What is'Acne' ?
Acne commonly known as 'pimples' is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the sebaceous
unit present in the skin.
In mild to moderate cases, there may be black heads (comedones),
white heads (papules) or pustules. In severe cases, there are nodules, cysts
and abscess which lead to scarring if not treated on time.
Do acne normally occur in teenagers ?
Acne is
more common in the age group of 13 - 30 years but it may occur or persist
even beyond this age limit. Males are more frequently affected than females
due to androgen activity. Females may get a pre-menstrual flare
due to the increase in level of a hormone called Progesterone.
How do pimples form ?
The skin
has minute glands called sebaceous glands which open into the hair follicle.
These glands secrete an oily substance called sebum, which empties into the
skin surface through the hair follicle. During puberty, the male sex hormones
which are normally present both in males and females are on the rise and they
activate the sebaceous glands to increase in size, which in turn leads to
increase in the secretion of sebum. Secondly, the cells are shed more rapidly
and they stick together, plugging the opening of the hair follicle, resulting
in 'white heads'. The pigment melanin in the white heads when exposed to air,
forms black heads. Thirdly, bacteria especially the 'propionibacterium acne'
in number and add to the formation of
acne. When the follicle gets clogged, its wall ruptures. The sebum, bacteria
and dead cells escape into the surrounding tissue and lead to formation of
more severe form of acne in form of pustules, nodules, abscesses and cysts.
What are the factors affecting the formation of acne ?
Acne commonly occurs in people
who are genetically predisposed. Use of cosmetics such as
creams, oil based moisturizers, oil based foundations, etc. can cause acne. Application of
heavy oil or gel on the scalp leads to pimples on the back and forehead. People who work in chemical
or oil industries and come in contact with hydrocarbons, heavy oils,
cutting oil, wax, grease and coal tar derivatives
can develop acne. People working in hot and
humid climate can develop acne. Drugs such as oral contraceptives,
steroids, isoniazid, lithium, phenytoin,
iodides etc. can cause pimples. Squeezing or picking at a pre-existing lesion will
lead to secondary infection and increased pigmentation. Stress will exacerbate acne.
Finally, if acne persists in
spite of medical treatment or if the patient has other features such as
or hair loss, an endocrine disorder must be
considered and investigations carried out accordingly.
What are the 'Do's and Dont's in treatment of acne ?
- Wash your face with an anti-bacterial soap at least 3-4 times a day.
- Increase the intake of citrus fruits such as oranges, grapes, lime and lemon and other food stuff which are high in vitamin C and zinc.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Do not pick or squeeze the pimples as this causes infection, pigmentation and scarring.
- Avoid the use of oily cosmetics, cleansing milk and gels.
- Do not apply excessive hair oil if you have acne over the forehead.
- Avoid stress factors.
- Be patient and give medicines some time to act. You may have to take antibiotics for 8 - 10 weeks.
- You may require surgical
intervention in the form of comedone extraction, cryoslush, cryo-peel with
liquid nitrogen or superficial chemical peel. These are best performed by a dermatosurgeon.
How can acne scars be treated ?- Superficial scars can be treated by subscision combined with cryoslush
- Very shallow scars may be treated with repeated sittings of microdermabrasion.
- Deeper scars can be treated with punch incision with elevation or punch excision and grafting.
- One may combine any of the above with intense pulse light or long pulse Ndyag laser treatment.
What is Carbon-dioxide cryoslush ?
It is a type of cryosurgery performed to treat active acne as well as superficial acne scars using carbon-dioxide ice. Carbon-dioxide ice which has a temperature of -79șC when applied to the lesion, causes destruction of the comedones and resolution of the inflammed lesions. It also causes superficial peeling of skin.
What is liquid Nitrogen cryo-peel?
It is a procedure which involves application of liquid nitrogen to the acne affected areas in order to cause resolution of the nodules and cysts. When is cryo-peel performed?
Ln2 cryopeel is performed when a patient has severe nodulocystic acne or recalcitrant acne not responding to oral medication.It may also be performed to treat superficial acne scars.
How is it different from Co2 cryoslush?
Co2 has a temperature of -78.5degrees whereas Ln2 has a temp of -196 degrees. Thus Ln2 lowers the temp of skin to a greater degree and brings about faster resolution of cysts and nodules. Secondly, superficial scars due to acne become shallow.
ACNE | KELOID | VITILIGO | PIGMENTATION | HAIR LOSS |
This site has been developed for information only. The treatment methodologies described are only enumerations and should not be followed as regimens without valid prescription given by a qualified medical doctor. The treatment procedures described in the site are not without risk and the author is not responsible for complication that arise in the course of the treatment done by other doctors.
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