The problem of acne is extremely embarrassing and distressing for anyone of all ages. Acne can develop at any age but it is most common among teenagers. The problem of acne can develop almost any part of the body, including face, neck, arms, back, the legs and the shoulders. Mostly acne is categorized in three parts; mild, moderate or severe.
Acne is a health condition and the management for each of these stages varies significantly. The other thing is that the worse the acne becomes and the greater chance of acne scarring. Thus, in order to avoid acne scaring and to limit the bacteria on the skin, a comprehensive acne treatment is required. At brentwood dermatology, we adopt effective treatment approach to treat acne. From mild, moderate to severe conditions, we provide latest acne treatment options to manage your acne condition and reduce the risks of infection, as well as permanent scarring.
Causes of acne
There are many factors that contribute in the formation of acne. However, among teens and adults the causes of acne mostly attributed to the male sex hormone production. In fact, acne is caused by plugged pores and bacteria in the skin. Oil from glands combines with dead skin to plug the pores, also called follicles. Follicles bulge, producing acne and other types of blemishes. Apart from that, acne can be attributed on some other factors such as
Genetic reasons
Dietary and hairdo products
Stress
Bacteria
Excessive use of cosmetics
Types of Acne
There are many kinds of acne. The most common types are:
Whiteheads: Which are clogged pores that have no opening
Blackheads: Pores that are open and have a dark surface
Papules: Which are inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin and can be tender to the touch
Pustules: Which are papules topped by pus-filled lesions that may be red at the base
Nodules: Which are large, painful, solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin
Cysts: Which are deep, painful, pus-filled lesions that can cause scarring.
Treatment Options
There are many different types of acne treatment that you can use. But, treatment of acne can be categorized into two basic levels, mild acne treatment and moderate to severe acne treatment that also includes treatment for nodules and cysts.
Mild acne treatment: This treatment is also described as home treatment as main products are purchased over the counter (OTC). But, remember that these OTC products take time to work and their benefits are often not seen immediately. Sometimes take 6 to 8 weeks before their full effectiveness is achieved.
The most common home treatment are:
Washing the face two or three times a day with an anti-bacterial soap
Using benzoyl peroxide cream kills the acne associated with bacteria and can prevent new acne lesions from forming. It is often applied at night before going to bed.
The flesh tone cream can be applied and worn during the day as a kind of make-up that both hides the blemish while healing it.
Salicylic acid often comes in cotton pads that are soaked in the solution and used to exfoliate the skin. The exfoliating agent encourages the peeling of the top layer of skin. This prevents a build up of dead skin cells and can unclog pores that are already blocked. But remember, aggressive and excessive scrubbing or exfoliation of the skin can actually cause acne to worsen since it can damage or irritate the hair follicles.
Moderate to severe acne treatment
If the OTC treatments do not give effective results, medical treatment under the direction of a doctor (mostly a dermatologist) is recommended. Doctor prescribed medications come in two basic forms, topical and oral. Treatment plans may include a combination of both types.
Topical Prescription Medications:
Topical Antibiotics can stop, slow and prevent bacterial growth and reduce inflammation.
Topical Retinoids are effective in treating whiteheads and blackheads by opening clogged pores.
Other topical treatment products that may be prescribed include sulfur, zinc, and resorcinol.
Some mild side-effects like stinging, burning, redness, and peeling can be experienced, but these may go away with continued use. And, the benefits of these prescription based topical medicines may not be noticeable for 4 to 8 weeks.
Oral Prescription Medications:
Oral acne medication is either antibiotic or retinoid in nature like topical medicines. Oral antibiotics aim to control the acne by halting bacterial growth and reducing inflammation. Oral antibiotics have stronger side-effects than their topical counterpart. Even though they will reduce the amount of acne causing bacteria, oral antibiotics do not reduce the oil secretion (sebum) and abnormal cell behavior that causes pores to become plugged. Acne is becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics and will return if you stop using them.
Your doctor will review the possible side-effects with you which include: dry skin, nosebleeds, and an initial flare up of acne within a month of taking the medicine.
Other Treatment Options:
Apart from topical and oral treatments, there are also other treatment options that your doctor may employ. These include:
