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- 01/14/2016

Canada has a new way to deal with acne in youngsters and adults

HPC Today

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After 15 years, Canadian health care will have a new guideline to help the health care operators to treat children and adults with acne. Eve if not a serious treat for the health, this disease can really affect quality of life, hence the decision to increase the awareness of whom must deal with it. In fact, Acne can result in anxiety and depression and permanent scarring of the skin.
As stated by Dr. Jerry Tan, Department of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, with coauthors.”With early diagnosis, treatment of active lesions and prevention of adverse potential sequelae (e.g., scarring, dyspigmentation and psychosocial impact), the health of the many Canadians with acne may be improved.”
It is estimated that 85% of young people aged 12-24 years have acne and it can persist into adulthood. A team of dermatologists from across the country reviewed the latest evidence and provide treatment recommendations for 3 acne presentations:

  • For comedonal acne — topical benzoyl peroxide, retinoids or a combination of topical retinoids with benzoyl peroxide or clindamycin is recommended. If a single therapy does not work, use of fixed-dose clindamycin-tretinoin may be considered, and in women, combined oral contraceptives.?
  • For localized mild-to-moderate papulopustular acne — topical benzoyl peroxide is recommended. There is also strong evidence for use of topical retinoids and fixed-dose combinations. For more extensive moderate papulopustular acne, oral antibiotics or combined oral contraceptives (in women) with the above topical treatments are recommended.
  • For severe acne — use of oral isotretinoin is strongly recommended, although only physicians with experience in prescribing and monitoring the drug should prescribe. Strict pregnancy preventive measures must be followecomedonal acne (characterized by blackheads and whiteheads); mild-to-moderate papulopustular acne (superficial red blemishes and pimples); and severe inflammatory acne (deep pustules or nodules). The guideline developers did not include neonatal or infant acne, late-onset acne, acne rosacea and other variant forms.

“We hope that these guidelines will help health care professionals address the common scourge of acne in patients of various ages,” states Dr. Tan.