| |
| |
|
Acne Information |
|
|
|
Distressing Acne and Its Probable Causes
If you are on your teenage years, pretty good chances that you have some acne. About 8 to 10 preteens and teens have acne along with many adults. It is but a common skin problem that is considered to be a normal part of puberty. Apparently, it does make teen or any individual uncomfortable and it doesn't make it easier when you look in the mirror and see the big pimple on your face or chin. However, there is good news such as simple steps that will help you feel better about your face. Acne is a skin condition that shows up as different types of bumps including whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and cysts. You are always wondering how those pimples have grown onto your face or the how you got those zits on your back. The simplest scientific explanation that you could know is that your skin is covered with tiny holes called hair follicles or pores. These pores contain sebaceous glands also known as oil glands that make sebum, oil that moisten your skin and hair. Glands, most of the time, make the right amount of sebum and the pores are fine. But sometimes, a pore gets clogged up with too much sebum, dead skin cells and germs called bacteria thus causing you to have acne. Doctors believe acne results from several related factors but the exact cause is unknown. One important factor is the increase in hormones called androgens (male sex hormones). The increase in hormones during puberty causes the enlargement of sebaceous glands thus making more sebum. Also, the hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can cause acne. Hereditary or genetics is another factor that acne may be related to. Others believe that the tendency to develop acne is inherited from parents. Certain drugs including lithium and androgens are known to cause acne. Likewise, greasy cosmetics may alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together thus producing a plug. Moreover, there are many myths about what causes acne. People often blame chocolates and greasy foods but foods seem to have little effect on the development and course of acne in most people. Dirty skin is as well believed to cause the skin disorder; however, blackheads and other acne lesions are not caused by dirt. Lastly, stress does not cause acne. Obviously, there are several factors that can make the acne worse. The changing hormone levels in the adolescent girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period starts affect the worsening of the acne. Leaning on or rubbing the skin, environmental irritants, squeezing or picking at blemishes and hard scrubbing of the skin are other factors that could worsen acne conditions. Aside from the dermatologist who specializes on skin problems, there are doctors who treat all kinds of acne, particularly those of severe cases. Family practitioners, pediatricians or internists may treat individuals with milder cases of acne. It is always the goal of the treatment to heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming, prevent scarring as well as minimize the psychological stress and embarrassment caused by the disease. The drug treatment is to reduce several problems playing a part in causing acne; abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles, increased oil production, bacteria and inflammation. The doctor will recommend one of several over-the-counter (OTC) medicines or prescription medicines either topical (applied to the skin) or systematic (oral medication) depending on the extent of the person's acne. For more Acne related information please visit the acne resource center.
MORE RESOURCES:
Acne - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Wonders of Green Tea- It can Help With Acne Care Green tea is the most consumed beverage in the world, second only to water. The craze for green tea exceeds taste, as this beverage-derived from the white-flowered plant, Camellia Sinensis-is continually proving its health and wellness benefits. Acne Program - Step 10: Vitamins You Should Be Taking VitaminsHere are some of the vitamins and minerals you should be taking to help you get rid of acne.* B6, 25 - 150 mg in a B vitamin complex* B5 pantothenic acid, 500 - 1000 mg per day* Vitamin A (water soluble), 50,000 IU - take just before meals. Acne - A Clean Face - First Step In A 12 Step Program For those that need more than a special cream like Scotty's Face Cream, then you need to work harder to get rid of acne. Since acne is a condition that occurs from within your body and exhibits on the outside of your body, you need to,* Attack acne from inside your body* Attack acne from outside your bodyIf your acne is not to severe, all you might need is a good cream and need only to follow a few steps in my 12 step program to get you past the periods where acne is active. Using Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) as an Acne Treatment How Pantothenic Acid Works Many people have commented before that I recommend vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) a lot to acne sufferers. There happens to be a reason for that: It is what cleared my acne. The Truth About Acne Skin Care Let's face it, you are engaged in an ongoing