Acne

Why Acne is a Serious Issue for Teens

2006-11-22T22:37:00.000-08:00

by John S. Rhodes
The problem is acne.
As a teen, you know that poor skin makes you feel absolutely terrible. It makes you miserable. It leads to low self-esteem. You think that people are looking at you funny because your skin is covered with various spots and marks.
It just isn't fair.
On top of the obvious external problem, acne causes you to internalize negative feelings. Your friends and your parents don't understand that acne makes you feel dirty. It makes you feel greasy. It seems like your problems are the result of your skin problems.
I know that some teens really have it rough. They get picked on and ridiculed by everyone else. I remember this too and I once felt ugly and alone because of acne.
Acne is serious for teens exactly because it makes people angry, frustrated and depressed. If you're a teen, you know exactly what I'm taking about. If you're not, just remember that poor skin gives you anxiety. It fills you with shame.
Finally, consider that really bad acne can cause scars. These scars are often permanent and can cause long term self-esteem issues. So, prevention is really important. And obviously, it is easier to prevent acne than it is to deal with scars after the fact.
Why is It Important to Take Care of Acne?
Acne really isn't your fault. You don't deserve it and you can get rid of it. You can prevent it. That's the good news.
It is important to prevent acne for a few reasons. Like it or not, better skin will help you interact with other people. This is because you feel better about yourself. So, it has less to do with how you look and more about how you feel. That's definitely the key.
When you feel better about yourself you will have better social relationships. You'll have an easier time attracting other people. Also, importantly, you'll be healthy in other areas of your life. There is a spillover effect.
Vibrant skin with a healthy glow will make you feel more sexy, plain and simple. You also do not have to worry about spending money with treatments month after month if your skin is healthy.
Fortunately, there are healthy and low cost ways to prevent acne. For teenagers, this is obviously important. Freedom from the pain and sores is worth almost any price, but having some extra money is certainly nice as well.
About the Author
John S. Rhodes is an accomplished writer and researcher on many health topics. See his secret update on acne prevention and cures: http://uxreports.com/a2/acne.html

Stop Squeezing Your Pimples - 7 Safe Ways to Get Rid of Pimples

2006-11-21T19:59:00.000-08:00

By Emily Clark
It’s everyone’s worst nightmare. Waking up the day before a special event to discover a big, red pimple baring itself for all to see right on your face!
Here’s how to get rid of it quickly and safely:
1. Don’t ever pinch, squeeze or pick at a pimple. This only causes it to become more red and inflamed, and will spread the bacteria and oils that caused it in the first place, to other parts of your face! It can also lead to scars.
2. Every 30 minutes, apply an ice pack to the pimple and hold it there for about 2 minutes. This will decrease the swelling and redness and help shrink the inflammation and pain that sometimes comes along with it.
3. They don’t call it concealer for nothing! Covering the pimple with a light dose of flesh-tinted concealer can help mask it when you’re in a hurry. It also helps cover up that oily shine.
4. Cleanse your skin 2-3 times a day with mild, unscented soap or a specialized acne cleanser that has no harsh chemicals (such as lye). Scrub skin gently with an exfoliating pad or washcloth, but don’t rub too hard, otherwise you’ll sap your skin of its own natural oils, which help to repel buildup naturally.
5. Apply a cream or ointment containing benzyl peroxide or salicylic acid (many over-the-counter acne medicines contain these ingredients) to the blemish or around the entire facial area. Note that these ingredients both have a tendency to dry out skin if used too much and are not recommended if you have sensitive skin.
6. Wear oil-free makeup whenever possible. These types have less of a tendency to cause the pore buildup that results in blemishes. Remove your makeup nightly and cleanse with an acne-fighting medicine to remove dirt, oil and makeup from deep within the skin.
7. If you’re in need of a quick fix, a dab of toothpaste on the affected area right before bed can help soothe irritation and reduce redness. Pressing and holding a wet tea bag or a cotton ball with a dab of lemon juice against the blemish for five minutes can also reduce swelling and redness.
If you follow these tips, chances are you’ll notice a significant difference rather quickly – often within a day or two. If pimples become a recurring problem or worsen, your doctor or dermatologist can suggest a daily skin cleansing routine that will suit your skin type. Other long-term remedies, such as facial masks, diet adjustments and increasing the amount of water you drink can also help combat outbreaks.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.
Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emily_Clark

What Foods Can I Eat To Reduce My Acne?

