Spironolactone could reduce the pain for millions with arthritis

The potassium-sparing diuretic Spironolactone may have another use in the near future after scientists found that it could help the millions of people around the world suffering with debilitating arthritis.

Now commonly referred to as a ‘water pill’, due to the fact it can treat fluid retention (edema) caused by various conditions such as kidney or liver disease, Spironolactone was initially developed more than 40 years ago as a treatment for high blood pressure and heart failure.

However since then, the capabilities of Spironolactone have been revealed and the medication can now be prescribed as an acne treatment (for women only). For over 20 years, Spironolactone has been a popular anti androgen in the treatment of acne and hirsutism, becoming the most widely prescribed medication for these problems in the USA.

If all that wasn’t enough, new research has shown a breakthrough that could benefit the estimated 6 million Brits who are struggling with osteoarthritis – the most common type of arthritis in the UK – forcing 1 million people in the UK to see their GP about it each year.

The first study, led by Professor Marion McMurdo, head of ageing and health at Dundee University, was conducted earlier this year and assessed the effects of whether taking 25mg of Spironolactone daily for a duration of 5 months would provide any relief for osteoarthritis sufferers.

The results have been published in the American Journal of Medicine, and report that many patients said they had a decrease in pain levels.

Those behind the study believe that Spironolactone reduced pain by suppressing a hormone called aldosterone, previously linked to inflammation in the joints, or could increase levels of cortisol, a hormone lessens the body’s sensitivity to pain.

The next stage for Professor McMurdo and her team will be the monitoring of 86 patients aged 70 or over, all of whom suffer with severe knee pain. Participants will either be given Spironolactone or a ­placebo, daily for 12 weeks. Pain will be analysed and their joint inflammation will be measured before and after the trial.

Professor McMurdo said: “Osteoarthritis affects over half of the older population and there is no cure, so the goal is to reduce pain and stiffness. Older people are particularly prone to drug side effects. Most commonly used painkillers cause side effects – like confusion and constipation – and can cause bleeding from the stomach. Such bleeds are much more serious in an older person. So fresh drug approaches to managing osteoarthritis in older people are urgently required. If effective, Spironolactone would provide a safer, more economical prospect than many modern anti-inflammatory drugs. It only costs £1 a week and we know from its use as a heart treatment that it is relatively safe.”

Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK, has put his faith into Spironolactone being a successful and viable treatment option for arthritis in the future, even pledging £135,000 to help cover the research cost.

Professor Silman commented: “Spironolactone has been around for decades so we know it is safe.”

The common causes of hair loss explained

Hair loss can be a deeply distressing experience for many people and the cause of a huge loss of self-esteem, even resulting in depression and severely impacting a person’s social life.
Although primarily attributed to men, hair loss can happen to both men and women. Many do not realise, but there are actually around 8 million women in the UK alone who are suffering with some degree as hair loss.

Even celebrities are prone to suffering with hair loss, with Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney forking out thousands of pounds on multiple hair transplants in the last two years in a rather costly and apparently futile bid to fight his thinning hair.

Medical Specialists Pharmacy have previously looked at some of the best foods for healthy hair, but what a large number of our patients want to know is why they have lost hair in the first place.
Obviously there is a familial aspect when considering causes of hair loss as baldness tends to be hereditary. Looking at parents, grandparents, etc. can usually give you a good idea regarding your chances of keeping hold of a strong and healthy head of hair. You only have to look at Prince William, his father Prince Charles, and Prince William’s grandfather Prince Philip to see how genetics plays its part in hair loss.

In many cases, there are numerous ways to treat male hair loss and female hair loss such as Propecia (for men), Dianette (for women) and Regaine (for men and women), just to name a few.
However, here Medical Specialists list some of the common causes of hair loss:

. Male pattern baldness (MPB)

So common that many would barely bat an eyelid upon seeing a male who is experiencing MPB.  By the age of 60, two thirds of men will have experienced hair loss which is typified by the hair receding at the temples and leaving behind an ‘M’-shaped hairline. Fortunately, topical treatments such as Minoxidil (Regaine) and oral medications such as Finasteride (Propecia) can halt the process and even regrow hair in some cases.

