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ACTIVE AGAINST ACNE - CARING FOR SKIN
Top UK acne expert endorses novel medical device for acne
The suffering caused by acne whether in the form of persistent blemishes, inflamed pustules or angry red welts, the scarring goes more than skin deep… Medically endorsed Aknicare® offers acne sufferers a radical breakthrough treatment.*
“Aknicare® represents a unique topical treatment that not only treats acne, but also reduces sebum excretion… This product should be considered as an alternative to conventional pharmacological treatments.” Dr Tony Chu, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
In the UK, an estimated 9-12 million suffer from the misery of acne (at any one time, never mind those with very oily or congested skin…)
Most people experience the trauma of oily, blemished complexions whilst in their teenage years - with breakouts of blackheads and pimples, which often break out just before that all-important date! Acne and oily skin however, is not just a condition suffered by teenagers, statistics demonstrate that 8% of acne sufferers are over 35. For an increasing number of adults (15% of the population) this distressing condition persists throughout adulthood, often with profound adverse effects on the sufferers’ wellbeing.
The psychological impact of acne is now widely recognised. With the average duration of teenage acne lasting approximately 8 years; social phobias, withdrawal from society and even clinical depression are a frequent and inevitable result. According to a recent survey conducted by the Acne Support Group**, 75% of sufferers felt depressed as a direct result of having acne and an alarming 15% felt suicidal.
From the occasional blemish to acute acne vulgaris, the underlying cause of this distressing skin condition has long been attributed to a myriad of origins, including poor hygiene, excess sebum, skin bacteria, nutritional deficiencies, allergies, hormones, stress, oral contraceptives, chemical pollutants - even chocolate has been accused as a guilty culprit. Many of the above may well be contributing factors, but only as a consequence of the true underlying cause of acne; which is now well understood. Traditional treatments, including both non-prescription topical products and prescription drugs focus mainly on the visible symptoms such as clogged pores and increased oil production and/or target the skins bacteria.
“Aknicare® addresses the consequences, but also targets the underlying causes of acne through a well-balanced, scientifically proven and clinically tested formulation, designed to restore optimal functioning of the skin without recourse to antibiotics.” Peter Roberts, MD SkinMed Ltd.
* Results supported by an investigative study of the efficacy of Aknicare® in the treatment of acne undertaken by internationally renowned acne expert Dr Tony Chu of the department of Dermatology, Hammersmith Hospital, London (President of UK Acne Charity, The Acne Support Group**) and Dr de Paoli, General Topics. The full results of this study are being submitted for clinical publication in the British Journal of Dermatology in autumn 2006.
The medication minefield…
Traditional mainstream topical preparations commonly include 2.5 – 10% Benzyl Peroxide, a chemical that can often act as a skin irritant; will bleach clothing, bedding and hair; promotes acne pigmentation marks and generates free radicals that damage the skin's structure and cellular DNA, resulting in premature aging of the skin. Cancerous links with Benzyl Peroxide are widely documented in medical reports and it was subsequently reclassified by the U.S. FDA as class 3 ‘safety uncertain’, following its link with tumours in mice. Trials continue…
Taking an antibiotic may appear to be an easy method of controlling acne, but bacterial involvement in acne results as a consequence of the conditions our own skin’s bacteria find themselves in and if one addresses these underlying conditions antibiotics are rarely necessary. Using them routinely can result in a significant downside. Oral antibiotics (Tetracycline; Minocycline etc.) whilst effective, are slow to respond, often requiring 6-8 month daily administration. Side effects include thrush, gastrointestinal upset, diarrhoea, grey discoloration of teeth and skin and not least, extended use of antibiotics can damage the body's natural immune functions. Widespread prescription use for acne is now a major concern for many medical professionals, as such long-term exposure to antibiotics leads to the proliferation of superbugs. Antibiotic resistant strains of p. acnes and staphylococcus epidermidis are on the increase amongst acne sufferers and there is growing evidence that long term use of antibiotics for skin conditions such as acne and rosacea may well be the cause of increasing resistant bacteria in hospitals, namely MRSA.
Roaccutane, reportedly the most effective prescription acne treatment, carries with it the risk of headaches, depression, myalgia, excessive dryness of the lips and mouth, liver damage and can cause birth defects in babies, should the individual fall pregnant while on treatment or even after stopping usage for a number of months…
If these options seem less than appealing, the alternative is to resort to harsh astringent or sulphur based cleansing products that effectively strip the skin of its natural oils, resulting in increased water loss, which triggers even greater oil production, thereby creating a vicious circle that further aggravates the acne cycle and leads to increased misery.
