Acne drug raises fat levels: researchers

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A well-known acne drug may increase cholesterol and other fat levels more than previously thought, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

The drug isotretinoin, sold as Roche AG's Accutane as well as a generic, raised levels of triglyceride fats in about 44 percent of patients with previously normal levels, the University of California San Francisco analysis found. Total cholesterol levels were higher for 31 percent of patients.

Previously, clinical trials of Accutane showed higher triglyceride levels in about 25 percent of patients receiving the drug, while about 7 percent showed increased cholesterol levels, according to the drug's label.

Researchers reviewed medical records for 13,772 acne patients in California who had been treated with isotretinoin between 1995 and 2002. The median length of treatment was 21 weeks for the group, whose median age was 19.

"The incidence of abnormally high serum lipid levels during isotretinoin treatment may be greater than previously estimated," they wrote in the August issue of the journal Archives of Dermatology.

The higher fat levels were reversible once treatment stopped, the researchers added -- a fact already noted on the drug's label.

Too much fat in the blood can cause long-term problems and may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Accutane and its generic counterparts already face scrutiny for the risk of birth defects, with strict procedures in place to help make sure women taking the drug are not pregnant.

Representatives of Roche said that prescribers have already been asked to monitor fat levels before treatment and every week or two during treatment.

Doctors should also "consider the risk/benefit for patients for whom elevated lipid levels present a high risk," Roche spokesman Shelley Rosenstock said in a statement.

Four in 10 users of acne drug had a rise in blood fats, study found

MONDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthDay News) - About a third of patients who took the anti-acne drug Accutane developed elevated cholesterol levels, and over 40 percent showed raised levels of blood fats called triglycerides, a new report warns.

These side effects were known to doctors, but prior reports had suggested a much smaller number of users might be affected.

"This is a side effect that we have known about all along. We've been monitoring patients since the day the drug came on the market," said Dr. Stephen Stone, president of the American Academy of Dermatology and professor of clinical medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. "The only thing that is different is the number of patients who have elevated cholesterol or triglyceride levels is greater than the number stated in the original package insert."

Stone was not involved in the study, which was published in the August Archives of Dermatology.

Researchers also found that about one in 10 Accutane users develop higher than normal levels of specific liver enzymes.

The risks should not be overstated, however, said lead author Dr. Lee T. Zane, assistant professor of clinical dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco.

"Having abnormal tests results does not necessarily signal a bad medical outcome. It's just lab tests, not heart attacks," Zane said. "Isotretinoin is undeniably the most effective medication we have for treating severe acne. It can truly be life-changing. We can't lose sight of the fact that isotretinoin is the most important revolution in medical dermatology in the last 30 years."

Accutane (generic name isotretinoin) is the most effective acne medication on the market, resolving some 89 percent of cases. But the drug has potential side effects, the most severe of which is birth defects in the babies of moms who are take the medication while they are pregnant. This risk prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to launch a mandatory registry to track all isotretinoin prescriptions.

The drug package insert currently notes that about one-quarter of patients may experience elevated triglycerides and 15 percent elevated liver enzymes. Other studies have found elevated triglycerides in 5 percent to 18 percent of people taking isotretinoin and elevated total cholesterol in 6 percent to 32 percent of patients.

Previous studies had involved much smaller sample sizes than the new trial, however.

For this study, the UCSF team looked at the frequency of abnormal lab tests among nearly 14,000 patients, aged 13 to 50, who took Accutane for acne between 1995 and 2002.

Among individuals whose pre-treatment lab results were normal, 44 percent developed high triglycerides, 31 percent high cholesterol and 11 percent high liver enzymes while taking the drug. These changes were "generally transient and reversible," the authors noted, meaning that blood test results usually returned to pre-treatment levels once patients stopped taking Accutane.

Ninety-two percent of participants with liver enzyme abnormalities returned to normal after stopping the drug, 80 percent of those with high triglyceride levels and 79 percent of those with high cholesterol levels.

However, the elevations could put people at risk for what doctors call the "metabolic syndrome," the researchers warned.

Metabolic syndrome refers to a collection of unhealthy factors, including hypertension, cholesterol abnormalities, a waist circumference greater than 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women, and hyperglycemia. Studies have shown that people with metabolic syndrome have a 1.5 times increased risk for coronary heart disease.

All of this points to an "added message to do the blood tests," Stone said.

