Although acne itself can cause scarring, the constant picking of otherwise minor pimples can also lead to permanent damage to the skin. This is known as acne excoriée, or ‘picker’s acne’. Acne excoriée is usually associated with significant anxiety or depression, and it is an important outward sign of a person’s underlying emotional state. This …
Tag Archives: acne
Pill choices for women with acne
What are the best pill choices for women with acne? Logic dictates that the best COCs for women with acne should be those which are either less androgenic i.e. desogestrel (Marvelon) or gestodene (Minulet, Femodon) or anti-androgenic i.e. cyproterone acetate (Diane, Brenda, Juliet, Estelle), dienogest (Valette) or drospirenone (YAZ Yasmin) Note: all pills decrease androgen …
Ins and outs of isotretinoin
Isotretinoin has been used in Australia for 25 years, initially for severe cystic acne or acne not responding to other therapies but more recently for moderate-to-severe acne with severe physiological or psychological scarring or chronic acne prone to relapse. The relaxing of the initial restrictions is the result of increasing familiarity with the medication and …