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Acne problems
Deal better with acne with these useful tips.
Did you know that one of the leading causes of depression the world over is acne or pimples? Acne is a skin condition that causes spots on the face. It predominantly affects young people (boys and girls) between the ages 12 and 25. However, men and women in their 30s and 40s can also develop adult acne.
What is acne?
Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following:
* Blackheads (open comedones)
* Whiteheads (closed comedones)* Red or yellow spots and scars
* Greasy skin
Treating acne and pimples
Acne generally affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms. The severity of the condition can vary. It is one of the commonest skin conditions and affects about 80% of the people aged 11 to 30, at some point in their lives.
What causes acne?
An increase in the size of oil glands leads to increased production of oil in the skin. 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 them up. These two effects combined, cause a build-up of oil in the hair follicles. This blocks the opening of the glands and leads to the formation of blackheads and whiteheads. For some people, acne does not progress beyond this stage.
However, in others, the build-up of oil in the hair follicles creates an ideal environment for bacterium—Propionibacterium— to grow. They feed off the sebum and produce substances that cause inflammation of the skin and the redness associated with spots. The oil glands of people with acne are sensitive to normal levels of testosterone— a hormone found naturally in both men and women. Testosterone triggers excess oil production.
Treatment
Acne is easily recognized by the appearance of spots—called pimples, or zits in American slang. There are several varieties of acne—your doctor can detect which one you suffer from and offer the treatment you require.
Get rid of them
No treatment will completely ‘cure’ your acne but it will prevent new spots from forming, heal the ones already present and prevent scarring.
Home treatments
It is important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with a perfume-free cleanser. Do bear in mind that the skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition. Therefore, avoid washing your face many times, that too, with a strong soap. I would recommend Cetaphil and Neutrogena face washes as they are mild and good for cleaning acne-affected skin.
Acne myths
* Acne is not caused by eating fatty food or chocolate
* Washing your face too much does not help. Blackheads get their dark color through excess skin pigment, not dirt
* Acne is not contagious Tea tree oil is considered to be a good anti-acne agent. Sandalwood paste and Fuller’s earth are also used by some to dry out the excessive oil.
No home treatments for acne will work immediately. It can take weeks, before any significant effects show up.
Prescription medicines
There are ointments that you can rub onto your skin (topical) and tablets (oral medicine) that provide relief from acne.
Topical treatments
* Azelaic acid and benzoyl peroxide creams along with a topical antibiotic lotion like Clindamycin.
* Topical retinoids (e.g Adapalene) are medicines that contain derivates of Vitamin A, which are applied on the skin once or twice a day.
Oral treatments
* Tablets, such as doxycycline or minocycline for inflammatory acne. They should be taken daily for at least 3 months, although it might take 4 to 6 months for the benefits to be seen.
* Certain oral contraceptive tablets also help. A combination of the usual pill hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate (e.g. Diane) suppresses testosterone activity.
* Isotretinoin (e.g. Isotroin) works by drying up oily secretions. It is usually prescribed in severe cases that are not responding to other treatments. Unsupervised consumption of Isotretinoin may cause serious side effects like liver disorders and depression.
Caution Isotretinoin should not be taken by pregnant women; it can harm the unborn baby.