acne nursing assignment help

acne nursing assignment help

The Importance of Proper Acne Nursing Care

1. Introduction

Acne, a common skin disorder, is a chronic condition of the pilosebaceous unit, involving sebaceous glands and hair follicles. It is important to understand that acne is a chronic condition and there is no cure for it. Although, with the right treatment, it can be controlled effectively. There are a lot of misconceptions about acne. Firstly, many people associate acne with teenagers and puberty. However, acne is a disease that can affect anyone. Statistics state that, in the United Kingdom, 95% of people aged 11 to 30 are affected by the condition. Moreover, over recent years the average age of people who suffer from acne has increased. Also, there is a common myth that acne is caused by a poor diet or bad hygiene. However, this is not the case as acne is caused by the overproduction of sebum, a natural oily substance that is produced by the body. Sebum is made by glands in the skin called sebaceous glands. These are found in the hair follicles all over the body, apart from the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Sebum helps to keep the skin supple and is important in protecting the skin from infection. However, an overproduction of sebum, in conjunction with thickening of the lining of the hair follicles resulting in a buildup of dead skin cells, can block the follicles and create an environment in which bacteria can grow. As a result, a blackhead or spot develops. Moreover, bacteria that live on the skin, which is called Propionibacterium acnes, can also worsen acne.

2. Understanding Acne

Understanding acne is a skin disease that causes pimples. It is not dangerous, but it can leave skin scars. Human skin has pores (tiny holes) which connect to oil glands located under the skin. The glands are connected to the pores via follicles – small canals. These oil glands (also called sebaceous glands) make a waxy oil called sebum that helps to maintain the skin. When the body over-produces sebum, it can block follicles, which become clogged (plugged). Skin bacteria can help cause an infection. This is because acne is often a result of the body producing excess sebum, an oil that the skin naturally produces. The sebum blocks the sebaceous glands, making it hard for the acne to escape. However, do note that factors like heredity, hormones, menstruation, etc. can aggravate this further. Acne can occur anywhere on the body, but it usually appears on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders. Symptoms include greasy skin, blackheads and whiteheads, pimples, painful lumps under the skin, and pus-filled lumps. There are 6 types of spots caused by acne: blackheads are small, blocked pores, whiteheads have a similar appearance to blackheads but may be firmer and will not empty when squeezed, pustules are small, inflamed, pus-filled spots, papules are small red, tender bumps, nodules are large hard lumps under the surface of the skin, and cysts are the most severe type of spot caused by acne. They are large pus-filled lumps that look similar to boils and carry the greatest risk of causing permanent scarring. To obtain more information about acne and its causes, you will be directed to connect with persons who may have the same need as you in the “Forum”. Overall, this process will be faster and you will be able to get more information about what you actually want to know related to acne. It is always advised that you have a proper and regular consultation with your doctor. Since our secondary research will cover the macro level of patient general issues, the perspective of doctors should be our priority to seek their advice on our progress.

3. The Role of Nursing in Acne Care

Work Cited Drury, Daniel. “Acne.” 2010. Encyclopedia of Nursing & Allied Health. 17 Oct. 2010, Provide Commerce, Inc. Farris, Patricia K., Margaret Mueller, Daniel S. Parry, and Chere Hein. “The Top 100 Secrets of Perfect Skin.” 2005. Consumer Guide. 17 Oct. 2010, WebMD, LLC. Kanzler, Michael H. and Stephen E. Wolverton. “Vulgar Acne.” 2007. The Gale Encyclopedia of Senior Health: A Guide for Seniors and Their Caregivers. 18 Oct. 2010, Gale Cengage Learning. Neill, Lester. “Rosacea.” 2007. A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. 18 Oct. 2010, A.D.A.M., Inc. Wolf, Ronni. “Physiology of the Skin.” 2009. Cutis. 17 Oct. 2010, HMP Communications.

In this section of the essay, the focus on nursing in acne care shifts from need to understanding. In fact, this section gives a full and detailed analysis of the full meaning of acne and its correlation to nursing activities in its management. One of the key points, which have been raised as a point of emphasis in this section, is fundamental. Nursing combines both specific and general knowledge about the health of the patient. It has been mentioned in this section that prevalence and the risk factors of the disease such as rosacea and acne vulgaris give a dissemination and detailed starting narration of the historical background of acne. Consequently, patient education plays a pivotal role in nursing care for acne. It is considered extremely essential that if used in isolation, acne lesions can occur in areas with maximum sebaceous follicles. Last but not least, nursing plan for acne should entail hydration. Proper acne nursing care requires the healthcare provider nurturing and supervising the patient over a prolonged period, so that the patient does not only have early treatment and pain relief, but early activity and getting back to the ordinary life. The exploration of the role of nursing in care for acne shows understanding of the patient’s suffering.

