Acne

Tim Orlando asked:


For a large number of teenagers and young adults, acne is more than a skin disorder; it is a very painful condition that usually affects the social life of such individuals. With the obsession of the media on physical appearance, many teenagers and young adults get frustrated feeling that they can not be as attractive as the models, actors, and singers they see on television. This is chiefly due to the outbreak of acne pimples on their skins.

If your acne condition is termed as “mild” meaning that you only get a little amount of pimples on your face, then it seems the best treatment for you would be a topical medication which is usually referred to as an over the counter acne treatment. There are quite a number of over the counter products to choose from as they come in various forms like: creams, ointments, soaps and ****** pads.

Topical medications usually contain the same active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic aid. These ingredients work by killing bacteria on the affected areas of your skin or by peeling a very thin layer of your skin, which opens up your previously blocked hair pores. When you use such products daily, it cleanses your skin and prevents dryness. These ingredients have the after-effect of providing a thin protective layer on the surface of your skin. This helps in protecting your skin against bacterial infections, healing existing pimples, refreshing complexion, purifying pores, drying up and preventing new pimples. These ingredients are very effective in combating mild to moderate acne problem.

Most dermatologist and doctors tend to recommend the use of products that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid for combating acne. Although these products are effective in combating some forms of the skin problem, they are not enough for severe sufferers or some certain types like cystic acne.

If you’re a teenager or a young adult and you’re afflicted with a severe form of acne, I guessed you must have tried some creams, lotions or gels that have only slightly improved your condition. Since one of the main causes of your skin problem is due to over-active hormones, it is only logical for dermatologist and doctors to prescribe acne pills which work on the inside of the body in an attempt to correct hormonal and chemical imbalances in your body system. In case you are afflicted with Cystic acne, it is certain that you have over-active hormones, which is definitely one of the root causes of the problem.

The most common acne pills prescribed by doctors are accutane, and antibiotics like tetracycline, clindamycin, and erythromycin. Although topical forms of these antibiotics are available, a large number of doctors and dermatologist tend to prescribe the oral form. They work in killing the bacteria that contribute in the formation of pimples. But the downside of most antibiotics is that with time the bacterium on the skin develops resistance to it.

Another category of acne pills used in treatment is the hormonal treatment, which are effective in women. Cortisone, Cyproterone and drospirenone work at decreasing the excessive amount of oil produced in the hair pores.

Accutane as previously mentioned is also an acne pill that doctors prescribed in treating severe cases of acne. A large number of sufferers have found relief from their breakouts while using accutane. Accutane simply reduces the amount of oil produced by your skin. One major risk of taking accutane pills is the harmful effects it has on pregnant women and nursing mothers, which is in the form of birth defects.

So Is There Any Oral Medication For Acne Without Side Effects?

With all the following pills mentioned which seem to have one downside or the other, most sufferers would wonder if there actually were a magical pill, which could improve their condition. If you suffer from acne it would interest you to know that there are quite a number of pills in the market, which combat the root causes of your problem – which is usually due to chemical and hormonal imbalances. These acne pills contain antioxidants and herbal extracts which helps in eliminating the free radicals that are dangerous to your skin and promote infections. They also fight inflammation to reduce the redness you see on your skin and heal damaged skin.

Although using the acne pills found in the acnezine and clear-pores systems would give you improvement on your skin texture and prevent formation of new zits. However these systems take no chances by also providing an external “topical” medication, which cleanses the hair pores and fights acne-causing bacteria. In order words these systems combat the problem from the inside and the outside of your body.

If you suffer from a severe case of acne then I will certain ask you to take action by ridding your skin of pimples by using a quality skin care product that fights the problem at its roots and also on the skin. One benefits of using an internal and external treatment is that your pimples problem would be gone in the shortest possible time, as you do no have to wait long periods to begin seeing relief.

