Acne Sufferers Trading Off Youthful
Skin for Treating Acne - Two Linked Conditions
New National Survey Demonstrates
Dual Concerns
Leading Dermatologist Develops New
Adult Acne Treatment System That Addresses Both Acne and Aging
New York, April 25, 2007 -- A
new national survey of adult acne sufferers shows they are willing to sacrifice
more youthful looking skin in their quest to get rid of their acne. The survey showed that 60 percent of
respondents said they are aware that their acne treatments can accentuate fine
lines and wrinkles even though 71 percent reported that maintaining a youthful
appearance is very important or somewhat important to them.
While acne treatments and the appearance of premature aging are linked,
acne sufferers are putting their acne first, despite the fact that this may be
wreaking havoc on their skin. This
trade-off is an unfortunate consequence of the drying effects of many popular,
over-the-counter acne treatments.
Indications
of Consumer Dissatisfaction
Although
getting rid acne is the first priority of most adult respondents, 63 percent
said they would not use any over-the-counter (OTC) topical creams or gels for
acne that they had tried before, demonstrating deep dissatisfaction with
currently available treatments. However,
the acne category continues to be one of the fastest-growing OTC categories,
with growth of 10.1% in 2005 and sales of $304 MM.
This may be due to the fact that there is a great deal of product
switching (also demonstrating dissatisfaction) in the category: in the national survey, more than half
(51.5%) said they have tried five or more different acne medications.
Adult
Acne A Common Problem
It is
estimated that 20 percent to 50 percent of all adult women and 25 percent of
all adult men will suffer from acne at some point in their lives. Although
the cause of acne is not known, it is thought to be related to stress and
hormones, all of which can persist into adulthood.
The Link
Between Acne and Aging
About five years ago, Dr. Nanette, Ligeois, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor
and Director of Dermatology Surgery at Johns Hopkins Universitys Department of
Dermatology, noticed that many of her
adult patients with acne were showing signs of premature aging. After some discussions with her patients, she
realized that they all had something in common:
they were using acne treatments that dried their skin. The dryness was manifesting itself by
increasing the ruddiness of patients skin, making the fine lines and wrinkles
on their face look more pronounced, giving them a weathered look. This dryness also led, in some cases, to more
bouts of acne, as bacteria more easily entered the dried out pores and patients
sought moisturizers that further clogged their pores.
About
the Meridian Acne Therapy System
Relying on
her dermatology training at Harvard, her experience treating adult acne
patients and the best evidence from scientific studies, Dr. Ligeois developed
a three-part, dual-action adult acne treatment system that uses the maximum
amount of active ingredients allowed by the FDA, but is non-drying, heals skin
and will not speed the aging process.
The new treatment system, the Meridian Acne Therapy System, addresses
both acne and concerns about aging.
Acne sufferers have been conditioned to
accept drying products, because there are few other alternatives, said
Dr.Ligeois. The non-drying Meridian system, she pointed out, is a new option for
adult acne sufferers who dont want to trade off looking young for clear
skin.
The
Meridian system combines soothing botanicals like chamomile, olive extracts and
aloe vera with the maximum doses of two active ingredients that have been
scientifically proven to clear acne: fast-acting benzoyl peroxide (10%), the
leading OTC ingredient that kills acne-causing bacteria, and
pharmaceutical-grade tea tree oil (5%), a soothing herbal antiseptic,
antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory that calms and deep-cleans irritated skin
and reduces redness. A light moisturizer
conditions the skin, seals in moisture, heals inflamed skin, and encourages a
youthful, radiant appearance. The
Meridian System also contains green tea and vitamin E, two powerful
anti-oxidants proven to prevent the signs of premature aging. Although Meridian does contain the maximum dose of
acne fighters, the potent ingredients are delivered in a breakthrough, non-drying
formulation that does not accelerate the signs of premature aging.
The Meridian system contains no added fragrances, unnecessary
chemicals, abrasives (scrub beads), menthol, harsh detergents, or animal
ingredients that can dry, irritate and inflame already troubled skin.
Combining
both acne-fighting and anti-aging ingredients is both novel and effective. Its a sensible solution to treating acne and
reducing the signs of premature aging, said David Avram, M.D., Assistant
Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the State University of New York,
Downstate Medical Center, and a member of Meridians Scientific Advisory
Board. Several studies show that
benzoyl peroxide and tea tree oil are effective. One study found that both treatments reduced
acne. Benzoyl peroxide resulted in
significantly less oiliness than tea tree oil, while tea tree oil showed
significantly fewer side effects, including scaling, itching, and dryness.
The
Meridian System is available online at www.skinbymeridian.com.
For more information about the Meridian Acne Therapy System, please go to www.skinbymeridian.com or call
1-800-670-6179. For information about
acne and aging, visit www.acneandaging.org.
# # #
Interviews
are available with Nanette Ligeois, MD, Ph.D (creator of the Meridian Acne Therapy System);
David Avram, MD (dermatologist, member of Meridians
Scientific Advisory Board)
Also
available for interviews: Jill
Lefkowitz, celebrity makeup artist; and Karen Dubs, adult acne sufferer who has
been using the Meridian Acne Therapy System.
www.beautymark.com
Dr. Ligeois involvement in the
development of any products does not constitute endorsement by the Johns Hopkins
University or Johns Hopkins
Hospital and Health
System.
