Fears over acne drug

Acne can devastate self-confidence

Campaigners who believe their children have been harmed by a powerful drug used to treat acne are to meet the UK's medicine control agency today.

Fifteen young people who'd been taking Roaccutane have committed suicide in Britain.

campaigners say the current warning leaflet is inadequate

The drug's manufacturers, Roche, say they've looked very carefully at the data.

They say is no proof of any link between their drug and serious psychiatric problems such as depression or suicide.

But, Liam Grant, of the international Roaccutane Action Group, feels the warnings currently included with the drug are inadeqate.

Liam Grant: wants a government inquiry

"We want a government inquiry," he told Breakfast this morning.

"In America, there is a ten page leaflet warning about depression. Here it's just one page.

"It's completely inadequate."

click here to see Liam Grant's interview in full

All about acne

Acne can occur at any age, although it does tend to strike during your teenage years.

The name itself comes from the Greek "acme" (the prime of life) - and the condition is often most severe between the ages of 17 and 20.

Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by lack of hygeine or by eating fatty food.

It's linked to over-active hormones - and it's often triggered by a stressful event, such as exams or spliting up with a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Acne spots appear most often on the face, but can also appear on the neck, behind the ears, on the chest, on the upper back, and in the groins.

How acne develops

Normal skin has thousands of tiny hair follicles, and each has a sebaceous gland that produces an oily substance called sebum.

An unusual reaction of the sebaceous glands in the skin to the male hormone testosterone causes them to make more and more sebum.

As men have more testosterone than women, acne tends to be worse for men.

Next, this overproduction of sebum - together with dead skin cells - blocks the hair follicles.

It is this build up which contains skin pigment that gives the characteristic 'blackhead' appearance - not dirt.

Whiteheads are more common and more likely to become inflamed, because the grease and bacteria that collects can't escape. This causes inflammation.

If the blocked hair follicle ruptures, more inflammation occurs, which can lead to nodules and cysts forming. As these disappear they leave behind skin scars.

Myths about acne

Acne is not caused by poor cleanliness - and certainly isn't infectious. Many people believe that certain foods, e.g., chocolate, makes their acne worse. In scientific terms this is generally felt to be a myth. However, research evidence is emerging that there may well be a link between dietary yeast; refined carbohydrates (like sweets, chocolates, and biscuits); nutritional deficiencies; and acne.

It's a myth that people with acne don't get embarrassed about it, because they do. Many studies have shown this and that people with acne also feel ashamed, lack confidence, and become depressed.

How is acne treated?

Mild acne
If someone only has a few spots every now and then, a medicated lotion or face wash that removes excess grease and cleanses the skin is all that's needed. Gels, creams or lotions containing benzoyl peroxide are also helpful because of its anti-bacterial action, and because it reduces the number of whiteheads. There are many complementary treatments promoted for the treatment of acne which work for some men but not for others. Some of the more reliable ones are a facial gel mask of colloidal silicic acid which should be used twice a day to remove excess grease and dead skin cells - and tea-tree oil gel, which has antiseptic and antibacterial effects.

Moderate acne
Where spots are numerous and resistant to these simple measures, then a course of antibiotics to reduce the number of bacteria and the inflammation is used. It sometimes takes up to 8 weeks for any noticeable improvement and the treatment is usually needed for at least six months.

Severe acne
Some people with severe scarring acne need powerful medicines which are given by hospital skin specialists to control the acne and laser therapy to reduce the scars.