When a patient does have abnormal lab tests, doctors often keep them on the drug but try to manage the cholesterol and triglyceride levels with diet and exercise and, possibly, also with cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.

What's still unclear is whether kids who take Accutane and experience elevations in their cholesterol and triglyceride levels are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease later on in life. "This could be a marker," Stone said.

For now, however, doctors and patients just need to follow known precautions, he said.

"I don't think this changes our appreciation of the overall safety of the drug," Stone said.

Acne drug registry irritates patients

The acne drug isotretinoin has long posed an agonizing dilemma for doctors and patients.

Isotretinoin, sold as Accutane and other brand names, can clear up severe acne and prevent scarring when other treatments fail. But it also can cause miscarriages, premature births and birth defects such as mental retardation and cleft lip.

Despite patient education efforts, at least 2,000 isotretinoin users have gotten pregnant over the years, "and this may be the tip of the iceberg," according to March of Dimes.

So this year, the Food and Drug Administration began requiring patients to enroll in a stringent pregnancy- prevention program called iPledge.

Female patients must have pregnancy tests before, during and after taking isotretinoin, take two forms of birth control and answer questions on a Web site. Prescriptions last only 30 days, and must be filled within seven days of an office visit.

But critics say that iPledge, though well-intentioned, is cumbersome and poorly administered. Callers to the iPledge hotline have waited more than an hour to get through. Many patients have been unable to access their mandatory iPledge accounts. And even men and women who can't get pregnant are required to enroll in iPledge, although their requirements are less stringent.

In a recent letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and seven other senators wrote: "Our offices continue to receive numerous complaints from doctors, patients and pharmacists about the inflexible and confusing requirements that have denied access to the drug to thousands of qualified patients."

'Confusion' acknowledged

Among those patients is Nicole Marconi, a middle school teacher in Downstate Alton. Marconi said she fulfilled all iPledge requirements. But the system did not authorize her pharmacy to fill the prescription. Marconi called iPledge, but got busy signals or was put on hold. Her doctor's office tried to help, but "they were just as frustrated as I was."

After seven days, Marconi's prescription expired, forcing her to wait a mandatory 23 days to get a new prescription, which she was able to fill.

About 165,000 patients have registered with iPledge, which is jointly administered by companies that sell the drug as generic isotretinoin or under the brand names Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis and Sotret.

The companies acknowledge "confusion and delays" when iPledge began last March, but say they have "worked diligently to rectify the situation." Staffing has been increased, call waiting times have "significantly declined" and 86 percent of calls have been answered. The firms say they also have made the Web site more user friendly.

For Marconi, at least, isotretinoin has been worth the hassle. Her skin, once pockmarked by deep, painful sores, has cleared up completely. "It's a heavy duty drug, but it does the job."

Isotretinoin can cause dry skin, chapped lips, dry eyes, nosebleeds and high cholesterol. Rare but serious side effects include depression and other mental problems; damage to the liver, intestines and esophagus; vision and hearing problems, and joint and muscle pain.

Acne Drug Accutane Ups Cholesterol

n a study involving almost 14,000, mostly young patients taking the drug, elevations in blood cholesterol, triglycerides (a blood fat), and a blood liver function test were more common than have been previously reported.

Blood levels returned to normal or to pretreatment levels in the vast majority of patients in the months after they stopped taking Accutane, however.

Researchers say this finding is reassuring, but they add that patients should be followed longer to see if there are long-term implications for cardiovascular and liver disease risk.

"We do want to know if there are long-term consequences, but that was not a part of this research," researcher Michele Manos, PhD, MPH, tells WebMD.

Tighter Controls on Drug

First approved in 1982 for the treatment of severe disfiguring acne, Accutane use in women has long been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects.

Last August, the FDA announced tough new regulations to reduce what government researchers estimate are hundreds of miscarriages and birth defects each year among women of childbearing age who take the acne medication.

The reproductive risks have been well described, but less is known about the drug's impact on cholesterol, triglyceride, liver test, and other critical blood levels.

In the first large study to examine the issue since the drug was approved, Lee T. Zane, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, along with Manos and other colleagues, evaluated laboratory abnormalities among 13,772 patients with severe acne who were treated with Accutane between 1995 and 2002.

The average age of the patients in the study was 19; roughly half were female.

When the researchers analyzed the medical records of each patient before, during, and after treatment with Accutane, they found clinicians did a good job of monitoring their patients' blood levels to look for potential problems.