A product like the acnezine skin care system was what I used in erasing pimples off my face, it contains a moisturizing cream and a Skin Anti-Oxidant Capsule, which ensures that your skin texture improves. An excellent skin care system on the market, which is by far the number one acne system, is the clear pores system. It is capable of combating both body and ****** acne. It consists of a deep cleansing facial/body wash, facial/body protection cream and an herbal supplement. This system is very effective for severe sufferers as it ensures total acne treatment. The healthy pores system is also a very good skin care product that has solved the problem of acne pimples for a large number of former sufferers.

So what are you waiting for, go do something about your acne problem now!!!

For more information, tips and reviews on acne and the best acne pills available to you, visit: adult acne treatment. Now!!!



WILLIAM

Tim Orlando asked:


If you were part of the majority of people that were unlucky to be plagued with teen acne, just think of all the snickers, jests and humiliation you had to go through, then it easier for you to understand why most adult acne sufferers go through a lot of hassles to remove adult acne from their lives. We both know that adult acne is not a terminal disease (you can’t die from having it, I guess you knew that uhhh?). The major thing acne gives us are ugly scars and sometimes they could be really ugly, like mine was at a certain time.

Most of we adults afflicted with acne are usually on the look out for the magical cure that would gives us the fresh and smooth face or skin we had when we were eleven years old. Before we go on a wild goose chase looking for the magical acne medication that would rid us of adult acne lets understand why and how these little annoying monsters grow on our faces.

Why do so many adults still have acne?

It seems from all the amount spent on all those expensive research they still tell us the same thing that we were have all read in encyclopedias, the major cause of adult acne always has something to do with our hormones running wild and also genetics (my dad had a very bad case of acne when he was younger, more severe than mine was). The genetics part simply means that your biological family history has a large chunk of the blame of why you are suffering from adult acne. But aside those there are some other factors that are responsible for worsening your acne condition, some of them include:

*Side effects from some drugs - (such as corticosteroids, androgenic steroids, and lithium)

*Picking at or squeezing at the pimples

*Harsh scrubbing of the skin

*Oil based cosmetic products - (I guess you know this one already)

*Stress, illness or exhaustion

*Heat and moisture

*Diet has a some amount of influence on acne - (and please eating chocolate does not cause acne, where the heck did you hear that from)

*Pregnancy

*Menstruation

*Menopause

How does Adult Acne form on the Skin?

The formation of adult acne as we all know has something to do with sebum, follicle and all those big words that I read in some 21 inches thick encyclopedia. In simple words it is formed when oil (also know as sebum) that is produced underneath the skin surface is blocked from reaching the skin surface where it always flows to, through a hair-containing canal called a “follicle”.

The follicle wall sheds cells often and the canal is used to remove dead cells, which sort of become sticky and block the opening as they attempt to leave the follicle. The blockage results in increased bacteria growth in the follicle, which turns the trapped sebum into a very irritating substance and results in an inflammation that is widely known as acne.

Pheww!!! All that explanation reminds me of high school biology (so painfully boring to me).

In one sentence on how acne forms it is simply put as “Dead skin cells clog the pores, and bacteria cause inflammation which results in acne on the skin”.

Although so many adults like you have tried many acne medications and cosmetics to combat acne, we tend to wonder why they seem not to get rid of the problem once and for all but still they re-occur. It seems that acne forms when one or more of these conditions occurs:

*A blockage in the follicle

*There is an over production of sebum (oil)

*Increased bacteria growth within the hair follicle.

Researchers have found out that the hormone responsible for acne, which is called “testosterone”. Yes you have heard of it before it is the male hormone (it is found in both males and females but it is produced in high levels in males). Testosterone is responsible for increasing production of sebum (oil), which results in more pimples. Since testosterone is an androgen and is more in males than females, this explains why men tend to have more severe cases of acne than women (at least that explains why I used to have more pimples on my face than my elder sister although she started having pimples on her face before I started having mine).

