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Acne which is commonly referred to as “common acne” is one of the most common skin ailment in human history. This comes from the fact that a majority of the people tend to have the condition at any given stage of their life. There are many debates and misinformation about the causes of acne but the basic arguments revolve around heredity and hormones. Given the prevalence of the condition, people have come up with many solutions ranging from self-care to conventional prescription medicine and even plant medicine. Proponents of all of these approaches to treatment make strong arguments in support of their chosen approach.

Basic Facts about Acne

Acne is a condition that has been around for a long time and its definition can be traced back to the Greek vocabulary where the word “akme” refers to points or a certain spot. From this word therefore rose the medical condition Acne Vulgaris which in medical terms affects the skin’s oil glands which are located at the bottom of the hair follicles (Webmd, 2015). Scientists note that the condition mostly occurs during puberty since that period coincided with the activation of the oil glands. The glands are also continually activated by the hormones from the adrenal glands of both genders. Acne is manifested in the form of pimples that appear in different parts of the body such as the face, neck and even the chest. The formation of such pimples is a simple process that involves the coming together of hair, skin cells and sebum. When the three combine, an infection by bacteria results to the swelling of that specific spot thus yielding the pimple.

There are different types of pimples that rise as a result of acne and are mostly distinguished by their color. The white heads for instance do not come on the skin and are small while the blackheads are dark and often appear on the surface. The papules and pustules are pink and red respectively and usually contain pus. The nobules and the cysts on the other hand are the big pimples on the surface that are painful and contain pus. These can actually result into scars on the skin even after healing. The cause of acne is usually a topic where people are misinformed. Most assume that the condition comes about as a result of poor diet andhygiene which is usually not the case. Most cases are as a result of hormones released during puberty. Other cases have been reported to rise due to certain types of contraceptives, injectable and birth control items. The use of certain types of steroids also predisposes people to the acne condition (Williams, Dellavalle & Garner, 2012).

Classical Treatment of Acne

Over time people have developed various ways of treating Acne, ranging from self-care, to prescription drugs and even plant based medicine. In the formal treatment however, the kind of medication that a patient is subjected to depends on the severity level of the condition. Due to the extensive nature of the condition, various types of medication have become available. The medicine however contains common ingredients that are thought to positively impact the condition. One such ingredient is the benzoyl peroxide which does away with the bacteria that leads to the formation of acne. Benzoyl is used due to the inability of bacteria to develop any kind of resistanceagainst it. This ingredient is mostly combined with others such as retinoid in order to increase the efficiency while still reducing its irritative aspect on the skin (Nordqvist, 2015).

Azelaic acid is another component found in most acne treatments and is used to kill the bacteria responsible for the formation of the condition. Salicylic acid is another ingredient actively used in treatment of acne. The acid acts as an agent that reduced the rate of regeneration of skin cells. As pointed out above in the causes of acne, skin cells combine with sebum to create the condition and therefore reducing the speed at which skin cells are produced helps in controlling the condition. Salicylic acid has been proven to be even more effective than benzoyl since it deals with the root cause as opposed to the manifested symptoms (Webmd, 2015).

The use of retinoid is also very common in the treatment of acne. Retinoid are agents that deal with inflammation of the skin and this is preventing the formation of clogs of skin cells, sebum and hair which ultimately result to Acne.The effectiveness of this approach depends on the type of retinoid used due to the big number of them available. Antibiotics are also a common means in the treatment of acne. The medicine in this case can be taken orally or applied on the skin and this depends on the severity of acne on a person. The antibiotics are meant to kill the bacteria responsible for the formation of the condition. The only problem with this approach is that some bacteria develop resistance to theantibiotics thus reducing the level of effectiveness. Continued use of antibiotics has also been proven not to be as effective as using Salicylic acid above.

As pointed out in the causes, hormones are a major source of acne. Scientists have therefore developed measure to deal with this by introducing medicine that controls the production of androgen. This reduces the amount of sebum produced since sebum is responsible for the formation of acne. On the same breath of hormones, Birth controls which contain estrogen are also used in treatment of acne for female patients. For severe cases of acne, it is recommended for one to consult a dermatologist (Nordqvist, 2015). This is because the professional has the ability to determine which treatment can be applied for the best results and with the minimal side effects.

Natural Cures to Acne

Apart from the use of chemically developed medicine in treatment of acne, herbalists have come up with various plant based interventions that are thought to be helpful in dealing with the condition. Supporters of this natural approach view the acne condition as not only a skin condition but a portrayal of a major flaw in the functioning of the body. As it is with all other herbalists in any king of illness, proponents argue that using natural cures has more benefits and is accompanied by lesser side effects as compared to the use of prescription medicine. A study into the literature about plant medicine with the ability to deal with acne reveals a variety of plants, fruits, barks and even flowers.

