Eau Thermale Avène Skin Health Beauty Workshop : Causes & Treatment of Acne

I wasn’t sure if I should attend the Avène Skin Health Beauty Workshop on Saturday afternoon as the focus was on the causes and solutions for acne problems, the importance of sun protection and tips on getting a perfect complexion. I guess I am lucky as I have never had serious acne problems, not even when I was in the difficult teenage years. I think I have had more acne issues as an adult than as an adolescent/teen. Anyway I didn’t pass up the invitation from  Avène as it’d be presented by 2 very knowledgeable professionals who would surely shed more light on acne issues and in turn, I could share their tips with readers.

The speakers at this workshop were Dr. Chu Siew Mun (Dermatologist) and Ms. Anne-Charlotte Jakubczak (PFDC Asia Pacific Training Manager). PFDC stands for Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique of which Avène is one of their brands. After their presentations, we had the opportunity to use the Avène products on our tables. Although the focus of this workshop is on Cleanance, their range for young and acne-prone skin, there were other products available which were customised to our individual skin types.

Dr. Chu Siew Mun is a very experienced dermatologist. Who better to advise us on acne issues than a dermatologist with decades of experience but I have to say some of the slides of his patients were more scary than a horror movie because they had serious acne problems. I really feel sorry for them and it must affect their lives in ways I can’t even imagine.

When all other topical treatments fail, you know it’s time to seek help from a dermatologist. However I do think that teens today with acne problems are more lucky than teens decades ago as there are better drugs available which can treat acne more effectively now.

Dr. Chu showed us slides of the dermis and epidermis and explained how acne forms. The main cause of acne is the blockage of sebaceous ducts. Male hormones can cause acne in males and females and while one of the treatments is to reduce male hormones, of course dermatologists will not resort to that treatment for males (unless said males have other purposes in mind).

There are several forms of acne:-

1. Characterised by formation of closed comedones (whiteheads) and open comedones (blackheads).

2. Papules, pustules, cysts and nodules.

According to Dr. Chu, acne ruins lives rather than being lethal as it has a huge emotional impact on a young person. You can eat the so-called “taboo” foods which have been said to cause acne such as chocolates, spicy foods, nuts, cheese, soft drinks provided you do so in moderation. Reduce sugar intake or starchy food? That hasn’t been completely proven as one of the ways to prevent/reduce acne. There is also no evidence that washing your face more often will improve acne or that lack of washing worsens acne.

Look for non-comedogenic labels on products and if you think steroid creams are the treatment for eczema, they can also cause acne. Picking, squeezing and rubbing at acne can cause scarring so hands off the spots!

Treatments for acne (as recommended by Dr. Chu) include the following:-

1. Reduce male hormones so contraceptive pills are used.

2. Use peeling agents which contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and Retinol A.

3. Oral antibiotics to prevent and resolve inflammations.

4. Extraction, microdermabrasion, peeling (AHA, exfoliants), laser treatments, steroid injections.

5. Roaccutane available in Malaysia since 1985. It reduces the size of oil glands without the use of hormones. However it isn’t recommended for pregnant women or women of child-bearing age as it can cause deformities in babies. Only dermatologists can prescribe this drug. It can be considered costly as it’s RM10 per tablet and to be taken once a week but I think the price can also be considered reasonable if it is effective or more effective than other cures.

Overall, a very informative presentation by Dr. Chu as I learned a lot more about acne. I still have acne from time to time although never more than 2 or 3 developed at a time. Fortunately, they are not serious episodes otherwise I would also have felt compelled to consult a dermatologist like Dr. Chu. I guess there are a lot of teens all over the world who suffer from acne regardless of race and I completely empathise with the emotions they go through as blemished skin can be a real confidence crusher.

Have you ever had serious bouts of acne when you were a teenager or as a young adult? What treatments did you try out?