Changes in Blood Levels

Those problems included a 44% rise in triglyceride levels among patients with normal pretreatment levels, a 31% rise in total cholesterol, and an 11% rise in liver enzyme levels.

No significant changes were seen in levels of infection-fighting white blood cells, oxygen-carrying hemoglobin, or blood clotting platelets.

Liver enzyme levels returned to normal within three months after treatment in 92% of the patients who continued to be monitored. Cholesterol levels returned to normal during the same period in 79% of patients, and triglyceride levels returned to normal in 80% of patients.

"This was definitely some good news from this study," Manos says. "The findings suggest that routine monitoring of white blood cell and hemoglobin levels may not be needed."

'Not a Surprise'

American Dermatology Association president Stephen P. Stone, MD, tells WebMD the study appears to confirm what he has seen clinically.

Because acne patients who take Accutane are treated with the drug for only a few months and tend to be young, Stone says it is unlikely there are long-term cardiovascular risks associated with the drug's use.

"This is not a surprise," he says. "We have known about these elevations since before the drug came on the market, and those of us who use it monitor patients very carefully."

Accutane manufacturer Roche Pharmaceuticals notes that prescribing physicians are advised to monitor patient blood levels before treatment and at least once every two weeks during treatment until it becomes clear if the drug will affect cholesterol-triglyceride levels.

"When this drug first came on the market we really had little to offer patients with severe, scarring acne," Stone says. "I would say that better than 90% of the patients we treat with Accutane show significant improvement, if not complete [acne] clearing."

Top acne drug 'increases the risk of liver damage'

ONE of the most effective treatments for acne has been linked with potentially dan- gerous changes in the blood and damage to the liver.

Almost 90 per cent of patients prescribed Roaccutane (isotretinoin) pills show improvements to their skin, but by taking it they run a risk of developing high levels of triglycerides (fats) and cholesterol in the blood. Tests of liver function show the presence of enzymes that normally signal liver damage.

The patient leaflet for the drug, which is made by Roche, does give warning of possible adverse effects. It says that about a quarter of patients will sustain higher levels of triglycerides while taking the drug, and 15 per cent will develop higher liver enzyme levels.

Researchers believe that the figures may be even higher. A team led by Lee Zane, of the University of California in San Francisco, followed 13,772 patients aged between 13 and 50 who took Roaccutane — called Accutane in the US — between 1995 and 2002.

The patients were all members of Kaiser Permanente, a medical care organisation with 3.3 million members based in Oakland, California.

The researchers report in Archives of Dermatology that 44 per cent of patients who had normal levels of triglyceride before taking the drug developed high levels after taking it; 31 per cent developed high cholesterol and 11 per cent high liver enzymes.

When they stopped taking the drug their blood levels and liver enzymes mostly returned to normal. Not all were retested, but of those who were 90 per cent returned to an acceptable trigycleride level and all cholesterol tests were normal or only slightly elevated.

Acne is a disabling condition that can limit a sufferer’s social life and cause serious psychological symptoms if untreated. For most people it is transitory, but some need medical treatment. Antibiotics are often used, but in very difficult cases Roaccutane may be the only treatment that works.

Dermatologists who prescribe the drug are likely to conclude that short-term and reversible changes to blood and liver are prices worth paying when other drugs do not work.

In Britain, isotretinoin is more commonly given as a cream. There is no indication in the study that in this form it has the same effects.

The team points out that abnormalities in laboratory tests do not necessarily signify anything serious, but patients with large increases in triglyceride levels are, they say, at greater risk of future ill-health, which could include the set of symptoms known as the metabolic syndrome: obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. They plan further studies to examine whether Roaccutane patients are more prone to these symptoms.

Acne drug raises fat levels, U.S. researchers say

WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - A well-known acne drug may increase cholesterol and other fat levels more than previously thought, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

The drug isotretinoin, sold as Roche AG's (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) Accutane as well as a generic, raised levels of triglyceride fats in about 44 percent of patients with previously normal levels, the University of California San Francisco analysis found. Total cholesterol levels were higher for 31 percent of patients.

Previously, clinical trials of Accutane showed higher triglyceride levels in about 25 percent of patients receiving the drug, while about 7 percent showed increased cholesterol levels, according to the drug's label.

