Overview:

Acne is a skin condition that is commonly referred to as ‘pimples’. Acne occurs when skin pores, the tiny holes on the surface of the skin get clogged. Each pore is connected to the hair follicle from which hair is emerged out. At the side of the hair follicle the sebum gland is present which produce sebum an oily substance on the skin. Generally, he oil glands help to keep the skin lubricated and protects from damage by the sun heat and other substances. when the sebaceous gland secrets more produces too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris and bacteria.

What is acne?

Acne, or acne vulgaris, is a skin problem occurs when the HAIR FOLLICLES become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Some people call it blackheads, blemishes, whiteheads, pimples, or zits. Hair follicles are connected to oil glands or sebaceous glands. These glands secrete an oily substance called SEBUM to keep your skin oily. Sebum normally secrets along the hair shafts through the openings of skin pore. When your body produces an excess amount of sebum that accumulate inside the follicle and combining with dead skin cells form a SOFT PLUG. If the clogged pore becomes infected with bacteria, inflammation results and cause the follicle wall to bulge out that is called acne or pimples. Acne is very common in younger age group between 12 years to 28 ears. But it may occur at any age. There is no age factor for acne development.It can occur at any age and in both sexes. Some people who have severe acne are not bothered by it. Others are embarrassed or upset even though they have only a few pimples.

Different Types of Acne:

It can be classified major two types:

1. Non- inflammatory ACNE:
   • Blackhead
   • Whitehead
2. Inflammatory ACNE: 
   • Papules
   • pustules
   • Nodules
   • Cysts

Factors that stimulate sebaceous gland to secret more sebum

• More androgen hormone secretion- The sebum glands are very sensitive to androgen hormone. Rising of androgen hormone levels cause the oil glands to more enlarge and to produce more sebum. Excessive sebum can break down cellular walls in the pores, causing bacteria to grow.
• Faulty life style – Sedentary life style, lack of exercise, irregular habit of taking meals, late night sleep or insomnia condition are also one major cause for more acne formation.
• Unhealthy food habits – Unhealthy food habits like taking of more junk foods, fast foods, fatty foods, also contribute a factor of more androgen secretion that results more sebum secretion acne formation.
• More stress- Staying constantly in a stressful condition, pressure packed life style, compromisation or suppression of natural emotions either due to situation demand or by the own nature can put a major impact on endocrine system including sebum gland. That can also a contributing factor for development of acne. The suppression of emotion of any form like anger, grieves, vexation, anxiety,jealousy, all affects the HPA axis (The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis) and thus your physical body.
• Medicines- Some medications that contain corticosteroids androgen and lithium those also increase the androgen hormone level and causes of more acne development. Starting and stopping Birth control pills can also cause acne.
• Propionibacterium acne – Propionibacterium acne is a bacterium that lives on your skin and uses the sebum as nutrients for his growth.
• Menstrual cycle -Acne appears during the menstrual cycle because fluctuating hormone levels around this time of menses (women) and sometimes in pregnancy.
• Cosmetics – greasy cosmetics are also causes acne more . Cosmetic induced acne generally occur on the chin and cheeks more than than on the forehead. It presents as small, whitish bumps, sometimes referred to as “grains”, which are more noticeable when the skin is stretched.
• Family history – Acne have a family history of the disorder If one of your parents had severe acne, you are more likely to have it.

Pathogenesis of Acne

The 4 major factors interlinked for development of acne

1. Excess secretion of sebum from sebaceous gland.
2. Obstruction of sebaceous follicle.
3. The propionibacterium acne bacterial growth.
4. The development of acne

Homeopathy Treatment for Acne:

