At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 223

PROMOTION

Bad skin,

banished
For those of us who suffer from skin conditions
such as acne and psoriasis, the search for
a remedy that works could be over...

one of the most common skin conditions
in the world. Firstly, an increase in cell
production of the hair follicle causes a
blockage, which leads to the second
factor - an excess accumulation of
sebum, the oil produced by the skin.
The third factor is the action of the
"Propionibacterium acnes" that feeds
off the oil and this then results in the
acne spot or "comedone".
'The comedone is the hallmark of
acne: a closed comedone will appear on

those students who notice a breakout
during exams may be onto something!'
Q. What is the best treatment for acne?
A. 'Treatment really depends on the type and
severity of acne. Mild to moderate acne often
responds to Benzoyl peroxide washes, along
with topical antibiotics. Oral antibiotics, taken
for a few months, are the next step in the
process, and for acne not responding to
antibiotics or for scarring acne, Isotretinoin
(Roccutane) can prove to be very effective.'

'STUDIES SHOW THAT STRESS - ALTHOUGH NOT
THE PRIMARY CAUSE FOR ACNE - MAY RESULT IN
THE EXACERBATION OF EXISTING ACNE'
MEET THE EXPERT
Dr Adil Sheraz is a consultant
dermatologist, currently practising at
the Royal Free NHS Trust and a number
of private clinics in London.
He has a specialist interest in
inflammatory skin conditions including
acne, rosacea and psoriasis.
Dr Sheraz also has a keen interest in
skin cancer and removal of malignant
and benign lesions. He has presented in
multiple and international conferences
and can be seen on Dr Christian Will
See You Now. Here, he answers the
most common questions about acne.
Q. What causes acne?
A. 'Three factors are to blame for acne,

the skin as a whitehead. If the pore is
open, oil within the comedone then
reacts to the air and darkens, resulting
in the creation of a blackhead. Nodules
(lumps) and cysts are amongst other
types of common acne lesions.'
Q. Does eating too much dairy or
chocolate cause acne?
A. 'Having a healthy diet is of course
beneficial for health and the skin in
multiple ways. However, there is no
conclusive research to suggest that
cutting out chocolate or any other food
groups will have a significant impact on
moderate to severe acne.'
Q. Can stress cause a breakout?
A. 'There have been studies to show
that stress - although not the primary
cause for acne - may result in the
exacerbation of existing acne. So all of

Q. How can scarring be treated?
A. 'It's important that the underlying
active acne is treated successfully first,
before further steps are taken. The
scarring will often fade with time;
however treatments such as chemical
peels, dermabrasion or lasers will often
produce excellent results.'

FOR MORE INFORMATION
NHS: Royal Free NHS Trust
Visit royalfree.nhs.uk
Private: Lyndhurst Rooms, Royal
Free Hospital, Hampstead, London
and Hadley Wood Hospital,
Barnet, London.
Visit royalfreeprivatepatients.com
Skincare Network,
Barnet & Chelsea, London.
Visit skincarenetwork.co.uk
https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/ https://www.royalfreeprivatepatients.com/ http://www.skincarenetwork.co.uk/
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Chris Jessen 2018
