Acne is a very common skin condition also known as “pimples”, but acne does not only appear on the faces of adolescent men and women, but in some cases it can still occur even after the age of 40. Although the disease does not generally cause substantial damage to health, it does affect the appearance and self-confidence of the patient, causing great distress to many patients.
Acne mainly occurs on the head, face, chest and back. There are many factors that contribute to its development, including androgens, increased sebum secretion, abnormal keratinization of follicular sebaceous ducts, proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes and genetics.
So, how should acne be treated?
First of all, acne requires a comprehensive treatment, and there is no once-and-for-all eradication method. Therefore, the first step should be to find the right hospital and the right doctor for reasonable and targeted treatment. With the right approach, the vast majority of acne patients can change their old appearance into a new one.
In terms of diet, attention should be paid to controlling fatty and sugary foods and eating more fresh vegetables, fruits and vitamin-rich foods. Avoid squeezing and scratching acne with your hands; you should work and rest in moderation. Try not to use irregular treatments in beauty salons and the use of so-called acne masks.
Current medical interventions for acne include medication and phototherapy.
Medication includes both topical and oral treatments.
I. Topical medication
1. Topical antibiotics
Clindamycin is currently the most commonly used topical antibiotic. Other available topical antibiotics include polymyxin, fusidic acid, etc.
2.Vitamin A acid
Topical retinoic acid preparations used for acne include retinoic acid and adapalene.
Retinoic acid is the first topical acne-dissolving preparation used for acne treatment. It can calm existing acne and prevent the formation of new acne, and can be used as a single treatment for acne and mild to moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris.
3. Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a very effective antiseptic and is particularly effective when combined with other treatments.
II. Oral medication
1.Antibiotics
For moderate to severe acne that does not respond to the combination of topical medications, oral erythromycin or tetracycline can be chosen as treatment. Such as roxithromycin, doxycycline and minocycline. Minocycline is a lipophilic derivative of tetracycline and is currently the preferred treatment drug.
2.Isotretinoin
The introduction of isotretinoin in 1982 brought acne treatment to a new stage. Initially, isotretinoin was only used for severe nodular cystic acne, but after more than 20 years of treatment practice, its indications were further expanded.
The current indications for isotretinoin include.
(1) Severe widespread nodular cystic acne.
(2) Those with moderate acne who are poorly treated with conventional acne.
(3) Those with a tendency to severe scarring.
(4) Those with mild acne but severe psychological problems secondary to concern about disfigurement, etc.
The most common adverse reaction to isotretinoin is dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, and lip inflammation is common, but this is a sign that the drug is working.
The most serious adverse reaction is teratogenicity, so special attention should be paid to the use of retinoids for women of childbearing age, and pregnancy should be avoided within six months of isotretinoin administration. Although men taking retinoids have not been found to have an effect on sperm, due to limited clinical data, it is generally recommended that men planning a recent pregnancy be prohibited from using such drugs.
3.Hormone
Oral contraceptives can reduce both serum and tissue levels of androgens, thereby reducing sebaceous gland secretion. Hormonal therapy is most effective in adult women with persistent inflammatory papules and nodules often occurring on the underside of the face and neck. Ethinylestradiol cyproterone (trade name: Daing 35) is the more commonly used anti-androgen drug for acne.
There are also newer treatments such as red and blue light, fruit acids, and supramolecular salicylic acid that can also treat acne, although they are mainly for mild acne and are good options when economic conditions allow. Photodynamic is also very effective in the treatment of inflammatory and cystic acne.
Therefore, there are numerous treatments for acne, but only by choosing the most appropriate medication for your condition can you achieve twice the result with half the effort.