It is not a life-threatening condition nor is it a debilitating disease. But the emotional distress that acne brings to any individual is more than enough reason for one to find ways to completely eradicate it.
Acne, which is a problem of swelling and inflammation, is often a result of overactive sebaceous glands in the skin. These glands secrete a waxy substance called sebum, which lubricates skin and hair.
However, when too much sebum or oil is produced, the ducts become blocked, leading to the formation of skin blemishes known as comedones. And as dead skin and additional oil get stuck in the opening of hair follicles, the comedones can become inflamed due to the overgrowth of the “Propionibacterium acnes” (P. acnes) bacteria, which then causes the formation of acne.
Acne, in turn, causes whiteheads, blackheads and inflamed red growths (papules, pustules, and cysts) or what are commonly called pimples. According to data provided by Invida Philippines, acne is currently considered as one of the most common skin conditions, affecting more than 460 million people in Asia, of which an estimated 175 million are between the ages of 12 and 35 years.
Increased hormone production
While commonly perceived as a condition that affects mostly teenagers due to the increased production of hormones as they go through puberty, adults are not spared from the threat of developing acne—both men and women.
Although it occurs more frequently in men, it tends to be more persistent for women, data showed. More alarming to note are studies showing that acne causes emotional and physical pain, which is felt more severely among young women. Such a condition often leads to loss of confidence, resulting ultimately in shame and depression.
So how do you manage acne?
There are a number of ways to manage and treat acne, depending on whether the condition is mild, moderate or severe. These included having derma-cosmetic treatments; using over-the-counter topical treatments, topical antibiotics and prescriptive topical treatments; and proper skin care with the use of right skin products.
Invida Philippines recently launched its Papulex range of acne care products, which has a unique triple-action formula that addresses the root causes of acne.
“The Papulex range of acne care products is clinically-proven effective for all forms of acne. Unlike some over-the-counter anti-acne products, the safety and efficacy of Papulex is backed by clinical studies,” said Ninia Torres, country head of Invida Philippines.
How Papulex functions
“Papulex helps block the proliferation of acne-causing bacteria, reduces inflammation and sebum production, and helps prevent clogging of skin pores,” explained Prof. Giuseppe Micali, head of the Department of Dermatology in the University of Catania, Italy and founding member of the Italian Acne Board and Acne Mediterranean Group.
Micali was the guest speaker during the launch of the Papulex range of acne care products last April.
Papulex has a European Union-patented ABA technology that helps block the proliferation of Proprionibacterium acnes in the outer layer of the skin. It contains 4 percent Nicotinamide, a natural molecule derived from Vitamin B3 that has potent anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains Zinc PCA that helps regulate the production of sebum, which usually causes oily skin and acne.
The Papulex range consists of three products. The Papulex Oil-Free Cream helps reduce skin blemishes and skin imperfections, while the Papulex Isocorrexion helps clear blemishes and improves skin tightness and dryness caused by conventional acne treatment. Aside from the unique Papule triple-action formula, Isocorrexion is also enriched with Biophytosebum (olive oil extract, squalene). Papulex Moussant Soap Free Cleansing Gel meanwhile helps reduce imperfections while cleansing the skin gently with its soap-free formula.