 Acne,
Causes and Treatment.
Acne is a condition that has affected nearly
ninety percent of all adults, at one time or another. Most people experience
acne during their teen years, but it is not confined to adolescents. Thirty
percent of men and women over twenty are still coping with this problem.
Acne begins
weeks before you notice a problem in the hair follicles that comprise skin.
Normally these pores have sebaceous glands at the bottom of the hair shaft that
secrete sebum, the oil that keeps skin resilient. Skin cells naturally slough
off and renew themselves but a problem begins when the sebum in a pore works
together with cell debris that has not be removed to clog a pore. This becomes
a breeding ground for bacteria and the result is a blemish. Prevention is the
best form of treatment. Effective treatment, home or with a dermatologist,
begins by confronting the causes. Begin by drinking eight glasses of water a
day, something that will contribute to your overall health. Drinking enough
water is necessary to hydrate the skin and to flush toxins from your system.
If you have
active breakouts, apply hot compresses to pustules, but never pick or squeeze
pimples. Playing with pimples nearly always makes bumps stay redder and bumpier
longer, and can result in bruising and even scarring of the skin. It is also a
very effective way of spreading the bacteria to other areas. Instead, use
gentle steam baths to open the pores, followed by thorough cleansing. Vigilant
cleansing is the key to getting acne under control.
Washing twice a
day with a mild cleansing bar or liquid (for example, Dove, Neutrogena, Basis,
Purpose, and Cetaphil, which are all inexpensive and popular) will keep the skin
clean and minimize sensitivity and irritation. Additionally,
a
variety of mild scrubs, exfoliants, and masques can be used. These products
contain either fine granules or salicylic acid in a formulation that makes it a
very mild exfoliant. These products remove the outer layer of the skin, and thus
open pores. Follow cleansing with an over-the-counter antibacterial
cream containing benzoyl peroxide, sulphur, or resorcinol. More expensive brands
do not necessarily work better, just be certain the products has one of these
active ingredients.
Benzoyl peroxide can cause a reaction in some people that will self-resolve with
discontinuation of use. It is a bleach, so keep benzoyl peroxide away from
colored clothes, shirts, or towels. Always use water based oil free cosmetics
and a treatment cream containing sulphur at night on blemishes. If the
breakouts do not respond to this regimen< consult your primary care physician or
a dermatologist, who can prescribe a topical antibiotic cream such as
erythromycin. Retin A and its newer derivative, which are more gentle acting
may also be prescribed.
In severe cases, short-term oral antibiotic use may be indicated. Oral
contraceptive formulations that are low in estrogen have been shown to clear up
acne and some doctors inject large pimples and cysts with cortisone to resolve
them quickly. Isotretinoin is used to treat severe, resistant acne. It should be
used for patients with severe acne, chiefly of the cystic variety, which has
been unresponsive to conventional therapies like those listed above. It should
not be used by pregnant women since is has a high risk of causing birth defects.
Tap
HERE for Acne Products |
.gif){kind=small}
