| Tackling the causes of skin disease and acne rosacea
By Dr. James P. Gilligan, Ph.D.
A major difference between Herbal Based Medicines used for the treatment of Acne Vulgaris and Rosacea and their Western counterparts is the stage in the development of the disease where pharmacologic intervention occurs.
Herbal Based Medicines address the etiologic factors that contribute to skin disease; by correcting physiological imbalance natural based medicines prevent acne from forming and reduce the symptoms of Rosacea.
Standard Western Medicines routinely focus on treating existing acne and intercede at the last stage of acne development (i.e. "the pimple"). For instance, most OTC products are topical in nature and treat existing comedones.
Among these are products that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Retinoid-based topical medication and topical antibiotics are often combined with benzoyl peroxide in order to more effectively treat acne.
A drawback to this approach is that all of these products can cause skin irritation and dryness; contraindications for both acne and Rosacea (Table 1). Orally administered systemic antibiotics (tetracycline, minocycline, etc.) address the secondary stage in the development of acne; the growth of Propionibacterium Acnes in clogged pores.
The widespread use of systemic antibiotics for treating acne as well as acne rosacea is being increasingly questioned by the medical community.
Currently the only product that targets the primary factor responsible for acne (the over-secretion of the sebaceous glands), is treatment with Roaccutane. However, the side-effect profile for Roaccutane is quite severe and therefore this drug is reserved as a last resort for treating the most difficult cases of acne. In most instances, Roaccutane is prescribed only for those patients that have not responded to the more traditional treatments. |
