Say Goodbye to Acne

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.

It’s not yet too late to live a life free from acne blemishes. This includes scars on one’s skin. Acne is the most common hindrance to having a healthy skin. For years, people have tried to get rid of zits that ruin one’s confidence, and probably one’s life.

The treatment of acne is not something you could do quickly however. One must carefully choose the right treatment that not only guarantees relief, but also prevents acne from coming back.

What Causes Acne?

Acne is caused by overactive oil glands. Add to that the buildup of dead skin or skin flakes, or by the P. acnes bacteria. With these, you get pimples.

Treatment of Acne

Treatment of acne takes a variety of methods. Since there are different types of skin, the best treatment for one person may not work for another. Therefore, it is still best to consult a dermatologist. They can decide which medication is the best one for a certain condition and skin type. The dermatologist also knows which medication tailor fits a patient based on the person’s lifestyle, medication routine as well as her age.

4 Acne Treatments Recommended By Dermatologists

In general, acne treatment is classified into 4 types.

(1) The most popular is by eradicating the bacteria caused by clogged follicles. This is an instant treatment but may only be momentary. This treatment is done by either taking in tetracycline or other antibiotics. Or by curing the areas that are affected with medicated substances such as benzoyl peroxide. This substance has nothing to do with the control of oil secretion, which is the origin of all clogged follicles. Therefore acne may return right after when the treatment is over.

(2) Another method is to reduce the oil secretion of oil glands. This can be done by drinking Vitamin A regularly. The drug used here has a longer effect or result than anti-bacterial solutions. This method oftentimes treats acne for good. It requires a dermatologist’s close examination though. The drug is known to have many side effects.

(3) Another acne treatment is skin exfoliation. This method allows the topmost layer of the skin to be peeled off. This is to avoid the accumulation and build up of skin flakes. If left to accumulate, the skin cells will mix with the skin’s natural oil and block pores. With this type of acne treatment, it can unblock clogged pores.

(4) A modern type of acne treatment is the laser therapy or laser acne treatment. The laser treatment rubs away the topmost layer of one’s skin, which is helpful to remove the untapped dead skin cells. The treatment has an enduring effect which is seen as effective. TCA peels reaches deep in the skin to have results that can last for long, at least up to 1 year. This treatment not only removes acne but prevents them from happening again. TCA peels should be tried since they are very cost effective.

Treating acne may seem simple but it is still safer for one to have acne medication as long as a professional guide is available.

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