battle when you are afflicted with acne. While acne treatments for a mild case of acne are usually successful, moderate acne is a greater problem. Microdermabrasion Acne Treatments - Harsh or Helpful? Many people think of microdermabrasion acne treatments as those supplied in salons by professional skincare specialists, but there are actually a multitude of microdermabrasion acne treatments available on your drugstore shelves. Many of the well-known and highly effective acne control products available today include beads or crystals that offer a microdermabrasion effect. What You Should Know About Acne There are many different types of acne and with that come many theories, myths, and treatments. The exact cause of acne remains a mystery. Popping Pimples - Is it worth it? Everyone, it seems, has a different opinion on popping pimples, and for every magazine article you find that urges you to keep your hands away, you'll find another that says it's no big deal. And when you have a huge quivering mass on your nose that seems as though it's threatening to take over your whole face, popping that pimple can seem like the best way to get rid of the thing. Save Money On Acne Cleansers My first education on how to buy acne skin care products came from Johnson & Johnson and Noxema. They had their models wash their clear complexions with the perfect acne cleanser and then, once the suds vanished, the models were dancing around so happy not having to worry about zits. Lasers - A Modern Cosmetic Treatment For Acne Blemishes The best way to protect your skin from acne-related scarring is to take preventative measures early on. But it is often true that people who suffer from acne are unable to prevent future scarring sufficiently. A Bumpy Ride Towards Aging Picture this; the snow-white clear skin that you have been proud of since your teen years has suddenly poofed into a wicked witch's warty face upon reaching the age of 30! "Acne, at my age?" This is often the distressed statement of pockmarked men and women in their 30's to 40's afflicted with adult acne.This problem is surely not the work of a vengeful sorcerer. Curing Acne Naturally - Effective Herbal Acne Treatments Chances are, if you find yourself reading this article, you have suffered the feelings of embarassment, self-consciousness and insecurity an acne breakout can bring on in what seems like the blink of an eye. Suddenly, you find yourself checking the mirror every hour on the hour, hoping the blemishes on your face have spontaneously cleared and you can breathe a sigh of relief. Calming Teenage Acne: How to Smooth Troubled Skin with a Holistic Approach... 7 Key Steps To calm teenage acne the skin must be balanced both internally and externally. Getting back to nature from the inside out can rebalance the glands, keep the skin bacteria-free, and allow it to heal more quickly. The Hows and Whys of Acne A few simple steps occur that cause skin blemishes. First, acne occurs when for some unknown reason or combination of reasons, hair follicles, also known as pores, become blocked. Battle Blemishes Every individual has different skin needs. But what doesn't differ is that everyone's skin needs to be cleaned to remove excess dirt brought about by the outside environment. How a 25 Year Old Asian Man Stumbled Upon a Sweet and Delicious Cure for Acne Permanently! When dealing with acne, we somehow have the gut feeling that our diets do affect us. Well, you're absolutely correct! It's a proven fact because the toxic substances contained in certain food will cause your liver and kidney to overwork. Acne & Wrinkles at My Age? Puberty brought bouts of acne. In your 20s, finding Mr. Acne Scars Acne is an inflammation of the skin that affects people from every country and every culture around the world. In the US, acne is predominantly thought of as a teenage dilemma, as more than eighty percent of teens and preteens will develop some form of acne. Acne Program - Step 8 Vegetables to Eat and Drink Eating and drinking vegetables is necessary for good health and for keeping your skin free from acne. Most people don't eat enough vegetables and seldom drink their juices. Little Addictions Can Create Big ZITS An acne trigger is any thought, location, feeling, food, emotion, response, drink, drug, memory and/or experience that sets off a series of hormonal reactions in your body that ultimately result in an acne formation.If a food or drink is the culprit behind your acne breakouts you may actually be addicted to your preferred culinary delight.
|
Acne Medications 01/07/09
by: Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, Ph.D, ND, DACBN
Acne is an annoying skin condition that affects people of every age, gender, and race. Few skin conditions are as bothersome and disturbing as acne. The scientific name for the condition is acne vulgaris because acne usually strikes in plainly visible locations such as the face, neck, chest and back. Acne is an age-old problem that has likely been plaguing people for centuries. But there are numerous treatment methods available for this bothersome condition. Read on to learn more about acne, and the herbal, homeopathic, and traditional medications used to treat it.
What is Acne?
