If you are suffering from acne you may find the following information helpful in seeking the right treatment.

What is acne?

Acne is a very common skin disorder which usually starts around puberty. Although most of us grow out of acne, it often causes much unhappiness for young people and can sometimes last a long time, often late into adult life.

Most people with acne have a greasy skin and commonly, blackheads nodules and pus filled spots, typically of the face and back. If acne remains untreated, it can lead to permanent scarring of the skin.

What are the causes of acne?

In most cases acne is simply associated with the changes in body hormones that occur during adolescence. This is why it tends to cure itself over time. The tendency to acne also tends to run in families and severe acne often appears to have a hereditary basis.

It‘s unusual for acne to be caused by an underlying disease although patients may need assessment by a specialist to ensure that they do not have any major hormonal problem (for example polycystic ovaries in women) or more rarely an acne reaction to an external agent such as medication or a work related chemical. Very few specialists these days believe that acne is caused by diet or a food allergy.

How can acne be treated?

In the first instance, you should seek the advice of your pharmacist. Many over the counter treatments are helpful for early or mild acne. Preparations based on Benzoyl Peroxide are of particular benefit, although you should follow the instructions to ensure that they do not irritate your skin.

For more severe forms of acne your General Practitioner (family physician), may prescribe antibiotics, usually in tablet form, which can be very effective. It may be necessary for you to take these for several months as the benefits do not appear overnight. If you are female, your doctor may also advise the use of a hormone treatment such as Dianette which works rather like the oral contraceptive pill.

If, despite treatment you are not improved, you should consider consulting a specialist dermatologist. You will have a fuller assessment of your skin and general health and any tests that you may require can be arranged. If your acne is severe, it’s quite likely that your dermatologist will suggest treatment with isotretinoin (Roaccutane/Accutane) which can be dramatically effective in curing many forms of acne. Isotretinoin is a safe, well established treatment but it can only be prescribed by dermatologists with special training in its uses and risks. Before being prescribed isotretinoin, you can expect to have a full discussion with your specialist about the side effects, cost and precautions relating to this drug.

Are there any acne treatments which don’t involve taking drugs?

Yes, there is a growing body of medical evidence showing that certain forms of intense light or laser can be helpful in improving acne – and without any major side effects. Our understanding of the correct use of these new therapies is changing all the time and you should obtain up to date advice from a specialist with experience in this field.

My acne got better but left me scarred, can anything be done?

Almost certainly. Some dermatologists offer resurfacing procedures such as chemical peels or laser peels which can greatly improve acne scarring.

Deeper scars may benefit from surgery or recontouring by injectable fillers, either chemical (eg Restylane) or naturally derived from the patients own tissue (Isolagen). These procedures should only be undertaken by properly trained medical specialists and you should not proceed with treatment until you are comfortable that you have been advised about the likely benefits and risks.

http://www.bad.org.uk/public/leaflets/acne.asp is good source of further advice and useful links to other acne websites.

Alastair Barkley FRCP. Consultations for acne treatment and acne scarring. 020 7407 2568.

Click here for more information on Dermatology consultants at London Bridge Hospital