Acne Vulgaris

BACKGROUND: Acne is a chronic skin disease characterised by inflamed spots and blackheads on the face, neck, back, and chest. Cysts and scarring can also occur, especially in more severe disease. People with acne often turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and dietary modifications, because of their concerns about the adverse effects of conventional medicines. However, evidence for CAM therapies has not been systematically assessed. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects and safety of any complementary therapies in people with acne vulgaris.

Hypnotic suggestion successfully alleviated the behavioral picking aspect of acne excoriée des juenes filles in a pregnant woman who had been picking at the acne lesions on her face for 15 years. Acne excoriée is a subset of psychogenic or neurotic excoriation. Conventional topical antibiotic treatment was used to treat the acne. Compared with other treatments for uncomplicated acne excoriée, hypnosis is relatively brief and cost-effective and is non-toxic in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Acne is a prevalent, chronic, and sometimes severe skin disorder affecting an estimated 85% of adolescents and 50% of adults older than age 20 years. The psychosocial implications of acne can be considerable, often continuing long after physical symptoms resolve. Although effective acne medications are available, most exhibit adverse-effect profiles that can leave the patient with few effective treatment options.

Eighty-two patients with acne vulgaris were randomised into five groups. Four different Ayurvedic treatment schedules were given orally for 6 weeks, while one group received a placebo. Physical and clinical investigations were carried out at 2 week intervals. A significant reduction in lesion count was observed in patients receiving Sunder Vati when compared with the placebo and the other Ayurvedic formulations, which failed to produce any significant difference from the pretreatment condition. The drug therapies were well tolerated.

Oral and externally used dermatological preparation for acne vulgaris employing herbal extracts have been developed and standardized, the herbal extracts used here were of the plants described in ayurvedic treatise like Bhavprakasha Nighantu and Charak Samhita. The efficacy of the treatment using the oral formulation with or without external preparation has been assessed through conduct of Phase II clinical trials in 53 patients for 4 weeks in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion and following Good Clinical Practices guidelines.

Acne is the most common disease of the skin, yet only a fraction of acne sufferers are treated with prescription products by physicians. There is, however, a large and expanding market for over-the-counter (OTC) medications, many of which are not only effective but also well tolerated and cosmetically elegant. Given the presence of OTC acne medications on the television, the Internet, and store shelves, patients will be acutely aware of these OTC remedies and will have questions.

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinologic disorder. Little is known about the effects of PCOS on overall sexual functioning, phases of the sexual response cycle, and sexual satisfaction. AIM: To compare the differences in sexual function between women with PCOS and controls, and to assess the relationship of serum testosterone, body mass index (BMI), hirsutism, and acne with sexual function scores in women with PCOS.

Regarding treatment of acne vulgaris and rosacea, there is not much difference between hospital and practice nor among practicing dermatologists. Most of the assistants performing the important physical-manual treatment have had the same training. After analytical conversation and etiologic as well as diagnostic classification, the patients undergo the following manual treatment: cleansing, astringing, removing of comedones, massage, face pack, and covering with tinted emulsion.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss a case of diffuse peripheral enthesopathy in a patient previously treated with long-term isotretinoin (Accutane) for severe acne. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 47-year old man with 1 month history of moderate neck and right upper extremity pain, with hypoesthesia of the right second and third fingers. Palpable bony prominences around multiple superficial joints were noted on physical examination, raising the initial question of osteochondromatosis. Multiple active acne pustules were noted.