Good Stuff

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I'm still on vacation, but I saw this and had to share! Hope you're all enjoying the weekend...and if you're in the path of Irene, stay safe.

Beautiful Upstate NY

The Calm Before Irene

Still on vacation and we are here in beautiful upstate New York and the news is all about Hurricane Irene. Living in Florida we're used to the lingo that the weather men are tossing around and I'm hoping that my friends and family up this way are preparing.

We are preparing to get outta dodge! Instead of trying to fly south throughout the storm or deal with delayed or cancelled flights, we are going to fly west and spend the weekend in Chicago.

...maybe I should start a travel blog...

Vacation

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Hello loyal readers! I'm blogging from beautiful Shelburne Farms in Vermont. This is the third stop on our "northeast tour".

I'll be back to my regular blogging schedule in a week or so. In the mean time, I'll post a few vaca photos...and don't forget your sunscreen!

MYTH 15 - DIET DOES NOT CAUSE ACNE

People in some indigenous societies do not experience acne at all.  Whether it is genetics or diet - or both or something else - is unclear.  Some studies show acne is linked to milk, which leads to postprandial insulin and basal insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) plasma levels.  Increased insulin/IGF-I signaling activates the phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt pathway, thereby reducing the nuclear content of the transcription factor FoxO1, the key nutrigenomic regulator of acne target genes.  Nuclear FoxO1 deficiency has been linked to all major factors of acne pathogenesis, ie, androgen receptor transactivation, comedogenesis, increased sebaceous lipogenesis, and follicular inflammation.  The final evidence is not in, but it seems that acne and diet are linked in ways that we did not suspect tow decades ago.  Make sure your patients have access to information on theories on the usefulness of dairy-free and/or low glycemic load diets.

*Wow!  Did you get that? In a nutshell, if you struggle with acne, try giving up the diary  products and see if that helps.  Soy milk and almond milk are good options.


CONCLUSIONS
People's assumptions about acne, much like their assumptions about other complex matters, often are the result of misunderstandings and require clarification.  It is therefore left to the experts, who often disagree with one another, to dispel myths related to acne in order to enhance our patients' health.  The myths that are particularly important to address are those related to the psychological cost of acne, avoiding isotretinoin, and the role of milk in acne.  Knowing these myths tunes us in to the acne zeitgeist, so when we step into the treatment room we are ready to listen, educate and act.

This concludes the 15 ACNE MYTHS ADDRESSED.  It can be found in total in the June 2011 issue of Skin & Aging www.skinandaging.com  


Feel free to comment or ask any questions!  Have a great day.  Peace, Love & SPF

MYTH 14 - ACNE IS A DISEASE OF TEENAGERS

Acne certainly affects teenagers, but it affects other age groups as well.  Some people develop acne for the first time in their 20s or 30s, and they are often shocked because another myth of acne is that it is a disease that disappears before college.  In the business districts of Manhattan, most patients treated for acne vulgaris are women between the ages of 20 and 45.  Young white collar professionals are often distraught about still getting acne and feel they are not taken seriously at work when they are breaking out.  They should be reassured that acne can be a disease of those aged 20 to 45 and that effective acne treatments do exist.

*I can certainly attest to this!  In my teenage years I didn't have much of a problem in high school, but, in my mid-20s I started to get acne that was not controlled with over the counter products.

MYTH 13 - ISOTRETINOIN SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACNE

Isotretinoin 10mg

Isotretinoin is the only agent that has been shown to induce long-term remission, and it has curative potential for acne.  The idea that it should not be available does not serve patients.  Isotretinoin is not for every patient, but it has been used by 10 million patients in the U.S. with often amazing effect.  iPledge and the litigation against Roche over the link of isotretinoin and inflammatory bowel disease aside, the concept that isotretinoin should not be used for acne may not fit the definition of a myth, but is due to misguided beliefs, in the opinion of the authors.

MYTH 12 - OTC TREATMENTS ARE EQUIVALENT TO PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

Proactiv is the number-one selling acne medication in the United States, but is not the most effective.  Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is an excellent topical acne treatment, but it is not more effective than isotretinoin.  If fact, studies of combination drugs utilizing BPO and clindmycin or adapalene all show superiority over BPO alone.  Evidence-based clinical studies back prescription medications.  Clearly, patients vote for Proactiv, but this dynamic is driven by hype, promotion, and, of course, the fact that BPO is an effective treatment for acne.

*I would like to add here, that I have found some over the counter products to be effective for some people.  Everyone one is different and you will find that different treatments work for different people.  If you're having problems with acne and have been using over the counter products that don't seem to be working anymore, then it's time to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss whether or not prescription acne medication is an option for you.

Fiafini

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Ladies with sensitive skin - be on the lookout for my review of Fiafini Skincare. A cleanser, moisturizer and eye cream especially for those of you who can't tolerate most products. Stay tuned....