Acne: What Works and What not?

Generally, the first step should be to learn as much as possible about acne and what really works to get rid of it.

When does acne develop?

Acne develops when one or more of the following occurs: excess sebum production, rapid production of P. acnes, skin cells shed too quickly, inflammatory substances release. The success of an adult acne treatment depends on the cause. Today’s acne treatments are mostly trying to decrease sebum production and reduce P. acnes bacteria. Some treatments are also trying to normalize skin shedding and eliminate inflammation. It is very important to note that everyone has different types of skin and one solution that works for some people might not necessarily work for you.
 

•     The first step you need to take to fix your skin appearance is stop polluting it. Try not to put a lot of make up on, and don’t cover your face with daily creams, blush, or foundation. Once you have done this, your skin will be able to breathe and expel the unhealthy bacteria that have collected there.
•     Once you have stopped blocking your pores, you need a good cleanser. For some people the simplest soap, like hand soap, might work. If you want something else, try Cetaphil. Wash your face every morning and every night, unless you experience dryness, in which case you should go down to once per day.
•     The next step is to change your diet. For a healthy organism as well as a healthy face, you must stop eating unhealthy food. Although this might be hard in today’s world, it is the most crucial step. The food you consume greatly influences your skin appearance. You should try eating mostly fruit in the morning. You can eat as much fruit as you want, because your body wants to enjoy it and process it properly. After a while, your skin will reward you with change. Also, eating green leafy vegetables will help your diet too, as well as drinking lots of fresh filtered water. Whenever you are thirsty, stay away from pop or sugar-filled drinks, and stick to water or mild tea because water will flush out any toxins in your body. This is going to stop them from coming out of your pores.
•     If you are a woman, you should consider starting to take birth control pills. You have to consult your doctor about this option, since in many cases it could be the first successful move toward great skin. Taking the contraceptive pill does not necessarily mean that you are sexually active. Moreover, there are brands made specifically for curing acne and not just pregnancy prevention.

Which acne treatment works?

Today, virtually every case of acne can be resolved. The key to getting rid of acne lesions and preventing new ones from forming lies in knowing that resolution takes and needs time. It is very important to be patient, knowing that what works for one person may not work for another. In most cases, a dermatologist’s help may be required.

Although some acne treatments that promise fast, miraculous or overnight results often capture the attention of acne sufferers hoping for quick resolution, the fact remains that acne simply does not clear overnight. On average, treatment of 6 to 8 weeks is enough and necessary to see the initial results. Once acne significantly improves or clears, you need to continue treatment to keep acne from re-appearing. If acne does not improve in 6 to 8 weeks, you might need to adjust your treatment, as not every kind of treatment can clear every case of acne. What is an appropriate treatment for one person may not clear another’s acne because many factors affect resolution.

With so many factors affecting clearance and a multitude of treatment options available, a dermatologist’s help can make a difference. Before prescribing treatment, dermatologists consider several factors. He must watch the severity of the acne, types of lesions present, and co-existing conditions. He should also consider the patient’s age, skin type, lifestyle, and motivation. The knowledge gained from considering these factors allows dermatologists to create effective individualized therapy that will resolve the patient’s acne. This will take time for sure, but it will also prevent new lesions from forming. In some cases, a dermatologist may combine two or more treatment options to treat acne. You might be instructed to use one medication in the morning and the other at night. Acne responds especially well to early treatment so dermatologists recommend that acne should be treated early to maximize effectiveness as well as help prevent scarring.
 

Which treatment works for mild acne?

Mild acne consists of small lesions, such as blackheads, whiteheads or pustules. These lesions appear at or near the surface of the skin. As such, mild cases of acne can be controlled at home by gently washing the affected area with warm water and a mild soap twice a day.  Doing this, you will be able to remove dead skin cells and excess oil. Using a topical over-the-counter acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid might also help you. At-home treatment requires 4-8 weeks to see an improvement, but once acne clears, you must continue treatment to prevent new lesions from forming.

You must know that even mild cases of acne may require the help of a dermatologist. If the acne does not respond to at-home treatment, a dermatologist can assess the situation and determine other appropriate therapy that could work. In these cases, combination therapy might work. A doctor may present a combination therapy using a prescription topical antimicrobial or topical retinoid. This prescription topical can be very effective in clearing mild acne.

Treatment for moderate or moderately severe acne

In moderate to moderately severe acne, numerous whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules appear. Most commonly, those cover from ¼ to ¾ of the face or other affected areas. Such acne usually requires the help of a dermatologist and combination therapy using two or more treatment options. Treatments used to treat moderate to moderately severe acne are physical methods, such as comedo extraction or light therapy. Prescription medications are topical antimicrobials, topical retinoids, oral antibiotics, oral contraceptives, or over-the-counter topical acne medications. Dermatologists recommend early treatment, because otherwise scars can develop. Acne scars form as raised thickened tissue, or as depressions such as pits or pockmarks. The only reliable method of preventing or limiting the extent of these scars is to treat acne early in its course. Off course, treatment should last for as long as necessary. Additionally, anyone with acne who has a known tendency to scar should be under the care of a dermatologist and receive appropriate treatment.
 

How to treat severe acne

Deep cysts, inflammation, extensive damage to the skin and scarring characterize severe acne. It requires an aggressive treatment regimen. A dermatologist should definitely treat this problem. Severe, disfiguring forms of acne can require years of treatment and may experience one or more treatment failures during this time. However, almost every case of acne can be treated successfully. Physical methods and prescription medications that dermatologists use to treat severe acne include drainage and surgical excision, inter-lesion corticosteroid injection, isotretinoin, oral antibiotics, or oral contraceptives.

Over-the-counter products for acne that work

Some of these products are marked as acne treatments, but clinical trials have not confirmed their effectiveness. The value of such treatments is generally unknown, so you have to take care when choosing.

Resorcinol: This is a popular ingredient in over-the-counter acne medications. This procuct controls small acne lesions and is frequently combined with sulfur in over-the-counter products.

Salicylic acid: Effective in treating non-inflammatory acne lesions, salicylic acid helps correct the abnormal shedding of skin cells and unclog pores.
Salicylic acid does not have any effect on sebum production or P. acnes as the main acne causes. Like Benzoyl peroxide, you must use salicylic acid continuously. Once you stop, pores will clog and acne will probably return. You could find Salicylic acid in many over-the-counter acne products, including lotions, creams and pads. Keep in mind that in some cases it was found to be irritating to the skin.

Sulfur: Sulfur has been used for more than 50 years in combination with other agents, such as alcohol, salicylic acid and resorcinol. You could find this substance in many over-the-counter acne medications. While long used to treat acne, doctors never did prove how sulfur works to clear acne. Due to its unpleasant odor, sulfur is not frequently used alone as acne treatment.

Physical procedures for acne treatment

Dermatologists occasionally use physical procedures to help clear acne. Most popular methods are listed below.

    * Chemical peels such as glycolic acid and other chemical agents are used by dermatologists to loosen blackheads and decrease acne papules.
    * Comedo extraction works to extract whiteheads and blackheads. Dermatologists use a sterile pen-sized device, which should only be wielded by a medical professional.
    * Drainage and surgical extraction works when some large cysts do not respond to medication. Drainage and extraction, or acne surgery, reduces the pain associated with these cysts and decreases the likelihood of scarring.
    * Phototherapy as laser and light treatment is now available to treat acne. Some of these lasers and light treatments target only one factor that causes acne - P. acnes.  For many patients, this is not a comprehensive treatment for resolving their acne, so this therapy might not work for you the same way it does for other people. A dermatologist can determine if laser or light treatment is appropriate for you.