Researchers reviewed medical records for 13,772 acne patients in California who had been treated with isotretinoin between 1995 and 2002. The median length of treatment was 21 weeks for the group, whose median age was 19.

"The incidence of abnormally high serum lipid levels during isotretinoin treatment may be greater than previously estimated," they wrote in the August issue of the journal Archives of Dermatology.

The higher fat levels were reversible once treatment stopped, the researchers added -- a fact already noted on the drug's label.

Too much fat in the blood can cause long-term problems and may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Accutane and its generic counterparts already face scrutiny for the risk of birth defects, with strict procedures in place to help make sure women taking the drug are not pregnant.

Representatives of Roche said that prescribers have already been asked to monitor fat levels before treatment and every week or two during treatment.

Doctors should also "consider the risk/benefit for patients for whom elevated lipid levels present a high risk," Roche spokesman Shelley Rosenstock said in a statement.

Skin Treatment Targets Adult Acne

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Many people want smooth, flawless skin, but acne can provide a big roadblock. Now a new treatment called Vibraderm is clearing the way to spotless skin.

Kristie Smith received the treatment after growing frustrated with her skin's condition.

"From a distance, I can look at myself from far away and OK, I'm pretty -- and then you get close up and you see all the marks on the face," she said.

Smith suffered from adult acne breakouts. Where she once had clear skin with very little effort, now she fights with a pimple a day, she said.

"And when they go away they leave a mark," Smith said.

Dermatologists explained as people age, skin doesn't shed as it should. That's where the different sized exfoliating paddles of Vibraderm go to work, said Dermatologist Forrest Brown.

"The whole thing is to get rid of the bumps of the skin and the dead cells that have been collected," Brown said. "It cleans out the pore."

The sandpaper-like texture on the applicator helps smooth out the skin. Patients said with the vibrating motion, it feels like a massage machine.

Smith said she could feel and see the changes.

"You can tell it's working."

Four 12-minute treatments have made all the difference to Smith.

"My skin is glowing," she said. "I love it."

Smith said her daily acne outbreak is history and so is her self-consciousness about her skin .

"It's like she's found my face."

The Vibraderm treatment is not recommended for people with fragile skin. The cost is about $75 per session and $50 for the paddles.

Acne drug may trigger IBD

NEW YORK: While suspected for some time, a study now confirms that people taking the acne drug isotretinoin appear to run an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), US researchers report.

IBD includes Crohn's disease and a similar condition called ulcerative colitis.

Isotretinoin, more familiarly known by the brand name Accutane, was first approved for acne in the US in 1982, and numerous cases have surfaced linking the drug to IBD.

Until now, a systematic review of the association had not been conducted.

cne Treatment - Know About All Topical Treatments

Before we discuss the topical treatments for acne, we have to note down the effects we desire from those treatments. The desired results in acne treatment are- reduce inflammation, open the closed pores, kill the bacteria and reduce the oil. To get these results the following topical treatments are generally used-

Benzoyl Peroxide: The most common medicine that has been used since long to treat acne is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide performs three main functions - it removes excess oil, unclogs the closed pores and kills the bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide is available in form of cream or gel and can cause excessive dryness because it removes oil, and can sometimes also cause redness and some swelling. Because of these possible side effects do not use more than recommended dose of benzoyl peroxide.

Salicylic Acid: This is commonly used to treat non-inflammatory acne. Salicylic acid corrects the abnormal shedding of skin cells that block the pore openings. Salicylic acid does not kill the bacteria nor reduces the sebum production. It helps unclog the pores. It can be effectively used to treat whiteheads and blackheads.

Sulfur and Resorcinol: They are commonly used in combination and help unclog the blocked pores and reduce excess oil. This combination can treat whiteheads and blackheads. It may also cause peeling of skin and redness.

Alcohol and Acetone: Alcohol is a mild antimicrobial agent and acetone is a solvent that cleanses dirt and oil. This combination can be used to treat mild form of acne.

Azelaic Acid: Azelaic acid reduces the bacteria P.acnes and helps reduce the abnormal shedding of dead skin cells. It reduces inflammation by these two actions. Azelaic acid is used to treat mild and moderate acne. Azelaic acid can produce some dryness and lighten the skin where it is applied. Otherwise it is well tolerated by most people.

