Susan Moro asked:


Acne treatment is a lengthy process which requires endurance and consistency on the patient’s part. Acne treatment is not painful at all but it is a time taking process. The biggest mistake that people make is that as soon as they start getting some result they discontinue the treatment. This actually further worsens the acne condition.

Proper skin care plays a vital role in acne treatment. It helps to reduce and control the acne problem. The following are a few guidelines that will help you to get maximum results during acne treatment.

The first thing which should be remembered and followed at all costs is that you should not pick or squeeze your pimples. It will make acne worse and may cause inflammation on the skin.

• Do not over scrub your skin. Over scrubbing can further aggravate the acne by causing inflammation. Instead it is advised to wash your face twice a day with gentle face wash and pat dry. It will help to keep the acne under control.

• Oily hair can further aggravate acne. If you have oily hair you should keep it off your face and wash your hair daily.

• Avoid using hair products like pomades, gels, anti frizz lotions and sprays. Although these things are not applied on the skin directly, when hair falls on your face, whatever is applied on hair gets transferred on the face thus sometimes causing acne.

• Sometimes sport clothes can cause and aggravate acne. If you are suffering from acne then it is advised to wear cotton cloths under sport clothes to avoid direct skin contact.

• During the acne treatment you should try not to use cosmetics on your skin. If you cannot go without make up than use noncomedogenic cosmetics as they do not clog the pores.

• Use medicines as and when directed by the dermatologist. Try not to change the quantity of acne medication according to your own will; this will further worsen the acne condition. Read the instructions properly and then follow it accordingly.

• Give acne medicines time to do their job. It normally takes 6 to 8 weeks to show improvement in acne depending on the skin condition. You can also ask your dermatologist that how much time is required for your acne treatment. And lastly you should not discontinue your treatment halfway.

• During acne treatment avoid excessive exposure to sunlight. Do not use tanning booths or sun lamps as they are of no help. Tanning can increase the risks of skin cancer. Some acne treatments increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sunlight.

If you follow all the instruction carefully along with your acne treatment you will get the best results. But if it does not work you should consult your dermatologist because in today’s world of medical advancement all types of acne are totally curable.



Andrea

Karen Cheong asked:


When 13-cis retinoic acid or isotretinoin first came out as an acne medicine, it was regarded as a wonderful new way of treating acne, especially severe acne. It appeared to be able to cure acne, especially the severe from known as cystic acne.

I have a friend who has very severe acne. She is actually quite pretty. Unfortunately, it is hard to notice that as the acne seems to take all the attention away from her features. It was so bad everyone could see the problem but nobody dared to talk about it for fear of upsetting her further. Her face was constantly looking red and inflammed. Scars had begun to form from the healing lesions. Her self-confidence was really low and she had tried everything to cure her acne.

One day, we noticed that she looked like she had a bad sunburn. Her face was dry and peeling and she looked quite uncomfortable. When one of us finally plucked up enough courage to ask her about it, she explained that she was on a new acne medicine.

This new acne medicine works by reducing the amount of the natural skin oils (called sebum) produced. It also works by having a peeling effect on the skin.

We asked if the drug had any side effects. She looked at us like we had asked her if elephants could fly. All medications have side effects, she said. Acne medicine is no exception.

I looked up the side effects of this wonder acne medicine. The list was quite shocking, to be honest. The first highlighted side effect was a warning that this drug can cause deformities in unborn babies. Under no circumstances should a patient who is pregnant or who has the possibility of getting pregnant take this drug. Effective contraception is a must.

Other side effects included dryness and soreness of lips, eyes, skin, liver and other major organs. Eyesight could be affected. Liver tests needed to be done to ensure there was no harm done to the liver. Even bloody diarrhoea was a potential side effect.

To add to the list of more side effects of this acne medicine, it could also increase blood fat and sugar levels. These too had to be monitored, especially in patients who had other problems such as high cholesterol and diabetes.

It could even cause depression, anxiety and mood changes.The list of warnings was longer than the paragraph on how this acne medicine worked !

Fortunately, the side effects were said to be short-lived and would be reversible if the medicine was stopped. However, we were worried as isotretinoin needed to be taken for at least 12 to 16 weeks.

This wonder acne medicine did not sound so wonderful to us. We did try to talk her out of it. She became unhappy, saying we did not understand how much she had gone through, suffering with her acne problem for years. She explained that with any acne medicine, one had to weigh the benefits and the risks. To her, the risks were worth the potential promise of a cure.