. Physical stress

Physical trauma such as surgery, a car accident or severe illness can cause temporary hair loss. This type of hair loss is known as telogen effluvium and usually involves widespread thinning of the hair on the scalp rather than bald patches. The hair may feel thinner than before but then begin to grow back properly within around six months.

. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a common condition affecting millions of women in the UK and alters the way in which a woman’s ovaries function. The three main features are having high levels of ‘androgens’ (male hormones), ovaries that do not regularly ovulate (release eggs), and cysts that develop within the ovaries.  Just two of these lead to a diagnosis of PCOS. Whilst PCOS can cause facial hair growth, it may also result in thinning hair and hair loss. Many cases of PCOS are treated through birth control pills such as Yasmin, which blocks testosterone via its potent anti-androgen. Should you be unable to take birth control pills, you may be prescribed Spironolactone by your doctor.

. Pregnancy

Hair loss related to pregnancy normally occurs after delivery of the baby, instead of during pregnancy. Whilst a woman is pregnant, many hairs enter into a resting phase – part of the normal hair cycle.  The average head can lose around 100 hairs a day, but not all at once, so it is not noticeable. Pregnancy results in your hormones preventing those hairs from falling out, resulting in thicker and fuller hair. However, when the hormones return to normal, the extra hairs will start shedding.  You are not balding – your hair is just beginning the process of getting back to how it was in your pre-pregnancy state. Hair loss during pregnancy is much less common and should be discussed with your doctor as it could be the result of a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

. Lack of protein

Although there is little scientific evidence to definitely state a particular diet has a direct impact on hair growth, it is generally believed that if you are not getting enough protein in your diet, this can be bad for hair growth as hair itself is mostly made of protein. Therefore, a protein deficiency could cause dry or brittle hair, or hair loss in certain cases. Some foods rich in protein which are great for healthy hair include: eggs, nuts, salmon, chicken, whole grains and beans.

. Lack of iron

If you are losing hair, there is a chance you may have an iron deficiency.  Iron helps to create red blood cells and these work at transporting oxygen around the body. If there is not enough oxygen, the hair bulb may be unable to generate new hair cells, resulting in much slower hair growth. Some foods rich in iron which could help against hair loss include: dried fruit, beans, red meat, liver, egg yolks, molluscs, spinach, nuts, dark chocolate, tofu and whole grains.  If you suspect you may be suffering from anaemia and this is causing your hair loss, you should be first diagnosed by your own doctor, who can carry out a simple blood test. It is not advised to start taking iron supplements on your own accord and risk overloading on iron, which can be very dangerous.

. Lupus

The autoimmune disease Lupus causes the body’s own immune system to attack healthy tissue. The hair loss could be mild and happen whilst shampooing or brushing your hair. If the hair loss is more severe, it may fall out in patches and there is usually a rash that appears on the scalp.

Brave housewife with PCOS grows her facial hair for Movember

A woman, who has battled hirsutism as a result of abnormal levels of male hormone testosterone, has appeared on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ as her ‘Movember’ charity bid comes to an end.  Movember is a month-long annual event primarily involving men being challenged to grow-out their facial hair. It aims to raise awareness and funds for men’s health; in particularly prostate and testicular cancer.

Siobhain Fletcher 36, from Leek, Staffordshire, suffers from a condition known as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and has had to try and fight excessive facial hair growth since she was 17-years-old when she noticed whiskers beginning to grow on her upper lip region. During the next few years the hair growth began to worsen and Siobhain found herself having to trim whiskers from her lip and chin almost daily.

Over the next five years she became deeply distraught about her problem and cruel comments from others left her unable to leave the house for the majority of the time.

Speaking to Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield on This Morning, she explained that a friend’s participation in Movember had inspired her to use her condition positively instead of feeling depressed about her situation. She says “It helps people get checked for prostate and testicular cancer, and hopefully people will, instead of going to a funeral, be going to a remission party.”

Retracing the distressing few years that led up to her joining charity appeal, she said: “I had such low self-esteem. I used to clip it off with scissors, and dress very androgynously. I got stared at a lot and got mistaken for a man. It took its toll. Even though I was pretty, I didn’t feel like that…The only time I left the house was to go and see my horses. They don’t care what you look like, as long as you’ve got food.”