Citrus fruits for example have been quoted to contain agents that lead to the reduction of acne by killing bacteria while other fruits the Oregon grapes improve the digestion process. The fruit alsodeals with inflammation of the skin while also killing the bacteria that lead to acne formation. Barks from trees such as the oak and walnut have also been brought forward as producing medicine that deals with acne. They have components which when ground and applied on the skin result to reduction of acne cases (Gottlieb, 1995).

Another tree product apart from bark that is mostly used in self-care for acne patients is the Tea Tree Oil. It’s continued and widespread use has resulted into scientists turning their attention to it and is under clinical trials to prove its efficacy. Proponents argue that it acts similarly to the usual medicine that contains benzoyl peroxide but lacks the irritative nature experienced by use of the latter. Another example is the vitex plant which is a moderate herb that produces purple flowers. Extracts from this plant have been used in treatment of acne especially in women. This is because they are believed to control the hormonal release thus acting similarly to the birth control methods that contain estrogen (Williams, Dellavalle& Garner, 2012).

Lavender is one of the most widely used products in the world. Apart from medicine it is processed in different industries especially ones to do with cosmetics. Despite the lack of scientific evidence of its efficacy, the lavender oil in this instance is believed to have remedial effects on acne patients. This comes from the ability of the oil to sooth patients thus reducing stress which is believed by many as a predisposing factor to acne. In other cases, the oil is applied on the skin to fasten the recovery of acne infected spots. The Ashwagandha plant and especially its big orange flowers are also believed to be a remedy of acne in different parts of the world. Extracts from this plant are believed to reduce the inflammation of the skin while at the same time reducing stress among acne patients (Gottlieb, 1995).

It would be erroneous to compile the list of acne natural cures and fail to mention the aloe Vera plant. All over the world, aloe is referred to as the miracle and wonder plant due to the big number of ailments it cures. Proponents of the use of aloe point at different capabilities of the plant noting that it is antibacterial in nature, reduces inflammation of the skin and also has a soothing effect to the patient. This combined ability is perceived to be very efficient in dealing with acne. In other case, aloe extracts have been combined with other conventional medicines such as retinoid to treat the condition (Williams, Dellavalle& Garner, 2012). The use of aloe Vera is widely supported by many people through the world not only in dealing with acne but also in a host of other medical conditions.

Folktore and Cultural Practice Associated to Acne

Given its prevalence in different parts of the world acne has for long been subject to various folktore and cultural in different parts of the world. In Africa for example some of the cultural activities that involve the application of mud and even other tree products predispose them to obtaining acne. For the skin specialists in this case it becomes important to understand such activity in prescribing a solution to the problem. Furthermore acne is viewed to have supernatural causes. Some communities believe that black magic and witch craft are to blame for acne occurrence thus calling for the dispelling of the spirits in trying to remedy the situation.

The famous Irish animal folktore also says something about acne. According to the Irish traditional beliefs, children are forbidden from touching the nest of a certain bird referred to as a wren. When this occurs the child suffers from acne and if harm befalls the bird as a result of human influence the consequences are even dire.

All over the world, the moon has been subject to various myths that try to link aspects of human behavior to phases of the moon. Acne also comes in this group which also includes madness, suicide and depression that are believed to occur during the full moon (Rudis, 2015). Observers have continually explored such relationships but there is no conclusive evidence and research to that end.

Faulty Arguments in the Natural Cures

As it is usually the case in herbal medicine, plant based remedies to acne are believed tobe better due to their natural characteristic and are believed to treat the condition with no side effects at all. Given the increasing number of people leaning towards the use of alternative medicine, most material about natural acne treatment is riddled with faulty arguments and fallacies. The literature reveals a major lack of evidence to substantiate the claims of healing powers of the natural products.

An example of a faulty argument in the natural treatment of acne is the drinking of arrow root juice. According to most literature, authors give narrations how the juice worked on them and encourages readers to try. This is a testimonial fallacy since the assumption of the healing power of arrow root juice is based on the experience of one person. This may not necessarily work on another person. Other proponents also tend to use jargon when rooting for the use of certain plant products to treat acne. In the case of Seabuckthorn oil for example an author uses words that an average person cannot understand in view of making the statements appear medical (Gottlieb, 1995).

Another faulty argument used is over generalization whereby authors the ability of a certain herb is exaggerated in order to convince the reader. In the two examples above, the author employs vague vocabulary to play with the readers mind. Appeal to authority is also a common fallacy employed in natural acne treatment. Here proponents claim some herbs to have the ability to cleanse the blood in a view of dealing with acne. Since they fail to mention credible sources of such information, they expect a person to believe them which is faulty in nature.

Economic Impact of Acne

Apart from the immeasurable impact that acne has on an individual’s life, the condition deals a huge blow to the economic stability of the patient. Reports indicate that in America for instance, patients spend up to 100 million dollars is seeking treatment for acne. The number of people in search of medical attention due to acne also continues increasing annually meaning that the expenditure on the condition is on a trajectory mode (Inglese, Fleischer, Feldman &Balkrishnan, 2008). The implication therefore is that the pharmaceutical companies responsible for producing the medicine for treating the condition are making immense profits. Their market also continues to grow given the large number affected by the condition. The amount of money the companies make can be deduced by looking into the typical costs that an acne patient faces in countering the condition.

