Recovering From Acne

If you have liver disease or heart disease, it's between you, your doctor, and your god. But skin disease is out there for the world to know about. You live with a constant reminder that there's something not quite right. Kids use body language to express their feelings. They might wear caps or have their collars turned up. Putting their hands on their face or covering their face is also common. I think those are clues that the acne is bothering them.

Appearance is a huge issue. Our culture worships beautiful people. You don't ever pick up a magazine and see someone with acne or rosacea unless it's a medical journal and it is in the context of diagnosis or treatment. We have many good drugs and products that can help kids with acne. And not only do we know more about the drugs, we also know more about the pathophysiology of acne, thanks to giants in the field such as Peter Pochi, John Strauss, Alan Shalita, and Jim Leyden. These are people who devoted their careers to better understanding acne and its treatments. I see kids with bad acne in the malls and in the grocery stores, working as clerks or carryout. I wish I could let them know, somehow, that we've got really good treatment for them, especially if they are obviously trying to cover up their acne. You look at all the body signals. Some of these kids are not depressed, but they still don't like their acne.

I have yet to have a teenager say "Yeah, I have acne and I like it!" I've never had one say that he or she wants to keep it. The best thing about acne is that it is a disease about which we can now say, with confidence, "We can get you better." We can't say that about every disease, but with acne we can almost always get the patient better. In some of these kids, there will be improvement within a month, but they never complain if they get better quicker.

This avoids disappointment. We dermatologists and our patients really are blessed with effective medicines for treating acne. The psychological impact of acne can be devastating, particularly for the young patients who are most susceptible to this extremely visible disease. Dr. Jan Hornets has lectured nationwide on the effects that acne can have on self-confidence and self-esteem. I educate them about basic skin care, explain how their medications work, and try to impress upon them the importance of compliance. I usually tell them, "It doesn't matter what I do. If you don't help, we can't get you better." I have them share responsibility. It is particularly important for teenagers to agree to a shared responsibility. The agreement must be between the patient and the doctor, not the doctor and a parent.

New Treatments Strategies for Acne

Acne vulgaris is the most common skin condition encountered by physicians, and it affects an estimated 17 million people in the United States. Within the last few years, several new agents for the treatment of acne have become available. This review provides a brief discussion of the pathophysiology of acne, principles for successful management, and an overview of existing therapies. This is followed by a discussion of the new antiacne agents and how they fit into a successful acne treatment strategy.
ACNE, ITS PATHOGENESIS, AND TREATMENT GOALS
Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial disease affecting the pilosebaceous follicles. It arises from the interplay of 4 pathogenic factors: sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, microbial colonization of the pilosebaceous unit by Propionibacterium acnes, and the release of inflammatory mediators into the follicle and surrounding dermis. Acne begins in the prepubertal period, when increased amounts of adrenal androgens cause enlargement of the sebaceous glands and increased production of sebum on the face, chest, and back.

The resulting follicular obstruction by the combination of sebum and desquamated epithelial cells causes the formation of a microcomedone, the precursor lesion of acne. This is also a suitable environment for the proliferation of P acnes, an anaerobic diphtheroid that colonizes sebum-rich follicles and uses lipids found in sebum as a nutrient source. Lipases released from P acnes hydrolyze sebum triglycerides into free fatty acids, which are an irritant to the follicular wall and the surrounding dermis after follicular rupture. P acnes also release chemotactic factors and proinflammatory mediators that contribute to the observed inflammatory response. The clinical results of these pathophysiological events include noninflammmatory open (blackheads) and closed comedones (whiteheads), as well as inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules. Although acne is not a life-threatening disease, it has significant physical and psychological ramifications such aspermanent scarring, poor self-image, social inhibition, depression,andanxiety.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL ACNE MANAGEMENT

Patient Factors
Successful management of acne requires careful patient evaluation followed by consideration of several "patient factors" and "medication factors" in choosing a particular therapeutic regimen. Most patients have a mixture of noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions. The predominance of one type, along with the number of lesions, plays a role in determining acne severity. In addition, other factors to be considered include age, skin type (dry, oily, or combination), coexisting conditions, patient motivation, lifestyle, menstrual regularity and premenstrual flareups, evidence of hirsutism, effect of acne, and potential therapies on the patient's quality of life. If the patient is taking birth control pills, it is important to determine the brand, as certain formulations contain agents (eg, androgenic progestins) that may provoke acne.

