Acne Medicine
If you are plagued by acne you are more than aware of the overwhelming number of products that are available for treatment - both over the counter and as prescription medications. With all of these medications how do you decide which is best for your skin type, sensitivity and your age?
Choosing Acne Medicine - Things to be Considered
If your acne is mild to moderate then over the counter acne medicines may be best for you. They contain drying agents to decrease the amount of oil that clogs the pores and may also have a mild antibiotic to clear the bacteria that makes the acne worse. If you have severe acne, however, you should seek the advice of a dermatologist. Improper acne medicines can actually make the problem worse.
Since hormone levels sometimes have an effect on the production of oil, birth control pills are used. They are mostly used to decrease the activity of androgens, the male sex hormones that are responsible for producing oil. Birth control pills work to correct hormonal imbalances.
For severe cases of acne Accutane or Isotretinoin may be prescribed. This is an acne medicine that is taken orally to help over-active oil glands. This acne medicine has some dangerous side-effects such as liver damage and birth defects. Although it can be effective in the short run it is usually reserved as a last resort.
Retin-A creams are formed from a derivative of Vitamin A and is a prescription acne medicine. This form of Vitamin A helps to take off the top layer of dead cells which often block the pores in the skin.
Phototherapy is still experimentally being used to help clear acne. Although not a specific medication, because it is regulated for use by the FDA it can be considered an acne medicine. Phototherapy is the special use of light bulbs that give off a blue or red and blue light. This particular treatment has been found to work as well or better than benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient in over the counter and prescription medication.
There are no universal treatments for acne. The resolution of the condition is gradual and can extend over a period of time. There just are no quick fixes and there are no instant cures. Acne medicines take time, patience, and persistence.
Disclaimer
This lens is designed for information purpose and not aimed to replace any advice that you may receive from your medical practitioner or a qualified dermatology professional.
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Acne vulgaris (commonly called acne) is a common skin condition, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units, skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland via androgen stimulation. It is characterized by noninflammatory follicular papules or comedones and by inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules in its more severe forms. Acne vulgaris affects the areas of skin with the densest population of sebaceous follicles; these areas include the face, the upper part of the chest, and the back. Severe acne is inflammatory, but acne can also manifest in noninflammatory forms.eMedicine - Acne Vulgaris : Article by Julie C Harper Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, blemishes, spots, zits, or acne.
Acne is most common during adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers, and frequently continues into adulthood. The cause in adolescence is generally an increase in male sex hormones, which people of both genders accrue during puberty.
For most people, acne diminishes over time and tends to disappear?or at the very least decrease?after one reaches one's early twenties. There is, however, no way to predict how long it will take to disappear entirely, and some individuals will carry this condition well into their thirties, forties and beyond. Anderson, Laurence. 2006. Looking Good, the Australian guide to skin care, cosmetic medicine and cosmetic surgery. AMPCo. Sydney. ISBN 0 85557 044 X.
The face and upper neck are the most commonly affected, but the chest, back and shoulders may have acne as well. The upper arms can also have acne, but lesions found there are often keratosis pilaris, not acne. Typical acne lesions are comedones, inflammatory papules, pustules and nodules. Some of the large nodules were previously called "cysts" and the term nodulocystic has been used to describe severe cases of inflammatory acne.
Aside from scarring, its main effects are psychological, such as reduced self-esteem and, according to at least one study, depression or suicide.One study has estimated the incidence of suicidal ideation in patients with acne as 7.1% :* Acne usually appears during adolescence, when people already tend to be most socially insecure. Early and aggressive treatment is therefore advocated by some to lessen the overall impact to individuals.
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