The acne vulgaris is perhaps one of the most dreaded problems many people face. The main cause behind the fear is obviously the degree of “loss of confidence” this problem causes in the population than the actual lesion. But with aptly chosen homeopathic remedies, we can halt the progress of the disease and put an end to the menace by rendering soft supple skin to the ‘beauty-conscious’ generation.
Causative factors of Acne-
Excess oil secretion from the sebaceous glands is considered to be the prime cause behind acne vulgaris, principally affecting the teenagers. However, in some people, the trouble lasts longer even in thirties and forties.
Though oil secretion is said to be one of the main causes, the excess oil secretion in certain diseases like acromagaly, Parkinson’s disease, etc does not cause acne. Therefore, it is thought that the androgenic hormones from testes, ovaries, and adrenals are the culprits that enhance the oil production in the skin. That’s why the peak period of acne burst outs is teen-age, when these hormonal levels undergo lots of changes. The oil when clogs the skin pores may lead to some or the other infection leading to acne.
However, acne is said to be familial trait too. The causes lie much beneath the so-called increased sebum production. No wonder homeopathy has lot to offer to the patients of acne, as the causative factors can be varied, which can be dealt effectively only with the homeopathic medicines applied to the patient of acne homeopathically.
Clinical Features of Acne-
As with any skin trouble, acne vulgaris can be classified roughly as mild, moderate, and severe. Eruptions or lesions may be confined to face, shoulders, upper chest, back, buttocks, etc. One may notice greasy skin. Blackheads can be the presenting feature in some. In some, the acne can be very severe with abscess and cyst formation with heavy scarring. The lesions can be macular, papular, or rash-like in many patients. Acne rosacea is the variety affecting the middle aged women and men. It is characterized by marked red eruptions, pustules, etc without the formation of blackheads.
Suppression of Acne by Strong Chemical Agents-
Most patients of acne vulgaris are young children entering their teens, when they want to look their best. Therefore, most of them resort to creams, ointments, and lotions they find attractively advertised through various media. Some get better results for the time being. However, in most cases, these measures prove only temporary. They give just palliative results till the person uses the particular local application and acne return back utterly aggravated once he or she weans off it.
Worse still, the acne get suppressed and the deranged life force affects some more vital organ and the person starts suffering from more severe disease than acne after he suppresses it. Any skin eruption suppressed does not cure the patient but worsens him on some other vital plane. (See article- A Case of Suppressed Skin Eruptions Leading to Asthma). Have seen many patients say, “Acne was far better to have than this suffering” after they suppress acne. DO NOT suppress them.
It certainly does not mean you have no right to look beautiful! Just that your skin needs more delicate treatment that will wipe out acne permanently with milder homeopathic medicines suited to your constitution.
Homeopathic Treatment of Acne-
According to homeopathic principle, local application is a strict NO while treating acne or any other skin eruptions. Let the medicine act on higher plane to enable the body comprehend the derangement in one of its sphere (here skin), and eradicate the disease process by alleviating the symptoms of the disease. For it to happen, the homeopathic expert must be aware of the constitution of the patient, his family history, his mental and physical traits, and any concomitant symptoms and signs if present.
One of the major thing to remember while treating the patient of acne is- “Give maximum importance to the subjective symptoms than objective, and you will rarely go wrong in acne treatment”.
Here is the list of some important homeopathic medicines to be thought of while dealing with acne cases-
(1) Asterias rubens-
- Considered as one of the chief dugs for treating acne
- Itchy acne
- Skin seems less elastic
- Acne eruptions with fetid pus
- Acne rosacea
- Acne affecting back, shoulders, sides of nose, chin
- Flabby patient with lymphatic constitution
- Sycotic diathesis
- Sexual excitement in both sexes
- Fear of bad news in adolescent girls
- Worse coffee, left side
(2) Belladonna-
- Red hot facial skin
- Scarlet rash-like acne
- Suddenly spreading acne lesions
- Alternate redness and dullness of skin
- Pustular eruptions on skin
- Skin feels smoothly red but burns
- Acne leading to swelling of glands of neck, chin
- Bluish red acne lesions
- Shiny red eruptions
(3) Dulcamara-
- One of the underrated remedies for acne
- Humid eruptions on face
- Acne lesions itch, worse in cold wet weather
- Vesicular eruptions
- Small boils spreading uniformly across the face, forehead
- May be associated with warty eruptions on hands and face
- Acne worse around the menstrual period
- Mucus membrane affections are often the concomitant
- Worse by cold in any form, better by warmth
(4) Merc sol-
- Syphilitic acne
- Earthy, puffy, dirty-looking face
- Pustular acne
- Constantly perspiring skin
- A big pimple surrounded by many small pimples
- Itchy eruptions worse from the warmth of bed
- Eruptions in private parts, buttocks
- Skin and mucus membranes affected at the same time
- Yellowing brown or greenish pus from Pustular acne, may be streaked with thin blood
- Extremely fetid suppuration
- Worse extremes of temperature, night, dampness, perspiration
(5) Graphites-
- Cobweb sensation on face is one of the most marked features of Graph
- Itching pimples
- Constipated bowels is a frequent accompaniment
- Rough hard skin of face
- Persistent dryness of skin
- Acne oozing out a sticky exudation
- Pimply eruptions behind ears
- Unhealthy skin with tendency to suppurate
- Redness of face
- Burning acne with think sticky discharges
- Worse warmth, during and after menses
- Better in dark room
(6) Bovista-
- Acne in sensitive girls
- Crusty eruptions around mouth and nostrils
- Acne from over-use of cosmetics
- Swollen look of cheeks
- Sensitive skin with tendency to leave deep impression with blunt instruments
- Itchy eruptions
- May have had an attack of urticaria or tendency to recurrent urticaria
- Pimples covering the entire body
- Acne always worse in summer
(7) Radium brom-
- Acne rosacea with red pimply rashes
- Small eruptions with itching, burning, swelling, and redness
- Excessive itching with burning of skin as if on fire
- Painful pimples
- Acne with scars that take long time to heal
- May be associated with itchy dermatitis of skin and/or trophic changes in fingernails
- Acne seem worse after getting up in the morning
- Better in open air and hot bath
(8) Arnica-
- Painful acne with sore bruised feeling in skin
- Sunken red face with heat feeling on lips
- Itchy burning pimples
- Acne may occur in crops; one heals and the new eruption rises near it
- Indurated acne characterized by symmetry in distribution
- Bluish look of skin with tendency to form boils
- Worse by tough, wine
(9) Kali brom-
- Itchy pimples on face, chest, shoulders, etc
- Pustular rashes
- Anesthetic feeling in skin of face and mucus membranes
- Exaggerated sexual desire in females suffering from acne during menses
- Extremely fidgety hands is on of the main features of the drug
- Horrific dreams and grinding of teeth in sleep is often an accompaniment
- Worse warmth
(10) Calcarea sulph-
- Suppurative tendency of the skin
- Pustular jagged eruptions with oozing of yellow mucus
- Facial pimples
- Unhealthy skin with yellowing scabs
- Many small pimples under the hair that bleed when scratched
- Purulent exudations from acne
- Acne lesions that do not heal fast
- Pimples around ears with tendency to bleed on scratching
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