Many people all over the world have battles with their acne on a daily basis. Acne not only may be uncomfortable but can also affect the way one may view his/her self. With the recommendations covered in this article you will be able to fight off that acne.
Acne Treatments work by reducing oil production, speeding up skin cell turnover, fighting bacterial infection, reducing the inflamation or doing all four. With most prescribed acne treatments, you may not see results for four to eight weeks, and your skin may get worse before it gets better.
Types of acne treatments include:
Over the counter topical treatments.Acne lotions may dry up the oil, kill bacteria and promote sloughing of dead skin cells. Over-the-counter (OTC) lotions are generally mild and contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid or sulfur as their active ingredient. These products can be helpful for very mild acne.OTC acne medications may cause initial side effects — such as skin irritation, dryness and flaking — that often improve after the first month of therapy.
Topical treatments available by prescription. If your acne doesn’t respond to OTC treatments, consider seeing a doctor or dermatologist to get a stronger prescription lotion. Tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, others), adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage) are examples of topical prescription products derived from vitamin A. They work by promoting cell turnover and preventing plugging of the hair follicles. A number of topical antibiotics also are available. They work by killing excess skin bacteria.
Antibiotics. For moderate to severe acne, you may need a short course of prescription oral antibiotics to reduce bacteria and fight inflammation. Antibiotic resistance has increased significantly in people with acne since oral antibiotics were first used to treat acne. Your doctor will likely recommend tapering off these medications as soon as your symptoms begin to improve or as soon as it becomes clear that the drugs aren’t helping-it usually takes three to four months. In most cases, you’ll use topical medications and oral antibiotics together. Antibiotics can cause side effects, such as an upset stomach, dizziness, or skin discoloration. These drugs increase your skin’s sensitivity and may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
Isotretinoin. For deep cysts, antibiotics may not be enough. Isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret) is a powerful medication available for scarring cystic acne or acne that doesn’t respond to other treatments. This medicine is reserved for the most severe forms of acne. It’s very effective, but people who take it need close monitoring by a dermatologist because of the possibility of severe side effects.
The side effects of isotretinoin are dry eyes, lips, nose and skin, as well as itching, nosebleeds, muscle aches, sun sensitivity and poor night vision. This drug can also increase levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood and may increase liver enzyme levels.
Oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptives, including a combination of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol (Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Previfem, others), can improve acne in women. The most serious potential complication of taking contraceptives is a slightly increases risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and blood clots.
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 bacteria that cause acne inflammation. These therapies can also improve skin texture and lessen the appearance of scars. More research is needed to understand the most effective use of light and laser therapies in acne treatment, and experts currently recommend these approaches as stand-alone therapy only in people who can’t tolerate approved acne medications. These therapies may be uncomfortable and may cause temporary skin problems that mimic a severe sunburn.
Cosmetic procedures. chemical peels and microdermabrasion can be helpful in controlling acne. These cosmetic procedures-which have traditionally been used to lessen the appearance of fine lines, sun damage and minor facial scars-are most effective when used in combination with other acne treatments. They may cause temporary, severe redness, scaling and blistering, and long-term discoloration of the skin.
For more information about acne treatment, visit our Careclub webpage.
