Do you often change the medicine to cure acne on your face? If so, then you should be careful in choosing acne medications. The research is published in the Archives of Dermatology. Recent research scientists at Tel Aviv Israel said, the use of acne medication in pill form (oral) triggering risk of eye infections such as conjunctivitis (pink eye). The findings are based on the number of teenagers who suffer from acne, which then use the acne drugs such as Accutane or Roaccutane.
Dr. Gabriel Chodick of Tel Aviv University's School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, said the experts actually have long known the connection between acne and the risk of eye infections. But unfortunately, there is little research that examines the relationship between the two.
"Acne itself can increase the risk of eye disease. There is a greater tendency to inflammation, and sometimes this causes irritation," he explained.
The findings concluded that patients using oral medication twice the risk of eye infection, compared with those not taking oral medication to cope with acne.
In his study, Chodick and the team observed nearly 15,000 adolescents who participated in the Maccabi Health Care participating Service. Researchers then divided into three groups, namely, acne free group, a group that has acne but do not take oral medication, and who have acne plus group were prescribed drugs such as Accutane or Roaccutane.
Of the 15,000 participants, 1791 of whom had inflammatory (inflammation) of the eye. In the group given drugs such as Accutane acne, 991 of whom had sore eyes. The most common infection is conjunctivitis, commonly called red eye.
"A very common side effects of using Accutane and Roaccutane is the dryness of the skin and lips. It is naturally also affects the lubrication of the eyelid - particularly oil glands along the eyelid," says Dr. Chodick.
Tears are very important because they lubricate the eye surface, and they clean up the debris, including bacteria and viruses that can infect the eye. Infection of the gland itself can lead to sties, and a more serious bacterial infection can lead to swelling of the eyelid as a whole.
Although not a serious medical condition, treating acne is still viable, said Chodick. But the dermatologist and the patient should be aware of side effects to the medication, because there is potential for long-term damage.
According to several studies, including those published in Clinical and Experimental Optometry, say, eye irritation and rubbing the eyes can cause structural problems such as keratoconus, corneal degeneration.
Dr Chodick appealed to every patient who treat their acne with oral medications to ask medical personnel about how to minimize eye irritation. One simple step is to use eye drops to lubricate eyes.