There are few lessons that can be learnt from this story. The first and most important is that while acne is not in any way a fatal disease, it can cause debilitating effects on its sufferers. It affects their self-confidence, the way they see themselves, the way others see them. It can control their lives. Acne has been known to cause depression in some, especially if it is severe.

Unfortunately, while there are acne medicines available, many have side effects. These medicines can cause problems in themselves.

However, in the end, it is the sufferer who must decide if the risks outweigh the benefits.



Melissa

Jen♥Cubs asked:


My doctor said that a lot of acne medications break you out badly at the beginning and can take 6-8 weeks to see results. Why?

Christopher

sports asked:


I have had acne for awhile on my face, not too bad , but I still have it. I visited a dermatologists last week, he gave me pills to take, How long does it take too clear it up. It’s been a week and still no results.

Maria

Susan Moro asked:


I still remember my teenage days when I used to stay at home as much as possible and became very introvert. I was very shy and less confident and like all teenagers, I was really devastated at that time. I used to think that I am really very unfortunate to suffer from such a skin condition. Do you know what the reason behind my odd behavior was? The reason for all my sufferings was Acne.

Studies show that irrespective of race, gender, lifestyle and origin the majority of teenagers suffer from different forms of acne like whiteheads, blackheads, pimples etc. in fact most of the people in this world face some kind of acne at least once in their life time. Acne usually occurs from 12 to 20 years of age. Acne usually erupts in teenage years due to hormonal changes in the human body.

During adolescence hormone levels change and it stimulates sebaceous glands. These glands secrete Sebum, an oily substance which is the root cause of acne. Sebaceous glands are attached to the hair follicles and a zit erupts when hair follicle becomes swollen due to oil secretion and dead cells.

The important thing to be noted is that acne does not usually disappear within days. Acne treatment is often a long and time taking process. Acne normally starts from 10 to 13 years of age and last for 5 to 10 years depending on the individual’s situation. Adolescent acne disappears by 25 years of age but sometimes this acne reaches high level of severity and it may disappear by age 30. This type of acne is called nodular acne or cystic acne and it may cause scarring on the skin.

Acne may be cleared up within a few years but the emotional scars of the teenagers takes a long time to heal. It becomes very difficult for most of the teenagers to lead a normal life during this phase. They become shy and reluctant to go in to the crowds. Many of them hesitate to go to schools, colleges or make friends. For a teenager acne can be the worst thing that can happen in his/her life.

During this phase teenagers have very low self esteem and confidence. They don’t feel good about their physical appearance. Acne treatment can be very beneficial to boost their confidence. Timely acne treatment can prevent acne from getting more severe. Research shows that acne responds well to early acne treatment.

Initially acne in teenagers can be controlled by using acne face wash and some good quality over the counter acne medicine. But if the acne condition does not improve then they should consult a dermatologist.



Thomas

Ruth Stattmiller asked:


Pregnancy usually brings along with it a host of medical concerns which prompt behavioral and lifestyle changes. It is common knowledge that pregnant women should avoid smoking and drinking, not to mention some excessively physical activities. But there are also a host of other medicines and procedures which should be avoided during pregnancy. So, the question is, how does pregnancy affect acne skin care regimens?

Many acne medicines are quite explicit about the fact that you should not use them during pregnancy. Roaccutane and Accutane are certainly among these. For those of us that have used the products, the medicine packaging picturing a pregnant woman with an ‘X’ over her sent a strong message that they should not be used if you are, or might become pregnant. There are other medicines, such as Tetracycline tablets and topical retinoids such as Tretinoin and Adapalene which can have detrimental effects on the bones and teeth of developing fetuses. While these medicines should clearly be avoided because of the detrimental effects they have on your baby, there are other medicines which should potentially be stopped simply because they are no longer appropriate when pregnant.

Pregnancy is often associated with a period of drier than normal skin. As a result, a number of acne medicines which are designed specifically to dry out the skin, namely benzoyl peroxide cream or gel may no longer be appropriate.