To the patients who result to using over the counter products daily, they incur a cost of upto 100 dollars every month. When the doctor prescribes antibiotics and other ointments a person is likely to spend upto 200 dollars permonth. The same figure applies in the use of birth controls. For the people who may prefer various kinds of physical treatment they have to pay about 150 dollars for every session, keeping in mind that several sessions may be done monthly. The aftercare when acne is dealt with is even more expensive since it may require up to 2000 dollars to obtain products that help to do away with the scars left by acne (Costhelper.com, 2015) . When this figure is multiplied by the millions of people being bothered by acne, the true picture of the kind of profits made by pharmaceutical companies can be seen.

Profitability of using Herbs

The general use of herbs not only in acne but also in other medical conditions has been proven to be very cheap. When compared to the prescription drugs, the use of herbs can save individuals a lot of money while at the same time offering a profitable business to people who choose to invest in such herbal medicine. A research done in Madagascar where the use of herbs is prevalent shows that families save upto 50 % of annual healthcare costs.

This does not only apply in Madagascar but also in other countries where the use of herbal medicine is on the rise. This has led to a situation whereby most drug companies are looking to herbs as their source of medical inventions with most of the new prescription drugs being directly from plants. This results into a multibillion industry whereby it is very easy to get the raw material (Reuell, 2012).

A Protocol for Testing the Claims of the Herbal Cures

The popularity of herbs when it comes to the treatment of various medical conditions including acne has been on the trajectory mode with a good percentage of people allover the world using such approaches. Scientific evidence to justify the use of herbs is lacking and I would therefore recommend the use of a clinical trial for any of the herbs to test the efficacy and safety (Bent, 2008).

The first step is the formulation of a clear hypothesis. This comes from having a clear background of the said herb and the condition it is supposed to cure. In the case of acne for example, the hypothesis can be that vitex plant is effective in reducing acne condition. The alternate hypothesis will be the inability of vitex in dealing with acne. Here vitex plant will be the experimental variable, the using or not of vitex the independent variable while reduction of acne being the dependent variable.

The next step is the creation of both the experimental and the control groups. The former will be using the vitex plant while the latter will use normal medicine. The third step is the placement of all participants in the trial to respective groups. In order to deal with the threat of selection bias, the placement to either of the groups should be random. In placing them, the number is important since a bigger number of participants improve the validity of the findings. In placing the participants into groups precaution should be taken to ensure that all have similar characteristics before the start of the trial. Exclusion should also be done to participants using other drugs likely to have an impact on acne.

The fourth step will be dealing with the ethical issues. Given that this trial involves people issues such as voluntary participation, possible risks, informed consent and allowance to drop out at any time need to be taken care of. The next step is doing the actual trial where the group supposed to use vitex plant will start while the other group will commence using the usual treatment. The skin conditions here need to be examined and measured at the start. Gradual physical examinations also need to be done gradually as the use of the medicine continues. The next step is determining the results for all participants at the end of the trial period. The skin condition of each person can be observed and measured and compared to the measurement taken before the trial.

A compilation of results according to the two groups is then done. An average of the changes in skin conditions for both the experimental and comparison group is done. A statistical analysis then follows to point out any significant divergence between the results of the two groups. The final step will be analyzing the data obtained in order to make a conclusion on the use of vitex plant. The conclusion will either prove or negate the hypothesis made at the start of the trial. This will determine the effectiveness of vitex plant in treating acne (Bearman, 1975).

Conclusion

Acne is a skin condition that affects a big percentage of people in the world especially during puberty. There are various prescription drugs to deal with the condition not forgetting the natural medicine highlighted in this paper. This alternative medicine however comes with various faulty arguments thus necessitating the creation of a protocol as the one on vitex plant in order to test the efficacy of herbal medicine.

References

Bearman J. (1975).Writing the protocol for a clinical trial. American Journal of Ophthalmology.79:775–778.

Bent, S. (2008). Herbal Medicine in the United States: Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Regulation: Grand Rounds at University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 23(6), 854–859. doi:10.1007/s11606-008-0632-y

Costhelper.com (2015). Acne Treatments Cost 2015. Accessed 5 June 2015

http://health.costhelper.com/acne-treatments.html

Gottlieb, B., & Dollemore, D. (1995). New choices in natural healing: Over 1,800 of the best

self-help remedies from the world of alternative medicine. Emmaus, Penn: Rodale Press.

Inglese, M. J., Fleischer Jr, A. B., Feldman, S. R., &Balkrishnan, R. (2008). The pharmacoeconomics of acne treatment: Where are we heading? Journal of Dermatological treatment, 19(1), 27-37.

Reuell, P. (2012). Health care savings, naturally. Accessed 5 June 2015

http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/08/health-care-savings-naturally/

Rudis, J. (2015). True or False: Full Moons Sway Tides—and Minds. Accessed 5 June 2015