Best Acne Treatments

Posts Tagged ‘salicylic acid’

Salicylic acid or sulfur

Specific medications containing salicylic acid or sulfur, can help reduce the lock of hair follicles, and thereby alleviate the burning sensation that you experience because of them. Many medicines sold without prescription, contain such ingredients and are very commonly used by both teenagers and adults.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most widely used ingredients in medicines against acne. The same is available in various medications, both of which do not need prescriptions such as prescription, and works to kill bacteria and slow the action of the skin glands. It is most effective when the condition is moderately serious, but may cause some irritation, as extremely dry skin may peel and it was packaged very steadily.

Retinol

Retinol, a derivative of Vitamin A has been used quite successfully for some treatments. It works by drying the rash, and preventing the formation of new grains. This medicine is a drug that is sold by prescription, and should not be used by those who have a high exposure to the sun. If the acne becomes infected or inflamed, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics as a cream or lotion. These treatments are often very effective.

Isotretinoin

In severe cases of adult acne, treatment is usually performed with preparations containing isotretinoin, also a derivative of Vitamin A. Although these preparations can sometimes eliminate acne for very extended periods, even years, they have drawbacks. Part of the side effects are muscle aches, headaches, itching and possible birth defects if taken by women who are pregnant.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are also frequently used to treat severe cases of adult acne. The varieties of this drug can be taken orally or sometimes injected directly into the grains.

Estrogens

Estrogen, which suppresses the production of oil in the skin, has also been used as effective for adult acne, but also have their disadvantages, which include blood clots, and therefore rarely used.

Multicausality in acne and the role that hormonal changes during puberty, render difficult any attempt to choose the therapeutic dermatologist, because whatever it is, the improvement is observed over time.

It sometimes happens that when you start acne treatment, initially the patient feels that their skin disease worsened, so this situation must be perceived by the treating professional to prevent dropping out of the patient, especially when dealing with a teenager.

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If you’re a teenager, chances are you have some acne. Nearly eight in 10 teens have acne, along with many adults.

Acne is so common that it’s considered a normal part of puberty. But just knowing this does not always work when you look in the mirror to discover a huge grain. Fortunately, you know about acne and taking some simple steps in this respect can help you feel better.

What is acne and what causes it?

Acne is a skin problem that shows up as different types of bumps. These bumps may be pimples, whiteheads, pimples and cysts. The type of acne you have many teenagers called acne vulgaris, and usually appears on the face, neck, shoulders, upper back and chest.

The hair follicles of the skin, neck, contain sebaceous glands (also called oil glands). These glands produce sebum, an oil that lubricates the hair and skin.

Teenagers get acne due to hormonal changes that occur during puberty. Most of the time, the sebaceous glands produce the right amount of sebum, but as the body of the adolescent begins to mature and develop, the hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum and the activity of these glands may be too intense. A large amount of sebum and dead skin cells, the clog. Then, bacteria can get trapped inside the pores and multiply, causing the skin to swell and become red: the start of acne.

If a pore gets clogged up and closes but bulges out from the surface of the skin, it produces a white dot. If a pore gets clogged but stays open, the top surface can darken and a blackhead. Sometimes the wall of the pore opens, allowing sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells open passage beneath the skin, which produces a small red infection called grain. Clogged pores that open to a very deep level of skin can cause nodules, which are infected lumps or cysts larger than pimples and can be painful.

In most people, acne goes away almost completely at the end of adolescence. And if your parents had acne as teenagers, is more likely that you too have it.

What causes acne? (Myths about acne)

Acne is not caused by eating fatty foods like chips or pizza, being addicted to chocolate or drink soda. And stress does not usually cause acne either (although it can worsen existing acne as stress increases sebum production).

The sun does not help combat acne. Although a suntan can make acne look less serious temporarily, is not going to help it go away permanently. And anyway, taking too much sun is not a good idea, because later may cause wrinkles and skin cancer. So do not risk it absorbs these rays, whether from the sun or a tanning bed, in an effort to help improve your skin.

What can I do to prevent / combat acne?

And to help prevent the accumulation of fat that can cause acne, wash your face twice daily with soap and warm water. Do not scrub your face hard with a towel, since scrubbing can not remove acne in fact make it worse by irritating the skin and pores. Try cleansing your face as gently as possible.

If you wear makeup or sunscreen, make sure the label says “contains no oil,” “non-comedogenic” or “does not cause acne. This means it will not clog your pores and cause acne. And when you wash your face, make sure you devote enough time to take off all makeup.

If you use sprays or hair gel, which when applied is not in contact with the face, because they can also clog pores. If you have long hair that touches your face, be sure to wash it frequently enough to prevent contact with the oil away. And after school if you have a job where you are in contact with oils, for example, a fast food restaurant or a gas station, always wash your face well when you get home. Also wash your face after exercising.