2006-11-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

By Liam Char
What you eat can affect your acne breakouts. It’s no secret that good nutrition is an important factor in getting rid of your acne once and for all. Yet many people who suffer from acne don’t actually know how they can improve their diet, which will in turn improve their skin. They don’t know which types of food helps, or doesn’t help.
So this is what I’m going to address in this article.
Let’s get started:
Something you may not have known is that foods fall into two categories. There’s the alkaline-forming foods which are good for having a clearer complexion, and then there’s the acid-forming foods which aren’t so helpful for your skin.
The kind of alkaline foods that will help your skin are things like fruit and vegetables. These foods are easy for your body to process, which means there’s less toxins in your system. With acid foods (things like meats, fried food, cheese, milk etc), it’s harder for your body to process them. This means that there are toxins in your body for longer.
So eating healthier foods will help keep your skin cleaner. But that isn’t to say you can’t ever eat the fatty foods, or the carbohydrates like rice and pasta. Although these things can take longer for your body to process, which means there’s more toxins in your system, it’s fine in moderation.
But if you live on these kinds of foods, you may want to rethink your diet. Especially if having clear skin is important to you.
A few other foods to avoid are foods that contain a lot of sugar or a lot of yeast. Again, these are fine in moderation, but if you eat these foods too often, it can make your nutrition unbalanced.
Also, it goes without saying that you should drink plenty of water. Why? Because water helps to flush out the toxins in your body which would otherwise seek an outlet through your skin.
By drinking more water, you can keep your body clear of toxin build-up. And this will help keep your skin healthier.
Liam Char is owner of the Acne Treaments Blog, where he gives free advice and acne treatment information. If you would like more useful and tested ideas on how to cure your acne, be sure to visit his blog right now.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liam_Char

Acne... A Very Rough Disaster For Adults

2006-11-19T17:04:00.000-08:00

By: Andrew Heuw
Usually acne or pimples appear when you are in the period of puberty, teenagers oftern suffer from it. Suddenly the red spot then growing to be a bigger one appears on the face, then it spreads in some numbers of them on the face.With some special treatments and good maintaining of food and taking a look at the hormonal system of yours, then acne can be diminished from the face. yes, it can cause a matter of inconvinience and uncomfortable feelings, also, the feeling of losing self confidence because of acne ...those are some feelings appearing after acne comes to your faces.But, when it happens to adults...some can it very seriously. should we feel worried about the acne attacking when you are in the mature ages?According to Pimples Past Puberty: Dealing With Adult AcneProvided By: Berkeley Wellness, Adult acne is usually mild and tends to clear up on its own or with a little self help (see below). But if it persists or develops suddenly, see your doctor or dermatologist. Mild-to-moderate cases are usually treated with topical medicines (they may contain benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, retinoids, and other ingredients); oral medications (including antibiotics) may help in more severe cases. What works for teens generally works for adults, too, although adult skin may be both more sensitive and more resistant to various ingredients. A dermatologist may also do light therapy, chemical peels, and gentle extractions. If hormone imbalance is a factor in a woman, oral contraceptives or an anti-androgen may be prescribed. The drug isotretinoin (Accutane) is very effective for scarring acne, but it has serious side effects and must not be taken by pregnant women or women who could become pregnant during treatment; it's safe to become pregnant a month after you stop the drug.From the explanation above, yes, mature ages especially for women sometimes suffer from the change of imbalance hormonal system which finally leads to the acne problem, anyway this matter can be handled very easily and can be maintained to remove all acnes much faster than the one attacking to teenagers. Some treatments are suggested to help cure this acne problem, but maybe the treatment will be rather complex if the acne itself stays persistently.Sometimes the treatment cannot be just suitable for the acne patients, when the external treatment can not be resulting for what they have expected, then maybe it is the time to control your internal treatment, the same as doing some diet to manage what types of food are needed to intake.So, the battle to acne is not that difficult and consuming so much cost if you have managed to create such a balance in what you are eating, what you are thinking in your mind (release stress), and what treatment you are starting with. A daily simple cleansing process will lead you to much healtier face, clear without acne/pimple.Healthy life....is a mutual key to lead you to stay away from acne/pimple for everyone.
Article Source: http://www.articlecube.com
visit our site at "acnemedicationsolution" where you can get a lot of acne information. See also our acne treatment review & acne product review

