Understanding Acne Vulgaris Through Research

Outline: Acne Vulgaris – New Insights From The Bench To The Clinic + overstimation of the risks of oral isotretinoin

• Recent advances in acne research have allowed a better understanding of the pathogenesis and etiological factors associated with acne:

• sebum overproduction by sebaceous glands is influenced by:

1. dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
2. Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)-1
3. PPAR ligands
4. neuromediators.
5. Propionibacterium acnes has also has a role in addition to cause inflammation of activating toll-like receptors.

• On the genetic front

1. genetic polymorphisms in the interleukin-1alpha and IGF-1
2. Common J. et al.found that filaggrin null* mutations (found in Ichthyosis Vulgaris and predisposing to Atopic Dermatitis) do not protect against acne vulgaris. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3094589/)

• With regards to treatment with oral isotretinoin a recent retrospective review (at the National Skin Centre enrolling over 2000 patients showed that not only it was effective, but that the incidence of side effects was very low.

filaggrin null mutations=filaggrin loss of function mutations

2013 (07) – Tang M. 25th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Dermatological Society of Singapore (DSS) – Singapore

Source of information: here