Is Acne a Disease or a Normal Physiological Problem of the Adolescence?
Acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit which includes the hair follicle and the associated sebaceous gland. It is not just a normal age related phenomenon, as hormone related pathological changes assisted by the bacteria propionibacterium acnes occur in acne and result in long lasting effects on the skin, like pigmentation and scars. The Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne in their report presented as a supplement to the May issue of Journal of American Academy of Dermatology advocates approaching acne as a chronic disease requiring initial aggressive therapy followed by maintenance therapy to avoid the complications and minimize the social and psychological fallouts of the acne. When it is very mild and limited to a few numbers of comedones, acne can be considered physiological. The presence of inflamed papules, pustules or presence of nodules and acne cysts calls for active treatment of the acne. How Common is Acne? Acne is the commonest skin disease. It affects approxim
