Homoeopathic Approach in the treatment of Acne

HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH IN THE TREATMENT OF ACNE
INTRODUCTION
Acne is the most common and most prevalent skin disorder all around the world.70% population of the world are facing this problem at any stage of their adolescent period.The disorder is characterised by obstructing the hair-follicle by horny plugs,and as a result of this inflammation develops later and causing tissue destruction.

EPIDEMIOLOGY
Prevalence: At least mild acne affects almost all adolescents.
Age :Onset 12-14 in about 20% subjects.
Gender : Affects both sexes equally.
AETIOPATHOGENESIS
1 Obstruction of pilosebaceous orifice and formation of comedo.
2 Increased sebum production.
3 Inflammation due to the proliferation of propriobacterium acnes within the follicle.
MODIFYING FACTORS
1 Genetic disposition- acne vulgaris is familial.
2 Cosmetics – frequently seen in women use oil based cosmetics for long periods of time.
3 Menstrual cycle-premenstrual aggravation due to premenstrual oedema of pilosebacious duct.
4Psycological causes- anger and anxiety has relevent role in the formation of acne.
CLINICAL FEATURES
The pathognomonic lesion is the comedo.comedons are small papules that are either open with a dilated follicular ostium with black plugs of keratin(black head) or closed(white head). The comedons develos into inflammatory papules or pustules and sometimes nodules or cysts. Face is the commenest site of involvement,but back , upper chest and shoulder may involved.lesions may leave behind post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scars. Severly inflammed lesions heal with small but deeper scars known as ice pick scars.
VARIENTS
1 Acne excoriee: it is seen indepressed or obsessional young women who often squeeze the lesion. Picking and scrtching the lesion leads to exacerbation of lesions.
2 . Infantile acne : It is seen in the face of some infants, mostly males and disappears spontaneously.
3 Drug induced:Drugs like systemic/tropical steroids induce acne.
4 Acne conglobata: It presents as severe acne with abcesses,burrowing sinuses and scarring.
5 Occupational acne: exposure to cutting oils and lubricating oils cause acne due to occlusion at the site of contact. Oily cosmetics can also cause acne.
MANAGEMENT
GENERAL APPROACH
Gentle washing of the face with soap and water without vigorous rubbing is recommended. Cosmetics should be non comedogenic. Diet has no affect on acne.
HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH
MEDICINAL:
1.William Boericke Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia medica
• ARSENICUM BROMATUM:
Acne rosacea, with violet papules on nose, worse in the spring. Acne in young people.
• EUGENIA JAMBOS: Everything appers beautiful and larger. Excitement soon chenging to depression. Acne simple and indurated. The pimples are painful some distance around. Acne rosacea. Nausea better smoking . comedons.
• JUGLANS REGIA: Skin eruptions are prominent.Comedons and acne of the face. Ithching and eruptions of small red pustules.
2.Jahr’s therapeutic guide • For simple acne:Bell, Carbo veg, and Sulphur
• For indurated acne: Carbo veg, Ledum,Sulphur
• For acne punctate:Sulphur and Nitric acid
• For acne vermiformis the so called comedons:sulphur, selenium,graphites and nitric acid.
3.W.A Dewey’s Practical homoeopathic therapeutics • Sanguinaria canadensis: women with scanty menses and irregular circulation of blood. Other remedies for acne dependent on sexual disturbances of women are calcaria carbonica and Aurum muriaticum natronatum.
• Thuja occidentalis: for acne facialis
• Calcaria picrica
• Calcaria sulphurica: for the suppurated pimples.

REPERTORIAL APROACH

KENT’S REPERTORY
1)FACE-ERUPTIONS-acne-Ant crud,Ars, Ars-i,AUR,calc, calc sulph, CALC-SIL,CARBO AN.CARBN-S,CARBO-VEG,CAUST,con,cop,crot-h,Eug,HEP,KALI-BR,kreos,lach,nat-m,Nit-ac,NUX VOM,ph-ac,psor,puls,SEP,SIL,sulph,thuj,tub.
2)FACE ERUPTIONS-acne-rosacea-groups, in-CAUST
3)CHEST ERUPTIONS-pimples-angry-sep

BOGER BOENNINGHAUSENS CHARACTERISTICS AND REPERTORY
FACE-Acne-comedo-abrot,ANT-C,ARS,bar-c,BELL,brom,bry,calc,CARBO-V,dig,dros,GRAPH,HEP,KALI-BR;LACH,LYC,mez,nat-c,nat-m,nit-ac,PETR,plbPSOR,sabin,SEP,SUL-I,SULPH,sumb,thuj

BOGER’S SYNOPTIC KEY
1)FACE-eruption-pimples-Carb-v
2)SKIN-eruption,tendency to-acne-bell,carv-v,eug,hep,kali-br,merc,nux-v,sep,sulph

PHATAK REPERTORY
1)Eruptions,tendency to-acne-cosmetics,from-bov
2)Eruptions tendency to-acne-menses-delayed-crot-h
3)Eruptions,tendency to-acne-scars,remaining after-carbo-an,cop,kaki-br
4)Eruptions,tendency to-acne,women,young-cycl.
CONCLUSION
Acne is commonly prevalent in adolescents and it is not alife threatening disease also. For complete cure of the acne removal of exciting and maintaining causes along with constitutional remedy is required. Here the diagnosis is more important with regards to variety of acne is present. Homoeopathic medicine work in both mental and physical plane and so find out the similimum is must for the cure.