Accutane is being discontinued

Accutane was first introduced in 1982 and has for many years been the final resort in the case of severe acne.

Hoffman-La Roche, Inc, the manufacturers of Accutane, notified the FDA that they were going to discontinue manufacturing Accutane (Isotretinoin).

Isotretinoin, the active ingredient in Accutane, revolutionized the treatment of acne. Accutane alters the DNA transcription which decreases the size and output of sebaceous glands. It also reduces the number of bacteria in the sebaceous gland and on the skin surface.

The decision to discontinue Accutane was taken for business reasons, as the introduction of generic versions of Accutane since 2002 has eroded Accutane's market share to less than 5%.

But no need to panic!! The generic versions will still be available.

Skin Care Myths Debunked (Part 3)

Click here if you missed part 1 and part 2.

Continuing with our list of popular skin care myths...

Eating chocolate and greasy foods cause acne

Sorry about all the chocolate you missed out on over the years....but eating chocolate does not cause acne. Hormonal factors, bacteria and skin cells are at the root of problematic skin, and stress can contribute to flareups.

Blackheads are a caused by improperly cleansed skin

Blackheads are caused by clogged pores. Hard scrubbing to clean the skin can irritate and further inflame skin. Blackheads often contain dirt (hence the name), oil, and dry and dead skin cells that need to be removed.

Antioxidants can reverse wrinkles

Antioxidants fight free radical formation. The chief danger of free radicals is the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants. so, they have a very important function in preventing skin damage, but they cannot make wrinkles go away.

Acne Scarring … Do I have to live with it? (Part 1)

First we need to discuss types of acne scarring. There are several types including some that might look like scars but in actuality a permanent change has not occurred.

• Macules- “Pseudo-scars” are flat, red pots that are at the final stage of most inflamed acne lesions. A macule may remain for up to 6 months. When the macule disappears, no trace will remain-unlike a scar.

• Post-inflammatory pigmentation- Discoloration of the skin at the site of a healed acne lesion. It occurs more frequently in darker skinned people. It may persist for up to 18 months, especially with excessive sun exposure. Chemical peeling may hasten the disappearance of post-inflammatory pigmentation.

• Ice pick scars- Usually occur on the cheek. They are small, with jagged edges and steep sides. They may be shallow or deep and hard to soft to touch.

• Depressed fibrotic scars- Usually large, with sharp edges and steep sides. They are firm to touch. Ice pick scars can develop into depressed fibrotic scars.

• Soft scars, superficial or deep- They are soft to the touch. Gently sloping rolled edges that merge into normal skin. They are usually small, and either circular or linear in shape.

• Atrophic macules- They are usually small on the face and larger on the body. They are soft, wrinkled base and may be bluish in appearance due to blood vessels under the scar. Over time they change from bluish to white in light skinned people.

• Follicular macular atrophy- These are more likely to occur on the chest or back. They are small white lesions, barely raised above the skin surface. It sometimes called “perifollicular elastolysis”. The lesions may persist for months to years.

There is treatment!

There are a number of treatments available for acne scarring, which we will discuss in Part 2. The type of treatment selected should be one that is best for you in terms of type of skin, cost, your goals and risks.









DeAnna Maher (RN.)

Clinical Manager. Sona MedSpa - Galleria
*source: AcneNet.com

Skin Care Myths Debunked (Part 2)

Click here if you missed Part 1.

Continuing with our list of popular skin care myths...

Natural and organic products are always better

This just sound so right! However...you really need to be careful. Many natural and organic products commercially available are not what they claim to be. Synthetic products or compounds can actually be identical to those found in nature, and may be more effective. Natural vs. synthetic should not automatically lead to an up or down decision about whether a product is good or bad. Not all chemicals are bad, and not all natural or organic ingredients are good... so do take the extra time to do your homework.

A suntan will clear up my acne

Have you forgotten that "tanning is skin cells in trauma, trying to protect themselves from cancer?" You're more likely to do serious damage to your skin. In the MedSpa, certain light-based treatments use the blue light frequency of the visible spectrum to eliminate acne. However, this is a much more controlled process than lying with your face in the sun! And here's another question to ponder: Does the sun's intense light (from the total spectrum, including the feared UVA and AVB rays) and the heat flush out the sebum to clear acne, or does it produce more oil to clog pores?

If you're a tanner, you're risking skin cancer. But not only that.... you are also prematurely again your skin. There are quite a number of effective acne treatments, but sun tanning is not one of them!

At Sona you can control Acne with light-based treatments utilizing Advanced Fluorescence Technology (AFT), killing acne-causing bacteria by interrupting the metabolic process. Treating active acne in its early stages minimizes the potential for scarring.

We will continue this series and expose more Skin Care myths in Part 3.

Why do I still have Acne..?

The American Acne & Rosacea Society (AARS) recently announced June 2009 as National Acne Awareness Month. At the 4th Annual Meeting of the AARS, James Q. Del Rosso, DO, President, stated that National Acne Awareness Month is an important opportunity to educate healthcare providers concerning the treatment of acne and to generate awareness for this disease which affects over 17 million Americans.

So.... May is running out...and no reason we cannot get an early start on such a worthy cause.

What is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition which has plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), inflamed pimples (pustules), and deeper lumps (nodules). You can get acne to the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms.

Who gets Acne?

EVERYONE! Well almost…Although most teenagers get some form of acne, adults in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s or even older, can develop acne.

What causes Acne?

First we need to cover what doesn’t cause acne … Poor hygiene does not cause acne. Now, cleaning your skin is recommended, but washing your skin hard and frequently can actually worsen your acne. Studies have not found a connection between diet and acne either. In other words, chocolate does not cause acne! Amongst the actual causes of acne are hormones such as testosterone, present in both males and females and increasing during puberty. Testosterone stimulates the sebaceous glands of the skin to enlarge, produce oil, and plug the pores. Further causes of adult acne include hormones, childbirth, menopause or stopping the pill.

In our next post we will talk more about how to get rid of acne.

DeAnna Maher (RN.)
Clinical Manager. Sona MedSpa - Galleria