Finalist Award in Clinical Case in Skin Enhancement and Integrative Acne Treatment: 6th Anti-aging and Beauty Trophy 2018-2019, Monaco Work Base on Food Intolerance Test: A Case Study

Abstract

cne vulgaris (AV) is a condition associated with the pilosebaceous unit. It appears in the form of inflammatory lesions (papules, nodules, and pustules), as well as non-inflammatory lesions (open comedones and closed comedones), while scars can also develop. AV is relatively common, especially during adolescence, and has a lifetime prevalence of around 85%. 1 Acne leads to a number of health issues, including residual scars and psychological problems, which can lead to poor self-image, anxiety, or depression. Quality of life is also adversely affected. 2-4 Acne lesions are the result of four main pathogenic processes. These are changes in follicular keratinization causing comedones, greater sebum production under androgen control, colonization of the follicles by Propionibacterium acnes , and complex mechanisms leading to inflammation via innate and acquired immunity. 5,6 The pathogenesis of acne is also influenced by genetics, 7,8 diet, 9-13 including chocolate, 14,15 dairy consumption, 16-18 and environmental factors. 19-22 Mild or moderate acne cases are typically treated using topical therapy, such as retinoids and antimicrobials including benzoyl peroxide or antibiotics, but in the case of more severe acne, it is necessary to use systemic therapy. In that case, oral antibiotics are often prescribed, 23,24 along with hormonal therapies, 25 or isotretinoin. Studies conducted before 2007 showed that acne is not influenced by diet, and instead is governed predominantly by genetic and hormonal factors. 26,27,15 However, other studies have added that a link between acne and diet would be likely, since hormones and growth factors are affected by diet. Therefore, there will be an effect upon the sebaceous gland activity and the production of sebum. However, more recent research, such as that of Smith et al . 11,28 has instead placed emphasis on the examination of insulin sensitivity, glycemic load, hormonal mediators and their links with acne, finding a connection between acne and the consumption of milk. 29,17,16 Low levels of glycemic load, both with and without metformin, are linked to larger declines in acne lesion counts than is the case with higher loads. 12,30 Furthermore, both high Abstract Acne vulgaris is a skin condition that can occur in patients of any age. The outcome depends on genetic regulation in terms of hormone level control, sebum excretion, keratinization, and the level of immunological response. However, it is also possible that factors such as hygiene and diet can affect acne, while some recent studies have revealed links between certain specific food types and the onset or severity of acne. Therefore, this case study reports the effectiveness of the integrative approach in treating acne vulgaris in a young man who showed a rapid response to the combination of topical therapies and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) therapy with the removal of certain foods in line with the results of food intolerance testing. It was reported that the patient showed significant improvements following treatment for a three-month period, suggesting the strong potential of the integrative approach for acne treatment.