Acne Treatment-Cystic acne, Best Acne Treatment, Blackheads, Blackhead removal, Benzoyl peroxide, Acne scar treatment, Cystic acne treatment, Best natural acne treatment, clear skin.

Acne Treatment-Cystic acne, Best Acne Treatment, Blackheads, Blackhead removal, Benzoyl peroxide, Acne scar treatment, Cystic acne treatment, Best natural acne treatment, clear skin.

Acne treatment. What is acne? It is an inflammatory skin condition that appears commonly in form of pimples, spots, blackheads, Whiteheads, nodules and cysts. Another name for acne is acne vulgaris. This occurs mainly on the face but may also occur on the chest, Back or Neck. Acne forms when hair follicles clog with dead skin cells and oil from the skin.

This Condition Occurs mainly during Puberty, due to hormonal changes but may also occur at any age. Although Acne is not a dangerous condition, it can leave scars on the face which lead to low self esteem.

What Causes Acne?

Acne is caused by genetic factors. Another cause could be hormones known as androgen, which lead to increased production of sebum which consequently lead to clogged pores.

Another cause is excessive growth of a bacteria known as bacterium Propionibacterium acnes or P.acnes, which is present in the skin. Other factors like diet which includes simple carbohydrates such as bread, sugars, dairy products such as milk are also linked to this condition.

Cystic Acne

Cystic Acne is a severe form of acne. They tend to be large and appear deeper within the skin. They form as a result of accumulation of oil, bacteria and dry skin cells. It is common in people with oily skin. It can occur in teenagers, and also adults who have hormonal imbalances.

Symptoms of Cystic Acne

Some of the characteristics of Cystic acne include redness, Large white bump and pus filled Cyst.

Acne treatment

What are Blackheads?

Blackheads are tiny black sports on the face caused by clogged hair follicles. They can also occur on other areas such as neck, back, chest, arms and shoulders. Accumulated dead skin cells on the skin and in the pores narrow the exit of the pores, such that the sebum cannot be secreted naturally. If the pore is slightly open, the combination of excess sebum and dead skin cells is exposed to oxygen, which oxidizes the mixture turning it black.

blackheads

Blackhead Removal

Benzoyl peroxide for Acne treatment

Over the counter drugs such as salicylic acid, resorcinol and benzoyl peroxide work by killing bacteria, drying excess oil, and help the skin to shed dead skin cells.

Benzoyl peroxide for Acne treatment
Benzoyl peroxide for Acne treatment

In case over the counter treatments are not effective, a dermatologist can put you on medication that contains vitamin A, such as tazarotene, tretinoin, or adapalene. This medication helps to prevent clogging of pores and also helps in renewal of skin cells. A combination of antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide may also be prescribed.

Chemical peels where strong chemical solutions are applied on the skin, can be done to help the skin to peel and unclog pores. Laser and light therapies can also can also be used to reduce oil production and help to kill bacteria.

Blackheads can also be removed manually by dermatologists using special equipment that help to extract the clogs.

How to prevent blackheads.

-To avoid build up of oils, wash your face twice, in the morning and before going to bed using a mild cleanser.

-Use exfoliating scrubs and masks to remove dead skin cells.

-use oil-free or noncomedogenic creams, lotions, and sunscreens to avoid clogging pores.

Best Acne Treatment

Treatment options include medications, medical procedures, Dietary changes and also Natural treatments.
Treatments which are applied directly on the face include benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and azelaic acid among others. There are also Antibiotics and retinoids that are taken orally for the treatment of acne. Certain types of birth control pills may be given to women to help fight acne. This treatments help in reducing inflammation, killing P. acnes, hormonal manipulation, and normalizing sebum production in the pore to prevent blockage.

Treatment depends on how severe the condition is and ranges from Mild Acne, to Moderate, to Severe Acne. Mild acne IS characterized mostly by whiteheads and black heads and may not require help from dermatologists. Mild acne can be treated using over the counter medications such as antibacterial skin cleansers. One can also use Benzoyl Peroxide which is easily available over the counter.

