Acne Treatment
It is presumed that around seventy percent of all teenagers and young adults suffer from
some forms of acne. However, men and women in their mid ages can also suffer from acne. Though
the exact cause of acne remains unclear, more is known about how the spots and blemishes which
are part of acne form. Of late, there are innumerable numbers treatments to help deal with
this distressing condition.
Acne is not a common complaint; it is known to be a source
of considerable emotional distress and social embarrassment. How ever, there are a large
numbers of acne treatment options to tackle this problem.
Home treatment option is the
most common among the most households; acne treatment method being very simple and mostly
improvised over experience gained over years. Always try to keep the spot-prone areas very
clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with a un perfumed and non oily cleanser.
Antibacterial face washes and soaps specifically for greasy skins are also available. How
ever, your skin needs a minimum amount of oil in your skin to maintain its natural condition.
Thus it is required to avoid aggressive washing action with hard soaps.
Never pick at
spots; over squeezing can cause permanent scarring. During summer months, acne tends to be
less problematic as the sunshine helps to dry the skin. How ever, no home treatment will start
working immediately; it can take weeks, if not months, to observe any noticeable healing
results. Non prescription remedies though over-the-counter remedies are also used to treat
acne. Lotions with Benzoyl peroxide have the tendency to dry out the skin and encourage it to
shed the surface layer of dead skin. Benzoyl peroxide also displays an antibacterial action.
Cumulatively, these combined effects make it harder for oily pores to become blocked and for
infection to develop. Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling, especially during the
initial stages. How ever, this tends to settle down within a few days.
To get acne
treatment, if you consult your physician, you will be prescribed, some times, to start
treatment with a preparation containing Benzoyl peroxide. If these options do not work for
you, then there are a range of other treatment options which can either be rubbed onto the
skin (topical) or taken in tablet form (oral).
Several topical treatments are available
for you to try and test. Azelaic acid, an alternative to Benzoyl peroxide, may cause less skin
soreness. Topical Retinoids, medicines based on vitamin A, can be rubbed into the skin once or
twice a day. Retinoids work by stimulating the outer layer of skin to flake off, and may cause
irritation and skin peeling at the start of treatment. How ever, sun light may make your skin
more sensitive with this treatment. Topical anti bacterial solutions may reduce the intensity
of the problem. Treatment should be continued for at least six months. Preparations that
combine an antibiotic with other acne medication are available.
For treating Acne, more
revolutionary methods have been introduced recently, which recommend the use of oral tablets
and preparations. Oral antibiotics (tablets), taken daily for around 3 months, is prescribed
for inflammatory type of acne. This causes to kill off the bacteria infecting the skin. Many
strains of bacteria tend to become resistant to oral medications. The treatment period may
extend to 6 months and Benzoyl peroxide, is often also prescribed at the same time. For women,
prescription with a standard combined oral contraceptive pill (containing an oestrogen and a
progestogen) can improve acne symptoms. How ever, this treatment may not work for all
women.
Isotretinoin is a powerful medicine known as an oral retinoid - which also
usually exists in topical form. It is prescribed to be used in severe forms of acne that have
proved too resistant to other treatments. It works efficiently by drying up oily secretions,
which emanates from skin pores. This medication is associated with serious side effects which
are highly adverse to patients. It can also damage an unborn baby if taken by a pregnant
woman. This medication is prescribed only by your physician.
Acne treatment is known to
be very tricky, as the patient infected, faces serious emotional distress during the
treatment. Acne treatment is usually prescribed by qualified professionals and their guidance
is absolutely necessary.
