Acne TreatmentsBy: Greg Mauro Various tretments exist for acne, from products to diet to simply where you live. Read some suggestions below for how to treat your acne. Acne may cause you considerable emotional distress but there is a range of treatment options to help you tackle the problem. No treatment will completely 'cure' your acne. The aims of treatment are to prevent new spots forming, to improve those already present, and to prevent scarring. Treatments that promise "fast," miraculous" or "overnight" results often capture the attention of acne sufferers hoping for quick resolution. However, the fact remains that acne does not clear overnight. On average, 6 to 8 weeks are needed to see initial results. Once acne significantly improves or clears, continued treatment is needed to keep acne from re-appearing. If acne does not improve in 6 to 8 weeks, treatment may need to be adjusted as not every acne treatment clears every case of acne. What is an appropriate treatment for one person may not clear another's acne because many factors affect resolution, including the cause(s) of the acne, a person's skin type and the kind of acne lesions present. Dermatologists With so many factors affecting clearance and a multitude of treatment options available (some only by prescription), a dermatologist's help can make a difference. Before prescribing treatment, dermatologists consider several factors, including the severity of the acne, types of lesions present, co-existing conditions, as well as the patient's age, skin type, lifestyle and motivation. Sometimes a dermatologist may combine two or more treatment options. A patient may be instructed to use one medication in the morning and the other at night. Or, two medications may be combined in one prescription medication. Due to possible side effects, over-the-counter medications should not be combined unless directed by a dermatologist or other medical practitioner. Home Care It is important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser. The skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so avoid aggressive washing with strong soaps. One good over the counter product is benzoyl peroxide. Not only is it an antibacterial, but it also can dry out the skin and encourage it to shed the surface layer of dead skin. Together, these effects make it harder for pores to become blocked and for infection to develop. Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling, but tends to reduce with lighter usage. Prescriptions Topical Treatments Azelaic acid (Skinoren) is an alternative to benzoyl peroxide and may not make your skin as sore as benzoyl peroxide Topical retinoids (eg Adapalene) are medicines based on vitamin A, which are rubbed into the skin once or twice a day. They work by encouraging the outer layer of skin to flake off A topical antibiotic lotion applied to the skin can be used. Treatment needs to continue for at least six months. Preparations that combine an antibiotic with other acne medication are available (eg Benzamycin which combines an antibiotic with benzoyl peroxide). Oral Treatments Oral treatments are tablets or pills taken orally. Oral antibiotics such as tetracycline, can be prescribed for inflammatory acne. They should be taken daily for around three months, although it might take four to six months for the benefits to be seen. The success of this treatment can be limited because the strains of bacteria are often resistant to the common antibiotics. Antibiotics do not prevent pores from becoming blocked so a treatment to prevent blackheads such as benzoyl peroxide, is often also prescribed at the same time. Isotretinoin (eg Roaccutane) is a medicine known as an oral retinoid, which also exists in a topical form. Isotretinoin works by drying up oily secretions. It tends to be prescribed to people with severe forms of acne that have proved resistant to other treatments. There a number of serious side-effects of this drug, such as liver disorders and depression. You should not take isotretinoin if you are pregnant, as it is very dangerous to an unborn baby. For safety reasons, isotretinoin is only prescribed under the supervision of dermatology specialists. What Treatment is Best for Me? The type of treatment that is best for you can be found by discussing options with your dermatologist. Remember, everyone is different and one type of treatment may not work for everyone. The best is to just remain patient until you finally find the best solution to your own needs. Don't get discouraged, remember that acne is just a small part of life, but once you find the right treatment you can focus on more important things. For all your health needs, visit Help for Health. |
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