Canada Pharmacy Online Reports Acne Drug can Cause Eye Infections

Aug 23
09:55

2012

Remcel Mae P. Canete

Remcel Mae P. Canete

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Teens who take the acne medication commonly known as Accutane (isotretinoin) appear to face twice the risk of eye infections, including conjunctivitis (pink eye) and styes. Hence, they buy Accutane to remedy such eye infections.

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Teens who take the acne medication commonly known as Accutane (isotretinoin) appear to face twice the risk of eye infections,Canada Pharmacy Online Reports Acne Drug can Cause Eye Infections Articles including conjunctivitis (pink eye) and styes. Hence, they buy Accutane to remedy such eye infections. 

Other problems included hordeolum (or stye, an inflamed oil gland on the edge of the eyelid); chalazion (a tender, swollen lump in the eyelid due to a blocked oil gland); blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelash follicles), dry eyes or eye pain, the researchers said. 

Isotretinoin treats acne by reducing oil production from the sebaceous glands, among other effects. But isotretinoin also disrupts function of the meibomian glands, or oil glands inside the eyelids, explained study co-author Gabriel Chodick, head of the epidemiology and database research unit at Maccabi Institute for Healthcare Services Research in Tel Aviv, Israel. 

The meibomian glands help keep the eyes lubricated. Less lubrication may mean the eyes are irritated, itching and burning, prompting people to rub them and introduce bacteria. It's also possible that less lubrication makes it easier for bacteria to take hold, said Dr. Jonette Keri, an associate professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. 

The good news is that most side effects of the drugs can be prevented using artificial tears to keep the eyes lubricated, experts said. If these artificial tears don’t work, then generic Accutane can do the job. 

"In case of any meaningful side effect, such as significant eye irritation, itching, redness, pain, tearing, excessive tearing, patients are advised to consult with their physician before making any decisions regarding therapy discontinuation," Chodick said. 

Keri said vision side effects from acne medications are well known to most dermatologists. She tells patients who wear contacts and are starting the medications to use eye drops to combat dry eyes, but that they may have to discontinue wearing contacts while they're on the drug if that doesn't help enough. 

"What's interesting is that the researchers found eye problems associated with the drugs peak at about four months after starting the medication, so I'm going to tell my patients to really watch their eyes around month four," she added.  Canada pharmacy online suggests to take care of both eyes and skin health cautiously. 

Patients usually take isotretinoin for about five to eight months, she noted. 

Acne is an infection of the skin, caused by changes in the sebaceous glands. The most common form of acne is called acne vulgaris, which means common acne. The redness comes from the inflammation of the skin in response to the infection. 

Oils from the glands combine with dead skin cells to block hair follicles. Under the blocked pore, oil builds up. Skin bacteria can then grow very quickly. This infection makes the skin become swollen and red, which becomes visible. 

The face, chest, back, and upper arms are most common places for acne to happen.

Acne is common during puberty, when a person is turning from a child into an adult, because of high levels of hormones. Acne becomes less common as people reach adulthood.