Siobhain tried various hair-removal methods such as waxing and electrolysis, but found no success through either. With her having very sensitive skin, the hot wax ended up removing both her hair and skin.  Electrolysis also proved unsuccessful as it can only remove around 10 to 15 hairs at a time and Siobhain’s facial hair is quite thick. She says: “It didn’t work – the hair grows up my cheeks as well. It was like trying to fell a tree in a forest.”

After continued problems with excessive hair growth in addition to finding herself unable to conceive, Siobhain finally decided to seek medical help and get some answers as to why she was experiencing these symptoms. In 2000 she was formally diagnosed with PCOS, which also causes irregular periods, weight gain, acne and hair loss from the head.

Polycystic ovaries are comprised of many harmless cysts, around 8mm each in size at the very most. Only half these numbers of cysts are found in regular ovaries. Both the follicular cysts and the eggs inside them are underdeveloped and in most cases of PCOS, ovulation cannot occur due to the follicles being incapable of emitting eggs.

The condition affects millions of women in the UK and its exact cause is still unknown but is believed to run in families, with history of high cholesterol and diabetes being contributors. So what are the options to women like Siobhain who cannot afford expensive laser hair removal treatment and will not receive this through the NHS?

Well, there are many inexpensive treatments to help with hirsutism, such as contraceptive pills like Dianette or Yasmin, as well as non-hormonal therapy in Spironolactone.

The combined oral contraceptive pill Yasmin, suppress androgens (male sex hormones) through the drospirenone inside the tablets. Yasmin has also been shown to maintain or even lose weight and just like Dianette, is incredibly effective at combating skin problems such as acne. Dianette and Spironolactone are also anti-androgens. Dianette contains a special hormone called ‘cyproterone acetate’ and is often prescribed to help regulate periods, reduce hair growth, reduce acne and is an excellent contraceptive. Unlike Dianette, Spironolactone is a non-hormonal treatment and thus does not work as a contraceptive method. However, Spironolactone has been used for over 20 years as an anti-androgen in the treatment of acne and hirsutism, being the most widely prescribed medication for these problems in the USA.

If you are still confused as to which treatment is most suitable for you, why not visit the ‘Women’s Health’ section on the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website. Here you can find out plenty of information about these medications and many more.

Can the ‘beautific’ drinks from Coca-Cola and Sanofi bring any health benefits?

Soft drink giant Coca-Cola is to join forces with the French multinational pharmaceutical company ‘Sanofi’ to launch a new range of ‘beautific’ drinks. The two powerhouses even claim that the new drinks will boost well-being as well as being able to ‘strengthen hair and nails’.

If that wasn’t enough, those who drink the Beautific Oenobiol brand on a regular basis, will apparently see an improvement to skin in addition to weight loss. Whether all this is true or not is another matter, but they are certainly bold statements from Coca-Cola and Sanofi.

The drinks will be given a launch this autumn primarily in France, before makers look to increase distribution throughout the rest of Europe. A spokesman for the launch said: “This is a small-scale pilot which is currently limited to a number of pharmacies in France.”

The Oenobiol range will come in four different flavours and will consist of mineral water, fruit juice and nutritional additives. The latter are what the manufacturers will help to embellish skin, strengthen hair and nails, lose weight and improve vitality.

Despite the early promise, it does remain to be seen just how successful the project will be between Coca-Cola and Sanofi. Their Oenobiol drinks are following a disastrous precedent laid down in the past after the shambles in 2009 that occurred when the drinks giant teamed with food company Nestlé to produce the green-tea brand, ‘Enviga’, which too claimed various weight-loss benefits.

A marketing war ensued and a lawsuit battle which eventually involved 27 U.S. states. In an embarrassing climb-down for Coca-Cola and Nestlé, all subsequent cans or bottles of Enviga were ordered to have a disclaimer printed that made drinkers aware that the product would not actually cause weight loss and that this would instead be achieved through a healthy diet and exercise.

The news about the latest addition in a long line of health drinks has not been met with excitement by everybody. It is believed that Coca-Cola and Sanofi only even made announcements regarding the new drinks after a leak from Sanofi labour union representatives.  They blasted that workers were irate the drug manufacturer was ‘spouting about beauty drinks’ only a month after plans were made for job losses expected to reach the 900 mark.