Acne- Fighting Blemishes

If you have ever tried to get products to clear blemishes, you would have come across a whole lot with different brand names all claiming one wonder or the other. Some actually tell you that you can get a clear skin in a week. Well I'm not here to disprove that but just to point out that what works for Jack may not work for Jill. Whether it works or not would depend on how your body reacts to the medication. It is necessary to point out that you may use any of these products and immediately see results or I should rather say improvement because you may also use these products and see results but no the kind you paid for. A product that worked for one can cause another's face to look irritated and dry and may most likely cause more break outs.

If you notice a dryness of the skin, using a moisturizer should help. In fact, it could also help your blemishes since we should know that acne is worsened by dryness of the skin. You say a skin is healthy when it is clean and well moisturized. You can try to use moisturizer to help the problem with the dry skin. This could help your blemishes as well since many times acne is fueled by dry skin problems. A healthy skin is one that is well moisturized and clean. I do hope we are not getting set to wash the hell ( or acne ) out of our faces and then nourish it with lots of oil because of the last statement about a healthy skin? When we say clean, we do not mean washing the face several times a day. This will in fact worsen the situation as the skin would get irritated. Washing the face twice a day is quite enough. You clean your face to remove any oil, dirt, and pollutants from the air or make up because if you do not, the remains could result in bacteria seeping into your pores. Unfortunately, there are almost always bacteria in your pores. Whatever acne product we use tries to get rid of them and whenever that is achieved, you end up with a pimple free face.

However, Bacteria are not the only cause of acne. There is also the issue of Hormones. The great rate at which Hormones are at work in adolescents result in their tendency to suffer a lot from this condition and therefore have blemishes. If you fall into the category of people whose Acne condition is caused by Hormonal activities, then you don't have much of a problem because Acne products are usually quite effective for those who have zits caused by hormones. They usually last for a short time and once they have gotten over that period of increased hormonal activity, their blemishes are gone. Before then, medication found over the counter seem to helps dry out the visible pimples and prevent fresh outbreaks.

If outbreaks continue to happen you might want to try new products or just forget the acne products in the store and seek out the advice of a dermatologists. Dermatologists would be able to decide whether to prescribe medications that you take orally to help fight the bacteria in pores or prescribe stronger medications that may work better than the ones in the store.

Remember, always try to find out more about your condition. The more correct information you have, the faster and easier it would be to realize your dream of being Acne free.

How to Get Rid of Acne Scars - Acne Scars Can Have a Lasting Effect

Suffering from moderate to severe acne can be a very agonizing experience. As if that is not enough, things can take a turn for the worse. The fact is, even if the acne disappears over time, sometimes, it is unavoidable to leave behind scars. And no matter what method a person uses, he/she just couldn't get rid of that unsightly scar.


So, the next question is, should I just give up? Or is there anything that can be done to prevent those scars or even get rid of them once they appear?



Well, fortunately or unfortunately, the answer is sometimes yes. There are times whereby no matter what you do, you just can't prevent the scars from appearing.



But for now, let's just focus on the positive. Scars can be avoided if you can prevent them in the first place. First, it is very useful to know what the mistakes you should try to avoid are.



For example, there may be a myth that says popping your acne helps. Unfortunately, it doesn't and may even increase the chances of scarring. You definitely should not attempt to do so.


Next, you also shouldn't try to wash your face too often. About twice per day should be sufficient, unless you are specifically told to do so by a qualified professional or you have special skin condition that requires more washing. Over washing may result in irritation of the skin and once again increase the chances of scarring.



If you have already tried your very best to avoid and prevent scars but they still occur, then you might want to try other alternative methods. A point to take note is that sometimes, a scar can appear to be very red and noticeable for the moment, but it is very likely that the scar will fade away given time and become unnoticeable.



If that is acceptable for you, then there is no need for any alternative treatment. However, if the scars just wouldn't fade away or you don't find them acceptable, here are some alternative treatments that may help:



1) Laser treatments



Laser treatments are usually performed by trained and licensed dermatologists. What happens is that the top layer of your skin is removed, revealing an unscarred, smoother layer. Do note that laser treatment may not work for all types of acne scars. Also, it can take quite some time for your skin to heal.



2) Dermabrasion



Like laser treatment, the top layer of your skin is also removed. A rotating instrument is being used instead of laser. Using dermabrasion, your skin can take a longer time to heal, almost up to 3 weeks to minimize the effects.



3) Surgery



Certain surgery procedures can also help to treat acne scars. Success is influenced by factors like the types of acne scars you have as well as the severity of your scars.



4) Chemical Peels



This is probably the most common type of treatment being offered. It can be done in a salon and need not be performed by a trained medical professional. However, it is always a good idea for you to ensure that the person performing the task is reliable. Like laser treatment and dermabrasion, the top layer of the skin is also removed, but using chemicals.

