Acne vulgaris: what it is and why it matters in HOF
Quick facts
- Definition
- Chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, with comedones, papules, pustules and, in severe cases, nodules.
- Who it affects
- Most common in adolescence, but it can persist or appear in adult life.
- Sequelae
- Post-inflammatory marks and atrophic scars.
- In HOF
- Skin with active lesions in the injection area usually leads to postponing the procedure.
- Management
- Acne treatment is the responsibility of the qualified professional, according to the rules of their professional council in Brazil.
Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the follicles and the sebaceous glands. It presents with comedones (blackheads), papules and pustules, and, in severe forms, with nodules and cysts. It usually starts in adolescence, but many adults live with it.
Why does acne matter to anyone doing HOF?
People who seek harmonization often have active acne or its sequelae. The professional needs to know this for three reasons: inflamed skin raises the risk of infection when the area is punctured, the timing of the procedure may need to change, and the sequelae shape the patient's expectations.
What should the medical history ask?
- Whether there is a current acne treatment, including oral medications such as Roacutan.
- When the last skin procedure or treatment was.
- History of healing, post-inflammatory marks or keloids.
- Whether there are active lesions today in the area to be treated.
Oral isotretinoin use is a piece of information that usually changes the professional's approach in procedures that injure the skin. The decision is individual and belongs to the qualified professional, and asepsis remains the foundation of infection prevention.
What are the sequelae, and what cannot be promised?
Acne can leave post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (marks) and atrophic scars (depressions). These conditions have their own treatments, and a dermal filler is not always the way to go. Improvement of a scar should not be promised, and the patient needs to understand what each procedure can or cannot do, in line with informed consent.
Also known as: pimples, acne.
Frequently asked questions
Can filler be done with active acne?
In general, inflammatory lesions in the injection area lead the professional to postpone the procedure until the skin is under control. The decision is individual, after assessment.