» Acne

Utah County Tips: Acne Myths & Treatments

Nate — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:26:11 +0000

Contrary to popular belief in Utah County, acne and diet are not closely related. Acne isn’t caused by sugar, chocolate, or greasy foods, although it’s generally a good idea to limit such snacks. Nor is acne caused by sexual activity, masturbation, or dirt on the skin. It can be aggravated by oily cosmetics, stress, picking at blemishes, rough cleansers, or hard scrubbing.

Another acne myth is that sunlight can make acne better. A suntan can temporarily lessen the appearance of acne lesions, but it won’t make it go away, and the sun can damage the skin in other ways (wrinkles, skin cancer).

How is teen acne treated?

Acne treatments range from over-the-counter (OTC) topical acne medications to oral drugs for the worst cases. In teens treating acne early is especially important to prevent it from getting worse or causing acne scars.

Many people attempt to first treat their acne at home with non-prescription medications, such as Proactiv or Sensiclear. Unfortunately, many people discover that these over-the-counter medications take too long to work, prolonging the acne and increasing the risk of developing acne scars.
For moderate acne, or mild acne that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter treatments, you may need a stronger prescription acne medication that acts faster and provides longer-lasting benefits. Physicians may prescribe a topical retinoid, a mainstay of acne therapy. Topical retinoids help to clear up acne quickly and provide ongoing clear skin. Brands of topical retinoids include Differin™(adapalene), Epiduo™(adapalene + benzoyl peroxide), Retin A Micro™(tretinoin), Tazorac™(tazarotene), or Ziana™(tretinoin + clindamycin). These medications may be used alone or in combination with other acne medications, such as antibiotics.
For the most severe cases of acne (such as cystic acne), physicians may prescribe isotretinoin (Accutane, Sotret). This daily oral medication has shown to be an effective treatment when other medications have failed, but it has serious possible side effects and should never be taken by pregnant women. Women using isotretinoin must agree to use two types of birth control, and abstain from sex within a month before and after taking the medication.

Stick with it

No medication can do its job properly unless it is given time to work. It’s very important to be patient and take your medication as directed, for as long as directed. If you don’t see results right away, don’t be discouraged. Your medication is hard at work preventing new lesions from forming. Stopping treatment early will likely cause pimples and zits to reappear.

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This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns.

Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

Teenagers with Acne in Utah

Nate — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 04:15:14 +0000

Almost every Utah teenager can expect to get acne at some point during adolescence, but that doesn’t make it easier to bear. The emotional toll of acne is a familiar problem for many young people and can wreak havoc on adolescent self-confidence. Fortunately, almost all cases of acne are treatable

Who gets acne?

Anyone of any age can get acne, even adults, but it is most common in teenagers. In fact, acne is considered a normal part of adolescence. 100% of the population can expect to have acne at some time during adolescence, regardless of race or ethnicity. During puberty, elevated hormone levels stimulate higher sebum production than usual, increasing the chance of acne flares.

Boys are more likely to get it during adolescence because their skin tends to produce more sebum. In adulthood, women are more prone to acne than men, likely because of the hormonal swings of menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.

People with a family history of acne are also more likely to get acne.

Sports and acne mechanica

Teens who play sports, wear a backpack, or play a musical instrument that comes into contact with the face and neck may get a form of acne called acne mechanica. This type of acne is caused by irritation to the skin from excessive heat or sweat, friction, or pressure. The American Academy of Dermatology lists these common sports-related sources of acne mechanica:

Helmets and helmet straps, especially those worn by football and hockey players and motorcycle riders
Shoulder pads and straps worn by football players
Tight uniforms made of synthetic fabric
Tight headbands worn by soccer players and runners
Straps and packs on backpacks

Other common causes of acne mechanica are:

Straps used by soldiers for weapons and equipment
Headbands worn for long periods of time
Musical instruments, such as the violin, tucked against the neck for hours
Tight fur caps worn for long periods of time
Tight clothing, such as jeans and underwear made of synthetic fabric
Snug bra straps
Adhesive tape that remains on the skin for several days (occasionally)

Source

Acne and Your Diet

Nate — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:48:34 +0000

One-half of teenagers have heard that foods can worsen acne, but results of previous medical studies have lead physicians to say that there is no link between diet and acne. Now, more recent studies suggest that there may be a connection. However, the relationship is not clear, and changing one’s diet is not going to “cure” acne.

Acne and Diet. Recent Study Results

The relationship between the foods we eat and the development of acne has been debated for many years.

47.7% of acne patients that completed an online acne survey believe that eating some foods can make acne worse.

The acne-diet connection was generally accepted by physicians and the public until the 1970’s after a few small medical studies failed to show a relationship. One study evaluated the relationship between chocolate intake and acne. It showed no connection between the cocoa levels in chocolate and the development of acne. (It did not, however, evaluate the effects of sugar, milk, or fat in the chocolate bars).

Since those studies were published, considerable effort has been spent educating the public about the “acne myth” of diet playing a role in acne.