Glycolic Acid for Removing Acne Scars

The use of glycolic acid for the removing of acne scars is carried out through the use of a chemical peel containing glycolic acid. To understand how a chemical peel works, we must first understand the causes of scars and how to prevent them.

Our skin has sebaceous glands which produce oil to moisturize the skin. Bacteria that form on our skin from acne metabolize this oil, and the by-product of this action leaves the skin irritated. As the skin becomes irritated, the tiny hair follicles become clogged and begin to collect debris, such as dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. When this dirt and oil is not cleaned properly, either by the body's own natural defenses, or by general cleansing, it can travel down into deeper tissue causing very severe acne.

The dermis then determines that there are foreign substances in the skin that need to be removed. As the body begins this process, the skin begins to become inflamed, causing scarring.

Glycolic acid chemical peels are chemical treatments used to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. During a chemical peel, the skin is not really peeled off. What happens is a thin layer of the top surface is removed, and healthy skin cells that are trapped underneath can appear. The top layer is actually dissolved and removed, causing a very slight wound to the skin, causing the natural defenses of healing to occur. The strength of the peel is determined on the amount of glycolic acid added to the solution.

Glycolic peels are often thought of as, "lunch time peels", because they are quick and easy to do. Glycolic acid is actually a form of alpha-hydroxy acid and is generally found in such things as, sugarcane, pineapple, grapes, and other fruits. Glycolic acid peels can be used at home or administered by a dermatologist.

Glycolic acid for the removing of acne scars are thought of as very easy to use, and are considered a mild form of chemical peels. While these are considered mild, the level of acid in them makes them stronger. These peels can also be weakened with baking soda and water to neutralize the acid effect. These peels can really help with acne breakouts, and the results last about a month.

The only way to use a strong glycolic peel, you will have to go to a dermatologist who will apply a solution with the concentration of about 20 to 80 percent. The stronger the acid level in the peel, the deeper level of tissue will be removed.

Retin-A has been combined with glycolic acid for the removing of acne scars.

Before allowing a dermatologist to administer a glycolic acid peel, there are a few questions you should ask to make sure that you are in a professional, safe clinic. Make sure that the dermatologist is a licenced, certified doctor. Ask if the use of lasers would be added to your chemical peel for better treatment. Ask if they are going to use a topical treatment after your peel to further the healing of your skin. Ask about the experience of the doctor in applying these chemical peels, and you can ask to see photos of other patients that underwent that particular type of treatment so that you can see the effects.

By doing your research, and asking questions, your doctor can determine the best course of action to take in treating acne, and acne scarring.

3 Dead-simple Steps You Must Avoid if You Want to Get Rid of Your Acne Effectively

Ever wonder why some people get rid of their acnes faster than others? Though there are of course many factors to it, do you know that many times simple yet crucial steps can be taken by oneself on minimizing of acne growth? Be it mild acne or severe one, our daily self-care is definitely the strong foundation to get clear, beautiful skin.

There are 3 main things that you must avoid at all times to help get rid of acne on a daily basis. We probably know it as a common sense, but the trick here is to keep reminding ourselves and practicing change until it forms a habit.

Dead-Simple Step #1: Never Squeeze You Acne, At All Times

Squeezing is tempting and it seems like an instant result to get rid of the acne. But do you know that no matter how lightly you squeeze your pimples, it is bound to leave bad scars on your skin? Not only that, whether or not you are professional, germs from the acne will spread around the rest of the skin if you are not careful.

Such a method will only make things worst. Can you imagine from a small acne patch now ended up with a forehead full of sore acnes? That is dreadful and I’m positively sure that’s not what we all hope for.

Instead, try putting natural herbs on the acne areas. A mixture of cinnamon powder with honey is a great remedy to cure acne. An alternate method can be boiling neem leaves and applying it onto acne. It is an excellent disinfectant tool.

Dead-Simple Step #2: Avoid Hair Fall on Acne-Affected Area

I get it; many times we do not want to fall as a fashion-idiot and try to have fancy hairstyles that cover almost half of our faces. It may be cool short-term. But the bursting of face full of acne is definitely not cool in the long-run, especially when minimum days to cure acne takes at least 2-3 days.

Do you know that hairs tend to trap bacteria when we sweat? Not only that, hair that is not frequently washed becomes oily and hairs close on the skin will cause pores to clog.

Be it you’re a face acne-prone person or body acne-prone person, try to keep hairs at minimum near to skin. Also, not forgetting to frequently wash these areas with acne soaps (2-3 times a day is the best recommended).

