Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
Newer Fixed-dose Combinations in the Treatment of Acne | |
|
| |
Patients with
acne have a reason to smile - new combinations of medicines for local use have
been found to be effective.
Treatment of acne is directed towards its cause. Acne occurs due to the following reasons:
Treatment of acne is directed towards its cause. Acne occurs due to the following reasons:
Increased activity of the sebaceous or oil glands
Blockage of the pores due to increased cellular proliferation, resulting in the formation of comedone or blackhead
Growth of a bacterium called P. acnes within the hair follicles
Inflammation
Drugs used in acne act through different mechanisms:
Antimicrobials like benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, erythromycin and sodium sulfcetamide inhibit the growth of P. acnes
Dapsone acts by reducing inflammation. It may also reduce the levels and activity of P. acnes.
Benzoyl peroxide acts against the bacteria and exerts a mild effect on comedones.
Retinoids such as adapalene, tazarotene and tretinoin act at multiple sites to treat acne. They reduce the cellular proliferation, inhibit formation of comedones and have anti-inflammatory effect. Retinoids are now available as emollient creams and microsphere gel to reduce irritation and improve efficacy.
If a combination of medications is used, it will not only be effective through multiple mechanisms, it will also help to simplify treatment and improve patient adherence to treatment.
A combination of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin has been found to be more effective than benzoyl peroxide alone. Benzoyl peroxide, through its effect on bacteria, may also help to reduce bacterial resistance when used in combination.
A combination of clindamycin phosphate 1.2%, an antimicrobial and tretinoin 0.025% has been approved for the treatment of acne. Clindamycin acts as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, whereas tretinoin acts against comedones. The treatment has been found to be effective in various studies.
The combination is applied once a day either in the morning or at bedtime. Side effects include acne flare, sunburn, allergic reaction, skin reactions and increased sensitivity to ultraviolet light. The combination should not be used in patients suffering from Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, colitis with previous antibiotic use, and use of erythromycin containing products at the same time.
A combination of the drug adapalene 0.1% with benzoyl peroxide 2.5% has been recently approved for use as a once-a-day treatment in the US and Canada. Adapalene acts against comedones as well as has anti-inflammatory properties. The combination acts on multiple mechanisms: It prevents comedone formation, growth of bacteria and inflammation. The most common adverse effect associated with this combination is dry skin.
Thus, combinations of anti-acne medications for local applications have not only been found to be effective, they may also probably increase patient's adherence to treatment.
Reference:
1. Fu LW and Vender RB. Newer Approaches in Topical Combination Therapy for Acne. http://www.skintherapyletter.com/2011/16.9/2.html
Source-Medindia
| |
|
|
 Comment & Contribute
|
Related Links
Acne (Pimples) - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Acne vulgaris, popularly known as 'pimples' or 'zits' is a skin condition affecting most ...
Health In Focus News
Some Myths and Realities About Your Body
Be it from a word-of-mouth, or a newspaper article, unreliable and mis-interpreted facts always keep us in the dark. To shed some light, we've ...
Liver can be Damaged by Cinnamon
A compound called coumarin present in cinnamon is toxic to the liver even in small amounts, shows study. Cinnamon is a spice ...
Glutamate Responsible for Insomnia Associated With Restless Leg Syndrome: Hopkins Study
The neurotransmitter glutamate may play an important role in sleep loss in patients with restless leg syndrome, according to a study ...
Secondhand Smoke Destroys Good Cholesterol in Teen Girls
Teenage girls may be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of secondhand smoke when compared to boys of the same age, shows study. ...
Benefits of a Deep Breath
On an average, an individual breathes around 17,280-23,040 times a day, without giving it a second thought. When we breathe, we take ...
Fish Oil Supplements May Not Prevent Blindness: NIH Study
One of leading cause of blindness in developed world is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a common eye condition among older adults ...
- Health News Index
 | Quiz on Acne Acne breakouts affect millions of people worldwide, particularly teenagers. Heres a quiz on some general facts about acne that you should know. 
|
- News Quick Links
 | News Central | | Health Watch | |
| Latest Health News | | Health In Focus | |
| News Category (500+) | | Breaking Health News | |
| Popular News | | Celebrating Life | |
| Health News and Press Release | | Medindia - Exclusive | |
| News Photo Gallery | | India Special | |
| News Video Gallery | | Lifestyle and Wellness | |
| News From Other Resources | |||
 |
Acne
Complete Medindia Resources
|
| News Categories: |
| » | Health Campaigners Hail Brave Angelina Jolie's Mastectomy Revelation |
| » | Angelina Jolie's Breast Removal Surgery Boosts Cancer Awareness, Experts Advise Caution |
| » | Shakira Having Sleepless Nights During Pregnancy |
| » | Belgian Nobel Laureate Christian De Duve Dies |
| » | Sherri Shepherd Owes Her Life to Diabetes |
| More Celebrity News | |
|
Ask an Expert
