Say Goodbye to Acne

There are many forms of acne treatments and they vary depending on the severity of your acne. The first stage of acne is called mild acne and it is characterized by about three dozen comedones or blackheads and scattered papules which are small pimples without the pus. You won’t be able to notice some of the symptoms unless you take a closer look. Acne treatments recommended by dermatologists for this acne stage include washing the affected areas twice a day with a mild cleanser and applying topical oil free, non-comedogenic, and non-acnegenic gels, solutions, creams, and lotions.

The second stage is the moderate acne and it is characterized by inflamed red lesions, numerous comedones or blackheads, as well as numerous pustules which are pimples filled with pus. Acne treatments recommended by dermatologists include prescription oral drugs such as minocyline, tetracyline, doxycyline, erythromycin, ibuprofen, and isotretinion. These acne treatments can also be partnered with application of topical medications and other anti-acne products.

Severe acne is the worst stage among the three because it is characterized with numerous blackheads, large pus-filled pustules, highly inflamed lesions, cystic acne, and large interconnected nodules that are very painful. This skin condition should be treated immediately to avoid further complications. The acne treatments recommended will be combinations of oral medications such as anti-inflammatory and antibiotics. Topical anti-acne products will no longer be as effective to severe acne cases. You should bear in mind that oral medication is the only effective means of treatment for this severe acne stage.

Our problems regarding our skin don’t stop when the acne is treated. It’s just the beginning of a new chapter in our fight against the remains of acne, the acne scars. There are typically two kinds of acne scars, one is the hypertrophic scars and the other one is the deep craters on the skin surface.

Hypertrophic scars are sometimes called keloids and they are characterized by their thick elevation above the normal skin surface. The craters on the skin surface come in three shapes, the ice-pick, box-car, and the rolling scar. Ice-pick acne scars are the most common and they’re shaped like deep pits in the skin. Box-car acne scars are somewhat similar to the chicken pox scars and they may either run deep within or just superficial on the skin surface. The rolling acne scars are not as deep as the other crater acne scars and they just form a wave-like appearance on the skin.

There are many acne treatments for removing scars. You can use commercially prepared exfoliating products to peel off the skin surface and reveal the fresher skin underneath. However, if your scars really run deep, you might need to undergo a dermatologist’s acne scar treatments. You can choose from punch techniques, laser resurfacing or laser treatment, dermabrasion, and chemical peeling.

The punch techniques aim to join together the loopholes of your skin by scarring your face once more. This is a painful process that needs a longer time period to heal but it is very effective in acne scar craters. Laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, and chemical peeling methods aim to remove the skin surface that manifests the acne scars using different materials and technology. However, these are not one-time treatments because you will need to undergo several sessions in order to achieve the desired results.

By: Julia Elorriaga

About the Author:

Solve your acne & skincare problems at http://www.acnepimplezits.com

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.

By: Mark Mackay

About the Author:

Solve your acne & skincare problems at http://www.acnepimplezits.com