Archive for the ‘Acne Prevention’ Category

prescription acne
Joe Smith asked:


Acne control has improved leaps and bounds over the years, though we still see that acne plagues teenagers and young adults everywhere. Modern medicine has certainly stepped up as the years have progressed, bringing down the occurrence a bit with prescription and over-the-counter medications.

What is the real cause of acne? As some readers might already realize, dirt, skin oil, and dead skin can all contribute to acne problems, especially for teenagers. Even teenagers with proper hygiene fall victim to acne problems, so don’t feel as though people with acne are naturally “dirty” people. In fact, the opposite is quite true. Skin oils are natural, and everyone, including those who do not have acne problems, have oil buildups regardless of hygiene habits. When oils and dirt build up enough, bacteria begins to grow in your skin’s pores, leading to what we call a “zit.”

Zits (or pimples) can be rather unsightly, so proper care should be taken to cleanse your face and body everyday regardless of how dirty you feel you’ve gotten throughout the day. Even dust in the air can contribute to acne problems, so proper care is needed on a daily basis.

What kinds of products are effective at keeping acne at bay? Certain products may actually contribute to an acne problem, so be aware of what you’re putting on your face. Using all-natural soaps or washes is your best bet, as these won’t contain chemicals or other substances that can cause your pores to clog up further. Try to use these all-natural products at least twice a day, even if you have to take a couple minutes during a school or work break to get it done. Your skin will thank you for the effort.

Other types of acne control products can be found at your local pharmacy, listed as “over-the-counter” medications. These may include chemicals that are specifically designed to unclog pores (unlike the harmful chemicals discussed above), and can greatly aid in reducing breakouts. These over-the-counter medications often come in the form of pads, washes, or creams, and can typically be used safely without a doctor’s supervision unless you’re allergic to any of the chemicals used in the product.

Finally, if your acne isn’t responding to daily washings or over-the-counter products, your doctor may prescribe you a more powerful prescription acne control drug. If you believe that you fall within this category, see your dermatologist.

I certainly hope that this article has helped you consider your various acne control options.



prescription acne
Steve Welker asked:


While it is true that in most cases acne can be safely and effectively treated with over the counter treatments any time you have an unusual skin condition it is advisable to consult a dermatologist. The doctor can provide you with valuable advice on treating the condition even if it is only acne.

Severe acne should always be treated by a dermatologist, they can provide prescription medication that is effective at treating the more sever acne outbreaks. Moderate and mild acne can usually be treated without the advice of a doctor but even with moderate acne prescription medications may be able to treat it better and faster then over the counter solutions.

Medications for treating acne are given in one of two forms; oral or topical. In many cases the doctor will use a combination of both types to treat the outbreak. Antibiotics are frequently used to treat acne and can be provided in either form. Other topical medications will usually include ingredients such as zinc and retinoids.

The most common antibiotic for treating acne is tetracycline. It works with a dual action both killing the acne causing bacteria as well as helping to reduce the inflammation. Antibiotics are not an immediate fix and will usually have to be taken for weeks or even months before the acne clears up, you will also have to continue the antibiotic even after the acne clears up to prevent a re-occurrence. There are some side effect reported with the use of tetracycline, with extreme sensitivity to the sun being the most common one. Any one taking tetracycline needs to be very careful about exposure to sunlight to avoid severe sunburns. Some people may also experience nausea, hives and even dizziness.

Women undergoing treatment with tetracycline may notice an increase in vaginal yeast infections. Young children and pregnant women cannot take tetracycline because it can cause discoloration of growing teeth.

Ointments that contain antibiotics have a lower rate of reported side effects. These ointments will kill the bacteria and but there can be some cases of the bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotics. Combining other medications such as; benzoyl peroxide with the antibiotic lotion can greatly reduce the chance of such problems.

Retinoids are a derivative of vitamin A and are usually applied directly the skin in the form of a lotion or crème. The use of topical retinoid medications is very effective in treating blackheads and whiteheads. It produces the positive results by cleaning out the pores that cause the acne; the only common side affect is dry skin.

If the acne is severe and is not responding to other treatments then an oral retinoid medication may be used. This will cause the top layer of skin to peel off which will also open the pores. The oral retinoids also cause the body to create less sebum, which also reduces the acne issues by reducing the oil on the skin.

There can be some rather serious side effects associated with using oral retinoid medications. Since they can cause serious birth defects any woman on oral retinoids should use two forms of birth control to avoid the possibility of pregnancy. They can also cause depression and liver damage so anyone using these medications must be closely monitored by their doctor.

There are some other medications that have the side effect of helping with acne. In some women birth control pills help reduce acne by changing the hormone levels and reducing the testosterone levels. Zinc can also be used to treat acne.