Acne Treatments:
Some treatments such as home treatments are generally good for mild cases of
acne
There are a variety of different treatments available to those suffering from acne.
Some treatments such as home treatments are generally good for mild cases of
acne, but when it comes to severe acne you are better off seeing a doctor or
dermatologist.
Home Treatments:
Home treatments essentially begin with washing your face. However, this simple
task you have probably done most of your life may actually be causing you more
problems than preventing them. Washing your face with a specially formulated
soap can help to prevent acne. If you wash your face several times per day, then
you may actually be washing away skin oils that are essential to your skin. This
causes the sebaceous glands to produce more oil and cause problems.
Scrubbing on your face can actually cause you to create acne problems by
scrubbing way the essential oils and damaging hair follicles.
Water is a simple home treatment as well. Water carries nutrients throughout
your body and can be very effective in helping you to clear up acne flare-ups.
Your bowels and kidneys store the toxins from everything that you eat and
breathe. These toxins can cause acne flare-ups as well. By drinking six to eight
glass of water per day, you are able to flush out toxins from your bowels and
kidneys.
Herbs are also recommended to acne sufferers. Black currant seed oil and
evening primrose oil are very popular with acne sufferers. It is suggested that
you take three 500mg capsules per day.
Vitamins:
Most people are deficient in essential vitamins and minerals that your body
needs to work properly. Your skin needs the proper nutrition to work and to
prevent skin conditions such as acne. Vitamins and minerals are essential and
can help to flush out free radicals and toxins in your body. Other vitamins have
antibacterial effects that aid the immune system in fighting off infection and
bacteria.
Vitamin A will help to strengthen and protect your skin. It helps to reduce the
production of sebum and then aids in the repair of tissues. It can also be a
powerful antioxidant. These are important and required to help you rid your body
of toxins. A lack of vitamin A can actually cause acne.
The Complex B vitamins are also essential in preserving healthy skin. They can
aid in reducing stress, as it is believed to be a common source of acne problems.
The B vitamins should be taken together. They include Thiamine, Riboflavin,
Niacinamide, Pantothenic Acid (B5) and Pyriodixine (B6). These vitamins play a
large role in digestion, stress reduction, and improving circulation.
Vitamin C has been referred to as the “super vitamin.” It aids in approximately
300 metabolic functions in your body. It is also essential in tissue growth, tissue
repair, and flushes toxins from your system. It can also improve immunity and
fight against infection. Persons with diabetes should check with their doctors
before taking vitamin C.
Chromium is often used for weight loss, but it can also help fight acne. It should
be taken in an added form, as it is difficult to absorb chromium from foods. A
large amount of chromium is lost in the digestion of sugar.
Zinc aids in regulating the activity of oil glands. It promotes healing in tissues
and prevents scarring. Zinc also helps to strengthen the immune system and the
healing of wounds. In addition, it is a powerful antioxidant that prevents the
formation of free radicals and toxins.
A multivitamin with chromium will often supply your body with the nutrients it
needs to fight acne. It is recommended that you take a multivitamin twice per
day. It is almost impossible for the body to get all of the nutrients it needs from a
multivitamin when it is only taken once a day.
Blue Light Therapy:
This is an alternative therapy that is aimed for those who suffer from acne but
have had little success in treating it. This therapy focuses on killing off the
bacteria that causes acne formation. This bacterium is called propionibacterium
acnes or P. acnes. P. acnes causes small molecules to produce bacteria that
causes most types of acne. These molecules are known as porphyrins and blue
light therapy works to zero in on the porphyrins. When these molecules are
exposed to blue light, they produce free radicals that destroy the bacteria.
This treatment is becoming very popular because it is both non-invasive and drug
free. Many medications contain chemicals that cause damage to the skin. This
therapy does not cause this and it is FDA approved and safe for the skin. Blue
light therapy is administered in increments. A patient is put on a schedule for
several short 15-minute sessions over a period of about 4 weeks.