Release of drinks such as Enviga and Oenobiol are probably connected to an increasing worldwide obesity epidemic and concerns are growing. In recent years Coca-Cola and Pepsi, the world’s two biggest soft drinks manufacturers, have released ‘zero’ branded low calorie, no-sugar drinks aimed at those who are weight conscious.

However, the true ‘healthiness’ of these types of beverages is debateable due to the high volume of additives that are loaded inside the drinks, many of which are disastrous for teeth. After all, something needs to be put inside the drinks to give them a sweet taste with there being no sugar present.

In addition, it remains to be seen if the new drinks will be able to promote weight loss, strengthen hair, skin and nails, etc. From Medical Specialists’ experience, and from contact with our thousands of patients, success comes firstly from factors such as lifestyle improvements such as a healthier diet and more exercise. Help can also be had from clinically proven treatments for the aforementioned issues such as, obesity: Xenical, XLS-Medical, skin: Dianette, Spironolactone, Retin-A Gel, hair loss: Propecia, Regaine, Regaine for women, Alpecin caffeine shampoo and there are products such as Nizoral shampoo for dandruff and T/Gel for both dandruff and psoriasis. All are available today at incredibly low prices from Medical Specialists Pharmacy.

Revealed: the everyday pills that could cause you to suffer hair loss!

The reasons behind hair loss can be many and varied. They range from genetic predispositions to hair loss, hormones, nutrition, physical activity, chemicals and stress. However, now according to a report by scientists at the University of Melbourne, drugs for blood pressure, acne, depression and even common painkillers can contribute towards hair loss. On top of this they claim other drugs can turn a brunette into a redhead, or make straight hair curly.

Many medications can result in premature hair loss and most of them list it as a side effect. Chemotherapy is the most obvious medical treatment that causes temporary premature hair loss, but others, such as antidepressants and those used for mood disorders and seizures can also affect hair growth.

Professor Sam Shuster, Emeritus Professor of Dermatology at Newcastle University said, “The cause of hair loss or change is often unknown, but you must always consider the effects of drugs, when drugs do affect the hair.”

In many cases, medications are thought to affect hair by interfering with its growth cycle, which has three distinct stages. In the growing period which lasts between three and five years on the scalp, hair grows by around 1cm a month. That’s followed by a shorter two week stage, known as the intermediate phase, where the hair follicle is prepared for releasing the hair.

In the final three month phase the telogen phase or resting phase, the hair stops growing and eventually falls out. After three months, the follicle starts to grow a new hair. Fortunately this happens randomly all over the scalp, if it didn’t, the hair would be shed in clumps.

Some drugs used for epilepsy and other disorders such as migraines have been linked to hair loss and they may even make hair curly.One of the drugs, sodium valproate, has been reported in various studies to cause hair loss in between 3 and 10 per cent of patients. In one of the latest studies, which involved more than 200 patients at Razi Hospital in Iran, 3.5 per cent of patients given sodium valproate experienced hair loss or curling. Another study found hair loss in 7 per cent of patients receiving divalproex, a combination of sodium valproate and valproic acid.

These drugs can trigger hair to fall out prematurely in the resting phase of the hair growth cycle. This normally lasts three months, with the hair naturally shedding at the end of this time, but for some reason antidepressants seem to make hair fall out at the beginning of this phase instead. Fluoxetine better known as Prozac is the most commonly reported antidepressant to cause hair loss.

Increased hair loss occurs up to one year after the start of medication and stops when therapy ends. Tricyclic antidepressants, which include imipramine, amitriptyline and doxepin, may occasionally cause hair loss, found the Australian study, which is due to be published in the journal Dermatologic Clinics. However, according to Professor Shuster, “Patients with this problem should not panic; this type of hair loss is reversible.”

Hair loss has been reported among women who stop taking the Pill after long term use. One theory is that this is because some oral contraceptives, particularly progesterone based pills, contain compounds called anti-androgens. These lower levels of testosterone and thus lower the risk of hair loss in women, who may be susceptible. But when these women stop taking the Pill, the protection ends.

