SKIN CONDITIONS
Acne
This is a disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of blocked pilosebaceous follicles. It predominantly affects teenagers.
Causes
There is an increase in sebum excretion, which is probably androgen mediated.
Increased and abnormal keratinisation at the exit of the pilosebaeceous follicle causes obstruction to the flow of sebum.
The sebum of patients with acne contains an excess of free fatty acids that may be responsible for triggering the inflammation process.
Colonisation by pathogenic Propionibacterium acnes causes inflammation at a later stage of the disease.
Important edocrine causes of acne include polycystic ovarian syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
A number of drugs can produce acne. The lesions are usually on the trunk rather than on face. Some of the common drugs are listed below:
Glucocorticoids: Systemic and local agents
Antitubercular: Isoniazid, rifampicin
Anabolic: Danazole, stanazole
Chemotherapeutic agents: Dactinomycin, pentostatin, gefitinib
Antiepileptics: Phenytoin, carbamazepine, topiramate, gabapentin
Antiviral: Ritonavir, ganciclovir
Antidepressants: Amitryptyline, lithium, sertaline
Vitamins: B6, B12
Symptoms
Lesions are limited to the face, shoulders, upper chest and back.
Seborrhoea (greasy skin) is often present.
Open comedones (blackheads) are due to plugging of the pilosebaeceous orifice by keratin and sebum.
Closed comedones (whiteheads) are due to accretions of sebum and keratin deeper in the pilosebaceous ducts.
Inflammatory lesions occur that tend to lead to more scarring. The lesions may include nodular cystic disease with all its potentially destructive sequelae.
Treatments
General measures:
Regular washing face with gentle cleanser and water
Drink plenty of water
Have more proteins in your diet which includes paneer, sprouts, eggs, curd, buttermilk, tofu, nachni etc.
Medicines: Detail history taking helps in understanding the cause of acne. Causes of acne may include underlying conditions like pcod or pcos, hormonal imbalance or certain drugs which are causing it.
Homeopathy believes in treating the cause that is the curing the disease from its root following which the symptoms also goes away. It helps curing acne and also preventing its recurrence.
