Chapters authored
The Use of Topical Retinoids in Acne
Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease in adolescents and young adults and has serious influence on quality of life of the patients. Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease in adolescents and young adults and has serious influence on quality of life of the patients. The initial lesions of acne are the microcomedones that can be observed histologically in normal-appearing skin. The first step in the treatment of acne is to understand the pathophysiology of disease and to act on the factors involved in the development of acne. Increased sebum secretion from sebaceous glands, secretion of inflammatory mediators, altered keratinization and follicular plugging, and follicular colonization of Propionibacterium acnes are major four steps of acne pathogenesis. Topical retinoids have multiple effects in the treatment of acne and act on more than one factor implicated in the etiology of acne. They prevent the formation of microcomedones and reduce their number, reduce macrocomedones, promote the normal desquamation of follicular epithelium, exert anti-inflammatory effects, enhance the penetration of other topical acne drugs, and prolong the remission periods of acne by inhibiting the formation of microcomedone formation and preventing the development of new lesions and bacterial resistance. Therefore, topical retinoids have been the first-line treatment for most forms of acne vulgaris either alone or together with other agents.
Part of the book: Acne and Acneiform Eruptions