When asked, leading UK Trichologist David Bailey said, “Women with hair loss who wish to take the pill, should try Dianette as it contains an anti-androgen which can stop this. If they do not wish to take the pill, spironolactone is often prescribed. Women who are already on Dianette should be careful if they wish to come off it. They could switch to Marvelon or Yasmin, or spironolactone it they do not wish to take a hormone based therapy. Either way, they should really discuss it with someone who knows all about hair and these types of treatments.

High blood pressure drugs have also been linked to hair thinning. The Melbourne researchers say two particular beta blockers, metoprolol and propranolol; have been shown to lead to reversible hair loss. Another group of drugs used for blood pressure, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, may also be associated with hair loss. The drugs seem to cause the hair to shed prematurely in the resting phase.

Small studies have linked painkillers to hair loss. A recent report from the New Zealand government described hair loss as a possible complication, affecting less than one in 100 users. A small U.S. study based on a sample of 21 people using ibuprofen found that 15 patients reported thinning or loss of hair. Once the medication is discontinued, hair loss reduces over eight to nine months.

However, Professor Shuster cautions that, “Patients should never stop taking the drugs without consulting their GP. They can be switched to other drugs, if appropriate, or the dose can be reduced. In other cases, patients can be reassured the effects are unlikely to be permanent.”

Professor Shuster said, “When drugs do affect the hair, the change is usually mild and reverses when the drug is stopped. So you may want to tolerate the change, because of the important effect the drug is having in restoring your health.”

So it seems that many everyday pills we take can contribute in some small way to hair loss, however as has already been stated the benefits these drugs offer us often far outweigh the possible side effects. Prescribed medicines should never be stopped without first consulting your GP. Also worth bearing in mind is that the side effects can often be temporary and reversible.

However there are effective treatments available to treat female hair loss such as Dianette, spironolactone, or even Regain lotion for women, and Regaine (minoxidil) foam and lotion and Propecia (finasteride) both of which are clinically proven to treat male hair loss. These can be obtained from Medical Specialists Pharmacy, after an online consultation with one of our doctors.

Acne drug Accutane nothing but a massive pain

Acne is usually assumed to be a skin condition that is thought to be primarily restricted to teenagers. However, it may come as a surprise to learn that spots can show up in adults too! In fact, 80% of people between the ages of 11 to 30 are affected by acne, with 5% of women and 1% of men over the age of 25 being estimated to suffer from severe form of acne. It is therefore no surprise that Medical Specialists Pharmacy is constantly experiencing an astronomical number of patients requesting effective acne treatments such as Dianette, Spironolactone and Retin-A Gel 0.01%.

One unlucky adult though had an unfortunate experience with the acne treatment he decided to try, and was so irate he has now decided to go all the way to the European Union to get his case heard and is raging about its side effects.  38-year-old Jason O’Sullivan from Ireland used the prescription drug ‘Accutane’ for a skin complaint all the way back in 1998.

After just nine days O’Sullivan voluntary took himself off the course of treatment after suffering from swelling to his face and head. He also says he was struck down with muscular and joint pain, headaches, and subsequently continued to be plagued with chronic fatigue.

Jason now hopes to get the acne drug completely banned in his native Ireland after furiously complaining that he has not been able to work as a heavy machinery driver since he first took Accutane fourteen years ago. In addition, he says there are more than 6,000 fellow countrymen who are suffering from the side effects of the drug.

To support his complaint, O’Sullivan has managed to receive the backing of Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly, and the pair now hopes that the case will be taken into consideration by the EU Petitions Committee.

O’Sullivan says, “I want to make people aware of the possible side effects of this drug, which was used originally in chemotherapy.”  Manufactured by Swiss company Roche Holding AG, Accutane first entered the market in 1982, but the drug was hauled from the US market in 2009 after juries awarded more than $33m (€26.6m; £21.13m) in compensation to users who blamed the drug for causing their bowel disease. Accutane has also been taken off the market in 11 other countries, including Denmark, Austria, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal.

Stress from the recession is causing an increase in skin problems

The United Kingdom has now been stuck firmly into the grip of a recession since 2008, causing millions of people to be made redundant in the last few years. With so many families now struggling to afford even the most basic things in life, nationwide stress levels are at an all-time high and most worryingly, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.

