Help for Acne. What is Acne
Medicine,Treatment and Cures
for Blackheads, Pimples and Rash

Almost everyone gets acne. You might call them zits, pimples, blemishes, blackheads, whiteheads or pustules, but they are all acne. Although anyone can get acne, teenagers are most often affected, and boys get more acne than girls. Sometimes it seems that your acne breaks out right before a big event, like the prom or picture-day.

Those whiteheads or blackheads are plugged skin pores called comedones. Acne also causes red bumps, inflamed pimples called pustules, and deeper lumps called nodules and cysts on the skin. When acne is severe and forms deep pus-filled lumps, it is called cystic acne. Cystic acne affects young men more often than women. Acne occurs on the face, as well as the neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. If your acne is treated, you can get relief and also avoid acne scars. Untreated acne can leave permanent scars.

The Causes of Acne

Around puberty, the adrenal glands in both boys and girls secrete more male hormones, called testosterone. Numerous oil glands underneath the skin become more active. If the opening to a hair follicle on the skin is blocked, oil builds up under the skin. Then bacteria, which are on everyone's skin, multiply and cause inflammation. The tissues and skin surrounding the gland become inflamed. When oil breaks through to the surface, it is called a whitehead. If that oil oxidizes on your skin and changes color, it is called a blackhead. So you see, blackheads are not dirt. People often refer to redness as scarring, but fortunately it usually isn't permanent. It's just a mark that will fade in a few months, provided you leave it alone.

Is There a Cure for Acne?

Acne is commonly caused by normal hormonal fluctuations in your body. We have been told that acne is not caused by eating certain foods, like chocolate, sweets, peanuts, carbonated sodas or greasy food. Acne is not caused by an allergy. Acne is not caused by dirt or uncleanliness. Acne is caused by a combination of factors including hormones, bacteria, excess skin oil and pores that are plugged. Acne is related to heredity, so if your parents had acne, you are more likely to have it. Often, acne clears up after several years, even without treatment. Unfortunately, there is no cure for acne, but acne can be treated and cleared up.

What You Can Do to Prevent Acne

Acne is not your fault. But you can help treat and control acne with good health practices. Doctors recommend that you clean your face twice a day with a mild, gentle cleanser to keep the skin clean and minimize sensitivity. Dove and Neutrogena are inexpensive and popular skin cleansers. Young women should not use cosmetics that contain oil; instead choose non-comedogenic cosmetics. Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Moderation and regularity are good things. Get eight hours of sleep, eat three good meals, and drink eight glasses of water a day. Exercise regularly to improve blood circulation to the skin. Reduce stress and learn how to relax.

What Can Make Acne Worse

Acne is made worse by using hair gel and oil-based makeup. Squeezing or picking the pimples also makes it worse. Washing the skin too often makes it worse. Medicines like steroids, phenytoin and lithium also make your acne worse. For young women, acne is affected by the hormone changes during your period, and by pregnancy. You probably noticed that stress affects your acne outbreaks, too.

New Research into the Cause and Cures for Acne

It's possible that milk and milk products may contribute to acne outbreaks. Cows are treated with hormones, which then appear in the milk. As a result, milk products may contain sex hormones, bovine growth factor and even iodine. This link between milk and acne is still under investigation.

New research has targeted sugar consumption as a likely factor in acne. Sugar, sweets and white bread affect blood glucose levels and stimulate insulin production. Sugar seems to trigger a sequence of events that results in acne formation. Sugars also affect hormone levels. If this is the case, a diet low in refined carbohydrates will provide some relief from acne. Research into the causes of acne is ongoing.

You Can Treat and Cure Mild Acne Yourself

Because acne is caused by clogged pores, excess oil and bacteria, acne treatments focus on unclogging the pores, killing bacteria and minimizing oil. There is no magic product or regimen that is right for every person and condition. You can do a lot to treat your acne using over-the-counter products available at a drugstore or cosmetic counter. However, for tougher cases of acne, you should consult a physician for treatment options.

Well-known and effective products to treat and cure acne are provided by Acne Free, Biore, Clearasil, Dermalogica, Glytone, Klear Action, L'Oreal, Neutrogena, Noxzema, Phisoderm, Proactiv, and Stridex.

