ACNE VULGARIS

ACNE VULGARIS

INTRODUCTION

• This is a disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of blocked pilosebaceous follicles. It predominantly affects teenagers.

CAUSES

• There is an increase in sebum excretion, which is probably androgen mediated.

• Increased and abnormal keratinisation at the exit of the pilosebaceous follicle causes obstruction to the flow of sebum.

• The sebum of patients with acne contains an excess of free fatty acids that may be responsible for triggering the inflammatory process.

• Colonisation by pathogenic Propionibacterium acnes causing inflammation at a later stage of the disease.

• Important endocrine causes of acne include polycystic ovarian syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen-secreting tumours of adrenals, ovary and testis, and acromegaly.

 

CLINICAL FEATURES

• Lesions are limited to the face, shoulders, upper chest and back.

• Seborrhoea (greasy skin) is often present.

• Open comedones (blackheads) are due to plugging of the pilosebaceous orifice by keratin and sebum.

• Closed comedones (whiteheads) are due to accretions of sebum and keratin deeper in the pilosebaceous ducts.

• Later in the course, inflammatory lesions occur that tend to lead to more scarring. The lesions may include papules, pustules, nodules and cysts, and any combination of these. Severe forms of inflammatory acne include nodular cystic disease with all its potentially destructive sequelae.

 

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Regular washing with soap and water.

• Antibacterial skin cleansers.

 

TREATMENT AT DR. SOHAN LAL CLINIC

The integrated POLYCLINIC facility offers patients to select their treatment either from the Department of Homeopathy or from the Department of Medicine.

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