Acne Is All About

Just when you thought you'd finally got through all the skin problems related to puberty, you wake up one day and find acne. If you ask a dermatologist, you will find out acne is not just a problem for teens. Fortunately, there are some treatments that will help you fight adult acne successfully.

Adult Acne Facts

Doctors say adult acne is a common problem, but unfortunately an under-recognized one. Most people think acne it just for kids, but it can happen in later years too. It is more common in women than in men. Statistics show that acne affects about 25% of all adult men and 50% of all adult women at some point during their adult life.

At the bottom of acne lies the pimple, which doctors call comedo. A pimple is a plug of fat, skin debris and keratin stuck in a hair duct. When it is open, we call it a blackhead and when it's closed over, a whitehead. Whiteheads can cause the walls of the hair duct to rupture, leading to redness, infection and cysts of acne.

Many people think that acne is a result of poor hygiene, but this is not true. Both adult and teen acne are caused by a combination of many factors, such as excess oil production, faulty closing of the hair duct or infection. Washing your face gently only twice a day is actually much better than washing it more often.

Adult Acne Treatment

You can choose between an adult acne treatment in a dermatologist's office or at home. However, squeezing pimples at home often leads to infection and scars. Squeezing pimples is also a very effective way to get your acne to spread. Doctors, on the other hands, use special sterile instruments to prevent infection, scarring and acne spread.

Another solution is to check your local drug store for adult acne treatments. If you've ever tried this, you know it's loaded with such products. With so many options available, choosing the right adult acne treatment can be quite difficult.

A great progress in adult acne treatment has been the producing of the topical retinoid acid, a modified form of vitamin A. Improved versions of this medicine greatly reduce the irritation it can cause. Other acne treatments fight against different causes of acne. They are sometimes used in combination. Such acne treatments include:

* Azelaic acid cream

* Benzoyl peroxide

* Alpha-hydroxy acids (such as lactic acid, glycolic acid and gluconic acid)

* Antibiotic pills (of used unwisely, they can lead to antibiotic resistance)

* Topical antibiotics (gels, lotions and solutions)

* Contraceptive pills for women

* Sotret or Accutane for severe acne

Accutane and Sotret have several side effects, including birth defects. Women with severe acne problems that choose these treatments should use alternative birth control. Despite the side effects they have, these treatments are probably the best choice for sever acne.

Acne can be a terrible nightmare for so many people. Acne does not discriminate, not matter what your age Acne can strike. When you have an outbreak, you want to be certain that the treatment you are using is actually effective.

Sometimes it can appear that you have spent a lot of money buying treatments that don’t work, and you are left terribly disappointed by the lack of results, perhaps it is time for a different approach to your acne treatment.

Typically using commercially available preparations will be sufficient to successfully treat your acne out break, but there are some more difficult types of acne that need medical treatment. Sometimes even cases that might not appear to be serve might require medical treatment, if you are in any doubt the best thing you can do is to go to see your doctor.

Your doctor will be able to tell you whether you should visit to a dermatologist. This way you can be certain that your acne is getting the best treatment from a professional. This referral will also have the added advantage of allowing you to receive the treatment at a reduced cost, because your insurer will subsidize the expense of any medicine or surgery.

Another benefit of going to your doctor is that you will no longer have to examine piles of information, use trial and error to decide what is wrong with you and what treatment works best for you.

Before you consult your doctor there are a few things you should do to make certain you will be able to communicate your problem correctly.

The first step is to record the details of any acne treatment you have used in the past and every product you have used on your skin and what benefits you derived from it. You should also include details of how long each product worked for and how it cleared your face.

If your history reveals that you have not had any long-term success on your own, you should let your doctor know that. You might just be using products that aren't actually ment for your skin type, but not being a professional yourself, you don't know if something else is available.

Your dermatologist will be able to advise the acne treatment product you require to achieve long term results given your exact problem and this is just what you want, better results in the long term.

To summarize if you have any concerns about the effectiveness of treatment you are using to help with your acne out break, don't hesitate go and see your doctor he will be able to help.

Roger Overanout

Copyright 2006 David Maillie

Acne is a skin condition that simply refuses to go away. It’s a nagging skin ailment that we commonly call pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, red or yellow spots, cystic nodules or scars. The acne prone age is between 12 and 25 years. But beware; it’s not just a teen trouble. Even in your 30s and 40s you may get acne attacks. Acne can cause lifelong scars, if left untreated. Hence, it is vital to be proactive about acne treatment, beginning right from home remedies. Acne treatment essentially involves the use of both preventive and curative products.

Preventive products

The natural way to keep off acne begins at home. If you wish to keep off acne, follow this home treatment attentively and be sure of great results.

- Keep your face spotless clean, by washing it often with a gentle anti-bacterial cleanser or some home-made natural product - Never use greasy, oil-based moisturizers - Never use products containing synthetic chemicals and vegetable oils - Keep your hair off your face - Never dig or touch scars - Keep skin pores unclogged with products containing sulfur plus resorcinol

However, pregnant women, kids and patients under some other medication, should consult a doc before they use such products.

Medication methods

The condition of your acne will determine the treatment options. Treatment also depends on the oil balance of your skin, your gender and your existing medications. The most proactive acne treatment is with topical products (gels, creams) containing Salicylic acid, Benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, tetracycline, erythromycin or a retinoid. Many times a combination of these products also works well.

Physicians also prescribe oral medications like antibiotics, hormones, and isotretinoins. Go for such acne treatment only after knowing the side effects.

Laser treatment

Laser treatment has completely cured many. Here the laser destroys the excess oil producing glands and removes scars. It is painless, harmless but costly. However, to get rid of the existing acne you need medication.

Cystic treatment

Acute cystic acne needs cystic treatments with Accutane or isotretinoin. But, there are side effects. Since most other treatments are not effective on cystic acne, these severe products are unavoidable. Chinese treatments

The Chinese method is a natural herbal acne treatment. They believe in getting to the root of the problem like liver ailments, emotional upsets, wind heat, damp heat, blood heat etc. “They even trace acne to reasons like a stagnant qi (energy). Their natural products do help many,” says dermatologist Dr Manela Humphrey. Peel power

TCA Peels are an easy, safe and affordable acne treatment. “They are also more effective than other clinic or spa-based treatments,” says salon specialist Mary Roberts. Peels were earlier available only through costly treatments by skin specialists, at US$ 500- 1000 per session. These same peels are now easily available at less than US$30. No prescriptions are required either.