Adult acne occurs as visible bumps on the surface of the skin usually on the face, although body acne is also common. Adult Acne is seen as pus-filled blisters; small reddish bumps, ugly looking thick red skin on the nose, cheeks and forehead, and small reddish blood vessels all seen on the skin surface. Acne outbreaks usually occur on the face, neck, chest, and shoulders and back. A highbrow term for adult acne is “acne rosacea”.

For so many folks stress seems to be one of the major factors in aggravating their acne condition. When I was in college towards the end of the semester when the amount of work we had to do increases, I tend to have more break outs of pimples maybe as a result of the stress or because I had lesser time for acne skin care. It seems aside the fact that you have to contend with hormones and genetics being the major cause of you acne condition you also have things like stress to worsen it.

Achieving Acne Control with the best Acne Medication

The first step in treating your adult acne condition has to do with proper acne skin care.

First of all AVOID the temptation of SQUEEZING your PIMPLES. Most of the time this results in the scars you see on your face. The bigger a pimple is the higher the chances it will leave a scar if you “pop” it.

Remember to wash your skin gently only twice a day; this is very helpful in removing surface dirt and excessive oil, which could worsen your acne condition by clogging the pores. Also please do not use abrasive soaps. They could damage your skin pores and leave your skin too dry.

If you currently use oil-based cosmetics it’s time you switch to water-based, non-comedogenic cosmetics as oil-based creams or lotions irritate oily skin and cause further breakouts and blemishes.

You should also make it a habit to always remove your makeup before going to bed.

Consider applying an oil-free moisturizer to your skin after washing. This helps your skin replenish its own moisture and keeps the oil glands from over producing.

Always remember to shampoo regularly. This prevents oily hair from rubbing off on your skin.

Like we learnt in biology class, a balanced diet is necessary for optimum health. A balanced diet and drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day can help keep your skin healthy. There are some physicians that believe that an increase in iodine consumption aggravates acne and recommend a reduction or elimination of fish and iodized salt.

Relax a little to reduce stress and try planning out your activities so you are not under a lot of pressure from your daily activities.

In case you are looking for a more aggressive adult acne treatment to totally banish those little monsters of your face/body you should try using a combination of treatment like that offered by clear pores system which consists of a facial/body wash, facial/body protection cream and a herbal supplement which fights the acne from the inside and the outside. This triple combination is guaranteed to get rid of acne from your life.

Another very impressive acne treatment available is acnezine, which has natural ingredients that work to take care of the skin. They help control free radicals that cause skin damage, aging and wrinkling, and that can contribute to infection. Acnezine limits inflammation, helping take care of the ugly redness, and working to limit the inflammatory response that can cause scarring. And, Acnezine promotes healing. Acnezine consists of skin anti-Oxidant Capsules and acne Moisturizing Crème which ensures acne is combated from both inside and outside the body.

For more information on how you can permanently get rid of Adult Acne from your life and look more youthful and beautiful visit adult acne treatment a brand new blog that gives information, tips and advice on how to solve the problem of acne.



NICHOLAS

peterhutch asked:


To eliminate leg bumps, aftershave, or razor bumps, you must understand what hair bumps are and where they come from. This will enable you to form a successful plan of attack. The bumps that appear on your skin are a direct result of ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs develop at the end of the hair shaft. They have a sharpened edge and attempt to grow straight, however something prevents them from doing so. As a result, they curl back into the same hair follicle.

People who want to know how to get rid of razor bumps often don’t realize that rough, tough stubble that feels like it could cut glass is absorbent. The importance of this is simple: Hair that has absorbed water is much softer and easier to cut. Being able to easily cut the hair results in less skin irritation and a decreased chance of getting razor bumps due to the fact that the tip of the hair will be cleanly cut and smooth - not sharp and at risk of poking back into a neighboring follicle

Allow it to continue growing and eventually free itself. This method works best when combined with daily moisturizing and gentile exfoliation to remove any dead skin that could be blocking the hair’s escape. If a pustule forms, gently squeezing it can cause the hair to pop up to the surface.

