Acne Vulgaris Flashcards
Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous unit ( hair follicle and its associated oil gland). Which of the following can occur as a result of acne vulgaris?
1 - comedones (black head)
2 - inflammation (erythema)
3 - pustules
4 - all of the above
4 - all of the above
- pustule refers to a small, pus-filled cutaneous lesion that can develop anywhere on the body but is more common on the face, chest, and back.
Acne vulgaris is one of the most common skin conditions in the world. Which age group accounts for almost 80% of all cases?
1 - babies
2 - teenagers
3 - adults
4 - older adults
2 - teenagers
- linked to peak in hormones during puberty
- can also affect all ethnicities
Androgens are steroid hormones that act as agonist on androgen receptors. Which of the following is the most common androgen?
1 - testosterone
2 - bicalutamide
3 - dihydrotestosterone
4 - apalutamide
1 - testosterone
Sebum is produced by the pilosebaceous glands. Which of the following are pilosebaceous glands NOT typically found in high amounts on the body?
1 - face
2 - back
3 - soles of feet
4 - chest
3 - soles of feet
Seborrhoea is the term used to describe excessive production of sebum from the sebaceous glands. Is this increased production of sebum due to high, low or normal levels of plasma androgens?
- normal levels of plasma androgens
- patients susceptible to acne vulgaris have excessive sebum despite normal plasma androgens
Comedones or comedogenesis are hallmarks of acne vulgaris. What are Comedones more commonly known as?
1 - cyst
2 - abscess
3 - white/black heads
4 - fistula
3 - white/black heads
- comedogenesis = abnormal proliferation and differentiation of ductal keratinocytes, which is linked to androgen
- black heads = open comodones
- white heads = closed comodones
Colonisation of the pilosebaceous duct can occur in acne vulgaris. What bacteria causes this colonisation that results in inflammation?
1 - cutibacterium acnes
2 - staphylococcal
3 - streptococcus
4 - candida albicans
1 - cutibacterium acnes
Hormonal factors play an important role in patients acne vulgaris. Which time of a woman’s menstrual cycle accentuates patients acne vulgaris?
1 - immediately before period
2 - day 15 of periods
3 - day 21 of period
4 - immediately before and during first few days of period
4 - immediately before and during first few days of period
Which of the following conditions, if present, has been linked to patients having the worst acne vulgaris symptoms?
1 - Coeliac disease
2 - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
3 - Gout
4 - Endometriosis
2 - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- oil based cosmetics have also been linked to acne
Although only a loose association, what diet has been suggested to be helpful in alleviating acne symptoms?
1 - vegan
2 - low fat
3 - low glycemic
4 - gluten free
3 - low glycemic
There is a large list of drugs that have been linked to causing acne. Which of the following well known drugs has been linked?
1 - ACI-I
2 - bisoprolol
3 - aspirin
4 - prednisolone
4 - prednisolone
When patients present with acne vulgaris, is this always inflammatory?
- no, can be non-inflammatory and cause comedones
- if inflammatory leads to papules, pustules, pseudocysts and nodules
Which 2 of the following are typically present in a patient who has inflammatory acne vulgaris?
1 - pustules
2 - scales
3 - wheals
4 - papules
1 - pustules
- white/yellow pus filled tip
4 - papules
- solid inflamed bumps with no white/yellow tip
- can become pustules
Called Papulopustular acne
BOTH OF THESE ARE RAISED AND INFLAMED SKIN LESIONS
Which 2 of the following can present in a patient who has inflammatory acne vulgaris?
1 - nodules
2 - scales
3 - cysts
4 - wheals
1 - nodules
- deep lesions
3 - cysts
- deep fluid filled lesions
Called Nodulocystic acne
Secondary lesions (caused by primary lesions) of acne vulgaris can include all of the following EXCEPT which one?
1 - excoriations (picked spots)
2 - scars
3 - pigment changes
4 - fistulas
4 - fistulas
- atrophic - Ice-pick / rolling / boxcar
- hypertrophic /
- keloidal scars can occur in anyone, but more common in people with darker skin colour