Isotrexin gel contains 2 active ingredients, Isotretinoin, which is a form of vitamin A and Erythromycin, which is an antibiotic. The combination is applied to the skin to treat acne.
It is not known exactly how isotretinoin works, but it is thought to loosen the cells in the surface of the skin. This helps to unblock pores, so that the skins natural oil producing glands (sebaceous glands) can function normally.
In addition, isotretinoin increases the turnover of the skin cells, which aids the natural exfoliation of the outer layers of skin.
This also helps to unblock pores and decreases the formation of blackheads (comedones) and spots.
Erythromycin works by attacking the bacteria associated with acne, Propionibacterium acnes. This is a common type of bacteria that feeds on sebum (oil) produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It produces waste products and fatty acids that irritate the sebaceous glands, making them inflamed and causing spots.
Erythromycin prevents these bacteria from producing proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, replicate and increase in numbers. Erythromycin doesn’t directly kill the bacteria, but leaves them unable to increase in numbers. The remaining bacteria eventually die or are destroyed by the immune system.
By controlling bacterial numbers, erythromycin brings the inflammation of the sebaceous glands under control, and allows the skin to heal. It may take six to eight weeks before definite beneficial effects on the skin can be seen.
No comments:
Post a Comment