Mystery Solved! Acne-ology And How To.....
.....Get Rid Of Acne
Acne usually isn't a serious medical condition, but you should get medical advice from a Dermatologist for mod-severe Acne or Inflamed Cysts to avoid scarring or other damage to your skin. If acne and possible resulting scars are affecting your social relationships or self-esteem, you should also see a Dermatologist to find out if your acne can be controlled or if your scars can be made less noticeable.
Types of Acne
Acne will usually show up on your face, neck, back, shoulders and can affect any skin type, males and females. We have oil glands and hair follicles all over our skin. The oil glands can become clogged with oil secretions, dead skin cells, and occasionally bacteria. When this happens, it is referred to as Comedones, but you would know them as blackheads and whiteheads. Papules (small raised bumps) are a little different in that they identify inflammation or infection in the hair follicles. Pustules are red, tender bumps with white pus at the top. Nodules are large, painful bumps under the skin surface. The most severe type of Acne are the Cysts. Cysts are like Nodules except that they are filled with pus (almost like what we know as a Boil). This is the Acne that leaves Scars.
As I said earlier, the oil glands produce an oily substance, called sebum and it normally comes out through the hair follicle to lubricate our skin. If too much oil is produced and it mixes with dead skin cells, it can clog up the hair follicle making a whitehead or blackhead. When the whitehead becomes inflamed or infected, we call them Pimples.
We don’t know why some people get increased sebum (oil) in the first place. Hormones, bacteria, certain medications and heredity may play a role.
A Common Myth:
Acne is not caused by the foods we eat, such as greasy foods and chocolate. Recent studies have shown that dark chocolate in moderation is actually beneficial to our health!
Who Gets Acne?
At least 80% of people between the ages of twelve and seventeen have an occasional whitehead, blackhead or pimple, regardless of race or ethnicity. Many of these teenagers are able to manage their acne with over-the-counter (nonprescription) treatments, and their acne will go away sometime in their early twenties. For some, however, acne is more serious, and can't be controlled with over-the-counter products. By their mid-teens, more than 40% of teenagers have acne severe enough to require some treatment by a Dermatologist.
Tips For Better Acne Treatment Results
1. Leave all your Acne products near your bathroom sink, so you will see them every day. If you store them in a cupboard or drawer, it will be very easy to forget.
2. You must use a very mild cleanser for your face. Do not use exfoliators, astringents, masks, toners or products containing alcohol—those will irritate your skin and your face will become red.
3. Wait 15-20 minutes after you wash your face before putting on any other products. This is very important. If you do this, your face may not get irritated from the creams or gels you are about to use.
4. Use your Acne medication as directed. Follow the directions whether your products are over-the-counter or prescription medications. Most of these products advise applying the product all over the acne-prone skin, and not just the pimple, otherwise more pimples will show up in the un-treated areas.
5. Some over-the-counter products contain alpha-hydroxy acids or salicylic acids. If your skin is red, dry and irritated, stop using these products temporarily.
6. Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer with sunscreen right after applying the medicine and it will help prevent any redness, dryness or peeling that you may get if your skin is irritated.
Tips for better Acne treatment results by Lori Walker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works3.0 U.S.License.
How to Get Rid Of Your Acne with OTC or Prescription Products
Have you ever tried an acne product and used it more often than the recommended amount? How about dabbing on a huge amount on your pimple, thinking that “more is better” and it will work twice as fast? We have all done this, even me, when I was a teenager!
Well, from what I am reading today, is that you really have to follow the directions and have a good skin care routine. That is nothing new, it’s just that I now realize that more is not better, and you really do have to follow directions.
• Use As Directed- if you think about it, there are always research studies on products, so they will pass the FDA (Food & Drug Admin) and the directions they come up with are there for a reason. Based on their numerous studies, the scientists find out how much to use, and how often that product should be used. Everyone is impatient, and we all want results NOW, don't we!
(My daughter started using a prescription acne cream in the morning and a different acne cream in the evening. ((She has Rosecea which is redness of the skin)). In addition to both creams, she had a strict skin care routine using a very mild soap and a non-comedogenic moisturizer with sunscreen. She followed these directions exactly, without missing a day and her face started to clear up. At first we didn’t think it was working, and she almost gave up, but I ((the Mom that I am!)) convinced her to keep the routine going a little longer. Slowly, her face started to clear up and now she has clear skin and rarely a pimple. It took 2-3 months to clear the acne. She still continues her skin care routine and the creams for maintenance).
Disclaimer
We do not want to imply or guarantee that any of the above suggestions will clear up your acne. This article is based on our personal experiences and there may be different results for each person. Using OTC products is your own decision. People with moderate to severe acne should consider seeing a Dermatologist.
How to get rid of your Acne with OTC or prescription products by Lori Walker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works3.0 U.S.License
Acne Scar Treatments
Doctors may be able to lessen the appearance of scars left by Acne. These include using fillers (collagen), dermabrasion (sanding off the surface layer of the skin), micro-dermabrasion, intense light/laser therapy, and skin surgery.
Soft tissue fillers These can include collagen injections to fill in under the scarred area, allowing the scarred skin to become more smooth. Results from these injections are temporary, so you will need to repeat the injections periodically.
Dermabrasion This is usually used on patients with severe scarring. Dermabrasion involves removing the top layer of the skin with a rapidly rotating wire brush. Surface scars may be completely removed, and deeper acne scars may appear less noticeable. Dermabrasion may cause pigment changes for people with darker skin. You should always discuss the risks & benefits with your doctor first, before consenting to any procedure.
Micro-Dermabrasion This acne scar treatment involves a hand-held device that blows crystals onto the skin. These crystals gently sand away the skin's surface to remove the dead skin cells on the outer layer of the skin. The crystals feel like you have sand on your face. Then, a vacuum tube removes the crystals and the skin cells. A moisturizer is applied and you are on your way! This used to be called the "lunch hour face-lift". However, results from Micro-Dermabrasion are more subtle and scars may still be noticeable, even after several sessions. I was fortunate to be able to get weekly Micro-Dermabrasion treatments (working in a Physician's office). The great thing about micro-dermabrasion, is that I could have a treatment on my lunch break and be ready to return work immediately. It is a more subtle form of treatment, but if done on a regular basis, you can start to notice much smoother skin.
I worked as an Ophthalmic Technician for 25+ years. In the surgeon's office I worked at, our Oculo-Plastic surgeon did routine Micro-Dermabrasion procedures as well as Chemical peels (Obagi) and Laser Resurfacing. I volunteered to try the Obagi Blue Peel in our office first, and it was quite an experience! It was just like the procedure on the video below, on Rachel's show, except that I had about 4 layers, which burned quite a bit. The fan did help. However, I did remain "blue" for several days!
Laser, Light Source and Radio-frequency Treatments In laser resurfacing, a laser beam destroys the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and heats the underlying skin (dermis). As the treated skin heals, new skin forms. Less intense lasers (non-ablative lasers), pulsed light sources and radio-frequency devices don't injure the epidermis. These treatments heat the dermis and cause new skin formation. After several treatments, acne scars may appear less noticeable.
Skin surgery A minor procedure (using a punch excision instrument), cuts out the individual acne scars. Stitches or a skin graft is used to repair the hole left at the scar site.
Acne Scar Treatments by Lori Walker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works3.0 U.S.License.