Acne Treatment- All About Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin is one of the proven drugs for severe acne and acne that does not respond to other therapies. Isotretinoin effectively clears acne, but one must know more about how to use Isotretinoin and the possible side effects to get the best out of it. Let us discuss all about Isotretinoin.

What Is Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin is a retinoid. That means that it is derived from Vitamin A. The chemical name of Isotretinoin is 13-cis retinoic acid. Isotretinoin is a very effective drug for acne. It is normally prescribed for severe acne when other therapies fail. Isotretinoin should be taken very carefully because it can produce birth defects in fetus. While taking Isotretinoin, you should be always in contact with your doctor and report any side effect. You should also discuss about any possible pregnancy with your doctor if you are sexually active. Isotretinoin generally gives relief in severe acne and is a drug of choice for acne patients who may have lost hope about cure of their acne.

Prescription

Isotretinoin is prescribed for acne treatment. Isotretinoin works in treating acne by shrinking the sebaceous glands and reducing sebum production. Isotretinoin is anti-inflammatory and removes comedones. The treated skin is dry and inhibits the growth of acne bacteria. Isotretinoin is prescribed in case of severe acne, scarring acne, moderate acne that is not responding to other medication and every case of acne where doctor feels that Isotretinoin should be prescribed to get rid of acne. Isotretinoin may also be used for some other conditions that include- folliculitis, seborrhoea, chloracne and other diseases that look like acne.

The dosage of Isotretinoin will depend upon the severity of acne, body weight, other treatments being used at the same time etc. Your doctor is the best person to decide about the dose. Normally the treatment begins with small dose and as body adjusts to Isotretinoin the does is increased. Doctors also monitor the cure during this period and if they find that patient is not responding, they may stop the therapy. As Isotretinoin needs fat to help its absorption in body, it is taken after food. Please follow your doctors advise about these.

Side Effects- The common side effects of Isotretinoin are dry mouth, dry nose, thinning of hair, fatigue, dry skin, red itchy eyes, sore lips etc. If you experience any other side effects such as muscle aches, difficult walking, depression vomiting etc. please talk to your doctor immediately. Please discuss about side effects with your doctor before beginning of the treatment with Isotretinoin and report any expected or unexpected side effect immediately. Please note that you may not be able to wear your contact lenses for some time in the beginning of treatment with Isotretinoin. You are also not supposed to donate any blood while you are taking Isotretinoin and for one month after you stop taking it. Please talk about do's and don't with your doctor. You also must tell your doctor about any medicine or Vitamins that you are taking. You are not supposed to take any medicines without consulting your doctor while taking Isotretinoin.

Isotretinoin and Pregnancy

Isotretinoin can cause serious defects in the fetus. Therefore you should inform your doctor if you are pregnant. You should also tell your doctor if you plant to become pregnant or breast-feeding. You have to test yourself for pregnancy before you begin Isotretinoin and continue getting tested while taking Isotretinoin. Your doctor will explain the details to you. If you get pregnant while taking Isotretinoin you should stop taking it and call your doctor immediately. You must adopt two reliable methods of birth control for one month before taking Isotretinoin, continue while taking Isotretinoin and till after one month of stopping Isotretinoin. You should talk to your gynecologist and dermatologist in detail before taking Isotretinoin.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

About the Author:
The author C.D.Mohatta writes articles on skin problems, skin treatments and skin care. You can visit http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/ for more information about how to have good skin. You can read articles, advice and ideas at http://www.yourromanceguide.com/ on love, dating, marriage, relationships, break-ups, etc. You can use free love and romance ecards from http://www.cupidecards.com/ to send your love messages to your darling.
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Acne-How to Treat Acne During Pregnancy

Acne is mainly caused because of hormonal changes in the body. The hormones increase production of sebum and this sebum fills the glands to form acne. During pregnancy the hormonal activity is at it’s highest. But a pregnant woman may not use many acne medications. Let us find out now.

Acne and Tretinoin-

Tretinoin is one of the most common retinoids that are used to treat acne. Tretinoin clears the upper layer of the skin by peeling it off. Tretinoin gives very good results in acne treatment and in improvement of skin. But being a Vitamin A derivative, it cannot be used during pregnancy. All other retinoids also cannot be used.

Acne and isotretinoin-

Isotretinoin can treat the severe forms of acne. Isotretinoin which is a derivative of Vitamin A is taken orally to treat acne. But isotretinoin is strictly prohibited during pregnancy. Not only that, you must become pregnant only after few months of your stopping use of Isotretinon. So Isotretinoin is a strictly no during pregnancy.

Antibiotics-

Many antibiotics are not allowed to be used during pregnancy. You must talk to your doctor before using any antibiotic in any form during your pregnancy.

Acne during pregnancy-what to use?

The choices are many to treat acne during pregnancy. Benzoyl peroxide, AHAs, Salicylic acid and few other products may be allowed by your doctor to treat acne. You must use any topical or oral medication even if it is OTC, only after consulting your doctor. Somehow, the acne clears off magically immediately after pregnancy. Is not that good news?