How to Stay Acne Free

2006-11-16T19:32:00.000-08:00

By Guy Ray
Have you tried in desperation to deal with your acne? Have you attempted all the over-the-counter medications in the drugstore?
There are people just like you… everywhere.
Trying different medications to stay acne free can actually cause your face to irritate due to the diverse chemicals that upset the skin’s Ph balance. A natural acne treatment is the best way to replenish your skin’s health and you stay acne free.
Fundamentally, a natural acne treatment to stay acne free involves changing your eating habits, cleansing your insides and utilizing various remedies to provide nutrients to the organs. A prescription medicine, harsh chemical and junk or processed food with food additives would hinder your acne free skin greatly.
Although severe acne needs serious attention, mild to moderate acne can be acne free effectively by using a natural acne treatment with herbs. These natural herbs will help you remain acne free. This essential acne treatment is not from a foreign plant or uncommon species. This natural acne treatment is actually a part of ordinary products and oils found in your grocery store anytime.
Spices keep your face, digestive system and immune system well. Although they can do so much for you, they must be used in moderation if you want to be acne free. Raw spices can be used for ways to make recipes to stay acne free.
As you may have guessed, fruits and vegetables are also a part of an acne treatment. They are both luminous for your skin when applied straightforwardly. This is due to of the minerals, essential oils and antioxidants.
Vegetables such as asparagus are said to cleanse your skin from its extreme oiliness. You can remove the juice of vegetables, and put them on your face for several minutes a day. Regrettably, the acne treatment does not make you acne free overnight. You have to wait about 5 weeks before you start to notice serious results.
Because fruits and vegetables hold a lot of water, they help you rid toxic body chemicals. Water also transports nutrients to your body. Exfoliation is another acne treatment necessary in keeping skin acne free. Exfoliating sloughs off dead skin cells, also. Here is an example, use flour from your kitchen and add a minute bit of turmeric and a small number of drops of coconut oil to make your special face mask. The mask will soften your face and remove dead cells.
Guy Ray is a copywriter and has more than 200 articles to his credit.You can learn more about becoming and staying acne free by visiting his site at http://www.stop-acne-tips.com/Acne_Free.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Guy_Ray

Is Accutane an Effective Acne Treatment?

2006-11-15T19:19:00.000-08:00

by Seth Bayram
Accutane, otherwise known as Isotretinoin is an orally administered medication for the treatment of acne. It is a retinoid (a derivative of Vitamin A) and is the last solution that dermatologists offer their acne patients. Released in 1982 and despite its long list of side effects Accutane is still the established last solution for acne amongst the medical community. It's side effects include:
-birth defects if taken by a pregnant woman -hairloss -irritability -mental problems -depression -suicidal thoughts -suicide
My personal experience of Accutane was mostly side effect-less. I did notice a bit of an itchy scalp at times and was occasionally irritable. I had to get a cholesterol test done every month as Accutane can raise cholesterol levels, but nothing major happened to mine. You can't drink alcohol when taking Accutane and I took it for 4 months, so this was probably the hardest part of the experience for me as I like a drink. About 2 months into the treatment my skin became dry and towards the end it resembled goose flesh. A couple of weeks after finishing the treatment my skin really started to clear up and after a month my skin was pretty much perfect.
Unfortunately this did not last, and after a month of enjoying acne free skin spots started to appear. A few weeks later my acne was back to its worst!
Although I've read you can take Accutane again I never bothered. My dermatologist never asked to see me again and I never made another appointment. I consider it a failed treatment.
My story is common amongst acne sufferers who took Accutane. The reason it is an ineffective treatment is because the results do not last and the reason underlying this is that Accutane does not tackle the root cause of acne. It just nukes it to cover up the symptoms for a while, but when the dust settles acne reappears. In this respect Accutane is very similar to antibiotic acne treatment which also just covers up the symptoms for a while by attacking bacteria on the skin, until the bacteria mutates and the antibiotic becomes useless against it.
My advice to anyone considering Accutane to cure their acne is to avoid the wasted time because you will most probably come back full circle 6 months down the line anyway. Look for a solution that tackles the root of the acne problem now as it is the only way you will stay clear permanently.
About the Author
Seth Bayram has written dozens of articles on acne, as well as authoring a book that recommends an effective way to treat it. His FaceMaster Course book outlines a simple, step-by-step method for clearing acne, the outcome of his years of research as an acne sufferer himself. More information on his book can be found at www.facemaster.net.

