Acne sufferers come from all types of different skin compositions as well as from different backgrounds and ages, all who has at one time in their lives experienced some form of common acne problem. But fortunately, there are now plenty of treatments that you can take if you happen to be an acne sufferer, whether you’re still in your teen years or an adult. Most people do not realize or know the huge physical and emotional impact that persistent acne can have on someones psyche.
Acne can actually have devastating effects on an individual’s emotional well being as well as confidence. If you currently have acne problems, you don’t have to no longer live with this problem because of the latest developments in cosmetic treatments.
If you happened to of had acne breakouts while in your teens, you were most likely assured that it was a teenage problem related to puberty, and it would eventually clear up once the hormones settled down.
Although that may be true to a certain point for the majority of teens, that they will simply out grow it, but adults with acne problems is still a fairly common problem. There are actually more than 53% percent of adults who still suffer from acne problems at some time during their adult lives. It is however less common in men as there are only 37% percent of adult males who are affected.
More adult women experience acne as it’s directly related to imbalances in hormones, such as menopause or pregnancy. Other reasons may include taking certain medications, skin irritations, certain cosmetic products or birth control pills. Although it’s not proven, milk as well as dairy products are thought to be the cause of some forms of acne as well.
Acne Vulgaris, which is more commonly known simply as acne, will appear on the surface of the skin as congested pores, also know as: blackheads, whiteheads, comedones, cysts or pimples. More severe forms of acne are known as boils.
What Really Causes Acne In Adults?
Sebum oil, which is produced by the sebaceous oil glands, is a natural substance found in the body that lubricates as well as protects the skin. But at certain times, the cells will actually close on the surface of the skin, which will directly block the opening of the glands, which causes an extreme build up of the oil. The oil will then stimulate the bacteria that naturally occurs on the skin, which may be harmless, but causes it to multiply as well as create the acne inflammation around the surrounding skin and the tissues.
The actual depth of the inflammation will determine if the lesion is a cyst or just a pimple. The deeper that the actual inflammation is, the more that it will resemble a cyst. If the oil happens to break through to the skins surface, the result is what’s known as a whitehead. If the oil oxidizes or happens to have melanin in it, the oil will then change to a darker color, which is commonly referred to as a blackhead. So blackheads are actually not the result of dirt, which is a common myth.
There are also some certain conditions which can actually mimic acne, such as rosacea. The rosacea condition is characterized by flushing and redness, most commonly in the middle of the face. Other conditions that may look like acne is folliculitis and razor bumps. It’s always recommended that you consult with a health professional or a qualified doctor for an accurate medical assessment, proper diagnosis and treatment of the acne.
So you may be wondering, to seek treatment, how severe should the acne be? The most simple recommendation is that when the acne gets uncomfortable and begins to bother you. It may be just be a small pimple right before that big business meeting, or it may be chronic severe persistent acne that will motivate you in seeking out the various options available for treatment. Acne is always a big source of emotional distress for most and can even lead to a loss of confidence or mild depression. Seeking help is important and recommended, especially since acne can be treated.
Acne Skincare Products as well as Medication
On the drugstore shelves, there are a variety of different solutions for acne cure, while one type of therapy may work for someone, it necessarily may not work for someone else. Of the many solutions which are “over-the-counter,” none of them are really that effective or may work for just mild cases of acne.
Acne treatment should begin with a complete medical assessment of your skin. This will be proceeded by unclogging the pores, then killing of the active bacteria and minimizing the oil. If you have mild acne or even severe acne, the options will range from products which are prescription grade by a physician, which most commonly contains Retin A, to chemical peels, to laser treatments, all of which will help in clearing the skin as well as preventing further breakouts.
Skincare products are beneficial for mild case of acne as well as for maintenance treatments after light or laser based therapy. Although there are a lot of products that are available for acne care and maintenance, your best option may be to consulting with a Dermatologists who specializes in dealing with acne patients on a consistent basis. They will be able to provide you with an acne treatment plan for your skin type by prescribing medical-grade acne products and advising on the proper care after removal.
For moderate cases of acne, topical products will help by removing the actual outer layer of skin, thereby effectively unclogging the oil plugged pores. Products that contain salicyclic acid and benzoyl peroxide are recommended as antibacterial mild skin peeling agents. Many of the “over-the-counter” acne products will usually contain alcohol as an inexpensive ingredient which will just dry out the oil clogged pores. These products however will leave your skin extremely dry.
Other prescription grade acne medication which are topical antibiotics are, clindamycin and doxycycline, Retinoids (Retin A or tretinoin), Differin or tazorac which will unclog pores, as well as cortisone injections and oral contraceptives.
The Case Against Accutane
Accutane (isotretinoin) may also be prescribed as one of the last resorts for acne treatment. Accutane is usually prescribed for a period of around six months, with blood tests which are taken once a month, as there may be some effect on the liver when using this treatment. Also, Accutane should never be used for pregnant women.
Acne Medication Alternatives
As there are now some excellent alternate solutions if you are not comfortable using any of the prescribed medication as listed above, particularly when it comes to Accutane and its potential side effects.
There are many acne sufferers who now considering Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) or laser treatment, which are the most current acne removal methods which are available. PDT and laser both use light therapy to completely eliminate the acne problem. The laser treatment uses specific wavelengths that will kill the unwanted bacteria that’s associated with acne. While the laser shrinks the unwanted oil glands, it will also remove the outer layer of the skin, improving the skins tone as well as texture.
And The Most Latest Greatest Recent Treatment For Acne Removal Is…
One of the best proven treatments in recent years for eliminating acne is what’s known as aminolevulinic acid or ALA- PDT, which has several known brand trade names such as Metvix and Levulan. They are photosynthesizing drugs, which means that the drug is activated once they are exposed to light. These cures are topically applied directly on the affected acne area, the photo damaged skin or rosacea.
When initially applied, the treatment is applied and absorbed on the top layers of the skin, but it will initially remain inactive. Once a light source such as Blue or Red light or laser is focused on the affected area, the drug then becomes activated by producing oxygen. The oxygen then reacts with biomolecules on the affected acne area, which damages the cells.
You may initially feel a bit of a stinging sensation during the light application treatment and even for a few days after treatment. In a few weeks, new healthy cells will then replace the old damaged cell area.
Once upon completion of the light treatment, it’s important to avoid any further exposure or face strong sunlight for the first 48 hours. You should also know and be aware of the other drugs that you may have taken prior to the light treatment, as it may exacerbate the reaction to this treatment.
In the majority of cases, the dryness as well as the itchiness should dissipate after a few days, sooner if you use moisturizers. The end result will be acne free skin from 4 months up to 16 months, with the occasional touch-ups when required.
This particular acne treatment does offer potential for most adult acne sufferers who wish to have healthy clear acne free skin for longer periods of time, without using strong prescription based medication.