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Suggest Treatment For Acnes On Face
Question: I am 35 years of age, Male. I have a perpetual issue of acnes on my face since my puberty days. I have not really tried any medicine or treatments yet. From what i understand these are mostly white heads and i have had a bad habit of squeezing them or popping them due to which i have developed cut marks on the face. Certain areas like my cheeks regularly secrete these white serum when squeezed. I am looking for a permanent solution to this problem.
Brief Answer:
I suggest treatment with Isotretinoin
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us.
I have taken note of your query and i have understood it.
Long standing acne associated with scaring is an indication for treatment with oral Isotretinoin.
Isotretinoin is comedolytic, antiinflammatory and sebostatic i.e inhibits sebum production. Therefore it has multiple modes of action in acne.
Isotretinoin is the only drug which offers any chance of permanent cure in acne.
I suggest that you talk to a dermatologist in your region for more information about this drug and for the needful.
Regards
I suggest treatment with Isotretinoin
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us.
I have taken note of your query and i have understood it.
Long standing acne associated with scaring is an indication for treatment with oral Isotretinoin.
Isotretinoin is comedolytic, antiinflammatory and sebostatic i.e inhibits sebum production. Therefore it has multiple modes of action in acne.
Isotretinoin is the only drug which offers any chance of permanent cure in acne.
I suggest that you talk to a dermatologist in your region for more information about this drug and for the needful.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr Kakkar. I checked about Isotretinoin, however i am currently unable to take any expert opinion from a dermatologist as i am living in XXXXXXX Will be getting back to XXXXXXX by July probably. I learnt that there could be some side effects of this treatment. Is there something i can attempt to do without risking any side effects and waiting to see a dermatologist personally.
Regards
Regards
Brief Answer:
You may try and fine topical benzoyl peroxide gel and use it twice daily
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Dermatologists all round the world have been using Isotretinoin for acne with consistently reproducible results.
Isotretinoin has long established safety of use in acne.
Isotretinoin is in fact US FDA approved for severe grade of acne. However, even lesser grades of acne that have lasted for decades and are associated with physical and psychological scaring is also an indication for treatment with isotretinoin.
The most concerning issues about Isotretinoin is that it is teratogenic i.e it can adversely affect the fetus, therefore isotretinoin/ retinoids are avoided in pregnancy and in females of reproductive age group.
Most of packaging of isotretinoin display this warning clearly of pregnancy contraindication.
It can be given in females only if adequate contraception is assured.
However this is not an issue at all in male patients.
Side effects of isotretinoin are mainly mucocutaneous i.e dry skin, cheilitis (dry lips), increased hair shedding etc and are in fact markers of patients compliance with treatment. These side effects are reversible and are rarely troublesome.
Other side effects like minor elevations in liver enzymes, elevations of serum triglycerides are common and usually don't warrant discontinuation of treatment.
Nevertheless these should be monitored by baseline and serial lab test (every 4 weeks) in patients on Isotretinoin treatment.
Finally, there have been few reports of suicides in patients on Isotretinoin but that is because the patient were already suicidal because of severe acne or other psychological problems.
On the contrary Isotretinoin would actually improve the quality of life of acne patients and improves psychological well being in patients of severe acne.
In my view Isotretinoin brings remarkable improvement in severe acne and oily skin conditions and is considered to bring about the most significant improvement in moderately severe and severe grade acne.
This is specially of benefit in acne patients who had lost all hope for an effective curative remedy for acne.
Isotretinoin is a prescription drug and should always be taken under supervision of a dermatologist.
You may try and find benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel and use it twice daily on acne affected area.
Benzoyl peroxide is an antiacne antibacterial and is effective for mild to moderate grade inflammatory acne..
Benzoyl peroxide is also drying and reduces sebum secretion.
However, make sure you don't use salicylic acid based face washes with benzoyl peroxide because together they can cause irritation.
You may rather use a gentle cleanser for face wash e.g cetaphil cleansing lotion Or just plain water.
Regards
You may try and fine topical benzoyl peroxide gel and use it twice daily
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Dermatologists all round the world have been using Isotretinoin for acne with consistently reproducible results.
Isotretinoin has long established safety of use in acne.
Isotretinoin is in fact US FDA approved for severe grade of acne. However, even lesser grades of acne that have lasted for decades and are associated with physical and psychological scaring is also an indication for treatment with isotretinoin.
The most concerning issues about Isotretinoin is that it is teratogenic i.e it can adversely affect the fetus, therefore isotretinoin/ retinoids are avoided in pregnancy and in females of reproductive age group.
Most of packaging of isotretinoin display this warning clearly of pregnancy contraindication.
It can be given in females only if adequate contraception is assured.
However this is not an issue at all in male patients.
Side effects of isotretinoin are mainly mucocutaneous i.e dry skin, cheilitis (dry lips), increased hair shedding etc and are in fact markers of patients compliance with treatment. These side effects are reversible and are rarely troublesome.
Other side effects like minor elevations in liver enzymes, elevations of serum triglycerides are common and usually don't warrant discontinuation of treatment.
Nevertheless these should be monitored by baseline and serial lab test (every 4 weeks) in patients on Isotretinoin treatment.
Finally, there have been few reports of suicides in patients on Isotretinoin but that is because the patient were already suicidal because of severe acne or other psychological problems.
On the contrary Isotretinoin would actually improve the quality of life of acne patients and improves psychological well being in patients of severe acne.
In my view Isotretinoin brings remarkable improvement in severe acne and oily skin conditions and is considered to bring about the most significant improvement in moderately severe and severe grade acne.
This is specially of benefit in acne patients who had lost all hope for an effective curative remedy for acne.
Isotretinoin is a prescription drug and should always be taken under supervision of a dermatologist.
You may try and find benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel and use it twice daily on acne affected area.
Benzoyl peroxide is an antiacne antibacterial and is effective for mild to moderate grade inflammatory acne..
Benzoyl peroxide is also drying and reduces sebum secretion.
However, make sure you don't use salicylic acid based face washes with benzoyl peroxide because together they can cause irritation.
You may rather use a gentle cleanser for face wash e.g cetaphil cleansing lotion Or just plain water.
Regards
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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