Dead-Simple Step #3: Never Leave Skin-Contact Materials Unwashed

Our clothing, face or bath towel, pillow and bed sheets are some of the things are in constant contact with our skin. Not changing or washing these clothing frequent enough cause germs to grow fast especially when moist.

Try changing,

Clothes – daily;

Bath Towel – 3-4 days once;

Bed Sheets – once a week

The above is only for recommendation. You should tailor suit to your needs and environment. The point here is to place personal hygiene at your utmost priority.

So remember to be consistent in avoiding the 3 steps above at all times. Start by being aware, then practice changing until it becomes a habit. You see, it’s just dead simple and now you are on your way to have beautiful clear skin.

Herbal Acne Treatments

A natural acne cure or acne remedy is something that many people worldwide search for. Acne is one of those elusive skin care problems. It is very difficult to control for many people. It is most often associated with teenagers, but in reality, it affects a much larger group of individuals. Infants can suffer from acne related problems. Adults can as well. In fact, for many adults, the struggles of battling acne are a lifelong task.

Acne is problematic for many reasons.

It can be painful. Sometimes large cysts can develop which are painful and create a lot of discomfort for the acne sufferer. In addition, open scabs from acne pimples that have burst also create discomfort. This situation makes cleansing and treatment painful due to the constant stinging when cleansing and treatment products enter open sores.

Acne can be disfiguring. Acne on the skin, whether on the face or body, affects the appearance of individuals. It masks the beauty of the skin and of the individual. It gives the appearance that an individual is unhealthy or perhaps unclean.

In addition, to the immediate impact that acne has on appearance, acne can also produce negative effects into the future. In particular, is the issue of acne scarring. Scars caused by acne can be lifelong and quite disfiguring. Recommendations for the elimination of these scars usually involve the use of harsh procedures such as microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, chemical peels, etc.

Finally, acne elevates stress and anxiety in individuals due to the factors mentioned above and this can lead to overall poor health and low self-esteem and self-confidence.

In terms of acne treatments, there are many. Numerous over the counter products exist, some good and some bad. There are many prescription type treatments available as well and various multistep programs. For some people these products can work. For most, experimentation is necessary with various different treatments and products to find what works well for them.

Many people are frustrated with the above type products and therefore search for an alternative. That alternative is a natural acne cure.

There are many single herbs which help with acne for adults and teenagers. Some herbal combinations are designed specifically to help with female or male hormonal imbalances. When taking hormonal herbal remedies, some people find this clears up several problems at once.
For example, there are several herbs which work together wonderfully for correcting hormonal imbalances in women. These herbs work on internal problems, with the end results being reduced menstrual cramps, regulated menstrual flow, and improved skin conditions such as acne.

Lobelia helps encourage the flow of oxygenized blood, which in turn helps remove obstructions, congestion, and toxins.

Ginger helps to cleanse the kidneys and bowels, removes excess toxins from the body, and stimulates circulation.

Other excellent herbs to use for female hormonal problems include red raspberry, black cohosh, marshmallow, and kelp.

Kelp is an excellent single herb to take for a variety of problems, as it's a potent source of many vitamins and minerals. In fact, it's very much like an all natural multivitamin, and this can help restore the balance of vitamins and minerals in your body, which in turn will help clear up the acne and related health problems.

Going on any good cleansing or detoxifying diet will help clear up the acne too, but remember it can sometimes get worse before it gets better -- as your body starts pushing toxins out faster once you start a cleanse.

A good herbal face wash option is chickweed tea. Dissolve chickweed capsules in warm water, then bathe the face with it and rinse. Chickweed is also wonderful to use as a bath soak for other sores, rashes, boils, and burns.

Take Action to Treat Your Acne

Studies show that an estimated 80 % percent of people experience acne at some point, making it the most common skin disease. However, No one knows exactly what causes acne and the effective ways to treat acne. Are you suffering from acne? If you do, you have to be careful to take care of your skin. It's the time for you to take action.

Wash your Face. It can remove excess oil from the surface of the skin, and killing the bacteria on the skin. You need to avoid harsh scrubbing of your face which will not help with acne but only make it worse; instead, you need to thoroughly clean your skin nightly with a gentle, nonirritating antibacterial cleanser.

Get plenty of fresh air and sunshine for vitamin D which is good for healthy skin. You can have a daily jaunt outdoors, through which you can intake fresh air and enjoy sunshine. At the same time, it can reduce your stress, which is also good for your skin. But don't overdo it and be careful not to get sunburn! Use sun tanning lotions if you'll be out long to avoid to get caught up in that cycle of burned, dead skin cells blocking pores, resulting in acne scenario.