Moderate Acne is characterized by both inflamed and non inflamed lesions and may at times leave scars. On the other hand Severe acne is characterized by inflamed lesions and will mostly cause scarring. It is advisable to seek the help of a Dermatologist for treatment options.

severe acne can be treated using a drug known as isotretinoin which is an oral treatment taken for 16 to 20 weeks. Although this treatment is effective, its use should be monitored due to the possible side effects. It is not recommended for pregnant women or those planning to get pregnant as it is dangerous to the unborn child.

Acne treatment: Antibiotics for acne

Moderate type of acne may be treated using oral antibiotics such as doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin and minocycline. This method of treating acne is becoming less effective due to increase in antibiotic-resistant P.acnes. However, those who do not respond with oral antibiotics may be put on birth control pills.

While using acne treatments, the skin is more sensitive to UV light and therefore one should avoid direct sunlight by putting on sunscreen.

Acne treatment: Best natural acne treatment

Application of tea tree oil may help to reduce the number of skin lesions in those with acne. Tea tree oil has anti-bacterial action against P.acnes and also has anti-inflammatory Properties. Other natural home remedies may also be effective in treatment of acne. Home remedies for acne treatment: read here

Acne Treatment
Tea Tree oil for Acne Treatment

 

Hormonal acne

Hormonal Acne results from hormonal changes especially a rise in androgen, such as testosterone. The rise in androgen’s leads to higher sebum production, changes in skin cell activity, increase in bacteria known as P.acnes which eventually leads to development of acne. Hormonal Acne is mostly common in teenagers who are going through hormonal changes. It can also occur in pregnant women or those going through their menstrual cycle, due to hormonal changes.

Acne scars

Acne scars are marks that result from damage to the skin following repeated inflammation from acne cysts. This scars are more likely to form from severe acne. They become hard to treat if they take long before treating. Cystic Acne is more likely to cause scars than any other type of Acne. To reduce the risk of scarring avoid popping the cyst. Popping the cyst also spreads the infection to other areas.

Acne scar treatment

Some of the most commonly used acne spot treatments include the following.

Chemical peels.

Chemical peels can reduce the appearance of shallow acne scars and post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation left after a healed acne lesion. A chemical peel involves applying a chemical to your skin to remove its outer layer, giving it a smoother appearance. This procedure is done by a dermatologist.

Retinoic acid.

When Retinoic acid cream is applied directly to the scar, it can help to reduce its appearance, especially in the case of keloid scars.

Lasers.

Dermatologists can use a laser to remove the outer layer of your skin, contour areas of acne scars, or lighten redness around healed acne lesions. Various types of lasers can be  used, depending on the nature of theacne scar i.e if its raised or flat. More than one laser treatment may be required for positive results to be realized.

Home remedies for acne scar removal

Acne skin care

As part of preventing and managing an acne prone skin, it is advisable to wash your face twice a day with warm water and a mild acne soap, use the right moisturizer, avoid popping the pimples which can cause skin scarring and also refrain from touching the face.

clear skin

Having and maintaining a clear facial skin requires one to have a skin routine which involves the following.

-Wash your face twice a day, both in the morning and in the evening using a cleanser that removes excessive dirt and oil, but one that is not excessively harsh or drying. You may need to see a skin specialist to prescribe for you the right products for your face. Use warm water, not hot water.

-Too much washing and scrubbing can remove oil from the skin and irritate it more. When you over wash, your skin responds by producing more oil.

-Avoid using facial Scrubs as they can irritate existing breakouts.

-Avoid picking acne as it can lead to cystic buildups and spread of bacteria to other areas.

-Use moisturizers and makeup products that are labeled “noncomedogenic” and “oil-free” as are less likely to clog your pores.

– Remove makeup before going to bed as its likely to clog your pores.

-Make sure you wear sunscreen to prevent exposure from direct sunlight as the acne medications cause the skin to be sensitive.

-Avoid Stress as it is linked to breakouts.

-Avoid foods that have high glycemic levels. These include white breads, pastas, and rice, as well as sugar.

 

Acne Treatment

Clear skin

Disclaimer: The content in this article is for information only. Therefore always consult a specialist for more information.