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MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: Acne is a skin disease consisting of blemishes that can occur on your face, neck, chest, shoulders, and back. Acne is very common during the teen years but it can affect you during adulthood as well. So you keep your hair and skin well lubricated your body depends on sebaceous glands which sit just under your skin. These glands secrete an oily substance called sebum which coats your skin and hair to prevent them from drying out. Sebum travels up hair follicles and out through your pores onto the surface of your skin. Your hair follicles routinely shed dead skin cells which sebum carries out of your body. When your body produces extra sebum and dead skin cells, they can stick together and clog your pores resulting in skin blemishes. Then bacteria that normally exist in small amounts on your skin can flourish in the sebum in the clogged pore leading to inflammation. Depending on where the clog is located and if you have inflammation, acne may appear as whiteheads which are clogged follicles closed off from the air, blackheads which are clogged follicles that turn a darker color when the clog is exposed to air, pustules commonly called pimples which are inflamed follicles clogged with pus, or cysts which are larger, painful, pus-filled lumps going deep under the skin. Hormonal changes, particularly a rise in testosterone, can lead to sebum overproduction which is why acne often occurs during the teen years. However it can occur at any age. Other factors contributing to the development of acne are bacteria, certain medications, and genetics. If you have a mild case of acne your doctor may recommend an over the counter lotion with one of several active ingredients. Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria, dries excess oil, and removes dead skin cells clogging pores. Salicylic acid slows the loss of skin cells to prevent clogged pores. It may also break down whiteheads and blackheads. Alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic acid help remove dead skin cells, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the growth of new smoother skin. Sulfur removes dead skin cells and dries excess oil. These are strong chemicals that may irritate your skin. Follow the directions for use exactly. If over the counter products are not effective, your dermatologist may prescribe stronger prescription lotions such as vitamin A which reduces the buildup of dead skin cells in your pores, topical antibiotics which kill bacteria on your skin, or a combination of benzoyl peroxide and topical antibiotics. For moderate to severe cases your dermatologist may prescribe an oral medication alone or in combination with a topical treatment. These medications include oral antibiotics which kill bacteria and reduce inflammation and isotretinoin which is used only for the most severe cases. A corticosteroid injection may be given to relieve your pain and help clear up a particularly large lesion. For women birth control pills containing estrogen may be prescribed to minimize the effects of testosterone. Regardless of the treatment your doctor recommends, good skin care is essential. For example wash problem areas twice daily with a mild soap and wash gently without scrubbing. If you have dry or peeling skin use an oil-free water-based moisturizer. When choosing any product to put on your skin look for an oil-free or noncomedogenic label, which means it won't clog your pores. Avoid picking or squeezing blemishes as these actions may lead to infection or scarring. And avoid touching your face with your hands, your hair, or any object such as a cell phone.
"Your firm is great to work with and, most importantly for me, you get the
job done on time and with the utmost professionalism. You should be proud of
all those you employ, from KJ to Ben B. I've been especially pleased over
the years with the work of Brian and Alice, both of whom seem to tolerate my
idiosycratic compulsion to edit, but I've not found a bad apple in the bunch
(and, as you know, I've used your firm a bunch!).
I look forward to our continued professional relationship."
Kenneth J. Allen Kenneth Allen & Associates
Valparaiso, IN
"For modern audiences, it is absolutely essential to use medical
demonstrative evidence to convey the severity and extent of physical
injuries to a jury. Your company's high quality illustrations of our
client's discectomy surgery, combined with strong expert testimony, allowed
the jury to fully appreciate the significance of our client's injuries.
We are very pleased with a verdict exceeding $297,000.00, far in excess of
the $20,000.00 initially offered by the defendant. The medical demonstrative
evidence provided by Medical Legal Art was an asset we could not have
afforded to have been without."
Todd J. Kenyon
Attorney at Law
Minneapolis, MN
"We got a defense verdict yesterday! Your exhibit was extremely helpful in
showing the jury how unlikely it is to damage all four of the nerve branches
which control the sense of taste."
Karen M. Talbot
Silverman Bernheim & Vogel, P.C.
Philadeplphia, PA
"I just wanted to let you know that after several days on trial, I settled
[my client's] construction accident case for $4.5 million. Immediately after
the jury was discharged, I spoke with several jurors who told me that they
really appreciated the medical illustrations for their clarity in dealing
with [my client's] devastating injuries. They also expressed their gratitude
in being able to read from a distance all of the notations without
difficulty. Obviously, the boards were visually persuasive. I am certain
that this contributed to our successful result."
Michael Gunzburg, Esq.
Attorney at Law.
New York, NY
Medical Legal Art creates medical demonstrative evidence (medical
illustrations, drawings, pictures, graphics, charts, medical animations,
anatomical models, and interactive presentations) for use during legal
proceedings, including research, demand letters, client conferences,
depositions, arbitrations, mediations, settlement conferences, mock jury
trials and for use in the courtroom. We do not provide legal or medical
advice. If you have legal questions, you should find a lawyer with whom you
can discuss your case issues. If you have medical questions, you should seek the advice of a healthcare provider.
