Say Goodbye to Acne

TREATMENT OF ACNE

ACNE SURGERY: This procedure greatly speeds acne clearing and appearance by manually removing blackheads and whiteheads. A round loop extractor is used to apply uniform smooth pressure to dislodge the material. Lesions that offer resistance are loosened by inserting a pointed instrument to carefully expose the contents.

INTRALESIONAL CORTICOSTEROID THERAPY: If one or several painful acne cysts develop, fast relief is available with this relatively painless procedure. Each cyst is given a single injection of a dilute cortisone solution, using an ultrathin needle.

Laser and light therapy. Laser- and light-based therapies reach the deeper layers of skin without harming the skin’s surface. Laser treatment is thought to damage the oil (sebaceous) glands, causing them to produce less oil. Light therapy targets the bacterium that causes acne inflammation. These therapies can also improve skin texture and lessen the appearance of scars, so they may be good treatment choices for people with both active acne and acne scars.

Dermatologists will use very aggressive treatments to try to prevent the progression of severe acne. They will try to stop it in its tracks while at the same time, work to prevent permanent scarring. Oral antibiotics and medications such as accutane, may be used at this stage as well as drainage techniques and surgical incision, also known as Acne Surgery. Other acne treatments such as injections of corticosteroids can be used. This is primarily used to melt cysts over a period of a few days. The acne therapy chosen by your determatologist will be matched to the severity of the condition effecting your skin.

Acne laser treatment for scars

Acne laser treatment has also been tried recently in a related form of skin disease called Acne Inversa, caused by sweat gland inflammation. This chronic condition is characterised by inflamed abscesses in the groin and armpits, and rarely on the scalp. The usual acne treatment of oral antibiotics often helps to control the condition, but the scarring left by the abscesses can be severe enough to limit movement, and is not always helped by cortisone injections. Acne laser treatment may offer a less invasive treatment than full surgery, and together with other acne medications such as Isotretinion, acne scars may be a thing of the past for these patients.

Acne Treatment Guide

Chemical Peels and Dermabrasion

This involves the application of an exfoliate, such as glycolic acid, to the areas affected by acne. Sometimes, microdermabrasion is used as an alternative. The result is the peeling off of the top skin layers that opens comedones, and since the pores are no longer clogged, acne is eliminated.

If you are unfortunate to suffer from acne then you should be aware that it is treatable. This article will describe some of the available forms of treatment to reduce the effects of acne on the skin. You should be aware that these methods will not stop the acne, but they will help to prevent new spots developing.

The most common form of treatment and the one that is likely to be recommended by your doctor is benzoyl peroxide. Acne is usually caused by excess oil production that blocked the pores in the skin. It is therefore important to keep the skin clean and fresh and so washing the affected areas on a regular basis will help to alleviate the problems. With this in mind, benzoyl peroxide can be found in soaps, creams and other antibacterial agents.

These treatments are available without prescription and can be purchased at most pharmacies. Although effective in improving the appearance of acne, benzoyl peroxide can cause dry skin and severe redness of the affected area.

If this treatment is not effective or you are suffering from severe acne, you can ask your doctor to prescribe either topical or oral treatments. There are a number of different types of topical treatments available. Antibiotics such erythromycin helps to remove the bacteria from the affected areas and unblock the skin pores. Other treatments such as topical retinoids work by applying to the skin on a daily basis. This causes the skin to flake and after a period of time improves its appearance.

Oral Treatments can be used if the side effects of the external treatments are too great. The most common forms of treatment in this case are the use of tetracycline. A doctor will recommend that they should be taken for a minimum of three months before any improvements in the skin can be expected. Unfortunately, although initial improvement may occur with this treatment, the bacteria that causes the acne seems to rapidly develop resistance to the antibiotics.

Should the acne not respond to any of these more common methods of treatment then your doctor may suggest the use of Isotretinoin. Effectively this works by reducing the amount of oil-based secretions in the skin. This drug is the most effective but also causes some severe side effects such as liver damage and is potentially dangerous for women who are pregnant. For this reason, its application is always closely monitored by a doctor.

If none of these conventional methods of acne treatment work then you may also consider a relatively new form of treatment known as phototherapy. This works on the principle that sunlight seems to improve skin generally if we are exposed to it in moderation.

This procedure involves the use of ultra-violet light, which when used regularly appears to dramatically reduce the appearance of acne in the affected areas. Unlike the traditional forms of treatments, Phototherapy also seems to last longer with the signs of acne not returning for several months after its first application.

However it should be remembered that this form of treatment is new and so is very expensive. Phototherapy has been classified as safe but the long term effects are as yet unknown.

So if you are suffering from acne then you now know that there are plenty of treatments available. The worst thing you can do is suffer in silence.

You’ve tried a number of over-the-counter acne products and they’ve had minimal affects at best.

You believe that you should consult a physician to see if there is a stronger prescription acne treatment that may help clear your acne.

Before heading off to your doctor, please review the below acne medications that may be offered. After you do that, review the products we recommend on this site, and determine if visiting a doctor is the right move.

Please note: We are not doctors, so this is for informational purposes only and also a combination of acne treatments (both prescription and non-prescription) may be your best course of action.

Plus, it is always a good idea to consult a professional before beginning any acne treatment program.

Here is a list of the prescription acne treatment and medications that may work for you…

Differin or Adapalene: A topical medication that is utilized to help your skin renew itself. Aside from insurance flipping the bill, Differin is quite affordable and does a good job.

It worked mildly for me. I ended up using it more for a spot treatment than rubbing it all over my face and it was very difficult using it on my back. It may make your skin dry and tends to be a longer-term treatment. Just depends on your skin type and acne severity.

Benzoyl Peroxide: This is the ingredient you may find in many over-the-counter products as well. The combination of this product with others is what tends to make it work. It works to fight the bacteria that may cause your breakouts. Can dry your skin out, but does work. Also, a very affordable acne treatment.

Many young ladies get on birth-control pills which seem to not only prevent pregnancy, but also acne. However, after review, using birth control pills as a prescription acne treatment shouldn’t be the main focus of these drugs.

Accutane or Isoretinoin: A powerful prescription acne treatment, Accutane is typically only administered in severe cases and typically as a last resort. It treats your acne from the inside out and is taken in pill form. It works quite well, but not for everyone and brings with it some rather nasty side-effects in some cases. Personally, I used it and it worked wonders, but it is not for everyone and is very expensive.

Retin-A or Tretinoin: A vitamin-A derivative, this is another great prescription acne treatment that battles whiteheads and blackheads by producing new skin cells. This treatment brings the pimples out, so be aware that your acne may get worse before it gets better. Can be drying, create very sensitive skin, and only tends to work in mild to moderate cases of acne. Very popular treatment by Dermatologists and worked wonders for many acne sufferers I know.

This is just a start to prescription acne treatment medications. There are other oral and topical antibiotics that your specialist may recommend. You may also want to ask them about good soaps, nutrition, and other over-the-counter treatments to combine with any prescription (plus if it’s safe).

Do your own homework and ask many of the other acne sufferers (including me) specific questions. We’re here to help ensure you don’t live with acne any longer than necessary.