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Syntopix

Acne

Acne is one of the most common skin diseases. Untreated or poorly treated acne leads to psychological and physical scarring. Nearly all teenagers have some degree of acne. Persistent and late onset acne is increasing in prevalence, especially in women. 15% of acne sufferers will seek treatment from their GP and virtually all will use non-prescribed spot treatments.

Acne lesions develop within pilosebaceous follicles that typically have a large sebaceous gland and a very small hair. They are most numerous on the face and upper trunk, the common sites for acne. Acne is multi-factorial. Both inherited and environmental factors are important determinants of susceptibility to acne. The key etiological factors in acne pathogenesis are androgen-mediated seborrhoea, ductal hypercornification and the production of inflammatory mediators by the skin bacteria Propionibacterium acnes and/or Propionibacterium granulosum which become trapped by cornified plugs within follicular ducts. Their entrapment and continued multiplication fuel inflammation via multiple mechanisms. The bacteria will also die and lyse in situ releasing immunologically active intracellular products into the duct. Existing treatments for acne are directed against individual etiological factors of the disease but often have unwanted side effects resulting in poor medication adherence. There is no panacea for acne. Antibiotics have been the main treatment for mild to moderately severe acne over many years but propionibacterial resistance is now compromising their efficacy. By combining non-antibiotic antimicrobials with agents that work in complementary ways, Syntopix products overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance and have enhanced therapeutic efficacy.