Showing posts with label Dermatology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dermatology. Show all posts

Monday 10 September 2012

Stress and Acne: Are They Related???

Here in modern world, stress is the most common problem a person would have because it leads to so many other diseases the list of which would never be complete. It influences health in a large spectrum of ways. Recently in a study it has been found that it can flare up an acne reaction in an already acne prone patient. Although the exact mechanism is not know, it increases the receptors in skin for different stress hormones. These hormones increase the sebum production. Eventually sebum mixes with dead skin and block the pores leading to acne cyst or comedone formation. The study was done on few college students (around 20-22) with acne during exam period and increased acne pimple was noted.

Stress doent lead to new acne formation, but flares up the old ones. These acne cant be treated only with stress relieving unfortunately, but some anti acne cream like benzoyl peroxide etc or isotretinion tablet for resistant cases are used.

Friday 13 July 2012

ACNE VULGARIS

O.k, first of all vulgaris doesnt mean that it is vulgar or dirty, it means most common type e.g. icthyosis vulgaris, acne vulgaris. Acne is a very common problem in world. It is caused as a result of blockages of follicles which are called microcomedone, which later become enlarged and result in comedones if open and milia if closed. The comedones contain sebum and dead skin which can become infected by propionibacterium acne leading to inflammation and pustule ( pimple) formation. Other causes include hormonal changes during puberty, anabolic steroid intake, diet.

Symptoms include comedones, seborrhea, pustules, nodules, scars, pigmentations.

TREATMENT includes ointments like benzoyl peroxide, clyndamycin cream, if they dont help then isotretinoin gel/cream. If all these treatments fail then oral isotretinoin is prescribed which usually given for 4-6 months and can cause long term resolution of symptoms. It is teratogenic ( causes developement problem in fetus) so is contraindicated in pregnancy.


Some other modalities are Dermabrasion, phototherapy, photodynamic therapy, laser.


Home remedies... aloe vera oil, egg oil and tea tree oil.


Also Watch: Blackhead Removal Video Collection by Dr Vikram Singh Yadav