Top 3 Acne Medications

Acne is a common disorder in skin that may last for long in an individual. For many people, acne isn’t a problem anymore when they reach the age of 30. But there are also individuals who continually carry the facial burden longer than expected. Treatments are important to avoid complications. When simple treatments are not enough, perhaps it is time to consider medical options for the acnes. The top three acne medications are the following: 1. Benzoyl peroxide This anti-bacterial medication takes care of killing the P. Acnes, acne-causing bacteria. It is an antiseptic agent that reduces the amount of barren pores. It will take approximately 3 weeks to see the changes. This ingredient is also used for bleaching the hair and fabric so make sure to use it right. It is both over-the-counter and prescription drug that comes in gel or cream. There is an estimated 3% of individuals found to be allergic to such substance so make sure that you don’t belong to that group or else you will experience skin inflammation if you apply it on your skin. 2. Salicylic Acid Used to treat skin disorders such as dandruff, calluses, and warts, salicylic acid can also be used as an acne medication. It slows down the cells in the follicles from cracking which prevents blockage. It also assists in breaking down the whiteheads and blackheads. Salicylic acid comes in many forms including cream, gel, lotion, ointment, and many more. Only use the medicine according to the directions on the label recommendations or from the doctor; otherwise, it may result to acid poisoning. Poisoning can be noticed when the person using it experiences dizziness, diarrhea, deep breathing, etc. 3. Sulfur This ingredient is common among soaps, washes, and creams. It allows the skin to peel and dry enabling the breaking down of the whiteheads and blackheads. It is necessary to check the label directions so as to avoid unnecessary complications. It is always best to seek professional advice when taking any of the medications. It is better to be sure. These medications, however, only kills bacteria, slows down cell breakdown, and peels off the skin but it will never stop the skin from acquiring bacteria after a certain span of time.

To Know Acne

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. Kerwin Chang writes for http://www.acnestuff.net where you can find out more about acne and other skin care topics.

Tips To Selecting The Right Acne Medicine

If you suffer from acne, then you are not alone. Every day, people try new acne medicine in the hopes that it will prove to be successful in ridding them of the redness, swelling and discomfort that goes along with the ailment. The best way to correct this skin problem is to select an acne medicine that carries little or no side effects. Today, many conventional medicines carry side effects that are often worse than the ailment itself. When searching for an acne medicine, whether it be over the counter or prescription, make sure that you understand any potential side effects that may result from it’s use. It may be difficult to reason with an acne medicine designed to rid you of the discomfort and embarrassment of acne when it, itself, carries a possible side effect of irritation and/or a rash. The best types of acne medicine will be those that are gentle to the skin and perhaps are even designed for sensitive skin. Always look for a product that is simple to use and understand. It should not promise instant results because, quite simply, there is no miracle cure for acne. There are, however, medications that are designed to treat the ailment. As is the case with any treatment, results will take time. When searching for the right acne medicine, look for one that promises realistic results in a realistic timeframe. If you are seeing a dermatologist and are receiving prescriptions, make sure that your physician/dermatologist is aware of any current or past medical conditions. Certain illnesses, either past or present, may prevent you from being able to safely use some acne medicines. For instance, women who are pregnant or think they may be pregnant, children and the elderly must be very careful about the medications that they are prescribed or use via over the counter purchases. A final thought to consider with acne medicine is, in some cases, the offer of a guarantee. This symbolizes a company’s belief in their product, which goes a long way in consumer trust. When you do use a product, make sure to use as directed and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines exactly. This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice regarding the use of acne medicine. Prior to beginning any treatment regimen, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor or dermatologist for advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual situation.