Topical Antibiotics: Antibiotics such as Clindamycin, Erythromycin and Sodium sulfacetamide are used to reduce the population of inflammation causing bacteria P.acnes. Prolonged use of antibiotics can produce resistance in the body. It is important to use antibiotics as directed by your doctor. Most of the topical antibiotics do not have any side effects except dryness or irritation. You should report these to your doctor.

Topical Retinoids: Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives and are very effective in treatment of mild to moderate acne. Topical retinoid formulations may contain active ingredients such as Adapalene, Tazarotene and Tretinoin. Topical retinoids clear the clogged pores and have anti-inflammatory properties. Another advantage of using topical retinoids is that they help remove fine lines and wrinkles. Topical retinoids may produce skin irritation. They should be strictly used under medical supervision as some of them such as Tazarotene have shown birth defects in animal trials.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advice and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Please follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

Promising new treatment for acne

Photocure has published results from its study on acne treatment in the British Journal of Dermatology (BJD). Patients treated with the Photocure treatment showed a 54 percent reduction in the number of inflammatory lesions.

By Alannah Eames

The study was performed during 2005 at three Nordic centers, headed by main investigator Anne-Marie Wennberg at Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

The study is a blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial comparing Photocure's patented MAL cream to placebo cream for the treatment of moderate to severe facial acne in 30 patients. MAL or placebo cream was applied to ach side of the patient’s face and left for a three-hour period before the skin was illuminated by Photocure’s Aktilite lamp.

Results showed a 54 percent reduction in the number of inflammatory lesions in the MAL-treated area and just 20 percent reduction in the placebo-treated area.

Based on the results, the team concludes that Photocure’s treatment is a promising treatment for moderate to severe acne. The only side effects of the treatment include pain and redness.

Further studies are necessary before the treatment will find its way in to the marketplace.

Acne affects up to 85 percent of all teenagers. Doctors treat around 50 percent of all patients for moderate acne and 20 percent for severe acne. At present, patients only have the option of oral antibiotics and isotretinoin. Photocure believes there is a need for a safe and efficacious topical treatment for acne patients.

Acne drug wastes millions of NHS pounds

Doctors are wasting millions of pounds of NHS money by prescribing an acne drug that costs more than treatments which are safer.

That’s the conclusion of a report in the latest issue of Which?’s Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB), the independent ‘doctors’ bible’ which rates treatments.

Minocycline, an oral antibiotic commonly used to treat moderate to severe acne, cost the NHS in England £9.3 million last year. But a similar drug, doxycycline, would have cost only £3.9 million.

Acne drugs

DTB found that of the other antibiotics used for treating acne, even the most expensive alternative would save the NHS £50,000 a year.

Minocycline is often prescribed because doctors believe that it’s more effective, easier to take and less likely to cause bacterial resistance than other similar antibiotics.

However DTB found evidence suggesting that these other antibiotics are just as effective in treating acne and don’t have the serious side effects associated with minocycline. These include darkening of the skin and other tissues, which may be permanent.

Safer for patients

In addition, minocycline is much more than likely than other drugs in its group to result in lupus-like syndrome, a form of arthritis.

Dr Ike Iheanacho, Editor of DTB, said: ‘There is no good reason to justify using minocycline as a treatment for acne, given the availability of less expensive, alternative antibiotics that are just as effective and much safer for patients.

‘By using these other treatments, doctors could help to save millions, a crucial point given the current financial climate for the NHS.’

Proactiv star support part of reality fad

LOS ANGELES, CA, United States (UPI) -- Hollywood`s ongoing reality trend is said to be behind surprising endorsements from stars like Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson for Proactiv`s acne solution.

The Boston Globe reported advertising specialists, such as JWT`s Ed Evangelista, said stars such as Lohan are willing to admit their physical flaws to support Proactiv due to the current U.S. fascination with reality entertainment.

'Everything is going reality. I think everyone is looking for some sort of reality or taking a peek into someone`s (life),' said Evangelista. 'For me, personally, I don`t know if I`d want people to see what I look like without makeup and with pimples.'

The Proactiv line of acne solutions comes from infomercial giant Guthy-Renker, which sells $700 million a year in beauty and entertainment products, and has also featured singers Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Kelly Clarkson in its commercials.

'We`ll do our research to see who has acne and approach them,' Proactiv Solution exec Karen Barner told the newspaper. 'The most important thing is that they have to be willing to share their acne story with the world.'

Acne med may trigger bowel disease

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - While suspected for some time, a study now confirms that people taking the acne drug isotretinoin appear to run an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease, US researchers report.

