A Therapeutic Approach to Juvenile Acne with Natural
and Traditional Medicine
Juan Miguel Broche Cando, MD (1), Lazara Yecenia Garcia Hernández, LPN (2)
ABSTRACT: Acne, an affliction which often prompts patients to seek medical attention, is a manifestation of glandular change that generally occurs from puberty to adulthood. It is seen in up to 80 % of adolescents, affecting boys and girls alike, and it is generally benign. In most cases, acne does not have serious consequences, though it can occasionally provoke considerable skin disorders due to its extension and depth, and may leave after-effects of aesthetic importance in addition to other discomforts caused by itching and irritation.
From the point of view of Holistic Energetic Medicine, it is important to bear in mind spiritual, psychological and physical aspects in dealing with acne. These factors include an adequate diet, elimination of associated emotional factors, as well as appropriate treatment of the lesions. Each case has its own particular features.
This paper presents a combined study of different natural procedures. Four treatment groups were formed: Group I (Control), Group II (mud therapy + laser), Group III (mud therapy + homeopathy), Group IV (mud therapy + laser + homeopathy). 73 % of treated patients showed successful results, 20 % showed good results, while the results were poor in 7 % of the cases.
Key Words: Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Peloids
INTRODUCTION
Acne, an affliction that often prompts patients to seek medical attention, is a manifestation of the glandular change that generally occurs from puberty to adulthood. It is seen in up to 80 % of adolescents, affecting boys and girls alike, and it is generally benign. In most cases acne does not bring about serious consequences, though it can occasionally provoke considerable skin disorders due to its extension and depth, and may leave after effects of aesthetic importance in addition to other discomforts caused by itching and irritation.
Acne is considered to be a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It is characterized by a polymorphic lesion syndrome that is produced by several factors acting upon the pilosebaceous apparatus. Acne is usually found on the face, though is can also appear on the chest, back and shoulders.
CAUSES OF ACNE
The most frequent types of factors contributing to or causing acne are:
1. Constitutional or genetic: A tendency for all or most family members to suffer from serious acne.
2. Hormonal imbalance: There is a relationship between acne and other disturbances of the endocrinal system: it starts in puberty and is spontaneously cured with the increase of age.
3. Mechanical: An osteofollicular obstruction favors acne.
4. Chemical and food related: Several drugs that are rich in iodine or bromide, salicylates, barbiturates; as well as diet.
5. Secondary infection: Such bacteria as Corynebacterium acnes, Stagphylococous aureus, Albus, etc.
6. Emotional or psychological: They may condition or make acne worse.
7. Environmental changes: Sudden changes of temperature.
CLASSIFICATION OF ACNE
Acne may appear with different characteristics. It is customary to classify it into two large groups, which in turn include a variety of features.
-
Superficial acne: Those forms of acne that heal without leaving scars. This is the case of comodonic, papular and purulent acne.
-
Deep acne: These are cases of acne affecting several layers of the skin, and for this reason they generally leave scars after they heal. The most common cases of deep acne are:
-
Indurate acne: Affects the dermis, the epidermis, and, at times, the hypodermis.
-
Purulent acne: Painful acne, caused bynodules in the pores that cause such pain.
-
Boil acne: Acne that appears on one or more boils.
-
Mentonian acne: It is related to women’s reproductive cycle. It may appear along with menopause or the last period, or accompanying each menstruation.
-
The following classifications characterize the seriousness of the skin disorders caused:
Degree I: Comodones with little or no phlogistic reaction, only inflammation and boils, and no serious scars.
Degree II: In addition to the comodones, superficial purulent lesions and inflammatory boils, and no serious scars.
Degree III: Comodones, small pustules and deeper inflammatory lesions eventually leaving scars.
Degree IV: They include cystic lesions with intense secondary infection. Extensive and serious lesions may appear and produce fistulas. Consecutive cicatrization may cause considerable deformity.
Several etiological or triggering factors are considered causes of acne, as well as a variety of treatments. This paper, however, is about therapeutic resources of natural medicine that have been successfully applied. We follow the principles of this medicine in our approach to acne, considering the peculiarities of each case, the easy access afforded to patients and the economic advantages of this therapy in comparison with conventional therapies.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
A sample of 160 patients was taken. They were first seen by a specialist who prepared a clinical history for each, including data of particular interest. The following groups were randomly formed for study:
Group I: Control group, following conventional treatment. Local hygiene, oral antibiotics, vitamins
Group II: A diagnosis was made using Asian Traditional Medicine, and laser was used to stimulate the acupuncture points and to sweep the zone, in combination with mud therapy. Radiation was applied for two minutes on the acupuncture points, while the affected zone was swept over three times a week. One treatment cycle included 15 sessions. A He-Ne 832.6 Nm laser device with 5 mw was used.
Mud was applied at room temperature with twenty-minute exposure to the sun. It was removed with warm water, without further washing with soap for at least one hour. The treatment cycle consisted of 15 sessions, with three alternating frequencies per week.
Group III: Homeopathy was applied in conjunction with mud therapy. Treatment consisted of specific homeopathic dilutions (6 CH, 15 CH, 30 CH) in correspondence with each individual case, at a dosage of 5 drops three times a day, or one daily dose for one month.
Group IV: Treatment with mud, laser and homeopathy was applied.