Top 10 Home Remedies To Cure Acne And Pimples

2006-11-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

By Javier Fuller
When you talk about home remedies for acne and pimple, your mind reverts to the natural ways of living. Wrong living is bound to give you wrong results. Natural growth of the human body and the resultant hormonal changes cause acne. Improper skin care and wrong food habits add fuel to the fire and worsen the conditions of acne.
The great assurance about home remedies is that they are harmless and will not cause you any side effects. For every type of disease, a cure is provided by the Nature. Only you need to make self-assessment for what is good for you and what not. Some of the tried and trusted methods, since time immemorial, are:
1.Take raw milk and grind nutmeg with it. This paste has genuine acne healing qualities. The cure is complete and no marks or scars are left on your face.
2.Make a mixture of one teaspoon cinnamon powder and an equal quantity of lemon juice. and apply it softly on your face, especially the pimple affected area. You will get good results.
3.Take three table spoons of pure honey and mix it with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Apply it on the pimples and let the paste remain there overnight. Wash it next morning with lukewarm water. Continue this operation for two weeks. Pimples will vanish for ever.
4.Dry the orange peel and make its paste. Daub the paste on the pimples. You will have lots of relief in the acne and pimples condition.
5.Garlic is a well known remedy for pimples. Crush garlic and apply fresh juice on and around the pimples. Regular application will solve the problem of pimples once for all,. No scars will be left on your face.
6.Lime juice is used with many other combinations. Mix it with groundnut oil. This is a good treatment for blackheads and pimples.
7.Mint juice does much more. The fresh juice applied overnight, takes care of stings, scabies,eczema and other skin infections.
8.Wrinkles on your face may be inevitable at the old age, but why should you have them now? Make the paste of fresh fenugreek leaves and daub it on your face . Let it remain there for about 15 minutes. Wash the face with warm water. Along with wrinkles this will treat your pimples and blackheads.
9.If you have a sharp attack of pimples and if they are swelling, apply the juice of raw papaya for good results.
10.Now, one evergreen remedy for pimples. Mix rose water and lime juice in equal quantities. Apply profusely on the affected area. With lukewarm water wash it off, after 30 minutes. Pimples are bound to disappear and your skin will glow.
To get more information on acne, acne treatments and acne medication visit http://www.acnetalks.com/pimple/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Javier_Fuller

How To Prevent Oily Skin Turning Into Acne

2006-11-13T22:03:00.000-08:00

By Louise Forrest
Because acne is closely associated with oily skin, people who have oily skin need to be aware of home skin care and utilize it to their advantage. There are cases however that home skin care simply does not remedy the situation. In these cases, it becomes necessary to visit a dermatologist and begin a treatment of medication to relieve the skin so that the healing process can begin. One of the medications that your dermatologist may prescribe is corticosteroid treatment. This medication relieves the symptoms of irritated skin, mainly inflammation (swelling), itching, and redness. Inflammation, in regards to skin conditions, is slight compared to inflammation due to acute injury.
When prescribed for acne (which results, in part, from oily skin), this treatment is usually given as a topical treatment, meaning that it is applied to the skin, not taken internally. Corticosteroids prescribed for acne may be in a cream or lotion form. In very severe cases which are not helped by strong topical corticosteroids, systemic steroids may be prescribed. These are taken internally and the most popular is known as Prednisone.
If this medication is prescribed for you, there are things that you should know about it in order to use it both safely and successfully. The federal government has the following guidelines that you should keep in mind when using corticosteroids:
Tell your doctor is you have had and reactions to any form of steroids or if you have had adverse reactions to preservatives or dyes which may be used in the compound.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or may be pregnant. Animal studies have shown a correlation between use of this medication and birth defects when used on large areas of the body or for long periods of time.
Talk to your doctor about breast feeding while using this medication and Make sure the breasts are free of medication before breast feeding.
Use in children should be monitored by your pediatrician or dermatologist. Corticosteroids can affect growth and create other effects due to absorption through skin in children. Careful monitoring will safely allow your children to utilize the medication.
When using on elderly patients, a doctor should monitor carefully because of the tendency of older adults to have thinned skin. Unmonitored use of corticosteroids may result in blood blisters or skin that tears.
As always, make sure your doctor knows about all other medications being used to avoid possible drug interactions.
Make sure that the prescribing doctor knows if you have any of the following medical conditions: Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetes, Opens wounds where the medication is to be applied, thinned skin which may bruise easily, or tuberculosis. It is important that you do not get corticosteroids in your eyes. Make sure that you always wash your hands after application and be very careful about rubbing your face (around the eye area) while treating acne with this medication. Sweating is a factor if you have to use the medication on the forehead. Dab sweat away with a cloth rather than wiping it away with your hands. Do not let sweat run into your eyes if the medication is used on your forehead. If your do happen to get the medication in your eyes, flush immediately with cool water (not cold). Flushing helps clear the medication from the eye and the coolness helps with irritation.
In cases of acne, this medication is generally not used with bandaging. However, if it is, it is important that you apply the medicine exactly as directed because covering it aids in absorption through the skin and over-absorption has increased side effects.
Do not use corticosteroids more often or longer than directed by your doctor. Over usage can result in increased side effects. The medication usually comes with detailed patient instructions aside from your doctors instructions. Be sure to read information provided with the medicine.
If you miss a dose of this medication, you can apply it as soon as your remember, as long as it is not time for your next dose. If your next dose is to be applied soon, just skip the missed dose and resume proper dosing of this medication.
Remember that the major advantage to using corticosteroids is that they reduce inflammation. You still need to continue your organic oily skin care regimen in order to correct the situation. Once the medication is no longer necessary, you will still need to take good care of your skin in a specific regimen for combating oily skin.
Louise Forrest has created the ultimate FREE Health & Beauty guide. Find out how you can gain access to FREE natural skin care articles, tips and techniques at www.NaturalElements.co.uk Discover how you can control your oily skin and the spots which can occur at www.NaturalElements.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Forrest

I've Got Acne: Which Acne Medicine Should I Be Using?

