Know The Facts About Acne Before Treatment

Many people have differing views about acne. It is made worse when certain experts could not agree within themselves. However, it is better to know the facts about acne before trying any therapy or believing in untested ideas. Here are some known facts regarding acne before you seek any treatment.

Food - No food has been related to acne. However, if you feel that a type of food makes your acne worse, please stop that food after consulting your doctor. No conclusive evidence has yet pointed out to acne and its relation to food yet.

Frequent washing - Frequent washing of the acne-affected area will not treat acne. On the contrary, it may adversely affect your skin. Washing twice a day should be more than enough. Contrary to the popular belief of many people, acne is not caused by dirt. It is the sebaceous gland that gets closed and forms the acne on your skin.

Oral Vitamin A - Derivatives of vitamin A, called retinoids are used topically and orally to treat acne under medical supervision. If somebody takes excessive Vitamin A hoping that it will treat acne, which may make the health worse as Vitamin A in large quantity can have adverse effects on the body.

Medications - Some medications can bring on acne like cortisone, certain anti-tuberculosis drugs and some anti epileptic drugs. Chlorinated solvents can also cause work-related acne.

Hereditary - If your parents had acne, it is likely that you inherit acne.

Hormonal changes - Hormonal changes bring on acne. The hormone, Androgen, is accountable for excess production of sebum. It is well known that women suffer from acne outbreaks during menstruation or pregnancy.

Acne like conditions - Some other conditions such as folliculitis may appear like acne. There are many other diseases that may mistaken for acne. They are Rosacea, Keratosis Pilaris or Perioral Dermatitis. Do not initiate self treatment, it is always better to get diagnosed by a doctor.

When selecting an acne treatment, you could use some of these guidelines. First, select an acne treatment that is based on clinical research. Then choose an acne treatment that you can well afford. No use trying an expensive treatment which you will give up half way.

Ask about the usage requirements regarding your selected acne treatment before you start it. You may decide that it is not for you or you probably cannot follow the directions. Chose an acne treatment that it will work best for you. And finally, be patient. It takes time for acne to heal.

About the Author:
Joshua Poyoh
To find out more information on Natural Acne Treatment and other skin care related matters, visit Skin Care And Acne Resources.
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Different Acne Treatments To Treat The Four Stages Of Acne

There are four stages of acne. Now, in order to understand how to treat your acne, it would help if you knew what stage your acne is in. Acne can be a very complex disease. And this is why you have to make sure you are getting the right treatment when needed. The four stages of acne are:

Whiteheads
Blackheads
Pustules and Nodules
Cysts

Whiteheads: are small whitish bumps that are underneath the skin. Oil build-up in your skin will cause you to have whiteheads. If you have whiteheads, don't try to remove. It would be pretty hard to. The whiteheads are usually hard white bumps. A experienced dermatologist can extract these whiteheads from your skin. You can also go to your drug/pharmacy and buy some Biore Strips. These strips are very good for whiteheads. You can also use a gel or cream that contains salicylic acid. Give this a try. And ladies, if you need to go out, you can conceal a whitehead. Cover with a concealer and then brush over with a base powder. In order to prevent whiteheads, get regular facials. This will keep your pores clean and you will have less breakouts.

Blackheads: are small bumps with a very small opening and when in contact with air, these small bumps turn black. Some Biore Strips are very good at taking care of blackheads. Cold Cream is also great. And ladies if you are going out, you can use a liquid concealer. Dot the area and then finish it off with a powder. In order to prevent blackheads in the future, you can steam clean your face at least once a week. Then cleanse your skin using a mask. You should also get a deep cleaning facial once a month and this will keep your skin clean. Once you get started with these facials, you won't be able to stop. You are going to love how your skin looks. I love a good facial.

Inflamed Red Bumps(Nodules and Pustules: A pustules is a whitehead with a ring of redness around it. Nodules are the deep inflamed red bumps. The redness comes from the inflammation. So if you have those little red bumps on your face, benzoyl peroxide would help at this point. A drying lotion or a clay mask can work as well. And these red bumps are very hard to conceal. But their is a alternative to this. There is a thick concealer out there called Dermablend that can hide anything. It's very good. You should also think about seeing a dermatologist at this stage.

Cyst: This is an erupting blemish: If this pimple is open, then apply a drying lotion. Do not squeeze it. If you do, then you will have a scar. If you are having many outbursts of these erupting blemishes, then go see an dermatologist. And there is no concealing at all here. Just let it drain. You can also use some benzoyl peroxide.

Gentle cleansers everyday
Frequent masks weekly
Steam your face once a week
Deep cleaning facials once a month
This should keep your acne under control. And don't forget to drink plenty of water and watch what you eat.

About the Author:
Carmen VJ. Hello Everyone, There are other alternatives in acne treatments that can help control your acne.
help-with-acne-treatments.blogspot.com
Article Submitted On: October 25, 2006
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Is Spironolactone The Only Option For Women Over 35 With Acne?