However this stress and tension could be bad for your skin and scalp, according to a survey conducted by the British Association of Dermatologists at their annual conference. This adds to hormone imbalances and poor lifestyle choices as the ever-growing number of causes for acne, dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other related problems.

Researchers involved in the snapshot survey of 105 dermatologists, found that 41% had noticed a rise in skin conditions triggered by stress, such as eczema and psoriasis, since the start of the credit crunch four years ago.

Half of the skin experts commented that they had witnessed a ‘slight’ increase of skin problems, whilst 5% claimed they had actually seen a ‘huge’ increase. Medical Specialists Pharmacy can concur with these survey results as since we expanded our range of products, we have witnessed a surge in sales for chemist shop items like T/Gel and Nizoral shampoo, both of which are used to treat dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. Not only this, but we are inundated with high numbers of female patients who are seeking help for their acne through medications such as Dianette or Spironolactone.

British Skin Foundation spokesperson Dr Anthony Bewley, a consultant dermatologist, spoke out on how the underestimated emotional impacts that skin problems can cause major stress for their sufferers, saying, “Patients with skin disease feel enormously upset about their skin condition, as it affects their self-confidence and self-esteem in so many ways. All too often, the impact of skin disease is under-estimated. Many patients consider their skin conditions to be more psychologically damaging than diabetes or heart disease.”

Dr Bewley made his comments after learning that the results of the survey had found that roughly a sixth of the 729 men and women involved in the survey had admitted they had self-harmed because of their skin condition, with seven people further saying that they had even contemplated taking their own life.

Another member of the British Skin Foundation, Bevis Man, added to Dr Bewley’s comments and he said, “The recession brings with it a set of problems that add further stress and misery to the millions that already live with a skin disease in the UK.”

Although it seems acne, dandruff, etc. are on the increase. Perhaps other areas of health may strangely see a benefit. It has long been thought that in times of financial difficulty, we tend to skimp and reduce expenditure on indulgences like takeaway meals, alcohol and smoking. These three reductions usually lead to much better health. In fact, during the US Great Depression of 1929 to 1933, life expectancy increased and deaths related to heart disease, cancer, flu and vehicle accidents decreased. Amazingly, this was all occurring despite an unemployment increase of nearly 25%.

ASA ban Proactiv acne product ads after spotting difference in UK and US versions

A company who use various celebrities to promote their range of skincare products have been slapped down with a ban from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for misleading claims in their television adverts.

Advertisements for a supposed ‘miracle’ spot cream have been played repeatedly in the UK on a shopping channel, starring acne-plagued pop stars such as Katy Perry and Justin Bieber. However, watchdogs have now put an end to this advertising campaign.

The ads for Proactiv’s acne products depict Perry endorsing Proactiv and subsequently informing viewers how the products had helped to banish her skin problems. More ads on Proactiv’s website show Bieber, Elle Macpherson and Avril Lavigne giving their seal of approval.

However, the chain of events that kick-started the removal of the ads from the shopping channel and other sources was initiated after a woman decided to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority, stating that the promotional adverts were misleading to viewers because the British versions of the products do not contain the same active ingredient included in the American brand.
The woman who filed the complaint to the ASA had a very good point when she argued that it was more plausible the celebrity endorsers would have used Proactiv’s American version, and not the UK one. Guthy-Renker UK Ltd (GRUK), the direct marketing company responsible for the controversial ads, attempted to deflect any criticism and claimed that featured ‘stars’ had been given the UK formulations of Proactiv products to try.

Despite their protestations however, the ASA have now forbid the ads on the grounds that the adverts suggest skin improvements are seen from continual usage of the product, whilst five of the seven celebrity backers said that they had merely used the UK Proactive range for just ‘several weeks.’

A statement made by an ASA spokesperson said, “We considered the overall impression of the ads was that the celebrities were continued and regular users of Proactiv and noted the same endorsement claims were included on the US Proactiv website. We noted the signed statements, which related to only five of the seven testimonials, said the celebrities had each used the UK formulation of the product for a period of only several weeks, between one and three years before the ads appeared. We noted the ads were targeted at a UK audience and that the UK Proactiv products had a different active ingredient to the US version. In that context, we therefore considered the claims of continued use had not been substantiated. We concluded that the ads were misleading. The ads must not appear again in their current form. We told GRUK to ensure endorsements and testimonials in future ads related to the product being advertised.”