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

About the Author:
The author C.D.Mohatta writes articles on skin problems, skin treatments and skin care. You can visit Doctor Good Skin for more information about acne and pregnancy. The author also writes for personality tests at FunQuizCards. He also recommends Myspace Greetings. You can send unique flash greetings to your friends on myspace on every subject. The greeting will be seen in their profile.
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Helping Your Wife Cope Acne In Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the most crucial period in the life of a woman. Especially, the time she is pregnant for the first time, it gets too difficult for her to maintain her mental equilibrium and posture. She remains most tender; and unexplainable feelings of anxiety grip her. This is the time, when she requires understanding and sympathy, the most.

The most unwelcome development for her during this period is sickness. She remains always doubly worried. Firstly, about her own constitution, and next, how to properly support the other growing tiny self within her! Her worry about the later aspect is much more.

And there at times come acne to add to her sorry state. Acne is a disease that upsets the woman even during the normal times. And during pregnancy she is doubly upset, because she has information that acne is a hereditary disease. Her intense worry is that, what if the child gets acne?

Herein, you can play a guard to the emotions of your wife. As such you can not do anything to help your wife to cope acne in pregnancy. But you can surely get her the best medical advice and provide or not provide her medication, on the lines indicated by the medical practitioner. Your sympathy and understanding and kind words are more than any balm, lotion or gel to her.

You can provide her with good reading material or articles on how the other women have faced similar situations in their life and how they were able to tackle it successfully.

Such success stories do a lot to boost her moral courage. That is the real medication needed at this time of her life. Don't allow her heavy mood swings to overpower her. Keep her in good humor by talking to her sweet nothings and by telling her that acne is indeed a minor problem!

But if the depression persists, it could be Postpartum Depression (PPD). Before it gets serious, consult a psychiatrist or a specialist.

The correct causes of acne are still not known. It is a subject, under active research. Acne could be due to the side effects of certain other medications. Stress and pregnancy could itself be the reason for acne. So, you can carefully advise your wife against stressing out on this aspect of acne.

At this stage, what she needs is your constant company. You are a better subject to talk to, than the subject of acne. Spend as much time as is possible in her company. That is the best that you can do for her.

About the Author:
Javier Fuller
To read more articles on acne acne rosacea and acne facts visit http://www.acnetalks.com/pimple/
Added: 16 Oct 2006
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/39558.html

Happy To Be Pregnant But Struck Down By Acne

Being pregnant is usually a time when a woman feels her best; the hormones are zipping around the body, the skin looks flushed and healthy, hair looks shiny and thick. People tell you that you look radiant, that you are glowing and that being pregnant suits you. You look in the mirror and you agree.

Unless you get struck by acne, that is. Unfortunately, pregnancy can sometimes cause acne to appear when you've never had it before or make it worse (if you already had it in the first place). This is definitely not the glowing picture of mommmy-to-be that you had in mind, right?
The reason that acne can sometimes get triggered during pregnancy is due to higher levels of androgens (hormones) which boost oil production. So now you have a case of extra sebum (oil) plus the dead skin cells that are always getting shed and bang! You have a situation ripe for clogging pores and encouraging bacteria to breed freely. As a result of this the skin becomes inflamed and acne erupts.

Now, ordinarily, you could seek out antibiotics and medicated skin lotions and potions in an effort to control the acne. But being pregnant means you have to watch what you eat and be careful about substances that you rub into your skin (which are then absorbed into your blood stream). You have to ensure that you are not putting the life of your unborn baby at risk. This makes it difficult for you to tackle your acne attack head on.

Usually acne can be treated through the use of prescription drugs such as Retin-A, Tetracycline and Accutane but these are not recommended to be used by pregnant women for the following reasons:

Retin-A is a cream that is usually applied to the skin. It is also known as tretinoin and is known to cause abnormalities in the devoloping fetus. The danger even though it is applied to the skin is that it will be absorbed into the bloodstream and there is a risk that it could reach the fetus in the womb.

Tetracycline is an antibiotic and should not be taken even if you are intending to become pregnant. It is known to cause damage to the developing teeth and bones of the fetus.

Accutane is a precribed medication that is taken orally; its generic name is isotretinoin. This also causes abnormalities in the developing fetus. Studies have shown that more than a quarter of the infants born to those women who were using Accutane during the first trimester of pregnancy had birth defects. These ranged from heart defects, craniofacial defects and defects relating to the central nervous system. Researchers also found an elevated risk or miscarriage in women taking Accutane whilst pregnant.

However, fear not. It is possible to find safe, effective and proven acne treatments to get you out of your misery. Antibiotic creams that contain clindamycin or erythromycin are perfect to use whilst pregnant.

Even if you can't eradicate your acne completely whilst pregnant, you can still do a number of things that will help keep it in check. Keep your face clean and bacteria free as much as possible. Use a mild gentle soap or cleanser and use an oil-free moisturiser. Don't squeeze or rub your pimples and keep your hands away from your face as much as possible.

If you have severe acne then consult with a doctor or midwife and they may be able to advise you of a safer alternative to antibiotics.

About the Author:
Kimberly Banks is a successful writer and publisher of Acne-Free-Clinic.com. Her website offers advice on acne treatment, acne laser surgery, controlling acne and acne scar removal.
Added: 03 Oct 2006
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/38157.html