Spironolactone is generally prescribed as an “off label” acne treatment for women. This drug, though intended to help people with heart problems not zit problems, reduces the production of the hormone androgen. Androgen promotes excess facial oil secretion.

Less oil secretion limits the possibility of having clogged pores and acne flare-ups.

Spironolactone works as an androgen receptor blocker. This drug decreases androgen production in the ovaries and adrenal glands.
Side effects from spironolactone can include breast tenderness and menstrual irregularity.

For this reason, doctors usually add oral contraceptives like Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Estrostephave to compliment acne treatments and ease potential spironolactone side effects. Ironically though, spironolactone is recommended for women who are not candidates for oral contraceptives.

So should a woman over 35 with acne go with spironolactone? According to the American College of Physicians, the answer is “No”.

In the 2004 May/June edition of the American College of Physicians (ACP) published a medical review of studies that tested the effectiveness of spironolactone for controlling hirsutism, acne, or both in fertile or postmenopausal women. The ACP review found insufficient evidence to recommend spironolactone as an acne treatment.

Nevertheless, Dr. Diane Thiboutot of Pennsylvania State University, Hershey uses spironolactone for female patients with acne accompanied by a suspected endocrine disorder.

For example, when a woman experiences a sudden onset of severe acne or acne that is linked with excessive facial hair growth, irregular menstrual periods, increased libido, dark patches of skin, deepening of the voice, insulin resistance and hair loss, spironolactone may be helpful.

Dr. Thiboutot noted that spironolactone “seems to control quite well those cystic-type nodules that they [women] get on their lower face and chin.”

Yet Dr. Julie C Harper Dr. Harper of the department of dermatology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham doesn’t recommend spironolactone so easily. Only if neither topical retinoids nor antibiotics have not worked for a woman’s case of acne would Dr. Harper then suggest using spironolactone for women over 35.

Author of “Acne Messages”, Naweko San-Joyz, says “A woman’s response to androgens is so varied that limiting herself to an androgen blockers like spironolactone certainly does not guarantee a cure, or even a quick treatment.”

San-Joyz adds that overproduction of androgens is just one step in a series of potential events that could lead to acne.

Instead of hormonal manipulation with drugs, San-Joyz suggests women with acne regulate this conditional using food, stress control and greater awareness of potential acne triggers like environmental estrogens.

Women with acne have numerous treatments options. If a woman does decide to go with spironolactone, it’s best to get her prescription filled with her gynecologist rather that her general practitioner.

It’s most likely that the gynecologist will be more aware of how a patient may respond to hormonal treatments like spironolactone and oral contraceptives, thus making recovery faster.

About the author:
Naweko San-Joyz created the Acne Messages program, the only acne program to combine the latest scientific research and ancient wisdom to deliver an acne cure as unique as the acne sufferer. Millions of acne problems, billions of acne cures. Find your unique acne cure with Acne Messages. ISBN: 0974912204 available at http://www.Noixia.com
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Adult Acne: A Bumpy Ride Towards Aging

Picture this; the snow-white clear skin that you have been proud of since your teen years has suddenly poofed into a wicked witch's warty face upon reaching the age of 30! "Acne, at my age?" This is often the distressed statement of pockmarked men and women in their 30's to 40's afflicted with adult acne.

This problem is surely not the work of a vengeful sorcerer. Acne vulgaris is what this most common skin disorder in the United States is scientifically called. Statistics has it that 15 million people in US alone are afflicted with acne. It is an embarrassing problem among teenagers. But this condition is not only limited to those awkward years. Adult acne is also prevalent, especially among people in the age group of 25 to 40.

Acne is a disease that resulted from the accumulation of sebum, a highbrow term for oil, underneath the skin. When this happens and the desquamation (human's way of molting) process goes wrong, the pores become clogged. Aggravation will continue and soon infection sets in. A bad bug called Propionibacterium acnes causes this infection. Overproduction of oil and mismanagement of the process of shedding cells equals bunged pores. Clogged pores plus P. acnes, the scoundrel, equals breakout. Those pesky zits are produced just as easy as that.

One of the pushing forces that may cause the occurrence of acne includes the elevation of levels of testosterone among adolescents. No, it's not Toblerone misspelled. No matter how many anecdotes you've heard about chocolate addiction causing zits to dominate your face, there's really no enough scientific basis to prove this. Testosterone is a chemical produced by the body that increase sebum production and change the keratin of the hair follicles. Testosterone is an androgen. Androgen is a hormone produced in high levels among males. This is the reason behind the worse cases of acne among teenage boys more than girls.