2006-11-12T17:32:00.000-08:00

By Clive Jenkins
Acne is a very common condition and notorious for producing pimples on the face and upper torso. Many will additionally suffer with pimples or spots on the back and neck which can be very uncomfortable. The condition of Acne is so common that it is considered to be a normal part of puberty and usually placed into one of three categories being mild, moderate or severe. However, the bad news is that the condition isn't just restricted to adolescents so it is also possible to develop acne in later life as well.
Should We Be Worried About Getting Acne?
Acne is not a serious health threat but it can cause scars so we need to bare this in mind when considering the seriousness of the disease. Very often sufferers will find their skin inflamed and irritated; subsequently causing them to scratch the infected area/s thus creating additional unease and scarring.
How Can We Treat The Condition Effectively?
There are a number of acne medicines available on the market all of which are designed to help with the treatment of the condition and help clear the skin. One of the most popular agents for treating Acne is 'isotretinoin' which is commonly know as Accutane and will greatly reduce the irritation that acne can cause. You may also consider Acnope acne cream that is an anti-acne, anti wrinkle cream that helps dry acne and fight germs and also Clearasil vanishing cream is also meant to be a great acne cream.
Rather than being overly concerned about something that may be unavoidable, learn what Acne medicine ingredients offer effective treatment and then take it from there. It is all too easy to get caught up in the stigma of having acne and forget to pay attention to the actual underlying concern.
What About Topical Medications?
Topical acne medications may contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid or tretinoin, or retinoic acid. It is therefore imperative that before commencing any such treatment that you seek professional guidance from your Doctor. Particularly for women as the use of a topical acne cream during pregnancy may be questionable and as such should only be take on the advice of a medical practitioner. However, the amount of topical acne cream during pregnancy that is absorbed through the skin is really quite minimal.
Is There A Cure?
Acne Medical researchers are working on new drugs to treat acne, particularly topical antibiotics to replace some of those in current use. With this in mind it is optimistic that researchers of acne may very well introduce a solution to greatly alleviate the condition. It seems however, that people will do almost anything to sell an acne cure these days so you need to be particularly careful with when shopping around. When it comes to zits and finding the acne cure it can be quite a challenging task so proceed with caution. And, by the way, don't buy a suggested acne cure, apply it for a week and expect that your acne will be gone forever. If only life was that simple!
Your first point of call in any instance is a visit to your family Doctor who will assess the situation and advise accordingly. Your Doctor may even refer you to a specialist dermatologist for further help. Remember, don't be too worried or overly concerned if you have acne as you are not alone; it is one of the most common skin disorders and can easily be treated with the right medication.
If you suffer from or know of a person affected by Acne then be sure to visit the Acne Medicine Site. Clive thoroughly recommends this site so please check it out today here: - http://www.acnesmedicine.com. For comprehensive and immediate, acne and skin care information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clive_Jenkins

Beware of Miracle Cures Promised by an Acne Cleanser

2006-11-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

By Morgan Hamilton
One of the most difficult problems that a teenager can ever encounter is the appearance of acne. It can drive any teenager crazy. Acne can really wreak havoc on a teenager’s face allowing it to rival the moon in the number of craters that are present. One of acne’s most annoying attributes is appearing en masse before an important activity like a romantic dinner with your sweetie.
Another of acne’s annoying properties is that you can never seem to get rid of them. Solutions like cleansers, diet, creams, soap, exercise, and ointments have all been tried but so many are not effective. Every acne cleanser pledge promises a miracle cure, but only a few of them can cause any significant relief to acne problems. Some of them can even make your problems worse by increasing your acne through side effects that can really devastate your angelic face.
In searching for acne cleansers, it is important to remember that science has yet to develop an effective acne cure. Though there are some cleansers that can help you with your problem, finding them can be grueling. Acne is caused by different factors which means an acne cleanser that has worked wonders for your friend may not work for you. With this in mind, spending a ton of cash for acne cleansers will not be a good idea. Why would you squander a lot of money on something that is not guaranteed to work?
A friend of mine was so traumatized by the idea of having pimples that he tried nearly every acne cleanser known, from the most sophisticated to the most primitive. The most effective of them so far is good old witch hazel. It is a gentle cleanser that is all natural and works in the same way as rubbing alcohol.
Even though it didn’t solve his acne concerns completely, it no harmful side effects like skin peeling and in my view has improved his facial situation significantly. He also recommended using mild, specially formulated acne cleanser soap. Using cleansers that are made from natural ingredients rarely cause harmful side-effect that are common with chemical based cleansers.
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Acne Cleanser. Visit our site for more helpful information about Acne Cleanser and other similar topics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton

