Acne
Acne is a common skin condition that causes pimples on the face, neck, shoulders, chest and back.1
Acne can be emotional stressful and depending on its severity can lead to scarring of the skin. 2
Acne occurs when the hair follicles become clogged with oil or sebum and dead skin cells. Sebum is prevented from leaving the skin through the pores. 1
Acne can appear in different forms which include: 2
Noninflammatory lesions (Comedones i.e. whiteheads and blackheads)
Comedones are created when the openings of hair follicles become clogged and blocked with oil secretions, dead skin cells and sometimes bacteria. When comedones are open at the skin surface, they’re called blackheads because of the dark appearance of the plugs in the hair follicles. When comedones are closed, they’re called whiteheads and are slightly raised, skin-coloured bumps.
Formation of Skin Pimples and Acnes
While most acne occurs on the face, it is also common on the back, shoulders and upper chest.
Three levels of acne severity are identified – mild, moderate and severe.
Three factors contribute to the formation of acne.
These are:
- the overproduction of oil or sebum
- the irregular shedding of dead skin cells resulting in irritation of the hair follicles of your skin
- the build up of bacteria
Factors that may worsen acne2
Factors that can trigger or aggravate an existing case of acne include:
Hormones
Male hormones called androgens increase in both boys and girls at the time of puberty. They cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives can also affect sebum production.
Medications
Medicines containing corticosteroids, androgens or lithium are known to cause acne
Diet
Certain dietary factors, including dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods e.g. bread, chips, which increase blood sugar may trigger acne.
General care of acne is very simple:
- Affected areas should be gently washed once or twice a day with mild soap
- Cosmetics should be water-based as very greasy products can make acne worse
- Although there are no restrictions on specific foods that a person can eat, a healthy balanced diet should be followed.
Beyond these routine measures, acne treatment depends on the severity of the condition.
- Mild acne
Topical medicines are applied to the skin. They work by killing bacteria (antibacterials) or alternatively they dry up or unclog the pores. Antibacterials that are commonly used include the 2 antibiotics clindamycin and erythromycin, and benzoyl peroxide. Other topical medicines are salicylic acid, resorcinol and sulphur.
They work by drying out the pimples and cause slight peeling, but are less effective than the antibiotics or benzoyl peroxide. If topical antibacterials fail, doctors may prescribe other medicines that help to unclog the pores like tretinoin. While tretinoin is very effective it is irritating to the skin and also makes the skin more sensitive to sunlight.
- Moderate acne
Oral antibiotics that are given by mouth are usually prescribed to treat moderate acne. Examples of these antibiotics include tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline and erythromycin.
- Severe acne
When oral antibiotics are not effective in treating severe acne, oral isotretinoin is considered the best treatment. Isotretinoin is the only medicines that can potentially cure acne. It is generally prescribed for 20 weeks. While isotretinoin is highly effective, it can have serious side effects such as harming a developing foetus.
As a result, women taking isotretinoin must use strict contraceptive measures to ensure that they do not fall pregnant. Other acne treatments may be used for specific people. For example, a woman with severe acne that worsens with her menstrual period, may be prescribed an oral contraceptive by her doctor.
Medical References
1. van Dyk JC, et al. South African guidelines for the management of nocturnal enuresis. SAMJ 2003;93(5):338-340.
2. Hjalmas K, et al. Nocturnal Enuresis: An International Evidence Based Management Strategy. J of Urology 2004;171:2545-2561.
3. Kiddoo DA. Nocturnal enuresis. CMAJ 2012;184(8):908-911.
4. van Kerrebroeck P, Nørgaard JP. Desmopressin for the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis. Pediatric Health 2009;3(4):311-327.
5. Vande Walle J, et al. Practical consensus guidelines for the management ofenuresis. Eur J Pediatr 2012:1-13.
6. Neveus T, et al. Evaluation of and Treatment for Monosymptomatic Enuresis: A Standardization Document From the International Children’s Continence Society. J of Urology 2010;183: 441-447.
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