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, includes Crohn's disease and a similar condition called ulcerative colitis. Isotretinoin, more familiarly known by the brand name Accutane, was first approved for acne in the US in 1982, and numerous cases have surfaced linking the drug to IBD. Until now, a systematic review of the association had not been conducted.

Dr. Corey A. Siegel, from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and colleagues reviewed all reports of isotretinoin-associated IBD that were filed with the US Food and Drug Administration via the MedWatch system, which began in 1996.

The authors explain in the American Journal of Gastroenterology that they used a standard adverse drug reaction probability scale to grade the likelihood that a particular IBD case was, in fact, caused by isotretinoin use.

Between 1997 and 2002, a total of 85 isotretinoin-related cases of IBD were reported. In just four cases, isotretinoin was graded as a "highly probable" cause of the IBD, while in 58 cases it was deemed a "probable" cause, and in 23 cases it was seen as a "possible" cause. The link between isotretinoin use and IBD was never graded as "doubtful".

"Physicians and patients should be made aware of this possible association and it should be included in the already extensive consent process required before isotretinoin is prescribed," the investigators write.

The consent process covers the high risk of birth defects if a woman becomes pregnant while taking isotretinoin.

Should someone with severe acne take isotretinoin? "We do not think that this should prohibit the use of isotretinoin," Siegel and colleagues advise. However, "careful consideration should be made" for people with a prior personal history or family history of inflammatory bowel disease, or who have symptoms suggesting the possibility of IBD.

Hair Loss and Acne: How Common Misconceptions Lead to New Treatments and Discoveries

The public weighs in – common misconceptions about acne and hair loss lead to purchasing ineffective products and passing misinformation

America’s population of teenagers and adults are often subjected to poor information on the causes of acne and hair loss, and the result is poor choices and results when using treatments for these afflictions, according to Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Alex Khadavi. These findings are based on long term research by Dr. Alex Khadavi and staff.

Research and surveys from Dr. Alex Khadavi have shown that a large percentage of the population suffering from hair loss and acne are often subjected to misleading, and damaging information about the causes of these afflictions. This misinformation causes this population to spent time, money and resources combating these conditions without knowledge of whether these treatments work.

”I was surprised by the amount of information that teens and adults have regarding hair loss and acne, and the causes of both. I found many recipients informing me that they believed acne was caused by eating too many burgers and having poor hygiene.” – Dr. Khadavi

Research at Advanced Skin and Hair Inc, Dr. Khadavi’s flagship company, have shown that the main causes of both acne and hair loss reside with the chemical known as DHT, or Dihydro Testosterone, on the oil glands. Dr. Khadavi has found that Enzyme 5 Alpha Reductase converts Testosterone to DHT, which then binds to the oil glands in the skin by way of receptors on the glands. This stimulation by DHT causes the oil glands to increase their production of oils, which, in turn, clogs the pore and attracts dirt, bacteria and foreign material. This buildup, which later forms the acne, is all derived from that excess in DHT.

”Reduce the DHT buildup, and you reduce the excess oils and the issue.” – Dr. Khadavi

Interestingly enough, DHT also plays a major role in hair loss. For most people suffering from hereditary or pattern hair loss, Testosterone is converted to DHT by the 5AR enzyme. This DHT then binds to the Androgen receptors. DHT begins to deteriorate the hair follicle, with each stage of new hair growth from that follicle becoming weaker and weaker, until the hair follicle dies. Once the follicle is dead, no hair can ever grow from it again. By blocking the enzyme which converts testosterone to DHT, Dr. Khadavi is able to discontinue the miniaturization and deterioration of follicles, results in the stop of hair loss and thinning hair.

”This clearly demonstrates to me, a need from the public for documented research and real facts and solutions, and this is what I have provided and intend to provide more of”

Both Clearogen.com and Revivogen.com and providing insight and solutions into the issues of hair loss and acne, with real documented facts established by Dermatologist Dr. Alex Khadavi and his research team.

Clearogen.com and Revivogen.com were founded in 1998 to provide consumers with real facts about hair loss and acne and solutions to address those issues. Dr. Alex Khadavi provides weekly updates on new treatments and research as well as shedding some light on the inner workings of both hair loss and acne.

10 Natural Ways to Stay Acne-Free

Are you looking for acne solutions that really work? The good news is, whether you're a teenager or an adult suffering from acne, you don't have to live with it. Here you can find 10 super easy and effective ways to get rid of acne.