Adult acne is called acne rosacea. It is characterized by the following: unsightly thick, red skin on the nose and cheeks, pus-filled blisters, small red bumps, and small red blood vessels seen on the skin surface. It is more commonly linked to increased levels of stress. Isn't it interesting how the body reacts to this stimulus? NOT. When exhausted, like Gizmo getting wet, our skin could actually give birth to little monsters! Though they are not as troublesome as gremlins, they could be just as annoying as well. Seriously, pimples can be difficult to deal with, and can cause depression and anxiety in an adult the same way it can in a teen. Pressure from work and family responsibilities is thought to possibly affect the normal balance of our hormones. And hormones messed up means having to put up with bumpy complexion caused by adult acne.

Aside from stress-triggered hormonal imbalance, hot foods alcohol consumption, and smoking are also considered to exacerbate adult acne. This may help you reconsider your food preferences and habits.

Acne lesions are commonly found on the face, but they can also pop out anytime on the neck, chest, back, shoulders, scalp, and upper arms and legs. Adult acne is more persistent than teen acne. It is because adults are consistently exposed to the many factors that cause breakouts. Another hitch of adult acne is permanent scarring. It is an evidence of the inevitable reality that with the coming of age, the skin loses its erstwhile ability to repair itself. As if there's a need to be reminded of that when your face starts to wrinkle already. Now here's more to shriek in terror for, especially those in their mid-20's: adult acne causes PREMATURE AGING. Isn't that just nerve-wracking?

Enough of the endless yada's regarding how adult acne could further destroy us. As how master Yoda puts is, educated we must be with the crusade towards clearer AND younger skin. Or at least skin that is just our age we must maintain.

At the first sight of those wicked pimples together with gray hair and wrinkles (talk about aging signs overkill), just like with teenagers, impulse dictates squeezing. But you very well know that squeezing is a big no-no. How old are you? You surely don't need any more marks of time's passage.

In severe cases, consulting a dermatologist would best help in dealing with adult acne. The dermatologist may prescribe an antibiotic, vitamin A derivative like Isotretinoin or other acne drug available. More women may be afflicted with adult acne than men. Pregnancy is another story if you are prescribed anti-acnes, especially Isotretinoin.

Proper skin care may not guarantee a flawless complexion. But a good skin care regimen may aid in warding off bacteria that worsen adult acne. If you love scrubbing for its squeaky-clean feel, think twice. It can render more damage to your already-blemished skin.

Another hint especially for women: use NON-COMEDOGENIC products. Non-comedogenic basically means anything that does not clog skin pores or cause acne. Do your homework and look for as many non-comedogenic versions of the skin care products you use. It's worth it, you'll see.

If stress is linked with adult acne, then, disengaging yourself from stressful activities might work wonders, right? A day away from work or catching up on one of your hobbies won't hurt.

There's this bold Jean Kerr reacting on a classical quotation.

"I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?"

It doesn't mean the depreciation of a pleasing personality. Such reaction only imparts a message of giving value to what boosts your self-esteem. If it's a clear complexion along with your aging gracefully, so be it. No adult acne should put a shame on your face and get in your way of becoming more confident.

About the Author:
Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about acne, please go to: http://acne.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Mild Inflammatory Acne Treatment

Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones and other substances on the skin's oil glands and hair follicles. These factors lead to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Doctors describe acne as a disease of the pilosebaceous units (PSUs). Found over most of the body, PSUs are most numerous on the face, upper back and chest.

Acne is often treated by dermatologists. The goals of treatment are to heal existing lesion, stop new lesions from forming, prevent scarring and minimize the psychological stress. For mild signs of acne, doctors usually recommend an Over-The-Counter (OTC) or prescription topical medicine. Topical medicine is applied directly to the acne lesions or to the entire area of affected skin.

There are several OTC topical medicines used for mild acne. Each works a little differently. Following are the most common ones:
* Benzoyl peroxide - destroys P. acnes, and may also reduce oil production
* Resorcinol - can help break down blackheads and whiteheads
* Salicylic acid - helps break down blackheads and whiteheads. Also helps cut down the shedding of cells lining the hair follicles
* Sulfur - helps break down blackheads and whiteheads.

Topical OTC medicines are available in many forms, such as gels, lotions, creams, soaps, or pads. In some people, OTC acne medicines may cause side effects such as skin irritation, burning, or redness, which often get better or go away with continued use of the medicine. If you experience severe or prolonged side effects, you should report them to your doctor. OTC topical medicines are somewhat effective in treating acne when used regularly; however, it may take up to 8 weeks before you see noticeable improvement.

Please be reminded that the above information is for informational purposes only and it is not intended to replace any health care services you need. The information provided is strictly not meant to diagnose medical conditions, offer medical advice, or endorse specific products or services. Do not rely upon the information provided alone for medical diagnosis or treatment. Kindly consult your doctor about any personal health concerns.

About the Author:
Julian Chee is the founder of Skincare Daily. This internationally accredited skin care website provides information on acne, acne treatments and acne medications. For more acne information, please visit http://www.skincaredaily.com
Submitted: 2006-10-23
Article Source: GoArticles