Diagnosis and treatment of acne

2006-10-30T05:18:00.000-08:00

American Family Physician, May 1, 2004 by Steven Feldman, Rachel E. Careccia, Kelly L. Barham, John Hancox
Acne is a disease of pilosebaceous units in the skin. It is thought to be caused by the interplay of four factors. Excessive sebum production secondary to sebaceous gland hyperplasia is the first abnormality to occur. (1) Subsequent hyperkeratinization of the hair follicle prevents normal shedding of the follicular keratinocytes, which then obstruct the follicle and form an inapparent microcomedo. (2) Lipids and cellular debris soon accumulate within the blocked follicle. This microenvironment encourages colonization of Propionibacterium acnes, which provokes an immune response through the production of numerous inflammatory mediators. Inflammation is further enhanced by follicular rupture and subsequent leakage of lipids, bacteria, and fatty acids into the dermis.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of acne is based on the history and physical examination. Lesions most commonly develop in areas with the greatest concentration of sebaceous glands, which include the face, neck, chest, upper arms, and back.

Acne vulgaris may be defined as any disorder of the skin whose initial pathology is the microscopic microcomedo. (3) The microcomedo may evolve into visible open comedones ("blackheads") or closed comedones ("whiteheads"). Subsequently, inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules may develop. Nodulocystic acne consists of pustular lesions larger than 0.5 cm. The presence of excoriations, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and scars should be noted.

Acne may be triggered or worsened by external factors such as mechanical obstruction (i.e., helmets, shirt collars), occupational exposures, or medications. Common medications that may cause or affect acne are listed in Table 1. (4) Cosmetics and emollients may occlude follicles and cause an acneiform eruption. Topical corticosteroids may produce perioral dermatitis, a localized erythematous papular or pustular eruption. (5)

[TABLE 1 OMITTED]

Endocrine causes of acne include Cushing's disease or syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. (6) Clinical clues to possible hyperandrogenism in women include dysmenorrhea, virilization (i.e., hirsutism, clitoromegaly, temporal balding), and severe acne.

Classification

In 1990, the American Academy of Dermatology developed a classification scheme for primary acne vulgaris. (7) This grading scale delineates three levels of acne: mild, moderate, and severe. Mild acne is characterized by the presence of few to several papules and pustules, but no nodules (Figure 1). Patients with moderate acne have several to many papules and pustules, along with a few to several nodules (Figure 2). With severe acne, patients have numerous or extensive papules and pustules, as well as many nodules (Figure 3).

[FIGURES 1-3 OMITTED]

Acne also is classified by type of lesion--comedonal, papulopustular, and nodulocystic. Pustules and cysts are considered inflammatory acne.

Therapy

TOPICAL AGENTS

Selection of topical therapy should be based on the severity and type of acne. Topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and azelaic acid are effective treatments for mild acne. Topical antibiotics and medications with bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory properties are effective for treating mild to moderate inflammatory acne. The dosage, approximate cost, and side effects of selected topical medications are summarized in Table 2.

Proper selection of topical formulations may decrease side effects and increase patient compliance. Fortunately, most acne medications are available in several forms. Creams and lotions typically are reserved for dry or sensitive skin, whereas gels are prescribed for oil-prone complexions. During treatment with prescribed medications, patients should use bland facial washes and moisturizers.

Retinoids and Retinoid Analogs. Topical tretinoin (Retin-A) is a comedolytic agent that normalizes desquamation of the epithelial lining, thereby preventing obstruction of the pilosebaceous outlet. (8) This agent also appears to have direct anti-inflammatory effects. (9) A derivative of vitamin A, tretinoin is available in cream, gel, and liquid forms. In tretinoin microsphere (Retin-A Micro), tretinoin is encapsulated in a polymer that slowly releases the active medication, resulting in less irritation than with other tretinoin preparations. (10) With all retinoids, visible improvement occurs after eight to 12 weeks of treatment.

Tretinoin is inactivated by ultraviolet (UV) light and oxidized by benzoyl peroxide. It therefore should be applied only at night and never with benzoyl peroxide. Tretinoin may decrease the amount of native UV protection by thinning the stratum corneum; thus, daily use of sunscreen is recommended. Because the irritation caused by tretinoin is dose-dependent, treatment should be initiated in a low dose. Patients only need a pea-sized amount of product per application.

There is no strong evidence for the teratogenicity of tretinoin, which remains pregnancy category C. A study (11) published in 1998 focused on the transdermal absorption of topical tretinoin and found the absorbed concentration to be below endogenous retinoid levels. However, no definitive consensus has been reached on the use of topical tretinoin in pregnancy. It may be wise to avoid use of topical retinoids or retinoid analogs in women who may become pregnant during treatment.