Dietary suggestions: It is very important to have an integrated or holistic perspective on this problem, and for that reason several dietary suggestions should be kept in mind in the treatment of acne.
- Avoid food that is rich in fat (chocolate, peanuts, avocado, seafood, almonds, nuts).
- Do not consume milk or milk products, eggs, malt, oleaginous fruit, toasts.
- Eat all vegetables raw.
- Apply a daily mask of raw tomato pulp and beer yeast.
- Take a sauna twice a week.
- To favor kidney functions, eat food with physiological water (fruits, vegetables) and put your salt shaker in your first aid kit.
- Sun rays are beneficial, but not more than twenty minutes and not at peak hours.
- Orange colored food contains Vitamin A: carrots, pumpkin, palo santo, sweet potatoes, oranges and tangerines.
- Bitter food cleans the liver and purifies blood, so don’t leave these out.
- Drink lots of liquids every day.
ASSESSMENT AND FOLLOW-UP CRITERIA
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Evolution parameters were recorded in every session, registering condition of the lesions and other associated symptoms.
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Follow-up visits were made 15 days, one month, three months, six months, nine months, and one year after treatment had concluded.
EVOLUTION PARAMETERS (RESULTS)
Successful: All lesions disappeared without scars or associated symptoms.Good: Some lesions disappeared and a considerable reduction of scars is observed.Poor: No improvement
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows the total number of patients divided by age and sex. The age group that is most affected is 5-20 years for both sexes. This generally coincides with the data found in the reviewed literature. Acne affects 80% of adolescents and generally disappears in the early twenties, though in some cases it may remain until 30 or 40 years of age.
Table 1 Distribution of patients by age and sex
| Sex |
Age
Groups |
Total |
||||||
| 15-20 |
21-25 |
26-30 |
||||||
| No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
|
| Female |
30 |
25 |
12 |
10 |
27 |
22 |
69 |
57 |
| Male |
23 |
19 |
16 |
13 |
12 |
10 |
51 |
43 |
| Total |
53 |
44 |
28 |
23 |
39 |
32 |
60 |
100 |
Source: Survey
Table 2 shows that 100 % of the patients suffered from lesions on their cheeks.
Table 2 Regions of the face most afflicted by acne in cases under study
| Affected body surface |
% of body surface |
Number of patients |
% of patients |
| Right cheek |
1 |
120 |
100 |
| Left cheek |
1 |
120 |
100 |
| Forehead |
0.6 |
47 |
39 |
| Chin |
0.4 |
59 |
49 |
Source: Survey
Acne causes major psychological problems in patients, as these lesions are visible to others and can make the patient feel miserable about his/her condition.
Acne is located in these facial regions because these are seborrheic zones of the skin in which most sebaceous glands are concentrated.
Table 3 shows a close relationship between the number of sessions and clinical improvement of patients in each group. There was evident improvement between the 6th and the 10th sessions for groups IV and II, while some cases needed two or three cycles of treatment in order to observe whether evolution was successful or not.
Table 3 Relationship between number of sessions and clinical improvement in groups studied
| Groups Studied |
Number of sessions |
|||||
| 1-5 |
6-10 |
More than 10 |
||||
| Group I |
5 |
4 % |
14 |
12 % |
5 |
4 % |
| Group II |
7 |
6 % |
17 |
15 % |
3 |
3 % |
| Group III |
8 |
7 % |
16 |
13 % |
5 |
4 % |
| Group IV |
12 |
10 % |
16 |
13 % |
2 |
2 % |
| Total |
32 |
27 % |
63 |
53 % |
15 |
13 % |
Source: Survey
53 % of the cases studied experienced clinical improvement between the 6th and the 10th sessions of treatment. 27% were better between the first and the 5th sessions, while 13% needed more than 10 sessions and 7% did not show any improvement even after more than one treatment cycle.
Table 4 shows patient evolution in the different groups studied, and classifies them into Successful, Good and Poor. 73% of patients showed successful evolution of their condition, while in 20% of the cases the results were good, and in 7% they were poor. Groups IV and II showed better results.
Table 4 Clinical evolution by treatment groups.
| Groups |
Clinical evolution |
|||||
|
Successful |
Good |
Bad |
||||
| Group I |
20 |
16 % |
7 |
6 % |
3 |
2 % |
| Group II |
22 |
18 % |
7 |
6 % |
1 |
1 % |
| Group III |
21 |
17 % |
7 |
6 % |
2 |
2 % |
| Group IV |
25 |
22 % |
3 |
2 % |
2 |
2 % |
| Total |
88 |
73 % |
24 |
20 % |
8 |
7 % |
CONCLUSIONS
- The combination of natural techniques that are harmless and can be easily applied proves to be very effective in dealing with juvenile acne.
- Females were more affected, and so were those patients in the 15-20 age group.
- All races were affected, but white patients were more affected (62 % of the sample).
- Of the two treatment groups, the one combining laser, medical peloids and homeopathy was the most effective with better aesthetic results.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Further studies should be conducted to gain a deeper understanding of this condition, and to test other associated therapies.
- Early therapy should be applied to patients with acne to prevent psychological and physical after-effects from the lesions.
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Authors:
1.- 1st Degree Specialist in Natural and Traditional Medicine, Homeopathy Certificate.
2.- LPN, Interdisciplinary Community Health Complex, CINSA, Havana.
