Affecting 68 per cent of people under the age of 18, 50 per cent of women between the ages of 20 and 29 and 35 per cent between the ages of 30 and 39, acne is no small problem. Research published in The Medical Journal of Australia states that scarring that occurs from acne, particularly severe acne, can persist for a lifetime and have long-lasting psychosocial effects such as depression and social isolation.
Current guidelines for the treatment of acne include a combination of topical agents, such as retinoids, in mild to moderate cases and the use of systemic therapies (including oral antibiotics) for moderate to severe cases of acne. There are concerns that the bacteria linked to acne is increasingly becoming resistant to topical and oral antibiotics, so investigations are underway for alternate solutions.
New research published in the British Journal of Dermatology reveals that trifarotene, a fourth-generation retinoid, may have an improved efficacy and safety compared with other retinoids, and be particularly useful for the treatment of large skin surface areas, including the back and chest.
Dr Douglas Grose, President of the Cosmetic Physicians College of Australasia (CPCA) is particularly passionate about treating acne not just via medical means but through diet and lifestyle as well. “For acne is a disease among Western society and is noticeably absent in those that consume Palaeolithic diets that don’t consist of refined sugars, grains, milk and dairy products,” says Dr Grose.
While Dr Grose says that the first stage in reducing acne is minimising carbohydrates and animal-based milk products (or having none at all), there are also additional treatment options that can assist including topical/skincare products as well as LED light phototherapy, IPL, Laser, microdermabrasions, AHA/BHA masks and chemical peel.