• A gentle astringent will wipe away the skin oil and reduce shine.
• Exfoliating cleansers and masques open the pores by removing the outer layer of skin. They may also be called facial scrubs and skin exfoliants, but they all act as mild peeling agents. These products may contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acids.
• You can try applying hot compresses to pustules and cysts to open the pores.
• Retinol is related to vitamin A and helps promote skin peeling. Do not confuse this with the prescription medication Retin-A.
• Zinc has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to improve acne symptoms. You may want to use a zinc supplement of 25-50 mg of zinc per day with food. Do not overdue it because too much zinc can be toxic. Also, be sure to take zinc with food. It can cause nausea on an empty stomach.
• Eating fish or taking fish oil supplements provides the good fats, omega-3 fatty acids, that reduce inflammation. Get enough vitamin D, either from sunlight or fortified milk. Protect your skin with acne from the sun.
• There are a number of cleansers used in topical lotions and pore strips to cleanse excess oil and remove blackheads. They are an inexpensive, safe, and effective way to treat and cure very mild acne. Biore and Stridex are well-known brands.
• When you want to find products to control your acne, look for acne treatments that include benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid, or sulfur and resorcinol. These ingredients are widely used on acne and are gvery effective. An acne skin product containing benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur and/or resorcinol will kill the surface bacteria. Salicylic acid helps the skin shed dead cells and opens clogged pores.

Benzoyl Peroxide is the Recommended Treatment for Acne

Benzoyl peroxide is a popular and widely used treatment applied to the skin for mild or moderate acne. It is an antibacterial cleanser, available over-the-counter under many brand names. Acne medicine with benzoyl peroxide comes as a cleanser, gel or a lotion. Benzoyl peroxide introduces oxygen into the pore, which kills the acne bacteria because they cannot live in an oxygen-rich environment. It also rids the follicle of dead skin cells, cleans the pore and reduces blockages. Thus, benzoyl peroxide can prevent breakouts before they start.

To avoid irritating your skin, try a product with a low concentration of 2.5% or 5% benzoyl peroxide. Doctors say that the low concentration works as well as the high concentration. You can apply the acne cream or gel at night or twice a day. Some products are also used as a light skin wash. Antibacterial pads containing benzoyl peroxide are also available. Be careful when you use it. Benzoyl peroxide is a bleach, and it will stain clothes, bedding and towels on contact.

Medicine with Salicylic Acid is an Acne Treatment

Salicylic acid helps the skin shed dead cells. Consequently, you have fewer blocked pores and fewer breakouts. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid, BHA, related to the active ingredient in aspirin. In strengths of .5 to 2%, medicine with salicylic acid is effective on blackheads and whiteheads. It is also an alternative treatment to use if you are allergic to benzoyl peroxide. You can buy it over-the-counter as a cleanser, lotion or treatment pad.

Medicine with Sulfur and Resorcinol is a Treatment for Acne

In acne treatments, sulfur and resorcinol reduce oil. Resorcinol also prevents acne by removing dead skin cells. How sulfur works is not really understood, but it is a tried and true acne treatment. Try sulfur or resorcinol if your skin is too sensitive for benzoyl peroxide. Sulfur and resorcinol are included together in acne products, sulphur at 2% concentration and resorcinol at 5% or 8% concentration.

Medicine with Alcohol and Acetone is a Treatment for Acne

Alcohol and acetone are also used for acne. You will also find them used in facial treatments for oily skin types. Alcohol is an antimicrobial to reduce bacteria on the skin. Acetone removes excess oil from the skin. Alcohol and acetone are found mainly in toners, astringents, and cleansers.

Medicine Your Physician and Dermatologist
  Uses as a Treatment for Acne

If your acne doesn't clear up with over-the-counter treatment, your physician or dermatologist may be able to help. And if you are worried or embarrassed by your acne, it's time to consult a doctor for heavy-duty treatment. Here are some of the medicines and treatments he or she can prescribe for acne.

• A doctor can prescribe different creams to use on your acne, such as retinoids, azelaic acid or antibiotics. Topical antibiotics and antibacterials are applied to the skin. These include erythromycin, clindamycin (Benzaclin, Duac), sulfacetamide (Klaron), and azelaic acid (Azelex).
• For moderate acne, oral antibiotics are taken by mouth for a period of four to six months. Oral antibiotics used to treat acne include tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, cefadroxil, amoxicillin, and the sulfa drugs.
• Oral contraceptives are sometimes a treatment for girls but not for boys. They are often not very successful in relieving acne.
• Retin-A (tretinoin) has been used effectively for years. It works on the skin by unclogging the pores. Newer retinoids include adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac). Side effects may include skin irritation and sensitivity to the sun.
• Spironolocatone is a drug that blocks androgen receptors and thus regulates hormone levels. It can cause breast tenderness, menstrual bleeding, and increased potassium levels in the bloodstream. It is suggested for acne that resists other treatment.
• Cortisone injections can be used to make large pimples and cysts flatten out fast.
• For severe acne or acne with cysts and nodules, a dermatologist can prescribe Isotretinoin. Brand names are Roaccutane, Sotret, Claravis and Amnesteem. The treatment is effective on severe acne, but is not recommended for mild acne. Isotretinoin has serious side effects. It can cause birth defects. That is why young women should not get pregnant while they are on Isotretinoin. Everyone will also have to take regular blood tests to monitor other side-effects of isotretinoin, like liver problems and high cholesterol.

I hope life brings you much success.
I wish you a very happy day.

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