Using a freshly sterilized pair of tweezers or a needle, you can fish the tip out from underneath this surface of the skin.

The area of skin you have mentioned, the upper arms, legs and **** are often described as looking like chicken skin. The problem is that these areas are normally covered by our clothing and do not get as much exposure as the rest of our bodies. We also may not pay as close attention to these somewhat hidden areas when showering or moisturizing. These areas can tend to be dry. This dry skin can cause the bumps that you are seeing. In order to help get rid of these bumps you can try a stronger (alphahydroxy) moisturizing lotion.

The best treatment is to let your leg hairs grow out to give your follicles a chance to recover. And we recommend picking up a couple of pints of Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey and renting Season 1 of Grey’s Anatomy since you won’t be going out in public much. Just kidding. Really, you should get Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

To treat razor bumps, use a clean needle to release the embedded hair shaft. If possible, stop shaving. This usually stops razor bumps from developing, depending on the severity. But when shaving is restarted, razor bumps typically return. Following these shaving instructions can help prevent razor bumps from forming: Take a hot shower before shaving, to soften the hair and open the pores. Use a thick shaving gel. Don’t stretch the skin when shaving, and always shave in the direction your beard grows. Use the fewest razor strokes possible. Rinse with cold water. Use an electric razor if it can be adjusted to a higher setting. Use a moisturizing lotion after shaving.



JERROD

Kerwin Chang asked:


Acne

This factsheet is for people who have acne.

Acne is a skin condition that causes spots. Most people affected by acne are aged between 12 and 25.1 However, men and women in their 30s and 40s can also suffer. There are many treatments available to help deal with the condition.

What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following:

* blackheads (comedones)

* whiteheads

* red or yellow spots

* greasy skin

* scars

Acne typically affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms and the severity of the condition can vary.

Acne affects people of all skin colours. The processes that cause acne are exactly the same in people with black or brown skin but the impact is altered by the skin pigmentation.

Acne is very common and affects about 80 in 100 people aged 11-30 at some time.

home | health information | health factsheets

Acne

This factsheet is for people who have acne.

Acne is a skin condition that causes spots. Most people affected by acne are aged between 12 and 25.1 However, men and women in their 30s and 40s can also suffer. There are many treatments available to help deal with the condition.

What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following:

* blackheads (comedones) 2,3

* whiteheads2,3

* red or yellow spots2,3

* greasy skin2,3

* scars2,3

Acne typically affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms and the severity of the condition can vary.1,4

Acne affects people of all skin colours. The processes that cause acne are exactly the same in people with black or brown skin but the impact is altered by the skin pigmentation.

Acne is very common and affects about 80 in 100 people aged 11-30 at some time.4

The skin

The surface of the skin has lots of small sebaceous glands just below the surface. These glands make an oily substance called sebum that keeps the skin smooth and supple.

Tiny pores (holes in the skin) allow the sebum to come to the skin surface. Hairs also grow through these pores.

IIllustration showing the structure of skin

Illustration showing the structure of skin

What causes acne?

Acne is caused by the overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oily substances onto the skin.

The sebaceous glands of people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of a hormone called testosterone, found naturally in both men and women.

Testosterone in people prone to acne triggers the sebaceous glands to produce an excess of sebum. At the same time, the dead skin cells lining the openings of the hair follicles (the tubes that hold the hair) are not shed properly and clog up the follicles.

These two effects combined cause a build-up of oil in the hair follicles. This causes blackheads and whiteheads to form.

For some people, their acne does not progress beyond this stage.

However in other people, the build-up of oil in the hair follicles creates an ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes to grow.

These bacteria normally live harmlessly on your skin but when this ideal environment is created, they grow. They feed off the sebum and produce substances that cause a response from your body’s immune system. This inflames the skin and creates the redness associated with spots.

In more severe ‘inflammatory acne’, cysts develop beneath the skin’s surface. These acne cysts can rupture, spreading the infection into nearby skin tissue. This can result in scarring.