There are many lotions and creams OTC containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which help prevent acne and while some relief. You can try these to see what works best. Be sure to follow the instructions exactly and do not use more of that shown in each application (your skin may get too dried out and might look or feel worse) and before putting them follow the directions to see if you are allergic.

What if I get acne anyway?

Sometimes, though they wash properly and try lotions and oil-free makeup, many people get acne anyway and this is completely normal. In fact, some girls who normally have problems with acne, acne appears to them a few days before having your period. This acne is called premenstrual acne and almost seven in 10 women are due to hormonal changes in your body.

Some teens who have acne can get help from a doctor or dermatologist (a doctor specializing in skin problems) and to treat acne with prescription medicines. Depending on the type of acne, this could include prescription creams that prevent pimples from forming, taking antibiotics to kill the bacteria that help create pimples, or if it is a severe degree of acne, taking stronger medicines such as isotretinoin, or even having minor surgery. Some girls find that birth control pills help to alleviate the problem of acne.

If you look in the mirror and see that you have a pimple on the face, do not touch it or squeeze it, or pick. This may be difficult, since it can be very tempting to try to get him out. But when you play with beads can increase inflammation picking, or opening them. In addition, the oil from your hands can not help! However, the most important thing is that picking at pimples can leave tiny, permanent scars on his face.

Acne treatment is complex because the causes that arise may be multiple, the etiology is multifactorial.
But despite the complexity of the topic of acne, whatever the factor is produced or affected skin area, we must consider the “gold standard” for acne treatment, i. e. :

1) Hygiene Steps:

Do not manipulate the skin to try to remove the “trumpeting”: The pressure exerted with the thumb and forefinger of one hand, or worse using fingers of both hands to do more strength, can cause damage to the follicle sebaceous, which contains germs and can spread infection causing dermatitis in neighboring areas. So, you do not miss the appearance of small blisters filled with pus (pustules), which are to be feared, because irreversible scarring. Sanitized twice daily to the affected skin of the face, torso, and any affected area. Usually indicates the water and soap (preferably with some action Anti-sebum dermatological product) and then dry completely once cleared the area.

2) Dietary Change:

Reducing foods that tend to cause skin reactions in young people. Foods that should be banned are the chocolate and strawberries, but it should be noted that as stated above, food is only one factor that interacts with others.

3) Cosmetic:

Do not use any cosmetic product that its packaging does not contain the words “Indicated for acne or sebum skins”, because in some cosmetic creams are certain fat components that may condition the production of more areas of acne.

4) Adopt as a principle:

Not to use cosmetics called “normal” by those who use and customs are advised between friends and family.

5) Specific Acne Treatment:

Multicausality in acne and the role that hormonal changes during puberty, render difficult any attempt to choose the therapeutic dermatologist, because whatever it is, the improvement is observed over time. It sometimes happens that when you start acne treatment, initially the patient feels that their skin disease worsened, so this situation must be perceived by the treating professional to prevent dropping out of the patient, especially when dealing with a teenager.

The products are applied to these cures must develop at least three functions:

a. Decimation function: similar to having a “peeling” moderate (also called function “keratin” moderate), through which the channel through which would have to move the fat produced by the gland is free of obstruction and has exit. This activity causes mild skin irritation. This observation is very important, as has been shown that the majority of products used to treat acne, have a sobering effect and produce a skin irritant action, practitioners who prescribe should warn their patients about the effects undesirable side effects.

The most effective components, regardless of the treatment that your dermatologist can prescribe are as follows:
• sulfur and / or salicylic acid
• azelaic acid at moderate concentrations
• benzoyl peroxide, to moderate concentrations
• glycolic acid at moderate concentrations
• exfoliating microgranules that are part of cleaning fluids

b. Anti-sebum Function: also called sebum-regulating, with which it seeks to reduce excessive sebum secretion that characterizes the juvenile acne skins. There are several moderately effective components, among which we mention:
• sulfur (less used now than before)
• azelaic acid
• sulfate or zinc acetate
• extract of Arctium majus or Nasturtium officinalis
• benzoyl peroxide to moderate doses
• porous microparticles are able to absorb more fluid fat, thereby reducing the brightness of the skin

c. Antimicrobial function: to reduce the number of microorganisms that proliferate and fill the follicle acne. They are used mainly the following components:
• benzoyl peroxide to moderate doses
• Triclosan
• azelaic acid, a moderate concentration
• Ethyl lactate
• moderate exposure, and only occasionally in the sun, because radiation has antimicrobial properties.
But WARNING: Prolonged exposure or repeated for hours on successive days is the risk that the skin surface by the fact fattening keratins accumulate, and that they block the sebaceous follicles and aggravate the acne process.

In recent years, the most used products often incorporate benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid, because they develop corrective functions simultaneously, but not all patients with positive reaction to differences types of acne treatment.