Light and Heat Energy Therapy:
This is another form of light energy that has been used to treat acne. It uses
both light and heat to eradicate the cause of acne. It also destroys the acne
causing bacteria and reduces the production of sebum. This helps to shrink the
sebaceous glands. Improvements are often seen as early as 30 days and
sessions are as short as 10 minutes. This therapy has also been approved by
the FDA, but it is used to treat mild to moderate acne.
Laser Light Therapy:
Laser light therapy is another effective way of preventing scarring with chronic
acne cases. It has also been used in healing breakouts as well. After a few
treatments with a nonabrasive laser surgery, the scars that remain from bad acne
breakouts can be treated. This is due to the collage growth that is promoted
under the scars. Treatments range from five to twenty minutes and there is
usually only slight discomfort. There is marked improvement in skin after only a
few treatments. There are a few side effects such as mild redness and swelling
for a short amount of time, but it does not interfere with the patient’s life.
Over the Counter (OTC) Treatments
Just about everyone purchases an over the counter treatment and many people
have varying success. If acne is mild and infrequent then these products will
usually work. Those people with sever problems usually do not find much help
from these products.
When choosing an over the counter treatment you will need to look at the active
ingredient. Not all products will work in the same manner because of their
ingredients. One of the most common active ingredients is Benzoyl peroxide.
This treatment has been deemed the “wonder drug” in the acne treatment
industry. This product aids in reducing the P. acnes bacteria and reduces the
number of dead skin cells. This product helps lessen the effects of the two main
causes of comedones and pimples. This product has been used for several
years. When it is over used, it will often dry out the skin.
Resorcinol is another ingredient that works best on small acne blemishes. It is
often combined with sulfur. Sulfur itself has often been found to be an effective
acne treatment for some people, it does not seem to be known why it helps to
clear up acne.
Salicylic acid is found in many products and works on blemishes that are free of
inflammation. It aids in unclogging pores and reduces the number of blemishes
that appear. It is able to do this by minimizing dead skin cells. It does not seem
to have an effect on the production of sebum or P. acnes bacteria. This product
does cause some irritation in some people.
Remember to keep your skin type in mind. If you have sensitive skin, then you
will want to take it easy with strong acne medication. This medication can easily
make your problems worse rather than fix them. If your acne seems too hard to
control yourself, then you need to see a doctor.
Accutane:
Accutane (Isotretinoin) is one of the most famous and most controversial acne
treatments on the market. This drug is often considered to be the “last resort” for
people who suffer from acne and have tried everything else. The drug was first
introduced in 1982 by the Hoffman-LaRoche pharmaceutical company. This
product has been frequently prescribed to people who suffer from acute acne
and severe nodular acne. These people have usually tried several topical
treatments that have not been successful for them.
Accutane is actually a vitamin A analog. It ranges in dosage from 10mg to 40mg.
The drug is very potent and after four or five months of regular use, the person
will see a noticeable difference in their acne. Accutane shuts down the oil
production of your skin. It forces sebaceous glands to mature. This process
begins by testosterone forcing the sebaceous gland to produce different types of
oils that line the hair follicle. When the oil production is stabilized, it is no longer
able to clog pores. It also prevents too much keratin to be produce and clog the
pores. It can take up to two months for you to see a difference. It is
recommended that people take Accutane with fatty foods, such as milk. This
allows the drug to be easily absorbed.
Accutane does have a number of drawbacks. Users often experience a
worsening of symptoms before they see improvement. They may also
experience dry skin, lips and eyes. It has also been linked to several birth
defects and should not be taken by women who are pregnant. Women may also
need to use two types of contraception when on Accutane. It may also cause
depression and digestive problems.
Accutane has been pretty successful. About 35-38% of patients will experience
complete remission after one course. People with severe, stubborn acne may
need more than one course. After one course, 70% of people have experienced
remission of symptoms. One course of treatment is usually about four to six
months.
Birth Control:
Many adult women suffer from acne. In response to this, many women have
found that low dose birth control is able to help clear up their skin as well. One
type of birth control pill that has been proven to be effective is Ortho Tri-Cyclen.