1. Do not pick, press or rub your pimples. These actions actually increase the sebum production and rupture the membranes below your skin. The infection and sebum will spread underneath your skin and cause more pimples. Also, you risk increasing the chances of leaving scars on your face.

2. Wash your face twice a day using a mild soup. It is even better if you can buy sulfur-based soap especially for acne. If your skin is too oily, use a soap with benzoyl peroxide. Do not use rough sponges, brushes, or anything similar on your face. You shouldn't, however, over-wash your face because it will actually stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum which will increase your acne.

3. Check your diet as it may contribute to acne. For many people, food allergy can cause very serious acne-like condition. You should avoid eating too much oily and spicy food. Recent studies have shown that acne can also be caused by milk which contains hormones as well as seafood with relatively high levels of iodine. Other foods you may consider avoiding are: sugar, dairy products, deep-fried food, meat, nut butters, etc. On the other hand, it is believed that green vegetables, vegetable fuices and foods rich in zinc can help alleviate acne condition.

4. Drink more water every day. "Eight glasses of water a day can keep acne away." says Jennifer Thoden, a respected acne expert. The reason is that water can carry waste material out of our body and it really helps heal and prevent acne flare-ups.

5. Do not wear makeup if possible. Makeup products can clog your pores, cause more blackheads and pimples. If you have to wear makeup, make sure it is water-based. Be sure to clean your makeup brushes regularly and cleanse your skin before you sleep.

6. Do not use oily products. Avoid products such as hair pomades, intense oil-based facial moisturizers, and oily cleansers.

7. Keep your face clean. Do not rest your chin on your hands or constantly touch your face. Regular shampoo your hair and keep it off your face, especially when you sleep.

8. Exercise moderately as it helps in blood circulation and eliminataion of toxins.

9. Stay stress-free. Studies have shown that stress not only worsens acne flare-up, it also worsens the overall skin condition. Talk to your friends, listen to your favorite music, or take a walk in the park. There are many things you can do to be stree free.

10. Get sunshine in moderation. Sunshine stimulates vitamin D in the body, an essential vitamin for healthy skin. Fresh air and sunshine can also reduce stress and increase oxygen to the skin. Don't get burnt in the sun though. Burnt and heavily tanned skin forms a layer on the skin that doesn't exfoliate quickly enough and can lead to blocked pores.

Zeno 'zit zapper' like magic wand for pimples

We call it the zit zapper."

Dr. Michael Gold, dermatologist at Gold Skin Care Center in Green Hills, said the Zeno, a palm-size machine with the bright blue lights, is going to be a boon to people who need a quick remedy for a big, red pimple that threatens to ruin business meetings, graduations, weddings or other special events.

"You carry your cell phone. You carry your PDA. You carry your Zeno," Gold said.

Gold and other dermatologists have had the machine available to buy in their offices since 2005, but now you can find it in a handful of Walgreens stores in Nashville, one of only three cities where the device will be sold in stores for now. Each Zeno costs about $150.

Pimples form under the skin when oil, skin cells and sometimes hair clump together in the pores. Pimples, scientifically called papules and pustules, are often pink and tender to the touch or red at their base with pus on top because bacteria, such as P. acnes, build up and cause an infection.

Dermatologists have long known that heat makes pimples go away. The theory is that heat kills the bacteria that cause infection in the clogged pores. But a hot compress, such as cloth dunked in hot water or heated in the microwave, could be too hot and burn the skin. Or it may not be hot enough to have any affect.

The Zeno machine has a small, metal pad that heats to exactly 119 degrees, which is hot enough to kill bacteria without burning skin. You hold the pad on your face where the pimple is threatening to erupt for about 2½ minutes at a time. The device beeps when time is up. Each pimple might require two or three treatments over 24 hours.

"The only thing I know of that works as fast is if you come into my office and get steroids injected directly into the pimple," Gold said. He is on medical advisory board for Tyrell Inc., the Zeno manufacturer.

But the device doesn't work on all acne. Pimples shouldn't be confused with whiteheads, which form under the skin but not as deep as pimples and do not become inflamed. Pimples are also different from blackheads, which rise to the skin surface and create a small opening. Air reacts with the oil, turning it black. These are the most common forms of acne among teens and young adults. The Zeno also doesn't work on deep, cystic acne that usually requires oral medication and a dermatologist's care.

