Acne Flashcards
What is acne vulgaris?
Chronic inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous unit
Prime age for acne in males vs females
Males = 16-19 Females = 14-17
Pathogenesis of acne
Poral occlusion
Bacterial occlusion of duct
Dermal inflammation
Increased sebum production
Distribution of acne vulgaris
Related to the sites with the most sebaceous glands - face, upper back, anterior chest
Morphology of acne vulgaris
Comedones (open = blackhead, closed = whitehead)
Pustules and papules
Cysts
Erythema
Secondary features of acne vulgaris
Scars - atrophic, ice pick, texture changes, hypertrophic
Acne grading
Mild - scattered papules and pustules, comedones
Moderate - numerous papules and pustules, mild atrophic scarring
Severe - cysts, nodules, significant scarring
Treatment for acne
Aim to control/prevent acne Most will spontaneously resolve over time Avoid oily substances/triggers Topical treatment Systemic treatment
Topical treatment for acne
Benzoyl peroxide - keratolytic, antibacterial
Topical vitamin A derivatives - drying effect
Topical antibiotics - antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
Systemic treatment for acne
Antibiotics - antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
Isotretinoin (oral retinoid) - effect on sebaceous gland activity but lots of side effects including initial aggravation
How many lesions are there in mild to moderate acne?
<30
How many lesions are there in severe cystic acne with scarring?
> 125 lesions