Adult acne

2006-10-30T05:13:00.000-08:00

Essence, Nov, 2004 by Jennifer Laing

Experts Explain
Dermatologists estimate that 30 to 50 percent of adult women suffer from acne conditions such as blackheads, whiteheads and cysts. "Adult acne is mainly caused by a genetic predisposition to the condition, combined with a change in hormones," says Katie Rodan, M.D., a dermatologist in San Francisco. How it starts: First, shedding skin cells form a plug in the pore. Then hormones trigger the production of oil that gets stuck in the clogged pore. This creates an ideal environment for the bacteria to thrive, And given that we have about ten thousand pores on our faces, there's plenty of opportunity for bacteria to grow.
The resulting inflammation rears its head as a pimple. According to Rodan, it takes two weeks for a pimple to develop into a full-blown zit--meaning that the chocolate bar or fried chicken you ate yesterday has absolutely nothing to do with your new breakout.

Treatment Tips

* Your best acne defense is a good offense. "You can't just treat one pimple at a time," Rodan says. "The key is to treat your entire face on a continuous basis."
* For mild to moderate conditions, Rodan recommends a three-pronged approach that includes an exfoliator to unplug pores, a toner to cleanse away excess oil, and benzoyl peroxide to heal blemishes.
* For severe acne, Accutane remains the gold standard in treatment. It's the only prescription medication that has potential to "cure" cystic ache. However, side effects such as extremely dry skin, a possible link to depression and birth defects in babies make this treatment a last resort.
* The pros swear by combination treatments: Kate Somerville of Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts in Los Angeles (Janet Jackson's aesthetician) extoliates the skin and unclogs pores with an enzyme scrub, then carefully applies a warm cloth to the skin for two minutes before using a lance or two cotton swabs to extract blemishes.
* To maintain results between spa visits, consider a dally or nightly application of a benzoyl-peroxide product on blemishes and a weekly application of an acne mask. Clean & Clear, Neutrogena and Noxzema are readily available and affordable lines that carry such products.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Essence Communications, Inc.COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

How to find an acne medicine?

2006-10-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

The eternal fight
By Luna Sol
If you have acne, you probably fight a battle: how tofind good acne medicines? It is common opinion: as iffighting acne wasn’t hard enough, finding a proper acnemedicine is another battle itself.
With all the options available on the market – bothover-the-counter and prescribed – choosing a goodmedicine can be very difficult. That’s why it’s soimportant for you to talk to your doctor before any choiceis made. Your doctor can guide you through this search andhelp you with the treatment.
Acne medicines are always something difficult to choose,because you only will know if they work for your case ifyou try it. Even if the medicine is prescribed by a doctoryou can assure it will fit in your case until you try it.
In addition to that, some concepts about acne medicines areimportant for you to choose he right one to your case,specially if you have the mild type of acne, which usuallydoesn’t need a medical orientation.
- The best acne medicines are those ones that treat acnefrom inside out. Since acne is not only a simple skincondition, it is important to treat it from inside. Ingeneral, acne is related to some dysfunction of theorganism – hormonal unbalances are the most common causes– and for this reason it is meaningless treating only theskin when the real problem lies on the inside. When acneoccurs, it is a sign that something is going wrong.
- The side effects that usually are caused by acnemedicines must be taken into account when you decide goingunder a treatment. The side effects related to acnemedicines are the most varied: from a simple headache tothe serious liver or kidneys problems. Besides, pregnantwomen must stop the treatment as soon as she find out sheis pregnant and all the women before going under atreatment must take a pregnancy test in order to confirmshe is not pregnant. All this care is extremely necessarysince some acne medicines can lead to miscarriage and birthdefects. However, these care is for people who is undersynthetic medicines. The alternative treatments, based onnatural medicines, don’t require so many care.
- There are, still, mainly two options for acne medicines.
Luna Sol
http://www.acne-treatment-solution.info
Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.biz