Exercise is important in your fight against acne, so be sure to maintain a disciplined schedule of regular exercise which helps keep your whole body in shape. It's great to fighting acne by building your immune system and helping eliminate toxins from the body.

Eat proper servings of fresh fruit and vegetables each day. Being full of nutrients, fresh fruit and vegetables are necessary for healthy skin. They can boost the immune system and are good antioxidants. They help get rid of the acne. If you value your face, stay away from oily foods and junk foods because they cause acne breakouts. Try to avoid refined sugars and fatty foods which have are not good for you or your skin.

Drink adequate water daily. You should drink three to four tall glasses and mineral or filtered water. Too little water can lead to dehydration, which can lead to dead skin cells not naturally falling off or sloughing properly; the end result can be blocked pores, acne.

When using cosmetics, you should choose ones that are water based and hypo-allergenic. Do not use oil free products, coal tar derivatives, and heavy creams. In addition, you should bear in mind that wash your skin thoroughly every night to remove makeup residue.

Acne treatments will take time to work. It usually takes about two months before you see any significant improvement so you should be patient.

Acne Elimination - Effective Methods Which You've Never Thought About

During a time of our life whenever we are changing in so many different ways, a terrible thing often happens. As a result of the hormonal changes in our body and the fact that we are turning into adults, our skin suffers. In fact, it is not unusual for an individual to have acne during this time in their life and to suffer with it for many years before it finally clears on its own. For some people, the acne never really clears unless they have an effective form of acne elimination that they are using. What are some of these methods?

The most popular methods of acne elimination are natural treatments. The reason why this is the case is because many of the people who are suffering from this problem do not have the funds to be able to go in for the more expensive medical treatments. Of course, you can see some great results from natural treatments and many individuals have claimed to have really cleared up their complexion, solely from organic products.

One of my favorite forms of acne elimination is the use of sea salt and vinegar. These two very common household products can be mixed together and the liquid applied to the affected area with a cotton ball. Simply allow the mixture to dry on that area for 20 minutes or longer, depending on how well you do with the smell of the vinegar. Wash your face with clear, cold water and repeat about three times a day.

Your diet may also have a lot to do with your acne. Another form of acne elimination has to do with eating raw foods on a regular basis and drinking plenty of water. In fact, some individuals have claimed to have cleared their acne, simply by drinking a lot of water on a regular basis. Perhaps acne is a result of dehydration to a certain extent. Regardless, there are many individuals who have said this has worked for them.

You can, of course, try some of the more radical forms of acne elimination. These would include chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser surgery. Unfortunately, these tend to be rather expensive but if it is within your price range, they certainly can help. The only problem is that you may have to go in for several treatments. Otherwise, use a natural cure because they do tend to help.

Acne Treatment - Topical Treatments for Acne

Acne is caused by the effects of hormones on the pilosebaceous unit that consist of hair follicle, which is a sebaceous gland and a hair.

Various gels, lotions, and creams are used to treat acne. Different preparations work in different ways. Many topical medications - creams, gels, and lotions - are used to treat acne. The most commonly used topical acne treatments include benzoyl peroxide, retinoid, topical acne antibiotics, azelaic acid, and combination topical products.


Benzoyl Peroxide-This can prove beneficial as benzoyl peroxide can kill the acne bacteria and open the blocked oil gland pores. There are a huge variety of products available in the market and you can use the lower concentrations as well but before using the high concentration you should seek the prescription of doctor.

Topical retinoid-This is the effective treatment for acne. It provides indirect antibacterial effects. It creates strong comedolytic and anticomedogenic activity. Tretinoin is a prototype drug, which is an acid of vitamin A and this drug has shown to normalize desquamation of the follicular epithelium, promote drainage of comedones and inhibit new comedone formation.

Tazarotene- it is a type of designer retinoid and a part of vitamin A family as like other members of vitamin A family this is also called retinoid. It is an approved treatment from the Health Canada. To use this for the treatment of acne you should apply a small quantity to the entire face but avoid the areas that can cause irritation as eyes and nose. Wash the face after 30 minutes and it will provide the relief from the irritation that is caused by the acne and other skin problems.

Tretinion- This topical treatment for acne is considered the effective method of acne treatment. This is a vitamin A option derivative and is used for the treatment of sun damaged skin and acne. A cream and ointment, which is having content of tretinion, should be used before going to bed and areas near to eyes and nose are avoidable areas. You can apply the cream on the chin and cheeks because it may be irritating for some people who have sensitive skin.

Azelaic acid- This method is used to unplugged the blocked pores. It has some qualities like retinoid so that it is used o treat both blackheads and whiteheads. It is good for treating acne and providing less irritation.