4. Nursing Interventions for Acne Management

The main strategies for managing acne are: preventing the formation of new lesions and allowing the current ones to heal, reducing the psychological stress of the person independently of the severity of acne, and avoiding scarring. Any treatment should prevent new lesions and help reduce and relieve the psychological stress of the person. It should also prevent new inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions and smooth skin by healing current lesions. Over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications could help and they can suggest a proper treatment because they are in the process of ending some no good treatment and starting others at different times. And also when someone starts using prescription acne medications, always check with the GP that these are safe to use. The main drug is benzoyl peroxide and it draws and peels a little bit the attentions and raises of skin so that there are no new lesions and current ones get healed. It is important to keep using benzoyl peroxide for at least three months, that is the time at which the first results come out. However, nursing care should also help in the process with a conservative approach. Considering that nursing provides support for individuals with acne and helps aid the process for healing, there are various nursing interventions. The first one is basic gentle skin care. Gentle skin care is important and therefore encourage the individual to clean the skin gently; to remove dirt, etc. but to avoid using overly abrasive or irritant cleaning agents. Give advice on good skin care habit and do not let the patient to use aggressive face washing, etc. Going through genetic and hormonal education with the patient. Helping the person to understand that acne is not caused by poor personal hygiene. Acne can be distressing and annoying and it also could cause stress, especially for teenagers, that develop acne. Acne is not something that is passed down through families as some people think. But if a relative had acne, that does not really mean someone will have acne. However, hormonal changes can increase the size of oil glands in the skin and any overactivity of the oil glands can make acne worse. This helps the patient to understand that this manage as some hormonal changes make the oil glands produce more sebum and where it is female or male that more androgen has been produced. Advising the patient where necessary to use make-up cleaner. If someone has to wear make-up, then it is important that he or she cleans the make-up off before going to bed. However, many people use oil-based or heavy-duty concealer because it can do a good job in disguising the spot. This only makes acne worse and encourages advising patients to use the make-up remover to take the make-up off and let the skin breathe during sleeping hours. Offer psychological support for the child or the teenager. Do not forget that the sufferer may concern. He or she may have a greatly disturbed view, especially if the spots develop on the face and which could affect the self-esteem of the person. Encourage the child to express their emotions, maintain a supportive and understanding attitude, and respect his or her privacy when dealing with the emotional stress. Also consider that it may be necessary to advise the parents or guardians that the child should see a GP so that treatment can help and not worsen the condition.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, the successful management of acne is contingent upon the establishment of a good relationship with a patient, even if curative treatment has proven elusive. The consultation techniques of a nurse specialist are inextricably linked with a holistic appreciation of the patient and understanding of the wider psychosocial impact of this chronic condition. This person-centered approach communicates a willingness to listen and develop an empathetic understanding that can so often be overlooked in wider acne management. However, such positivity is not without its challenges; it is only through the sustained and consistent application of all the elements that effective nursing care can be delivered. Time constraints, both in the initial consultation phases and ongoing outpatient care, are often cited as a quality reduction measure that often necessitates the expedited prescription-only treatment modalities which a nurse specialist may not prescribe. Additionally, the psychological and emotional burden of acne can often lead to mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety; timely mental health referrals and interviews with the wider care team are all additional pressure placed upon nurse specialists who work in this field. However, the evidence base certainly validates the importance of an understanding and patient-centered approach to nursing practice: the nursing process encourages us to interact more meaningfully with patients rather than simply taking a prescriptive management approach. Acne nursing care, in this respect, serves as a great example of where the flexible, patient-centered methodology often espoused in nurse training can make a significant difference to a multifaceted and wide-ranging condition. Patients who live with acne can also have considerable cosmetic disfigurement and the emotional impact of a long-term condition that is frequently relapsing and remitting; this can hit patient self-esteem and confidence particularly hard. Through the additional time allowed for detailed assessment and treatment plan at an acne clinic, specialist nurses can ensure that individual patient needs are met and a clinical awareness of the wider disease patterns is also fostered. By taking a structured yet open approach to discussing and revealing a patient’s unique experience of acne, individuals will know that an acne nurse is dedicated to providing a research-informed and evidence-based practice. This may serve as a great illustration of health educative actions; the nurse specialist themselves learns from the experience of the patient and this can be subsequently crafted and used to illustrate disease intermittency and treatment progress in later teaching scenarios – thus fostering a greater understanding of acne amongst both future healthcare providers and present sufferers.