Acne is an inflammation of the skin that can be caused by a number of factors. Contact with an oily substance such as mineral oil, vegetable oil, or petroleum is a common cause of acne, as is the use of certain medication, steroids, on the contraceptive pill. However, acne is most often cause by the secretion of androgens. Androgens are sex hormones that are initially secreted at the onset of puberty. They are male hormones but they are secreted by females as well. Androgens stimulate the production of oil from the skin's oil glands. Acne occurs when these oil glands become overactive and the exit from the gland is blocked, causing the oil to build up in the gland and swell. A bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes normally colonizes this swollen gland causing the development of inflammation and pus. In particularly severe cases, the glands may burst into the skin and produce cysts.
Over ninety percent of acne patients respond to acne medication, although the treatment may need to be continued for months or even years. Here are a few of the common herbal, homeopathic, and traditional medications that can be used to treat acne.
Acne Medications
Herbal Medications: Herbs such as chamomile, lavender, juniper, bergamot, dandelion root, and burdock root can be used to reduce toxicity and improve the overall condition of the skin. Echinacea and poke root are often used for their anti-inflammatory properties and red clover may be beneficial for its estrogenic action. Witch hazel has excellent astringent properties and may be very effective on acne. I recommend the skin rejuvenation program at the www-acne-answers.org website.
Homeopathic Remedies: For patients with pustules and blind boils, especially on the face, neck, and back, may be helped by Kali brom. Taking selenium internally is often used for acne sufferers with oily skin, blackheads, and pustules. And hepar sulph. is typically used for patients who suffer from pustules that are painful and filled with yellow pus.
Nonprescription Medications can be toxic to the skin over a period of time. (Not Recommended for Use).
Benzoyl peroxide is a common acne treatment. It is an exfoliant and therefore helps to remove dead skin cells from the skin's surface. It also prevents bacteria from multiplying on the skin. It may come in gel, cream, or lotion form. And it may also be found in combination with sulphur which is another exfoliation agent. Benzoyl peroxide helps to prevent the development of new blemishes and clear up ones that are already present. It needs to be used on a daily basis and may initially cause itching, redness, and dryness. Skin will slowly show improvement over time with continued usage.
Salicyclic Acid: The chemical is very effective in the treatment of blackheads. It can loosen and soften thick, clogged pores. However, it does little to prevent the development of new blemishes.
Retinoic Acid: This medication may be used alone or in combination with a benzoyl peroxide preparation. Retinoic acid is derived from vitamin A, which is an important nutrient in the maintenance of healthy skin. Vitamin A reduces the blockage of oil glands and is therefore very useful in the treatment of whiteheads and blackheads. It can cause itchiness and redness, especially if the skin is exposed to strong amounts of sunlight. As with benzoyl peroxide, retinoic acid needs to be used for an extended period of time (at least six months) and it may be several weeks before any initial improvement is noticed.
Prescription Medications can be toxic to the skin over a period of time. (Not Recommended for Use).
Tetracycline: This antibiotic is the most popular conventional treatment for acne. It may be used alone or in combination with benzoyl peroxide. Food, antacids, iron supplements, and milk can interfere with the absorption of this antibiotic, so it is important to remember to take it alone. This medication must be taken for a minimum of three months, and it often needs to be continued for even longer. It will take at least two months before any improvement is noticed. Other antibiotics may also be prescribed if tetracycline is not effective. These include: trimetoprim-sulfamethoxazole, minocycline, doxycycline, and erythromycin. Antibiotics also kill the good bacteria in your bowel and can cause your teeth to turn gray.
Oral contraceptives: For women with acne who also need birth control, some doctors will prescribe an oral contraceptive that contains either mestranol or ethinylestradiol. These drugs interfere with the androgen hormone that causes acne.
Therapeutic Injections: In severe cases of acne where cysts form, doctors have had some success with injecting steroids directly into the cyst to resolve them.
Isotretinoin: Like the topical retinoic acid, this medication is a derivative of vitamin A and it works to prevent the blockage of oil glands. Blocking the glands does not fix the problem.
To learn more visit http://www.acne-answers.org.
About The Author
Dr. Group, the founder/CEO and clinical director for the Global Healing Center, heads a research and development team producing advanced, new, natural health protocols and products. To learn more visit http://www.ghchealth.com.
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