It is able to reduce androgens and regulate female hormones so that the
changes in hormones do not cause acne outbreaks. Some women are more
prone to these hormonal changes and are sensitive to hormones and high levels
of testosterone. A woman’s oil glands may respond to these changes in
hormones and cause outbreaks. The hormone balancing birth control plan has
been proven in many studies. Women need to consider the side effects that are
associated with birth control pills before taking on this type of plan.
Cryotherapy:
Cryotherapy is available through dermatologists. This option includes the use of liquid nitrogen or solid carbon dioxide to be applied to an area of skin. These
substances freeze the skin. Lightly freezing the skin causes it to peel. Moderate
freezing will cause it to blister and hard freezing will cause it to scab over. This
procedure has also been used to remove scars and cancerous growths. These
substances are sprayed on or swabbed. This is one of the most inexpensive
ways to remove surface skin lesions. The skin is lightly frozen so that the top
layer is shed and the accompanying comedones are removed as well. This
treatment has also been used to cause pimples to heal more quickly and to
reduce scarring.
These treatments are usually performed once a week. Side effects may include
stinging and redness. The area may also be tender and painful afterwards.
Steroid creams are often prescribed for use after treatment. This treatment has
been available since the 60s and has been very effective.
Choosing a Dermatologist:
When you suffer from severe acne or acne that is very painful, you will need to
consider going to a dermatologist. Your self-esteem will probably thank you for
this, and you will need to consider several concepts to ensure that you are
choosing the best doctor for your needs.
Most people feel apprehensive when they visit a dermatologist for the first time.
They feel very odd about having somebody go and pick around at your face.
You will also be showing off things that you spend a lot of time trying to hide as
well. When you begin “shopping around” for a dermatologist, you will want to
make a list of what you are looking for and what your concerns are. You want to
find someone who is concerned with your needs and your mental stability, versus
someone who is mostly concerned with your acne instead of you. Consider
these few questions:
· What do you like about your primary physician?
· Are you concerned about someone who is sensitive to your concerns?
· Do you want someone with a good bedside manner?
· Are you worried that appointments won’t accommodate your hectic
schedule?
Whatever your needs are, a good dermatologist will answer your questions and
will do their best to be sensitive to your needs. They will also be able to provide
you with a variety of treatment options. If you have any questions about
available treatments they should be able to answer those questions as well. Be
open and honest with your dermatologist and they will do the same for you. They
want you to be prepared for the treatment and they want to offer all of the
information you can. If you are nervous, tell your doctor and they will do their
best to help you out.
A well-trained dermatologist will be a medical doctor that is board certified and
trained in dermatology. The dermatologist should also be a member of the
American Academy of Dermatology. You will also need to find a dermatologist
with experience in dealing with acne and the severity that you may have. An
experienced dermatologist is able to give you a more accurate diagnosis and will
provide you with an appropriate treatment.
Scar Removal and Treatment:
Acne scars are the result of tissue damage cause by acne that was left untreated
or treated improperly. When the tissue is damaged, the body reacts by initiating
the repair process and causes collagen to build up in the damaged area. This
excess collagen causes a fibrous mass that ends up becoming a smooth, but
firm scar. The scars may also result when the tissue has been lost and is the
most common type of scar. There are several different categories of scars
including:
· “Ice-pick” scar
· Depressed scars
· Soft scars
· Atrophic macules
Scars are treated through a variety of different options. One effective method is
to inject collagen into the site of the scar. This is a process that has to be
repeated about every three to six months. The collagen will cause the skin to
puff and makes the scar less noticeable.
Another process that is similar involves using a person’s own body fat. This is
called an autologus fat transfer. The fat is taken from another part of the body
and then injected into the acne scar. It causes the scar to fill out. This process
will also need to be repeated because the fat is reabsorbed.
Dermabrasion is another common method for treating scarring. This is done
under local anesthesia. During this process, a thin layer of skin is removed using
a fraise or brush at high speed. This removes the surface layer and can actually
remove some shallow scarring. This can lessen the depth of the scarring.
Microdemabrasion removes the skin surface using crystals of aluminum oxide
that is passed through a vacuum.
Chapter
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