• Homeopathy offers a long term cure to acne problems. It is because homeopathic medicines target the root cause or triggers factors of the disease thus gives a long-term cure
• As discussed above the excess of androgen hormone in blood plays a major role in acne formation.
• The excess of androgen hormone secretion is caused by many triggers. Though we know during the teen age more androgen hormone is secreted, but there are many things which stimulate to secret more androgen hormones
• The major factors that trigger more androgen hormone secretion are various unhealthy emotional states a person passing through in his life
• There are various emotional states a person go through during his life time such as grieves, anger , agony, anxiety ,fear, depression etc.
• When anybody suppress those emotions like suppress the anger, suppress the grieves, suppress his desire, those all directly affect on the neuro-endocrino-immune path which disturbs the harmonious function of endocrine and immune system.
• More androgen secretion means more sebum secretion. More sebum secretion means more acne formation.
• So to give a long term curative effect it is highly required to consider all of those emotional factors of the patient which are somewhat relates of its developments . Hence the treatment basing on those emotional suppression can help to maintain a normal and healthy endocrine function.
• Only the homeopathy treatment that target the different types of suppression of emotion and thus helps to regain back the healthy endocrine function and thus maintain healthy physical state.
• For various emotional suppression there are different homeopathic remedies. So in homeopathy there is no fixed medicine to all acne patient as because there is not a single emotion expressed by all people.
• Thus a homeopathy medicine is selected on the basis of the individual’s emotional picture that has been suppressed in past life. The other key symptoms are also taken under consideration to select a suitable medicine for that patient. This medicine can only able to give a long term cure to this acne problem. It is called the constitutional homeopathy treatment.
• Besides that the acute condition of acne like the pain, inflammation, swelling that are well treated by proper homeopathic remedies.

5 Best homeopathic remedy for Acne:

ANTIM CRUDE –

There are acne of granular like eruption, lumpy, red, burning, suppurating postural like eruptions on the face with red areola have an inflamed base that is red, and sensitive. Acne is of in blotches type over cheek and a heat sensation. Postural type of acne. The emotional picture of the person is depression in the deep seated triggers factor. Person is exhausted for his life. Generally acne appears at teen age or in younger age group.

ARS IOD-

It is generally prescribed as constitutional treatment for acne condition. The acne is of postural or nodular type. Ars ios has the symptoms similarities of both arsenic album and iodium. The person is of irritable nature; don’t answer to the question asked by the doctor. Anger with irritability and restless nature with an anxiety types constitution. He is impatient and in a constant state of hurry. He becomes indifferent to his surroundings. He is unable to decide between two opinions. Those types of emotional make up initiates to secrets more androgen hormone and that stimulate the sebum gland to secret more sebum and acne appears. Basing on his/her emotional picture if this medicine is given can help to cure acne for a,long term period

ASTERIA RUBENS-

A sycotic group of remedy. The acne generally occurs at teen age and more abundantly found on chin and side of nose. The person is of an anxiety, excited and irritable temperament. Sexual desire is increased in women.

KALI BROM-

The Acnes are of postural, indurate nature. Scars left after the acne heals up. Physical constitution is of obese, younger person. The person is very nervous, depressed, low spirited in nature. The depression is mingled with anxiety and feels as if he would loss his mind. The person feels restless and no sleep at night due to worry or grief from loss of job, loss of business, loss of property.

PSORINUM –

The face is oily, more sebum secretion. The acnes are postular types. Generally acne develops in those who have more coffee addiction. Also taking more fatty foods, meats, more sugars, chocolates aggravates the acne eruption in face. There is more acne before the menstrual cycle. Any sort of emotional distress triggers the development of acne. The person is extremely psoric in nature. Very nervous in nature and easily frightened , anxiety with very restless nature. Sad, depressed for her ailments, thinks can’t recover. The person is very chilly patient feels chilly and cold in slightest cold weather, cannot tolerate little cold weather.

General measures for preventing Acne.

1. Wash your face with warm water and mild soap made especially for acne, no more than twice in a day.
2. Do not scrub the skin or burst the pimples. This may push the infection further down, causing more blocking, swelling, and redness.
3. Avoid popping your pimples, as this makes scarring on your face.
4. Avoid frequent touching the face.
5. Hold the mobiles or telephone away from the face when talking, as it is likely to contain sebum and skin residue.
6. Wash hands frequently, especially before applying any lotions, creams, or makeup.
7. Avoid cosmetics products.
8. Always keep your hair clean, as it collects sebum and skin residue.
9. Do not use greasy hair products, such as those containing cocoa butter.
10. Try to avoid excessive sun exposure, it can cause the skin to produce more sebum. Several acne medicines also increase the risk of sunburn.
11. Avoid anxiety and stress.