Acne Tidbits By Dr Fulton MD PhD

Acne Tidbits

Acne is American’s most common disease

60 million Americans have it
20 million have lifelong physical and mental scar

Acne is genetic – it runs in certain families

If both parents had acne – 3 of 4 children will have it
They not only have acne – but have same year of onset, and
Same location on face or back, and
Same type of acne, for example, cystic acne

You can get acne three times in your life

As a neonate – from mother’s hormones
As a teenager – from your own hormones
As an adult – from hormone imbalance

Acne has hit epidemic proportion now in adult women

Acne used to be a teenage boy problem but, now
Women are plagued with it in the 20’s or 30’s from

Stress of 2 jobs,
Going on and off Birth Control Pills and
Wearing more make up

Bury the acne myths...

Acne is not due to dirty skin
Acne is not due to certain foods such as Chocolate
Acne is not due to hair dangling on your forehead
Acne is not due to sexual frustrations
Your own oil (sebum) will sludge up the dead skin cells in skin pores and cause the acne flare up

Aggravating factors which may make acne worse

Stress – any disease is made worse with stress
Mechanical occlusion – headbands, chin strap, and backpacks can clog the pores
Birth control pills – some make acne worse, some make acne better
Your favorite cosmetics – may be destroying your skin
Heat and Humidity – topical climates may aggravate acne
Diet – excessive iodides are eliminated through the pores and may flare up acne
Drugs – Lithium, Adamosis, Dilantin, Steroids aggravate acne
Your fingernail (picking) may drive the impaction deeper
Sunlight may make acne better or worse – but excessive sunlight will always destroy your skin
Vitamins – some formulations contain excessive iodides, for example, kelp or potassium iodide, which could flare up your condition

Cosmetics

Cosmetics are deceiving – they cover up and take 4 to 6 months to cause a flare up. Many sufferers don’t make the connection between their acne and their favorite cosmetics
Learn to read ingredient declarations – the more water-based product the better. Avoid oils like isopropyl myristate (Liquid Wrench) and lanolin derivatives (acetylated lanolin)
Some Lipsticks may contain these irritating ingredients
Some hair pomades and hair conditioners may contain these irritating ingredients and cause acne in the forehead and temples
Misconceptions about “oil free” cosmetic – Beware of this label claim” “this product contains no animal, vegetable or mineral oil.” It may contain “synthetic oil” which is just as bad
Research the ingredients in acne treatment creams also – Retin A cream contains isopropyl myristate, which may aggravate the problem – not improve it

Acne treatments that don’t work

Antibacterial vaccines – acne is not primarily a bacteria problem – excessive skin oil (sebum) causes the dead skin cells in the pores to clog up – not bacteria
X-rays treatments – just damage the skin
Dietary restrictions – Dr. Fulton, as a teenager, was on a special diet of rabbit and rice for three months – his complexion problem just got worse
Antibiotics – most of Dr. Fulton’s patients come in to see him – after they have been on antibiotics for several years – without benefit. Acne is not usually a bacteria problem – but excessive oils sludging up the pores
Special ultraviolet lights (sun lamps) - just burn the surface of the skin and don’t reach the impactions deep in the pores
Birth control pills – work like a pregnancy – acne maybe worse in the first trimester, better in the third trimester, and flare up 90 days after the pregnancy. The same for birth control pills– they may make the complexion temporarily better – but the complexion problem may flare up again 90 days after the birth control pills are stopped

Various Therapies for Acne

Vitamin A acid, retinoic acid, tretinoin (Retin-A®) In 1969 Dr. Fulton and Dr. Kligman developed Retin-A® It was a breakthrough that demonstrated that acne could be treated topically. If the skin peeled enough – the acne impactions peeled out and acne improved. The same is true today – and there are several newer variants.
Benzoyl Peroxide cleansers and lotions. The benzoyl part of the molecule pulls the peroxide down into the pore – where it releases free radical oxygen – like your mother’s bleach. Nothing is resistant to this treatment – the bacteria, yeasts, spores and acne impactions are all cleared out of the pore with benzoyl peroxide.
The Acne pill Accutane® It continues to be a great breakthrough. In spite of possible depression and birth defects – Accutane is a savior for severe cystic acne patients when the topical skin care regimens have not worked.
Avoid Stress. Get eight hours of sleep at night (not during the day) and eat a holistic diet, low in carbohydrates.
Ice Compresses Dr. Fulton's Secret Sauce! Football players pack their knees in ice when the joint is injured. The same healing powers help heal acne impactions. Therefore you should ice the affected area, twice daily, for five minutes. The ice reduces the inflammation and opens up the skin so the acne skin care program works better.
Improve acne scars. Psychological scars – remember acne is a genetic, not due to dirty skin, sexual frustrations or dietary excesses. Bury the myths and get aerobic, Run, swim or jog to burn off the stress energy. Physical scars – Acne valleys can be filled with new fillers and acne “ice picks” can be planned down with dermabrasion.

Remember these acne tips

Recognize the problem
Avoid aggravating factors
Apply your skin care regimen
Find a good acne therapis