Dr. Shimere Williams, 25, of Antioch bought a Zeno from the spa at Gold Skin Care Center last year. Williams, who has struggled with acne for years, said she's spent about $10,000 on doctors, treatments and gadgets.

"You find something and it works, but it only works for a little while," she said. Zeno wasn't the futuristic miracle she'd hoped for. There was no way to catch every pimple with the device before it came to the surface.

"You cannot use it solo if you have for-real acne," Williams said. "It's a good addition to your regular regimen."

But Williams has recommended the device to friends who have only occasional breakouts. She also plans to buy one for her brother to use at college.

The device might be a little pricey for people with mild acne or occasional pimples. Replacement heat pads for the device cost about $35 each.

There are plenty of alternatives for people who don't have the money for expensive zit zappers, said Dr. Michel McDonald, assistant professor of medicine in dermatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Products containing benzoyl peroxide, such as Clearasil cleanser, or glycolic acid, such as Proactiv toner, are good treatments for whiteheads and blackheads. You have to go deeper for pimples. There are prescription drugs that fight acne deeper beneath the skin, including antibiotics, such as erythromycin and tetracycline, and sulfonamides. But like any other drug, there are side effects, including an increased tendency toward sunburn, nausea and skin irritation.

It takes up to eight weeks for topical and oral treatments to work on acne. In the meantime, McDonald recommends that people avoid scrubbing while washing their faces, picking or popping zits or using their own hot compresses, which can burn the skin. Women also should be careful that their make-up doesn't contain oil, which can clog pores

Acne Causes Revealed

While the causes of acne aren't fully understood, heredity and hormonal changes are thought to be prime culprits.

Acne Guide Book
Acne is a problem for many teens - and for some adults, as well. These clusters of pimples and blemishes usually occur on the face but also on areas such as the back and shoulders.

While the causes of acne aren't fully understood, heredity and hormonal changes are thought to be prime culprits. Many people believe that greasy foods or fatty sweets such as chocolate may cause an outbreak, but the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says that's a myth. Another common myth is that dirty skin causes acne, the institute says.

Other factors, while they don't cause acne, can make it worse. These includeuse of oil-based cosmetics, stress, tight clothing or hats, and abrasive facial cleansers. The institute warns against popping, squeezing or picking at acne, which are likely to worsen the skin's appearance.

However, many doctors tend to blame poor nutrition and lack of exercise for acne. Dr. Nicholas Perricone in his "The Acne Prescription" suggests an easy-to-use acne-clearing diet that is designed to diminish inflammation and pore clogging associated with acne.

Hormonal Acne Solutions

For women affected by acne, especially those in the early-to-mid twenties and older, oral contraceptives (OCPs) can be an effective part of their acne treatment plan in conjunction with other therapies.

Acne Guide Book
Acne typically first appears during adolescence and can persist well into adulthood. The cause of acne is most often linked to androgens, which are the hormones that stimulate the sebaceous – or oil – glands in the skin. When the sebaceous glands are over-stimulated by androgens, acne flare-ups can occur.

For women affected by acne, especially those in the early-to-mid twenties and older, oral contraceptives (OCPs) can be an effective part of their acne treatment plan in conjunction with other therapies. Current oral contraceptives help decrease androgen levels, and therefore decrease acne.

In addition, a dermatologist may prescribe oral medications or topical creams, gels, or lotions with vitamin A derivatives, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics to help unblock the pores and reduce bacteria.

“Although new acne treatments are developed every day, a cure for acne has not yet been developed. As such, many patients choose to self-treat or experiment with unconventional treatments,” stated dermatologist Margaret E. Parsons, M.D., F.A.A.D., assistant clinical professor at the University of California at Davis in Sacramento, Calif.

Yet many of acne treatments are based on anecdotal observations and have not been rigorously tested by science. A visit to a dermatologist is the best way to determine why acne is appearing or flaring, and how hormones influence these acne breakouts.

Syntopix Group says 3 acne products to enter clinical product development

LONDON (AFX) - Syntopix Group PLC said it is to put three potential acne treatments into clinical product development.

Syntopix -- a drug company spun off from the University of Leeds -- said it has made patent applications for the three compounds, which combat acne and staphylococcal infections.

All three compounds have a history of use in man, in line with the company's reduced-risk strategy, it said.