ACNE AND CHILDREN: WHAT TO EXPECT AND HOW TO TREAT Whilst more prevalent in teenagers and young adults, acne vulgaris (more commonly known as acne) can affect neonates (new-born to four weeks), infants and young children. However, unlike in adolescence, acne in these childhood groups can mimic other skin eruptions. It is therefore important for children to receive a medical evaluation before the commencement of any treatment. Paediatric acne is [...]

With so much information available around the benefits and ‘how to’ of healthy skincare for women, it is equally important to keep our menfolk up to date on exactly how best to take optimum care. Bumps and rashes are a long time and seemingly regular consequence of many men’s daily shaving routine. Dr Mathobela, a leading specialist dermatologist and OXY’s resident skincare expert, shares a few suggestions and insights around [...]

What to know … and what to avoid both in and outdoors … It’s almost that time of year again … longer days, warmer nights and lazy days outdoors … But before you head off for the holidays, take some time to think about how best to protect your skin during some of the hottest months of the year. From regulating body temperature through to maintaining overall hydration and serving [...]

What to know … and what to avoid … The benefits of a good healthy ‘sweat’ during a fabulous workout can never be underestimated. It increases blood flow to the skin, delivering more oxygen and nutrients that help nourish the skin whilst also helping to rid skin cells of free radicals and dirt. Exercise has also long been heralded as a great stress release, resulting in less stress hormones. This [...]

The issue about the role food plays in acne and problem skin is still somehow contentious as there are not many studies done on this subject.  However, from the few studies that were done, certain foods have shown the tendency to aggravate acne.  ‘This is confirmed from personal experience of patients I see with acne and is in line with what the studies have shown. Although having said this, this [...]

Tea Tree Oil is an essential oil that is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves and terminal branches of a small tree or tall shrub, Melaleuca alternifolia. Endemic to Australia, it is part of the myrtle family where it grows along streams and swampy flats in southeast Queensland, the north coast and New South Wales. Over years, it is demonstrated to be effective in a variety of skin infections [...]

To understand what causes acne, we must first understand what acne is. Acne is a disease of a pilosebaceous unit (mini-organ in skin where hair is formed – see picture). The pilosebaceous unit consists of the hair shaft, hair follicle, sebaceous gland (which secretes oil or sebum to keep the skin moisturised), and a tiny muscle (erector pili muscle) which makes the hair stand on end when it contracts. The [...]

A pimple literally means a small inflamed elevation on the skin and this might not mean acne. In most cases though, when people talk about pimples, they are referring to acne. In acne terms, a pimple or a “zit” will either be comedones i.e. white or blackheads, pustules (pus filled pimples), papules (inflamed pimples) or nodules and cysts. Before deciding how to treat pimples, a dermatologist must decide whether a [...]