Tips For Halting Acne

Acne - now there's a four letter word. During my teen years I was the Prince of acne and for good reason. I was the face of acne, pun intended. I had it all, blackheads, whiteheads, you name it it was there. And If the scorn of my peers (especially the girls) was one thing, the impossibility of getting rid of the hideous acne I had was quite another thing altogether. The myths and fairy tales surrounding acne didn't help either. My family members firmly believed that acne was a result of poor (or more specifically, junk) diet. Yes, I will admit that I, like any other team, enjoy my fair share of junk food, but I wasn’t too sure that eating out was the cause of my acne. I mean, a lot of my buddies ate out with me, and what’s more, ate the same junk food even more frequently than I did, but they had little or no acne. Something had to be wrong with conventional wisdom right? I had seen the myth being shattered right before my eyes. And I'm sure you've heard the one about chocolate causing pimples. And since I loved chocolate in all of its glorious forms, I would have found giving it up, even at the risk of remaining acne king, an unimaginable cruelty. But having done my homework and checking news and medical reports on the subject, I soon found to my great relief that chocolate consumption had nothing absolutely nothing to do with acne. My friends and classmates weren't a lot of help either. Most of them, hinted with delightful sarcasm, that my acne advertisement face was a result of my inordinately frequent happen of masturbating. Hell, for a while there even I thought it was true. But then I quickly realized that this was yet another myth. Well I'm starting to learn actually, if by no other means than by the process of elimination. For if my acne was linked to my masturbation, was I to conclude that my male friends who had no acne at all did not masturbate? I would have sooner believe that they were from another planet! So, that was another acne myth dispelled. Another myth that I did believe, and which made perfect sense and even sounded scientific at that time, was the accumulation of dirt on my face that blocked my pores. But if that was a case then why didn't my arms and legs, which more regularly came into contact with dirt, have acne all over them? In any case, I spent several days, weeks and months meticulously scrubbing my face with a variety of soaps and anti acne lotions in a bid to get rid of my acne, to no avail. Finally, I gave in to a fatalistic attitude and reasoned that the more I stressed myself out thinking about my acne, the worse the problem would become. It was at that point that I gave up bothering about my acne filled face. And guess what? A few short years later, as I slowly climbed out of my adolescence, the acne magically disappeared on its own! Although there are still a few tell tale scars of my acne prince days, for the most part you would never know they were there!

Tips for Getting an Acne-Free Face

Nobody dreams of having acne, that would be tantamount to wishing for bad teeth. One thing that makes people attractive is their flawless skin. Sometimes, it shows the entirety of their personality especially on the manner of how they take care of themselves. Having a blemish-free skin also builds up the confidence of a person. Acne can be present on any individuals at all ages. However, it is mostly occurring on the teens because of the imbalance production of hormone in their body. This is in fact, a part of their being adolescent where they undergo physical changes. Here are 3 tips for you to prevent and get rid of acne. 1. Healthy diet for a healthy skin. Fruits and vegetables are the best ingredients for your diet to maintain a healthy skin. Rather than eating junk foods it is better that you add varieties of fruits, vegetables and even nuts for your snacks. You can create a sweet juice out of the fruits if you are not used to eating it whole. 2. Drink more water everyday. Water is the major cleansing agent of all the unnecessary components inside a person's body. It is very essential that you drink a minimum of eight glasses of water every day to keep track of your acne-free skin. 3. Vitamins and Supplements In order to combat the skin diseases and toxins that may attack your body, you can drink vitamins and supplements everyday. There are also some supplements that are best for fighting against acne, such as the Maca and the Manuka honey. Above all other tips, you can make use of natural products for your skin. Avoid purchasing certain skin products not approved by your dermatologist because they contain chemicals that may just threaten your skin. Herbal soap will help you pacify the production of too much oil in your skin.

Then the former acne patient said “thank God for Facial Massaging”

