What is acne, who suffers it and what are the consequences?
Acne is a skin infection involving the sebaceous glands -- glands which secrete oily substances to help the skin to keep from drying out. Though that’s necessary, it also leads to acne when oil and dead skin cells combine to block hair follicle pores in the skin.
Additional oil then builds up beneath the pores, resulting in eruptions of skin bacteria. These can lead to the swelling, redness and splotches we call blemishes or pimples -- that is, acne.
Such acne can afflict anyone of any age, though it’s most often associated with teens who are experiencing puberty and its increased hormonal activity. Acne also is most associated with the face, though acne also can erupt on the chest, upper arms and back, among other body parts.
Researchers aren’t sure why acne attacks some people and not others, and why some suffer such severe cases of acne that they may seek a potent prescription drug to fight it, such as Accutane.
That acne treatment became a sensation as an acne medication after it was first sold in 1982. In the next 27 years, millions of Americans took the oral prescription acne drug Accutane to fight acne.
But long before it was recalled from the market by Roche Pharmaceuticals in 2009, Accutane was proven to cause harmful acne drug side effects, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both are considered an inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.
Also causing such IBD injuries are generic Accutane products which are still sold in America. These include Amnesteem, Claravis and Sotret. Like Accutane, they feature active ingredient Isotretinoin and can lead to an IBD.
Some acne victims have taken such acne drugs out of desperation. It’s not known why some people get acne and others don’t, or why some people’s acne is more severe. But acne can be physically and emotionally damaging, causing victims to try anything at their disposal to fight it.
One tactic which does not help is to “pop” a pimple. This can cause even more infection and make acne even worse by leading to disfiguring and permanent scars. Nor do diet or sexual activity affect acne, contrary to popular belief.
Some people fight acne by taking Vitamin A to reduce the oil in their skin. Others use antibiotics to destroy bacteria, or wash areas with acne frequently, cleansing them of dead skin cells and oil.
Popular products to fight acne include Clearsil and Pond’s Dry Skin Cream, neither of which leads to significant or harmful side effects.
But at least one acne treatment does cause serious side effects, in the form of lifelong, debilitating and incurable bowel diseases. And that acne medication is Accutane and its generic forms.
Persons who have suffered acne and then taken Accutane are likely to suffer even more -- and in even worse ways.
If you or a loved one took Accutane and then suffered an IBD such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, perhaps necessitating surgery and colon removal, alert a defective drug lawyer with Accutane-Lawsuit-Lawyer.com. The nationwide attorney service can provide you with a skilled and experienced Accutane lawyer or attorney across America.
To begin, simply call our toll-free number at 1-800-339-0606. A legal representative will respond quickly to assist you in sizing up your Accutane lawsuit case. Or, fill out the free case review form on this Web page.
Either way, you can find legal help for where and how you need it -- in your state, and for your Accutane injury.