Enlightened Science
Science has now attributed the cause of acne as an indirect result of hormonal changes, which leads to the skin becoming aware of and then sensitive to the naturally occurring hormone Dihydroxytestosterone (DHT). Testosterone (the male sex hormone) is present in women as well as men and naturally breaks down to DHT. When the body’s hormonal balance is disrupted either naturally during puberty or when taking the contraceptive pill for instance or through stress or medical reasons then the skin can become hypersensitive to DHT. This causes the skin’s natural essential fatty acids such as Lipoic Acid and Linoleic Acid to leak out of the skin cells. This reduction in the fatty acid levels in the cell walls allows water to escape from the within the cells faster causing excessive water loss which can damage cell functions so our body quickly responds, attempting to slow down water loss by increasing sebum (oil) production. The leaked fatty acids from skin cells causes cells to stick together, resulting in a build up of dead skin cells on the skin surface resulting in thickening of the dead surface cell layer. This can start to block the openings of the sebaceous ducts (often referred to incorrectly as ‘pores’). At the same time the increased sensitivity to DHT leads to a narrowing of the sebaceous duct tube, creating a narrower channel where the combination of the increased sebum rises up through this narrowed tube and the dead skin cells building up on the surface cause a blockage resulting in a blackhead or pimple. Our skin’s bacteria particularly one known as p.acnes build up under this plug and begin to break down the sebum (oil) into glycerol and other fatty acids; the glycerol they use as a nutrient and hence the bacteria multiply rapidly, while the other fatty acids irritate and damage the skin cells creating inflammation and swelling resulting in a ‘red angry pus filled spot’.
“A Unique Topical Treatment for the Treatment of Acne” Dr Tony Chu
Aknicare® is the only topical treatment scientifically proven to actually reduce sebum production in the skin. Aknicare® directly targets the triggers of acne, i.e. DHT sensitivity and fatty acid depletion restoring a healthy, spot free complexion.
“Until now, no topical treatment has been scientifically shown to reduce sebum production. Aknicare® thus represents a unique topical treatment…Sebum excretion was reduced by up to 68%. The results were apparent even from the first 4 weeks of treatment…” Dr Tony Chu.
Aknicare®’s medically advanced formulation cleverly exploits the skin’s natural defence system and normal functioning to reverse the acne cycle safely and naturally. The synergistic action of the ingredients reduces DHT locally thereby reducing skin sensitivity and cell fatty acid loss, so skin cells can shed normally. Simultaneously, Aknicare® supplies key essential fatty acids to replenish the deficit allowing the skin to maintain moisture levels more effectively. This results in a slowing down in oil production creating an environment in the follicle where a blockage is now unlikely to occur and therefore no spot will form. The key ingredient Ethyl Linoleate is enzymatically converted by skin bacteria into Linoleic acid, which replenishes the fatty acid levels, while at the same time acts to slow down local production of DHT in conjunction with Triethyl citrate and thereby normalises oil production; regulates the clumping of dead cells on the skin surface and restores normal skin shedding and the diameter of the hair follicle duct
Similarly, Triethyl citrate is converted to Citric Acid in phased release by the enzymatic process of our natural skin bacteria, which creates a more acidic environment. This effectively slows bacterial growth so bacterial levels are kept under control. Triethyl citrate also works in conjunction with Linoleic acid to slow production of DHT thereby contributing to a clear, blemish-free, and even skin.
These dynamic natural based ingredients are further enhanced by a combination of ingredients such as Ascorbyl Palmitate help reduce redness and inflammation and promote skin healing; Glycine, Triclosan and Zinc Lactate also contribute to DHT reduction and bacterial control. Salicylic Acid and Pyruvic Acid gently exfoliate the skin surface to reduce pore clogging debris, whilst Hyaluronic Acid hydrates and increases moisture levels to encourage optimum healing and reduce the risk of acne scarring.
Aknicare® does not use antibiotics to control the p.acnes and this is a major positive. It is now increasingly thought in medical circles that the use, often long term, of antibiotics for acne is known to create antibiotic resistant skin bacteria like Staph. Epidermidis. The big worry is that Staph. Epidermidis a friendly bacteria living on our skin comes into contact with Staph. aureus at entry points to the body like the nose. Here they meet and the genes which confer the resistance are transferred resulting in antibiotic resistant Staph aureus. This may be the major cause of the hospital ‘super bug’ MRSA (multi resistant Staph aureus). It may be a fact that inappropriate use of antibiotics on skin condition such as acne is leading to deaths in hospitals from MRSA. Aknicare® is one way of reducing this risk which seems to be in the news so frequently now.
The Aknicare® range consists of five competitively priced, synergistic products, which cleanse, repair, moisturise and protect acneic skin; Aknicare® Cleanser, Aknicare® Lotion, Aknicare® Cream come in a three product set for acute and chronic management. Aknicare® SR Blemish Corrector is available to rapidly reduce an inflamed spot and Aknicare® Fluid Powder Compact Foundation and Primer not only effectively covers acneic skin, but incorporates the key active ingredients in microscopic droplets to reduce oil production under make-up, helping prevent make-up slippage and effectively managing the T zone. Twice daily use of Aknicare® demonstrates fast, effective results and long-term benefits in clinically tested trials.
Aknicare® is available from leading pharmacies, dermatologist and skincare clinics nationwide and via mail order from www.skinmed.co.uk
Case Studies are available on request. Quotes and interviews with Dr. Tony Chu and Mr. Peter Roberts are available by appointment.
For further information on Aknicare®, please visit www.skinmed.co.uk
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For information on SkinMed's range , visit www.skinmed.co.uk or call 08701 909369.