However, this controversy is heating up again as more recent studies indicate a potential role of diet, contradicting these historical studies.

One 2002 study, “Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization” was published in the Archives of Dermatology. The researchers studied indigenous tribes of hunter/gatherers, including near Papua New Guinea (Kitavan Islanders) and in the remote jungle of Paraguay (Ache people). Individuals in these groups, including teenagers, showed no signs of acne. It was hypothesized that the lack of acne was related to their low carbohydrate diet. (Since the people there hunt for their food they do not have easy access to carbohydrates and simple sugars as found in fruits, breads, sodas, candies,..etc.) However, it is difficult to determine whether these findings were due to their unique diets or genetics.

Another 2007 study on high-protein, low glycemic-load diet and the development of acne studied changes in glucose and insulin levels in the blood due to diet and the resulting changes on the skin. One group of teenage boys was given foods with a low glycemic index, such as whole grain breads and pasta, beans (legumes) as well as high protein foods. The second group was fed a more “typical” teenage diet consisting of white bread, potatoes, and sugary drinks and snacks. After 12 weeks, the boys in the high protein-low glycemic index group showed a significant reduction of acne.

Another study announced at the 2009 American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting show that more than 80% of adherents to the South Beach Diet noticed improvement in their complexion within three months of starting the dietary regimen.

The results of these studies suggest a link between diet and acne development.

The “low glycemic-load theory” suggests that high carbohydrate diet leads to increased levels of insulin in the blood, which results in a series of hormonal changes, including increased levels of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) and androgens (male hormones). Increased IGF-1 levels can lead to blockage of the pores and the development of comedones, the precursor of acne lesions. Increased androgen levels increase sebum production that results in oily skin and swelling of acne lesions.

Meanwhile, the role of milk consumption and acne continues to be explored.
A 2008 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), “Milk consumption and acne in teenaged boys” showed a positive association between intake of skim milk and acne.

Overall, further studies are needed to further understand the relationship of acne and diet, determine the specific factors in food that might be controlled, and measure the additional impact that weight loss and exercise might have on acne.

Take Home Message

So, is diet alone going to clear your acne? Probably not.

People with moderate acne or severe acne may still require acne treatment to keep acne under control and prevent acne scars.

However, eating a low carbohydrate (low glycemic diet) may reduce the severity and frequency of acne break outs.

This means keeping to a diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruit, beans and whole grains (whole wheat bread, wheat pastas, brown rice, oatmeal, etc.) over processed or “junk foods” that are high in sugar, such as pastries, soda, sugary snacks.

You have nothing to lose, and a healthy body to gain. And possibly clearer skin, too.

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Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

The Basics of Acne Revealed

Nate — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:49:38 +0000

Do you have questions like these?

What causes acne?
What are the different types of acne?
Why do I get acne?
What makes my acne worse or better?
What treatment options do I have for acne?
How can I keep my acne under control?
What specific things can I do to take care of or prevent acne?

If you do have these questions, you’re definitely not alone. These are questions we are asked all the time as Utah dermatologists.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll answer these questions in depth for you.

Acne is a skin problem that is very common. It shows up as outbreaks of bumps called pimples or zits. These usually appear on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Acne can be a source of emotional distress, and severe cases can lead to permanent scarring.

What causes acne?

Acne begins when the pores in the skin become clogged and can no longer drain sebum (an oil made by the sebaceous glands that protects and moisturizes the skin.) The sebum build-up causes the surrounding hair follicle to swell.

Hair follicles swollen with sebum are called comedones. If the sebum stays beneath the skin, the comedones produce white bumps called whiteheads. If the sebum reaches the surface of the skin, the comedones produce darkened bumps called blackheads. This black discoloration is due to sebum darkening when it is exposed to air. It is not due to dirt. Both whiteheads and blackheads may stay in the skin for a long time.

Bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that normally live on the top of the skin can enter the clogged pores and infect the sebum. This causes the skin to become swollen, red, and painful.

Infected sebaceous glands may burst, releasing sebum and bacteria into the surrounding skin, creating additional inflammation. In severe cases, larger nodules and cysts may form in the deeper layers of the skin.

What are the different types of acne?

Acne can be categorized by its severity:

Mild acne: a few scattered whiteheads or blackheads with minimal inflammation.
Moderate acne: a denser collection of whiteheads or blackheads as well as red, inflamed, pus-filled lesions.
Severe acne: also called nodular or cystic acne, describes widespread and deep lesions that are painful, inflamed, and red. This form of acne is likely to lead to scarring if left untreated.

Why do I get acne?

Anyone can get acne, but acne in teenagers, whose surging levels of androgen (a type of hormone) create larger and more active sebaceous glands. Acne may continue for people in their twenties and thirties, and even women over forty. Acne also appears more commonly in people whose parents had acne.

More to come on Acne Basics

These are the topics will cover next time about acne causes and treatments in Utah.

What makes my acne worse or better?
What treatment options do I have for acne?
How can I keep my acne under control?
What specific things can I do to take care of or prevent acne?