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Getting acne....Q&A............(part 3 of 5)

I’ve started getting acne spots. How long do they last? This depends on what type of spots they are and, even then, it can be very difficult to predict what will happen. Some spots will appear and then disappear during the course of a day but others will evolve more gradually through the various stages. Comedones can be very persistent if they don’t get inflamed. Mildly inflamed spots will last 5–10 days before settling down, but can leave a flat red mark (macule) for several weeks. Nodules and cysts may last for weeks or months unless you get some treatment. What is the difference between a whitehead and a yellow- head spot? These two common terms describe quite different types of spot. A whitehead is a closed comedone where the pore is blocked and not open to the air. There is no inflammation (redness). A yellow- head suggests a spot with pus in it. The medical term is a ‘pustule’. Whiteheads may become yellowheads if the blocked pore becomes infected. My daughter is only 9 but she seems
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Generic versus “branded generic” drugs


It’s a tricky business trying to find cheaper drugs. When a famous drug such as Retin-A has its patent expire, it can then become a generic (unbranded) drug. As an example, once a brand becomes generic, the original company often ceases to promote or support it. Sometimes this can be a real benefit because the generic version tends to be considerably cheaper. Hurray!

But, after a while, some generic companies come along and obtain approval from the FDA to manufacture the drug and they put the original brand name on it. When that happens, the branded genericprice becomes higher than the generic price because of the cost of marketing.

Sounds like double speak, a kind of contradiction in terms, doesn’t it? The bottom line is try to be an educated consumer. Read labels and compare prices! To find an updated list of generic and branded generic drugs, go to: www.wellmark.com/drugformulary/df_main.asp.

WARNING

Because of the known teratogenic effects (anything which produces nonheritable birth defects) of oral vitamin A, the use of topical retinoids in pregnancy has been an issue of concern. Although no studies have shown them to cause any birth defects, it is recommended that these drugs should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
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