oral isotretinoin for treatment of severe nodular acne and acne resistant to other medications. According to mechanism of action, Medicines for acne include: 1- Cleansing agents 2- Exfoliating agents 3- Antibiotics 4- Keratin life cycle modifiers 5- Sebum production controllers 6- Moisturizing agents An ideal medicine for acne should be: Effective, not expensive and has minimal or no side effects. In order to prevent disfiguring complications of acne such as scarring and pigmentation, you should consult a dermatologist especially in severe cases.

Friday, May 23, 2008

medicine for acne logoMedicine for acne: Antiandrogen therapy

The majority of patients with acne do not have serum androgen abnormalities. The profound sebum suppression produced by isotretinoin has to a large extent eliminated the need for antiandrogenic therapy. Antiandrogenic therapy is reserved for patients with acne who have clinical signs of androgen excess and for those in whom other treatments have failed.
Patient population.
There is a group of women with treatment-resistant, late-onset, or persistent acne. Some of these women have signs suggesting hyperandrogenism, such as hirsutism, irregular menses, or menstrual dysfunction, but others are normal. Serum androgens may or may not be elevated.
Ovulation abnormalities.
Ovulation disturbances have been found in 58.3% of women acne patients, with a prevalence of anovulation in juvenile acne and of luteal insufficiency in late-onset/persistent acne. Women affected by late-onset or persistent acne have a high incidence of polycystic ovary disease. Polycystic ovaries are not necessarily associated with menstrual disorders, obesity, or hirsutism. The presence of polycystic ovaries in acne patients does not correlate with acne severity, infertility, menstrual disturbance, hirsutes, or biochemical endocrinologic abnormalities.
Androgens.
A combination of the effects of circulating androgens and the effects of their metabolism at the hair follicle modulates sebum production and acne severity. Androgens (free testosterone [fT], dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEAS]) are the most important hormones in the pathogenesis of acne. Plasma-free testosterone is the active fraction of testosterone and determines plasma androgenicity.
Diagnosis--serum androgen levels.
fT and DHEAS are the most practical ways of evaluating hormonal influences in the female. DHEAS is the best index of adrenal androgen activity.
Treatment
Three options.
There are three options for treating acne systemically with hormone manipulation. Estrogen suppresses ovarian androgen, glucocorticoids suppress adrenal androgen, and antiandrogens (spironolactone) act at the peripheral level (hair follicle, sebaceous gland).

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