All About Acne

Introduction Acne is a skin condition that is common amongst teenagers, but younger children do get it as well. Acne develops when your follicles become bunged up with dead skin. It normally appears on your face, chest, neck, shoulders and back. The spots clear up and other ones come in their place.

The symptoms of acne vary depending on how serious your case is: Whiteheads Blackheads Small, red tender bumps Pimples (pustules) Large, solid, painful lumps Painful, pus-filled lumps

Here some quick tips related to personal hygiene that may prevent acne: No alcohol. Alcohol strips away the top layer of your skin causing your glands to produce more oil. Don’t squeeze your spots. Squeezing the skin can force the bacteria deep into the skin, causing more acne. Don’t touch your skin. Touching causes the natural acne bacteria to get trapped beneath your skin. Wash after exercise. Heat is a natural breeding ground for more acne. No harsh scrubs. You can exfoliate but hard cleaners may irritate the skin.

You may be able to treat your acne at home by rinsing it with warm water and cleaning the soap off thoroughly, but you should inform your Doctor if your acne: Is making your life miserable. Is causing dark patches to appear. Is producing scars. Is severe and producing nodules under the skin. doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medication. doesn’t respond to home treatment. Is cystic acne, where your pimples are hard and large and filled with pus. makes you avoid going out with your friends. makes you feel embarrassed or depressed.

You may want to give one of the following a try before going to the Doctors: Wash and toner. This helps unblock follicles by eliminating bacteria, oil and dirt. At the same time it helps to prevent pimples of all different kinds. Retinol Night Complex. This is designed for use at night, before bed. Retinol attaches to skin cells which helps reduce acne spots. Your Doctor, when the above doesn’t seem to be working, will give you one of several treatments. They will give you a combination if the first treatment doesn’t work and if that doesn’t work they will go to a stronger treatment. Many of the treatments take up to 3 months to work so it is important to be patient and stick with it even if you don’t see results right away:

Here are the details of some prescribed treatments you may be given for your acne:  Benzoyl peroxide – Reduces bacteria. It has an anti-inflammatory effect Reduces whiteheads and blackheads. Used once or twice a day Comes in cream form or gel form. Used sparingly.

Bleaching effect so stay away from direct sunlight Avoid getting it on your hair or clothes. Common side effects are; dry skin, burning, itching or stinging feel and some redness or peeling. Side effects are usually mild and don’t persist after the treatment ceases. Most people need a 6-week treatment of this.

 Topical Retinoids Eliminates dead skin cells from the skin, by exfoliation. Available in a gel or cream form Used before bed. Apply sparingly Avoid exposure to sunlight and UV. Risk they may cause birth defects so they aren’t suitable for use whilst pregnant. Common side effects include mild irritation and stinging of the skin. Usually given for 6 weeks but you may be required to use the treatment less frequently.

 Topical Antibiotics Kills the bacteria on the skin. Available as a lotion or gel. Apply once or twice per day. Common side effects include redness, burning and peeling, and minor irritation. A 6 to 8-week course is recommended.

 Azelaic Acid Eliminates dead skin cells and kills bacteria. Used as an alternative treatment for acne if the side effects of the above treatments are too much. Available in a cream form or gel. Applied once per day. Common side effects include dry skin, itchiness, redness, burning or stinging. You don’t have to avoid exposure to sunlight or UV.

 Antibiotic Tablets Used in conjunction with a topical treatment for more severe acne Takes 6 weeks before you notice an improvement with your acne. A treatment of this kind can last 4 to 6 months. Some antibiotics can make your skin sensitive to sunlight and UV Can also make the contraceptive pill less effective.

 Hormonal therapies Your GP may recommend the combined oral contraceptive pill. Can help improve acne in women. With this treatment it may take up to a year before results are seen.

 Isotretinoin Normalises sebum, prevents follicles becoming clogged, eliminates bacteria on skin and reduces swelling and redness of spots. Used for severe cases of acne that haven’t worked with other treatments. Tablet form People take it for up to 6 months. Common side effects can be severe and include; cracking of the skin, changes in blood sugar levels, eyelid and eye inflammation and irritation and blood in urine. There are also some more severe side effects that can be researched.

As you can see, having acne means you have a lot of options for treatment. However, try laser acne treatment for all most guaranteed results.

The End For more details, Please visit