With the marketers of various acne products out there to make a buck at the expense of naïve acne patients, one step that very well could help clear the skin and delay the aging process is right there literally at your finger tips. It’s called facial massaging and for me, a former acne patient, it works. Now friends, I suffered from acne. Actually the statement above will be an understatement. It devastated and almost annihilated me. What didn’t I try: Proactiv, Neutrogena, Clearasil, Dermatologists? You name it, this writer tried it. Well, not everything, cause I couldn’t afford plastic surgery, not on a $11 per hour salary, but I was saving up for it though…honestly, the phone number is still highlighted in the phone book. During my years with dealing with acne, especially toward the end as an adult, I simply had to find something, anything to get this problem off or else… Well, thank God I stumbled on Facial Massaging and combined with a proper diet and other common-sense tips, within 72 hours or less, there was a permanent and drastic improvement in my skin condition. I humbly share the facial massaging steps with you so if you suffer from acne, you could look into them as part of a drug-free, yet simple BUT extremely effective means of treating your acne. Facial Massaging Steps: 1. Wash your hands, especially your fingertips, thoroughly. 2. Now with your thumbs firmly gripping your jaw-line, proceed to pressing with the free four fingers the upper jaw line working from the center outwards. Do 2-3 sets pressing firmly. 3. Now press the areas directly above the jaw line in the same center-going- outwards-direction firmly 2-3 times. 4. Do this working upwards till you reach the forehead line. If done correctly you should see little specks of dead skin on your face. 5. In a feathery motion, pinch at the entire face for as long as you desire (1-2 minutes) using all the free fingers in firm actions grasping the skin. 6. Now, in a downward-scraping motion using the finger tips, rub the jugular veins located at the sides of the neck (6-8) times, and then massage the outer part of the chest right next to the armpits in a firm circular motion ensuring you breathe deeply as well. According to the Egyptians (and from my own experiences) this simple procedure has a marked effect on alleviating bags and crow's feet from the eyes and directing the flow of toxins away from the face. 7. Wash your hands with soap and rinse the face with cool water only-gently but firmly. 8. Wipe your face dry with a paper towel (or a towel you use only for your face and nothing else. Keep this towel in an exclusive location and wash it every other day). Now, for an external acne treatment regimen, this procedure is quite effective. Combined with such internal acne treatment procedures based on a proper diet of your Juicy fruits, some roots and leafy vegetables and if desired (although highly recommended) occasional juice fasts or exclusive mono-meals of seasonal fruits, facial massaging will be very useful as a means of controlling acne (and delaying facial aging as apparent in crows feet and wrinkles) from the outside. I must add, when performed correctly, it does enhance facial tone and structure not unlike costly plastic surgery. So, put your fingers to work and lovingly massage and sculpt your face with facial massaging while all the while becoming acne free starting today. Here’s to a clearer skin naturally.

The Whole Truth RegardingTeens With Acne

Teenagers are the most common age group suffering from acne. Androgens, a hormone that begins production at puberty, is a major cause of acne. Unfortunately for males, they tend to produce more androgens and develop more severe acne than females. Extra oils that contribute to acne, are also produced at puberty. These oils mixed with dirt and dead skin cause the pore blockage which causes acne. Some females will get break-outs around the time of their monthly period. This is caused by the hormone fluctuations caused by menstruation. Fortunately for females with hormonal break-outs, birth control can help to maintain a steady level of hormones. A common misconception about teens with acne is that they have bad hygiene or eat a lot of greasy food. This is only a myth, and proves untrue for most people. Wash your face twice a day, especially after exercise, to get rid of excess oil. Avoid harsh soaps that can irritate and damage skin. Never pick your face because this could lead to increased irritation and life-long scarring. Stress can be a cause of acne for teens. Unfortunately, this is an inevitably stressful phase of life. Teens with acne suffer from the emotional side of acne just as much as the physical side. Your face is the first thing that most people see when they look at you. Low self-esteem is a problem that almost all teens with acne will battle with. Depression over acne can cause withdrawal from social interactions, decreased attendance in school, and general avoidance of family and friends. Some teens develop social anxiety that can interfere with every aspect of day to day life Some teens with acne decide to purchase topical cleansers from the store when they first start to develop acne. Sensitive skin will not react well with most over-the-counter treatments. It can cause itching, redness, burning, and general worsening of the condition. If the acne does not clear up after a few weeks of usage, you should consult a dermatologist. He/She can prescribe a more effective antibiotic that is more suited to the individual problem. Everyone's skin if different so it may take more than one try to find what is right for you. Common treatments suggested for teens with acne are Benzoyl Peroxide and retinoids. Benzoyl Peroxide kills acne causing bacteria and is used topically. Retinoids, such as Accutaine or Roaccutane, unclog pores and helps the process of skin renewal. There are side effects with using retinoids, such as depression, so usage is closely monitored by a dermatologist. Acne is not the end of the world. It is completely normal and so common that people really don't look down on others for not having perfect skin. Some teens with acne grow out of it before they finish high school. Others will grow out of it by the time they reach adulthood. Almost every case of acne can be treated effectively and if acne scars happen to form, there are also treatments available to reconstruct the smoothness of your skin.