Acne Control
Acne is a common skin problem and can have a significant impact on one’s quality of life. Hence, prompt and apt treatment is necessary.
The 4 main factors responsible for acne are
- Overgrowth of bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes,Staph)
- Inflammation
- Excess sebum production
- Altered keratinization of the ductal epithelium
The various predisposing factors for acne are
• Consumption of foods with high glycaemic index (potatoes,white rice,french fries,sweets,chocolates, chips, cornflakes, watermelon etc)
• Excessive consumptions of dairy products such as low fat/skim milk, cheese,cottage cheese,sweets etc.
• A diet which has more fibre, fruits, adequate water intake, low glycaemic index foods is beneficial for patients suffering from acne.
• Stress leads to aggravation of acne while acne itself can lead to a lot distress among patients causing a vicious cycle.
• Smoking is one of the major culprits in acne flares these days.
• Seasonal changes also play an important role. Prolonged exposure to sunlight, high humidity conditions , excessive sweating are responsible for flare of acne during the summer season.
• Application of multiple skin products ,heavy makeups, thick moisturisers etc. with comedogenic ingredients such as coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil , linseed oil, oleic acid, beeswax, cocoa butter, isopropyl myristate , stearyl alcohol, lanolin, butyl stearate etc lead to clogging of pores.
• Facials can trigger acne in predisposed individuals .
• Exposure to oil vapors during cooking, steam
• Waxing, threading, shaving may cause follicular irritation.
• Certain medicines such as steroids, multivitamins (vitamin B6,12), oral contraceptive pills, anti tubercular drugs,cyclosporine , gold etc. can trigger acneiform eruptions, especially on the back.
In certain predisposed individuals, acne if not treated early can lead to extensive scarring (which may be atrophic or hypertrophic).
A holistic approach works best in the management of acne with topical, systemic and procedural therapies such as Chemical peels for face and body areas like the chest, back and upper arms(salicylic peels, salicylic mandelic peels, glycolic peels),Carbon laser facial(CARBON PEEL/Hollywood Facial), IPL, comedone extraction etc. Patients with severe acne breakouts and acne rosacea need IPL laser treatments for faster results.