But does this mean that there are no acne skin care regimens that can be followed? Absolutely not. There are in fact a number of milder and often natural solutions which can contribute to healthier acne free skin which either have no, or even positive effects on your child. To replace harsh creams or gels designed to dry out the skin, an excellent alternative is tea tree oil. A milder facial wash can also provide the cleansing effect of an acne wash without over-drying your skin, which is naturally drier due to pregnancy. But because you may be giving up some of the acne fighting power by switching over to a milder wash, it is a good idea to supplement your acne fighting regimen with some natural clay masks such as Kaolin and Bentonite which will absorb oil and clear blocked pores naturally.

The second avenue through which pregnant women can clear up their skin while positively affecting the health of the child, is through their diet. By consuming higher quantities of raw vegetables, whose antioxidant properties serve to take free radicals (also referred to as bacteria) out of your system, you can cut down on the amount of bacteria released through your pores. In addition, by cutting back on the quantity of sugars and refined carbohydrates that you eat, you will naturally cut down on the amount of sebum or oil that your body produces. This will keep your pores clearer and allow the bacteria which passes through your pores to come out cleanly and without causing infection and acne. These approaches, in addition to providing you with clearer skin, are a safe and healthy alternative to acne fighting while simultaneously improving the health of your child.



Alexander

Eugene asked:


Acne is one of the most annoying things in teenage life. Every youngster would like to get rid of them once and for all. It’s naturally, because everyone wants to look pretty and attractive. This article will provide you with some tips and advices on how to get rid of acne. The information will be useful for each acne suffering adult, no matter how what type of acne he has or how strong the disease is. So let’s start.

Talk to Your Dermatologist

There is no better way to treat any disease that consult with specialist regarding it. So, the number one in our get-rid-list is to go to your dermatologist and consult with him. He should evaluate the main cause of your acne and recommend the medicine.

Do Not Touch Your Face

If you want to get rid of acne you should try not to touch your face during the day. Human striving for touching the painful area of his body is natural. But the number of bacteria on the hands and fingers is appallingly. You can bring additional the infection on the inflamed skin area providing excellent conditions for acne grow up.

Wash the Face Several Times per Day

The next step of getting rid of acne is to wash the face several times per day. It’s well-known that the cause of adult acne is excessive oil secretion, which provides perfect environment for the skin bacteria to multiply uncontrolled. Washing the face with soap will reduce a level of oil on the skin and will help to get rid of acne.

Watch Carefully What You Eat

Sebaceous glands malfunction caused by several reasons. One of them is what you eat. So try to reduce maximally the amount of fat, fried and keen food you eat every day. Fast food bypass is a good idea too. Also, if you want to get rid of acne, no matter how sad it is, you will have to refuse the sweets and candies. Especially this applies to chocolate. Despite some facts which say that there is no wrong food, correct nutrition is a way to good health.

Forget About Popping Your Acne

This you have to remember clearly. By popping an acne you face the risk of bringing the infection directly into your blood. If that happens, long and painful acne treatment is guaranteed. Moreover, acne popping can leave the scar on your face and you don’t want anything like this, right? So, no matter how suggestive, how noticeable acne is, stay for a day or two and this pimple will wither and leave you alone.

Clothes Should Not Rub Your Face

Watch out your clothes. When your clothes rub with your face this may bring on the irritation of the skin or bring some infection into it. So try to avoid the clothes that rub your face (caps, scarves, jackets with high collar etc.)

Don’t Be Zealous With Acne Medicine

More is not better in medicine. You won’t amplify the effect of specific medication if you use it more heartily. To get rid of acne, use acne medicine just as it specified by precept. Otherwise you will have additional problems with your skin or general health.

Be Patient

Every adult wants to get rid of acne at once. But healing takes time, you have to remember this. No matter how you are suffering, try to be patient. Most part of teenagers fries from acne into their early twenties. Acne medicine can make this process faster. But none of modern acne treatment will cure you in one night.



Tara

wendii20 asked:


What acne medicine works best for you? I have lots of blackheads on my nose and some white heads around my forehead. Sorry if that sounds gross. Thank you so much!
Oh and my face tends to get oily. My forehead tends to get very oily. Anything to help prevent that?

Carlos

huntress_ofthe_woods asked:


I have bought this new acne medicine called Acnefree. I started using it one day, using like it told me. By the end of the day my friend noticed a bump on my face. By the next day that little bump turned big and now half my face is swollen. Could i be allergic to it?

Cody

Emmiecakes asked:


What should I do to cover it I mean, and please don’t say makeup. BTW, my acne medicine was prescribed by my dermatologist.

Herbert