Keisha Shakespeare, Staff Reporter
Left: BEFORE TREATMENT, Right: AFTER TREATMENT
ACNE IS like a dreadful plague that affects not only women but men too. In fact, it attacks their face and trunk (body).
Acne is a disorder of the skin that affects the pile of oily glands. The cause of acne is multiple factoral that involves abnormal shedding of dead skin cells, bacteria growth and hormonal functions. It tends to affect the face, chest and upper back.
Many are of the belief that acne is an adolescent problem but it can affect people of all ages even those who are over 40 years old. Dr. Dian Robinson, cosmetic dermatologist at Musgrave Medical Centre in St. Andrew said, "Adults are affected by acne because of hormonal problems and stress hormones. As an individual gets older the skin does not shed as fast as it should."
She also added that acne is controlled by using a number of treatments such as: topical and oral antibiotics, cream containing salicylic acids, benzoyl peroxide, topical and tretinon. The downside of these controlling agents is that they have to be used continuously on a long-term basis. They have to be used 12 weeks to control the acne then continuously to maintain the skin.
CURE
However, now there is a cure that is found in Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) or Accutane as it is called in the United States of America.
Roaccutane is in the form of a tablet and it is a synthetic form of Vitamin A that works on the main organs of acne. It works on the size of the sebaceous gland (oily substance from skin), reduces sebum (production of an oily secretion of the sebaceous gland which helps to preserve the flexibility of the hair) and reduces inflammation.
Dr. Robinson emphasised that Roaccutane is a specialised medication that must be prescribed and maintained by a dermatologist. Patients have to be assessed before they can start taking the medication. Also it is a must for patients to do a liver and cholesterol test before starting. She added that the dosage has to be carefully calculated to achieve a cure.
SIDE EFFECTS
As with any other drugs there are several side effects. The less severe ones are: dry skin, lips and eyes. For those who wear contact lens it may cause discomfort and one will have to use a rewetting solution to moist the eyes. Also it can cause eczema on the skin. All these side effects are reversible once you are using the medication. The more severe side effects are: muscle pain, joint pain (usually seen in people who do a lot of exercise), limited elevation of cholesterol and thinning of the hair (grows back after a while). All these side effects are treatable.
Roaccutane is a very expensive medication. And only people who have acne problems and have tried many treatments for years but have not responded or people with scars from acne lesions and those with severe systyc (big pimples) are treated with this medication.
Though Roccutane has been on the Jamaican market for about the past 15 years but it is not until recently it has become popular. As people who have used it and successfully have been spreading the gospel. Dr. Robinson said she can testify that Roaccutane is effective and it works as many of her patients are been cure of acne problems after using it.