What makes acne worse?

There are a number of things that can make your acne worse. These include the following:

* picking and squeezing the spots may cause further inflammation and scarring1

* stress can make acne worse in some people, although it is not clear why1,

* in women, outbreaks may be affected by the hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle1,

* excessive production of male hormones such as testosterone from conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome may be another cause.5 For more information, please see the separate BUPA factsheet Polycystic ovary syndrome

* some contraceptive pills may make acne worse. This is due to the type of progestogen hormone in some pills whereas some other types of contraceptive pills can improve acne - see Treatments section below. Your GP will advise you which contraceptive pill to take

* some medicines can make acne worse. For example, some medicines taken for epilepsy, and steroid creams and ointments that are used for eczema. Do not stop a prescribed medicine if you suspect it is making your acne worse, but tell your GP. An alternative may be an option

* steroids can cause acne as a side-effect

Treatment

Acne may cause you considerable emotional distress but there is a range of treatment options to help you tackle the problem. No treatment will completely ‘cure’ your acne. The aims of treatment are to prevent new spots forming, to improve those already present, and to prevent scarring.3

Home treatment

It is important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser.1,6 The skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so avoid aggressive washing with strong soaps.

There are a number of over-the-counter remedies available from pharmacies to treat mild acne. These usually contain antibacterial agents such as benzoyl peroxide (eg Oxy and Clearasil Max).

As well as its antibacterial effects, benzoyl peroxide can dry out the skin and encourage it to shed the surface layer of dead skin. Together, these effects make it harder for pores to become blocked and for infection to develop.

Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling, especially to start with. This tends to settle down if you reduce the number of times you use it. You can then build up your use gradually.

No home treatments for acne will work immediately. It can take weeks, if not months, for significant effects to be noticeable. If home treatments have not worked after two months, or you have severe acne, you should visit your GP.

Prescription medicines

Your GP may start your treatment by prescribing a preparation containing benzoyl peroxide. If this does not work, or if you have more severe acne, there are a range of other treatment options that you can either rub onto your skin (topical) or take in tablet form (oral).

Topical treatments

There are several topical treatments you may be prescribed including those listed below:

* azelaic acid (Skinoren) is an alternative to benzoyl peroxide and may not make your skin as sore as benzoyl peroxide

* topical retinoids (eg Adapalene) are medicines based on vitamin A, which are rubbed into the skin once or twice a day.7 They work by encouraging the outer layer of skin to flake off

* a topical antibiotic lotion applied to the skin can be used to control the P. acnes bacteria (eg Dalacin T). Treatment needs to continue for at least six months. Preparations that combine an antibiotic with other acne medication are available (eg Benzamycin which combines an antibiotic with benzoyl peroxide)

Oral treatments

There are several oral treatments you may be prescribed including those listed below:

* oral antibiotics (tablets), such as tetracycline, can be prescribed for inflammatory acne. They should be taken daily for around three months, although it might take four to six months for the benefits to be seen.7 The success of this treatment can be limited because the strains of bacteria are often resistant to the common antibiotics. Antibiotics do not prevent pores from becoming blocked so treatment to prevent blackheads, such as benzoyl peroxide, is often also prescribed at the same time

* some types of oral contraceptive tablets help women who have acne. A combination of the usual pill hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate (eg Dianette) suppresses male hormone activity so is often used in women with acne

* isotretinoin (eg Roaccutane) is a medicine known as an oral retinoid, which also exists in a topical form (see above). Isotretinoin works by drying up oily secretions. It tends to be prescribed to people with severe forms of acne that have proved resistant to other treatments. There a number of serious side-effects of this drug, such as liver disorders and depresssion. You should not take isotretinoin if you are pregnant, as it is very dangerous to an unborn baby. For safety reasons, isotretinoin is only prescribed under the supervision of dermatology specialists.



ANDY