Acne Treatment Guide

breakingXhearts asked:


it can be a cream, a prescription topical, an acne skin care line, anything. just not an acne pill. they give me headaches.
i have VERY oily skin. i constantly have to wipe my face with those oil removing pads. i get black heads, white heads, and those under the skin pimples that hurt and stay there for like a week.
i need something that REALLY works. because im going off my acne pill. and i need something that works
i have moderate acne.

Monica

Allan Lim asked:


 

Most people suffering from acne will probably agree that it is a very embarrassing and troublesome condition. What makes it worse is that acne appears on the face, making it almost impossible to conceal.

 

While there seems to be a ton of solutions for the treatment of acne, unfortunately, not all acne treatments will work for everyone. Therefore, there are really no such things as the best acne treatments.

 

Certain treatments will work very well for some people, while totally ineffective for others. In fact, a person can try out many different types of treatment before he or she finds a treatment that is effective.

 

One of the reasons why this is so is because acne is a rather complicated condition that is not totally understood. The cause of acne can be very different from one person to the other. Furthermore, there are also many different types of acne. That is the reason why there are so many acne treatments available.

 

Below, we will briefly discuss some ways of treating acne. A point to note is that the effectiveness of those treatments varies from person to person.

 

1) A change in diet and skin care routine

 

For some people, this can be a very effective way in controlling or eliminating their acne. A healthy, balanced diet increases the well being of a person, strengthening the immune system. This may in turn result in a healthier skin.

 

Generally, the face should be washed two times daily using a mild cleaning agent for the face. Do note that it is usually not a good idea to wash your face too many times in a day. Doing so can make the situation worse, resulting in irritation and even more breakout.

 

Unless you are specifically told to do so by a qualified professional, or have a specific reason, do not wash your face too often.

 

2) Using non-prescription medications

 

Common examples of non prescription medications include pads, strips, astringents or creams. These medications can be very effective for mild to moderate acne. Do note that it is very important to observe any possible side effects after using them.

 

For example, some acne creams or astringents can make the skin so dry, it is as if trading one condition for the other. If this occurs, it is best to stop using them immediately.

 

3) Using prescription medications

 

 

Prescription medications are usually for moderate to more severe case of acnes. If your acne condition is relative mild, e.g. having one pimples or two, then you may not need them.

 

4) Wait

 

Sometimes, waiting may be a good option. For some people, the acne will simply disappear over time. This may work for people with mild cases of acne. However, if you are having a very severe case of acne break out, it is best to seek proper treatment as soon as possible. You may want to consider consulting a doctor if the condition is too serious.





 



Jared

Mark Mackay asked:


ng acne depends on the type and severity of your acne. Treatment also depends on how dry or oily your skin is, if you are male or female, if you are taking any medications, if you are pregnant or might be soon. These various factors affect your treatment options and can make any one size fits all acne treatment method ineffective.

Lucky their are numerous acne treatment options, so while you might not find one that works the first time, do not give up just try another. Do to the numerous acne treatments available today doctors can control most acne outbreaks; with greater success the earlier treatments are started. Hopping your acne will go away will not work, your local pharmacy is filled with many over the counter medications you can try, or visit your doctor who can prescribe more powerful treatments if needed.

The most popular way to treat mild to moderate acne is by using a topical treatment. These treatments can be in the form of a gel, cream, lotion or on a pad. They are applied to the surface of your skin, hence the name topical. The two main over the counter topic treatments are Salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide. Prescription Salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide are also available in stronger doses if required. Doctors my also prescribe ointments containing sulfur, tetracycline, erythromycin or a retinoid. Many times you will need to use a combination of the above treatments for best results.

Salicylic acid and retinoids are used to treat the clogged hair follicles that are causing the acne lesions. They penetrate the pores and help the dead skin cells dissolve. Benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, tetracycline and erythromycin are antibacterial ointments used to treat the inflammation and kill the bacteria in the blocked follicles.

For people with moderate to server acne, in addition to topical treatments they my also require some type of oral medication to treat their acne. The three types of oral medications are antibiotics, hormones, and isotretinoins. All three require a prescription.

Tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin, and doxycycline are the most common prescribed antibiotics. They work by being absorbed through the digestive system, then into the blood, and then into the hair follicles where they kill bacteria and reduce inflammation. This option would be used when topical antibiotic treatments were unsuccessful.

Hormones are an option available to treat teenage girls and women with acne. They are usually taken in the form of a birth control pill. They work by increasing the level of female hormones in the bloodstream. This helps reduce the production of androgen, which will then reduce the production of sebum.

For severe acne, isotretinoin is often used. It is a powerful drug that treats acne by stopping all of the changes in the skin that causes acne. It kills bacteria, reduces sebum production, and slows the growth of skin cells.

All of the above acne treatment options should be reviewed carefully prior to use. As with any type of medication they all present some type of risk or side effect. For the over the counter treatments read the product labels and warnings to see if the product is right for you. For prescription acne treatments discuss with your doctor all of the potential sides effects you may experience.

Suzanne

Mike W. asked:


My girlfriend has sensitive skin that tends to dry out very quickly when using harsh products, however she has some moderate acne on her face which can be painful at times. She’s looking for a kit to get rid of this, but cannot decide on one. What have you guys used that has helped you?
My girlfriend isn’t a pig, and junk food and soda does not cause acne. ;o

Veronica