Disorders of Sebaceous and Apocrine Glands Flashcards
What is acne vulgaris?
Self-limited chronic inflammation of pilosebaceous unit
Pathogenesis of acne vulgaris
- Increased sebum production
- Follicular hyperkeratinization
- Proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes
- Inflammation
Typically beginning at puberty due to androgen stimulation of pilosebaceous unit and changes in keratinization at follicular orifice
Components of acne
- Follicular plugging = blocks sebum drainage
- Stimulation of sebaceous glands
- Overgrowth of c. acnes
- Inflammatory response
Where is acne vulgaris most commonly found?
- Skin with high density of sebaceous follicles
- Face, back, upper chest, neck, arms
What sex has more acne? Race?
- Women > men in adulthood
- No racial predilection
What medications can cause acne?
Corticosteroids, systemic or topical
Anabolic steroids
What are characteristic acne lesions
- Open comedones (blackheads)
- Closed comedones (whiteheads, noninflammatory base)
- Erythematous inflammatory papules
- Pustules
- Nodules and cysts –> scarring, pitted or hypertrophic
Where do adult women most commonly get acne?
Deep-seated, tender red papules along mandibular jaw
What is the appearance of drug-induced acneiform eruptions?
- Monomorphic inflammatory papules and pustules rather than open and closed comedones
What are etiological factors of acne in women?
- Touching
- Rubbing
- Over-cleansing face with numerous products
- Wearing cosmetics
What are etiological factors of acne in men?
- Tends to be more severe on trunk
- Consider grease from working in fast food restaurants, occlusion from sports equipment or hats, and drugs
Diagnosis of acne
- Clinical
- Skin biopsy if doubt
Mild acne
- <20 comedones
- <15 papules/pustules (nodules/cysts?)
- <30 total
Moderate acne
- 20-100 comedones
- 15-50 papules/pustules(nodules/cysts?)
- 30-125 total
Severe acne
- > 100 comedones
- > 50 papules/pustules
- > 5 nodules/cysts
- > 125 total
VISIA IGA Acne severity scale clear skin with no inflammatory or noninflammatory lesions
0
VISIA IGA Acne Severity Scale: almost clear; rare noninflammatory lesions with no more than one small inflammatory lesion
1
VISIA IGA Acne Severity Scale: Mild severity; some noninflammatory lesions with no more than a few inflammatory lesions
2
VISIA IGA acne severity scale: moderate severity; up to many noninflammatory lesions and may have some inflammatory lesions, but no more than one small nodular lesion
3
VISIA IGA Acne Severity Scale: Severe; up to many noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions, but no more than a few nodular lesions
4
What should be done if acne is itchy or has pustules, particularly on upper back, shoulder, and scalp of adolescents and young adults?
- Scrape a pustule for KOH testing to assess for pityrosporum folliculitis
- Can be treated with antifungal shampoo such as ketoconazole
Management pearls for acne
- Acne often resolves after teenage years
- Severe nodulocystic acne needs aggressive treatment
- Acne typically requires consistent regular care over months to see improvement
- Apply topical medication to entire area of potential acne involvement not just individual lesions
Therapy for mild acne
- Topical retinoids
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Topical antibiotics
Acne pharmacotherapies
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Topical retinoids
- Topical abx
- Oral abx
- Oral retinoid
- Azelaic acid
- Salicylic acid
- Hormonal therapy
Types of topical retinoids
- Tretinoin
- Tazarotene
- Adapelene gel
- Trifarotene
- Tretinoin combination (tretinoin and clindamycin)
- Adapalene combination (adapalene and benzoyl peroxide)
Clinical pear for topical retinoids
- Start using gradually, such as every third night, then slowly increase to nightly as tolerated to avoid excessive irritation and dryness
MOA of retinoids
Decreases cohesion and increases turnover of epidermal cells
MC side effect of retinoids
Dryness and photosensitivity
CI for retinoids
Pregnancy
Advantage of benzoyl peroxide
No bacterial resistance
How is benzoyl peroxide dosed?
- 2.5%, 4%, 8%, 10%
- Start with lowest concentration then increase as tolerable
- Comes in gel, lotion, cream, pads, masks, and cleanseers
Side effects of benzoyl peroxide
- Skin irritation (erythema, xerosis, scaling, stonging, tightening, burning sensation)
- Bleaching of hair/clothing
What would you use topical antibiotics to treat?
- Mild-moderate inflammatory acne
MOA of topical antibiotics
Reduces number of c.acnes in pilosebaceous unit
1st line topical antibiotics for mild-moderate inflammatory acne
Clindamycin and erythromycin
Can you use clindamycin/erythromycin alone?
No! Not for monotherapy, need BPO to reduce bacterial resistance
Common side effect of topical antibiotics
skin irritation