A nice article about acne & pimples, aka comedo or microcomedo.
Essentially treatments are grouped in two categories:
Topical Agents
Topical medications include benzoyl peroxides, antibiotics, and vitamin A derivatives.
- Benzoyl peroxide is an anti-oxidant and bacteriostatic agent
- Clindamycin 1-4% and erythromycin 1-2% are most commonly prescribed topical antibiotics.
- Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative that increases the turn-over of cells. The medication is available in creams, gels, or lotions. Dryness is a common side effect.
Systemic Agents
Systemic medications consist of antibiotics. Examples are tetracycline, erythromycin, minocycline, isotretinoin (Accutane), and some of the newer oral contraceptive agents.
Some patients develop acne for the first time as adults. The incidence of acne in the 25- to 34-year-old age group is eight per cent; it drops to three per cent in 35- to 44-year-olds. Some women experience acne flare-ups during their premenstrual cycles.
Although it is not life-threatening, acne has the potential to cause a number of psychological and social challenges including poor self-esteem, social withdrawal, embarrassment, frustration, anger and getting rejected.
Scar formation is variable and hard to predict, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
The early onset of acne may also be a predictor of later severity. If a girl gets acne at 10, she is much more likely to experience severe acne within the next five years.
What Causes Acne
The mechanism behind the formation of acne is centred on the concept of plugged skin pores.
The scientific name for a blocked pore is a microcomedo. Essentially, a comedo is an inflamed and plugged follicle in the area where there is a lot of sebum production (usually the face, neck, chest, shoulders and upper back). Sebum is an oily secretion from the sebaceous glands that lubricates and protects the skin and hair.
The skin normally carries bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes. When this bacterium produces an enzyme that interacts with the sebum, inflammation results; the degree and intensity of this inflammation determines the appearance and severity of the acne. The worst cases of acne present as deep cysts, often painful and deeply troubling to most adolescents.
*** *** ***
The term “whitehead” refers to a closed comedo; “blackhead” refers to an open comedo where oxidation of the sebum colours the plug; cysts, known as “papules” and “nodules” indicate a more severe situation, often requiring the opinion of a skilled dermatologist. (See aad.org for typical photographs of these various forms of acne.)
Cosmetics, especially oil-based products as opposed to water-based products, may contribute to acne formation. The same is true for hair gels and sprays. Occlusive clothing such as turtlenecks, bra straps and shoulder pads as well as sports helmets also play a role.
Treating Acne
The treatment of acne has improved over the past decade. According to an article in Pediatrics in September, an expert committee working together as the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne states the foundation of treatment for most patients should be topical retinoid therapy.
Read the rest of this entry »
McLennan is a small rural town with a population of less than 1000 people. Everything is virtually one of a kind. One hospital, one school, one church, one grocery store (that closes by 6pm!), one bank, one post office, one library, one fire hall, one movie theater (with strange movies), one Home Hardware, one gas station, one museum,…etc. And, of course, one dental clinic. We’re talking about monopoly here. 
Email This Article
Take it easy, girls. 
Perhaps the problem for not funding the PSA test is its sensitivity and specificity. Not sure. Have to do some medical literature search first, before commenting on this.
RSS feed
