Treating Acne

Acne vulgaris is a very common inflammatory condition of the pilosebaceous units in certain parts of the body such as face, back and chest. It commonly occurs in, but not limited to, adolescence. It can appear as comedones, papulopustules, nodules and cysts. It is caused by a build-up of dead skin cells in pores from several factors; hormones (androgens), over-production of sebum and bacteria (C. acnes). Stress can also be a contributing factor in acne.

It is classified as mild, moderate or severe depending on the type of lesions (whiteheads, blackheads, cysts) present and level of inflammation present.

Treatment options include topical retinoids, topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, oral antibiotics, oral contraceptives, isotretinoin. All prescribed according to severity of the acne, response and tolerability of treatments. For Northern Ireland customers, the Pharmacy First Scheme allows pharmacists to prescribe Benzoyl peroxide gel, if deemed appropriate.

The most popular acne treatments in pharmacy

For mild to moderate acne, topical agents can be used alone or in combination with benzoyl peroxide. If a topical antibiotic is required then it should be along with benzoyl peroxide to prevent antibiotic resistance. If no response to topical treatment then advancement to oral antibiotics should be considered, again in combination with a topical retinoid or benzoyl peroxide to prevent antibiotic resistance. Alternative antibiotics can be given if there has been 3 months with no response. If no response to two courses of different antibiotics then referral to a dermatologist for consideration to isotretinoin treatment.

Patients with severe acne should be referred to dermatology with treatments started whilst the patient waits on an appointment (Clinical Knowledge Summaries, 2018).

It is often the parents of teenagers that I see who ask for advice for face washes and spot treatments. I always advise them to make sure they are using gentle cleansers rather than those with harsh ingredients to begin with. There is a tendency for patients to scrub their skin or overuse cleansers as they think it is dirt which is causing the acne, and therefore making it worse. I also stress the importance of not picking or squeezing the lesions which may result in scarring. Unfortunately, treatment can take some time and the patients can feel very self-conscious and have low self-esteem.

 

Oily, spot-prone skincare

For non-prescription based treatments there are many ranges but I have found the best results (from our own customers) from the Acnaut range.This brand contains cleansers, lotion and moisturisers designed to reduce oiliness and clogging of pores.

What products have you used that have helped your acne? For more information on the products we sell for acne or to chat to me, visit Acne treatment range

Michelle xx

References

Clinical Knowledge Summaries (2018) Acne vulgaris National Institute for Health & Care Excellence [online] available from https://cks.nice.org.uk/acne-vulgaris#!scenariorecommendation (accessed 8th Jan 2019)

Oakley, A., Ngan, V. & Morrison C (2014) Acne vulgaris DermNetNZ [online] available from https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/acne-vulgaris/ (accessed 8th Jan 2019)