Medical Specialists Pharmacy are always fully honest with our patients and do not mislead – the products listed on our website are exactly what you get. If you are a woman who is suffering from acne, we have various highly effective treatments available to help you.

Dianette is one such medication. Your body makes both male and female sex hormones and the hormones (androgens) stimulate the grease-glands in your skin and hairs that grow from it. If you produce too much androgen, or if you are particularly sensitive to their effects, the grease glands may produce too much sebum. This can block the grease-glands, which can become infected and inflamed causing acne spots. The main action of a special hormone in this medicine (cyproterone acetate) stops androgens affecting the skin. Dianette is also an oral contraception for women and can work to treat hirsutism or female hair loss. A six month course will cost the equivalent of just £9.99 per month.

Alternative treatment is the non-hormonal medication Spironolactone. This medication has actually been used for over 20 years as an anti-androgen in the treatment of acne and hirsutism, and is currently the most widely prescribed medication for these problems in North America. Treatment works out from as little as £17.63 per month following an online consultation with one of our doctors.

US teenager with acne problems has become a massive hit on YouTube

A 19 year old girl with severe acne from California, US, has become a huge YouTube sensation after she uploaded a video of herself discussing her ordeal and then showed viewers how to expertly cover up the spots with the aid of make-up. Cassandra Bankson, who is clearly quite intelligent and far beyond her years, initially talks to viewers with her face apparently picture perfect and flawless. It is only when she begins to wipe away all the foundation and other bits of make-up that her acne problems are revealed.

She then gives viewers close-ups of the brightly red coloured blemished skin on her face, which she then shows is evident on her shoulders, neck and back areas. After the video received an incredible 7.6 million hits around the globe, Cassandra was invited onto the American breakfast television show, ‘Good Morning America’, to discuss the history of her problems and how she deals with them. She painfully discussed the bullying she received at school and how she meticulously tried various methods of covering her acne with different make-up and techniques. She explained how she has found modelling work after her portfolio snaps showed her with perfect skin, thanks to her talents at spot-concealing.

Cassandra commented on her acne struggles, saying, “I filmed the video last November but it took me a month to post it, I thought I was going to get the same hate I got at school over my skin. But I thought if it could help one person, one girl or guy with the same condition, it would be worth it.” She was surprised by the massive positive response to the initial video, with people all around the world posting comments thanking her for her tips and requesting her to share anymore useful bits of advice. When speaking on Good Morning America, she said, “It was a real eye opener. It (acne) is such an epidemic for adults as well as teens."

She is currently training to become a nurse and one day hopes to produce her own skin care range of products. In addition, since her first video, she has subsequently posted many other videos of beauty tips that she herself has come across and found useful.

If you suffer from Acne, you do not have to suffer like Cassandra. We are fully aware of the damage that acne can do to a person’s confidence and how it effects their daily life. At Medical Specialists Pharmacy we have several prescription products that have been proved to effectively treat acne.  For women we offer the oral contraceptive pill, Dianette, for as little as £9.99 per month. As well as working effectively as a contraception and combating acne in women, Dianette can also be taken for excessive hair growth on the face and body (hirsutism) in women and female hair loss.

Spironolactone is another prescription only medication for women, and unlike Dianette, it is non-hormonal and does not work as a method of contraception. It also helps water retention. Spironolactone has been used for over 20 years as an anti-androgen in the treatment of acne and hirsutism and is the most widely prescribed medication for these problems in the USA. At Medical Specialists Pharmacy, prices start from as little as £17.63 per month.

For both men and women, we also have Retin-A Gel(tretinoin 0.025%), which is a prescription only medication and is used in the treatment of acne, fine lines and wrinkles but is more suited to people with oily skin. The Vitamin A contained in the gel, is thought to loosen the cells in the surface of the skin. This helps to unblock pores, so that the skin’s natural oil producing glands can function normally. In addition, tretinoin increases the turnover of the skin cells, which aids the natural exfoliation of the outer layers of skin. This also helps to unblock pores and decrease the formation of blackheads (comedones) and spots. Prices of this product start from as little as £15.88 per tube.