Friday, October 30, 2009

Acne Treatment: Do's and Don'ts


So you have problems with acne? Big deal, everyone does in one form or another. Acne is described as a skin condition that results in blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and other blemishes. There are so many different ways to treat all different kinds of acne.

To simply lessen the effects there are a few things that you can do. The skin should be cleaned with a gentle soap. I highly recommend Dove and Neutrogena as mild but efficient soaps. It is also very important to use water-based makeup and facial creams. Oil or grease based products will just clog up the pores and create more infection and break-outs. Another essential tip is to shampoo the hair daily. Some salon professionals will tell their customers that skipping a day of wash is healthy for the hair. However, it makes the skin extremely oily and more susceptible to acne. Tight hair bands also pull the skin back deforming and clogging the pores so it is a good idea to stay away from them. Avoiding touching your face with your oily fingers and hands in general is a good idea if you want to avoid breakouts. Most importantly, DON'T PICK! Even though it is tempting and you may think it looks better afterwards, it leads to more breakouts, infections, and permanent scarring. A little sun exposure is also good for the skin, but remember, NOT TOO MUCH EXPOSURE! :)

If all of this does not work, there are over-the-counter creams and lotions that might do the trick. Proactive is the most popular, but there are other less expensive brands. These lotions work by killing the bacteria and drying the oil in order for the skin to peel off therefore opening and cleaning the pores. The most important thing to remember is that one lotion will not work for everyone. Everyone's skin type is different so different creams and lotions are needed for all types of people. Do not get discouraged if the first one you try does not work. While using the over-the-counter drugs, do not forget to practice the above mentioned methods.

If the over-the-counter method does not work, a dermatologist should be contacted. They can prescribe a number of medications that might work to help with the acne as well as prevent infection and scarring. Some of these include: Oral antibiotics (minocycline, tetracycline), Isotretinoin pills (Accutane), prescription formulas (benzoyl peroxide), chemical skin peeling, and topical antibiotics (erythromycin). For some women, doctors and dermatologists will prescribe a certain birth control pill to help with acne. Because there are so many different medications, it is really important to do your research before using them. Ask your dermatologist questions and be confident that you will find a medication that works for you. Acne is a skin condition that affects many people in the world. Even if you cannot find a cure right away, do not let it put you down. There are more important things in life than a skin condition that you cannot control.

http://www.acneheroes.com/acne/action-plan.aspx?WT.mc_id=GOG20092H01&WT.ev=s

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/prescription-acne-medication-dermatologists-recommend.html

http://www.drugs.com/enc/acne.html

4 comments:

  1. Great article! I have always had problems with acne. It's not too bad, but bad enough to really get on my nerves. I do feel like I've tried everything and nothing works. I have been told not to wash my hair daily because it dries it out, but I'd rather risk having dry hair than having acne!

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  2. Acne is something I've had a fairly decent problem with for years. It used to be a lot worse, but now I only break out when I eat certain foods for the most part. What was most frustrating when it occurred frequently is that nothing helped. I tried all sorts of cremes and soaps and even saw a dermatologist who prescribed medications. Still, nothing worked. I had to wait until I essentially grew out of it. However, it still happens on occassion.

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  3. I've always liked biore its always worked for me. I like how you said not to pick. I always pick, it will be something so tiny that can be barely seen and then i pick at it and make it a million times worse and then its noticable but i cant help it!

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  4. I know my girlfriend uses proactiv and it works for her, but I think it all depends on the specific person using the treatment. I have seen some cases where proactiv hasn't worked. I know there are many other things like you mentioned that contribute to acne as well. Like the oil on your hands is a major contributor and many people don't realize this. Also, many people don't like bumps on their face so they pick and this definitely makes it worse I have seen that.

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