Control Acne before It Starts

2006-10-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

Acne is a common skin condition
By Hans Ole Wandt
Acne is a common skin condition that affects almosteveryone at some time in their lives. Certain reports havenoted that over ninety percent of the world’s totalpopulation is affected by acne, and it’s so sad to tellthat until now there is still no particular method thatwill cure or eliminated acne totally. However, there aresome basic steps and precautions that can help you controlacne before it starts. Consider the following details.
Tips to control acne before it starts:
* You can definitely control acne before it starts bysimply not picking, popping, or squeezing the acne lesionsyou have. Always note that squeezing or picking the acnecan just worsen the condition as it can lead to furtherinfection and scarring on the skin.
* The act of washing your pillowcase often and using cleanface towels will also help to prevent acne before itappears. Dirty pillowcases and towels are potent carriersof bacteria and germs that can cause acne from forming, soyou better keep away from them.
* You can also prevent acne before it starts by simplypulling your hair away from your skin when you sleep, aswell as by showering as soon as possible after you engagedin workout or exercise since sweat that is combined withskin oils can actually trap the dirt and bacteria in yourpores, leading to acne.
* If you have a makeup, you remove it before going to bedso to prevent acne before it appears. Perhaps one of thereasons for this is the fact that makeup can clog yourpores and lead to breakouts.
* You can prevent acne before it starts to appear if youmake sure that all the cosmetic brushes you are using arecleaned in soapy water. And if possible, throw out the oldbrushes as well as contaminated makeup since they may onlytrigger the formation of acne.
* And, you can control acne before appearing by means ofusing topical treatments like the Nature’s Cure VanishingCream, one of the hottest acne skin care products in themarket today. With the application of this kind of acnetreatment, you can not only eliminate acne, but you cancontrol new acne before it starts to form.
These tips and precautions are now highly considered bysome acne patients knowing that they will help them notjust in getting rid of existing acne, but prevent new acnebefore it starts to occur. But, if you will consider someproducts out there to prevent acne before it appears, justbe careful about what you choose to use.

Hans Ole Wandt provides the best Health Informationfor publishers and public alike. There is a very large botox information sectionincluding a new article called botox-cost. Health Information is affiliated with werstrong.comarticle and content syndication
Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.biz

Acne

2006-10-16T23:41:00.000-07:00

By Charlene Nuble
Acne. Even the word itself connotes a repulsive condition. Visions of angry lesions and ripe red bumps come to mind when acne is mentioned. It is even commonly (but falsely) associated with bad hygiene.
Several skin rashes are classified as acne and some of the most common are: acne vulgaris (commonly occurs during puberty), acne cosmetica (triggered by cosmetics) and acne conglobata (chronic abscesses and boils).
Anyone can get acne, regardless of age, background, gender or color. It appears on the face, neck, back, shoulders, chest and arms and the severity varies from one individual to another. Acne causes whiteheads and blackheads, oily skin, red and/or yellow spots. Bumps and red areas appear on the skin and causes scarring. It is never a pretty sight.
How acne develops.
Below the surface of the skin are millions of sebaceous glands that produce sebum, an oily substance. Sebum is actually good and makes the skin supple and smooth. But when dead skin cells block hair follicles and there is an overproduction of sebum, the problem begins. An environment like this encourages the growth of a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes.
P. acnes cause acne.
These bacteria thrive in the oily environment in the blocked follicle and multiply. By themselves, P. acnes are actually harmless but when there is an excessive production of sebum, they feed on it and produce fatty acids that affect the body and cause inflammation that results in pimples and pustules. If the condition is severe, cysts may even develop under the surface of the skin and rupture, resulting to scars.
Blame the hormones.
Testosterone is a hormone that occurs naturally in the bodies of men and women. People who are genetically prone to acne are sensitive to this hormone and it causes sebaceous glands to secrete more oil.
Some contraceptive pills improve the condition of the skin and a doctor might prescribe one for treatment. However, some oral contraceptives may make acne worse. Ask the doctor for alternatives if you are under prescribed medication.
Good hygiene.
Acne is not contagious nor is it caused by dirt and dust. The black or brown coloring that is found at the tip is not dirt, but sebum that changed color when it came into contact with oxygen.
Contrary to popular belief, washing the face often will not help acne. It might even worsen the condition because over stimulation can irritate the skin. Twice a day washing should be enough.
Squeezing and picking the pimples will irritate it and cause more swelling, so it’s best to leave the skin alone.
Makeup did it.
Some cosmetics might cause allergic reaction and trigger an acne attack. It’s best to stick to formulations that are designed for sensitive skin, or those that are non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic because they are gentler and do not use perfumes or two much colorants in their preparations.
Chocolates and acne.
There is no conclusive study that shows acne is caused or aggravated by certain foods, like chocolates, for example. But some people do suffer from breakouts after consuming certain food like milk or sugars. If this is true to your particular case, then refrain from eating whatever it is you believe triggers your acne breakout.
Medicate.
Fighting acne means killing the bacteria that causes it. There are many over-the-counter creams available in the market that does just that. Some of the most popular are benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid and topical retinoids which are Vitamin A-based. These have a peeling effect on the skin, so the bumps are less obvious.
There are also topical and oral antibiotic preparations that your doctor can prescribe which can kill bacteria. These medications control the population of the bacteria at a manageable level.
Acne affects millions of people and more women than men. It is a very common skin condition which has been around for so long that myths have been created around it. Thankfully, modern medicine has ways to control it. It is only a matter of knowing what works and ensuring that treatment is began right away in order to check the condition at its early stage.
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Charlene J. Nuble
For All the things you need to know about acne, please go to: Acne or go to my: Acne Blog