subject: All About Acne for all [print this page] All About Acne for all All About Acne for all
Before starting my article I will like to say a few words about health.
"Every human being is the author of his own health or disease."
"He, who has health, has hope. And he, who has hope, has everything."
"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."
Very few people have genes that give them absolutely flawless skin. Chances are that even the most enviable skin was cleansed and lotioned into perfection. Here is the first in a series of beauty tips to fix the most common skin problems.
A common plague among teenagers and early twenty-somethings is Acne caused by blockages in follicles. Why some people get acne and others don't is still being researched. However, there are several factors that are known to be at least partially responsible.
* Acne tends to run in families. Often acne for this reason has an earlier occurrence and an increased number of lesions.
* Hormonal activity, such as menstrual cycles and puberty.
* Stress.
* Accumulation of dead skin cells.
* Bacteria in the pores. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is the bacterium that causes acne.
* Use of anabolic steroids.
* Any medication containing halogens (iodides, chlorides, bromides), lithium, barbiturates, or androgens.
Acne is not caused by dirt as is often believed. Though blackheads look like dirt stuck in the openings of pores, the color is not from dirt but oxidized keratin. In fact, the blockages of keratin that cause acne occur deep within the small follicle channel, where they can't be washed away.
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Treatment
Treatment for acne tries to accomplish four main goals and every good acne medicine should be made to treat at least one. They should aim to normalize shedding into the pore to prevent blockage, kill the acne bacteria, reduce inflammation and manipulate certain hormone levels. Most reliable treatments won't show results for three months. If an acne medication guarantees results in two weeks, buyers will likely be very disappointed. It is a good idea to consult with a dermatologist before starting any acne medicine. The best treatments often have the most side-effects, and many need prescriptions anyway.
Some treatments that have proven effective:
* Cortisone shots can relieve inflammation.
* Topical bacteria treatments using benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that causes acne, P. acnes. Soaps or washes vary in strength from 2% to 10%. Studies have shown that using 10% benzoyl peroxide on mild to moderate acne saw a reduction in lesions after six weeks. Prescription strength topicals can usually penetrate deeper than the over-the-counter versions, but both work comparably.
* Topical and oral antibiotic treatments also aim to kill bacteria within follicles.
* Topical and oral retinoids normalize the follicle life cycle to prevent the excess keratin that blocks pore. Initially, the face may flare up as the skin is "flushed," but it should return to normal fairly quickly.
Some other over the counter aids more geared toward mild acne include:
* Localized heat can be used on a developing pimple to kill the bacteria and speed healing.
* Ibuprofen can reduce inflammation.
* Vitamin B3 used as a topical has proven to be more effective than comparable prescription topicals. Also, it has fewer side-effects.
* Tea Tree Oil is somewhat comparable to benzoyl peroxide without causing dryness.
