Dermatology Clinics & Research DCR, 5(1): 272-311 www.scitcentral.com ISSN: 2380-5609 Review Article: Open Access SciTech Central Inc. Dermatol Clin Res (DCR) 272 Acne Protection: Measures and Miseries AK Mohiuddin * * Department of Pharmacy, World University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Received May 13, 2019; Accepted May 15, 2019; Published August 20, 2019 ABSTRACT Acne, also known as acne vulgaris (AV), is a long-term skin disease that occurs when hair follicles are clogged with dead skin cells and oil from the skin. It is characterized by blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin and possible scarring. An intact stratum corneum and barrier, normal natural moisturizing factor and hyaluronic acid levels, normal Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) expression (localized at the basal lateral membranes of collecting duct cells in the kidney), and balanced sebum secretion are qualities of the skin that fall in the middle of the oily-dry spectrum. Patients rarely, if ever, complain about reduced sebum production, but elevated sebum production, yielding oily skin that can be a precursor to acne, is a common complaint. Several factors are known to influence sebum production. AV is mostly triggered by Propionibacterium acnes in adolescence, under the influence of normal circulating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). It is a very common skin disorder which can present with inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions chiefly on the face but can also occur on the upper arms, trunk, and back. Age, in particular, has a significant and well-known impact, as sebum levels are usually low in childhood, rise in the middle-to-late teen years and remain stable into the seventh and eighth decades until endogenous androgen synthesis dwindles. Sebum, the oily secretion of the sebaceous glands containing wax esters, sterol esters, cholesterol, di- and tri-glycerides and squalene, imparts an oily quality to the skin and is well known to play an important role in acne development. Acne can't be prevented or cured, but it can be treated effectively. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others seem to crop up. Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scar the skin. Acne may cause scarring of the skin, but generally causes no long-term health problems. In self-body image, some parts of the body including face play an important role. Existence of even a minor lesion in this part may be unpleasant for the patient and seems large. This image can cause mental disorders including depression and anxiety, low self-esteem and decrease in social relationships. However, high levels of anxiety and depression in patients with facial acne are not related to oxidative stress, according to a study published online in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. Keywords: Acne, Skin care, Comedones, Pustules, Acne scars, Sebum, Propionibacterium acnes Abbreviations: AV: Acne Vulgaris; AQP3: Aquaporin-3; DHEA: Dehydroepiandrosterone; CAM: Complementary and Alternative Medicine; IGF-1: Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1; HRQoL: Health-Related Quality of Life; SHBG: Sex Hormone- Binding Globulin; Cer: Ceramide; SM: Sphingomyelin; FSH: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone; 5α-DHT: 5α- dihydrotestosterone; PCOS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; SG: Sebaceous Gland; EPA: Eicosapentaenoic Acid; DHA: Docosahexaenoic Acid; AFA: Adult Female Acne; BP: Benzoyl peroxide; PIH: Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation; AAD: American Academy of Dermatology; MRSA: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; COC: Combined Oral Contraceptive; RCTs: Randomized Controlled Trials; IGA: Investigator's Global Assessment; IPL: Intense Pulsed Light; NAFL: Non-Ablative Fractional Lasers BACKGROUND Historic Panorama of Acne Protection - The word ‘acne’ appears to evolve from Greek word ‘acme’ which means ‘point or spot’. Although acne is described in very ancient writings dating back to Eber’s Papyrus, its clear description is found after Fuch’s coined the term ‘Acne Vulgaris’ and Erasmus Wilson separated it from acne rosacea. The roots of acne have been traced all the way to three well known ancient civilizations viz., Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Corresponding author: AK Mohiuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy, World University of Bangladesh, 151/8, Green Road Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh, Tel: 8801716477485; E-mail: trymohi@gmail.com Citation: Mohiuddin AK. (2019) Acne Protection: Measures and Miseries. Dermatol Clin Res, 5(1): 272-311. Copyright: ©2019 Mohiuddin AK. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.