PharmAssist

Did it ever happen to you waking up in the morning, ready to start a bright new summer
day, looking in the mirror and voila! You find small red bumps grown over your face! Acne!
You may have indulged in a lot of sun bathing drying up the skin causing the sebaceous
glands to produce more oil. Since your skin has been
repeatedly exposed to the sun, it has to shed off old cells
more freuently. Dead cells and extra oil generated block the
pores of the skin.

Acne or Pimples
A disorder of the skin caused by infammation of the
sebaceous gland and hair follicles. While it is most
commonly found on the face, it also appears in scalp,
neck, chest and back. It occurs chiefy in adolescents
where the levels of androgen (male se hormone!
increase. At puberty, the levels of androgen in both men
and women go up, stimulating the production of oil
(sebum!. It is also sometimes characteri"ed by large
cysts or nodules.

What you can do
Proper Hygiene# wash your face twice a day and $nd an
anti# acne regimen that best suit you
Proper Nutrition# drink lots of water and eat a healthy balanced diet. %o for natural
sources of &itamin A (in carrots!, &itamin '( (in whole grains!, &itamin ') (in lean
meats!, &itamin * (in broccoli! and +inc to boost the immune system for over# all
health
Shave properly# acne breakout is also brought out by infammation of trapped hair
follicle. ,se warm water to dilate blood vessels, lather well, use the right ra"or and
shave down rather that up to cut down irritation. -one up when you.re done.
Use non- oily (avoid lanolin as base) and non- comedogenic cosmetic products
Causes
A pimple develops due to the
blockage of hair follicles and
sebaceous glands by plugs of oil
(sebum!. 'acteria in the plug multiply
and cause the collection of pus in the
pimples. /o not s0uee"e a pimple as
scarring may occur1
Symptoms
Painful red bumps that are
sometimes $lled with pus
Painless comedones
(black heads and white
heads!
2ysts or 3odules
Pimple is associated with:
4eredity
5tress
3utrition
2ertain medicines
(e.g. corticosteroids 6 thyroid
preparations!
Avoid stress!!
Commercially available over the counter anti- acne preparations and cleansers are
also available Some o! these contains "en#oyl Pero$ide %& ' ()&* Povidone +odine
,%&* -retinoin* Clindamycin Phosphate* -ea -ree oil* sa!e amounts o! salicylic acid*
precipitated sul!ur ' #inc o$ide* mineral oil and glycolic acid to name a !e.
Consult your doctor for severe acne or scarring. Individuali"ed acne treatment
can prevent scarring, clear acne, reduce acne si"e 6 number, and prevent new acne
formation. It may also involve taking oral tablets including antibiotics to stop the
infection, female hormones like estrogen and progesterone which help clear the
skin, and retinoid which helps to fight and get rid of comedones.
-his has been your Pharmacist on duty. We are glad to be of service to you. 7!

8eferences9
:erriam# Webster.s :edical /ictionary
3ew *dition, (;;<
4ealth%uide
Philippines (;;=
http9>>www.acne#treatment.ca>hormone#androgens.htm
http9>>www.everythingacne.com>retinoids.htm
www.acne.com