Acne Skin Care Treatments
 by: Jerrick Foo

Acne sufferers today can choose from an array of products and regimens designed for acne skin care, both in prescription and over-the-counter preparations. Whether you are a teenager with typical hormone-driven breakouts, or are battling acne as an adult, you should be able to find a skin care treatment that gives you relief.

Acne skin care products target the problem of acne with several different strategies—some work by reducing the production of the oil glands, others by killing the P. acnes bacteria that cause the acne eruption, and others reduce the build-up of dead skin cells that leads to clogged pores. Several popular skin care products perform more than one of these functions.

The oldest commercial acne skin care treatment, and still one of the most widely available, is Benzoyl Peroxide. Sold in gels, creams, and washes, Benzoyl Peroxide fights acne by killing the P. acnes bacterium on the surface of the skin. It also has a drying and peeling effect, which may help reduce the severity of acne.

Users report that Benzoyl Peroxide can take four to six weeks of constant use to achieve full effect, but that it is a powerful tool in acne skin care when used faithfully. It can be found in commercial acne skin care products, such as Oxy 5 and Clearasil, but is also available in prescription strength.

Antibiotics are another common treatment used in acne skin care. Like Benzoyl Peroxide, they target the P. acnes bacterium, and can be found in gels and creams, but are usually administered as an oral medication. Common antibiotics used for acne treatment are Erythromycin, Clindamycin, and Tetracycline. Another aspect of antibiotic use in acne skin care is their anti-inflammatory effect, which reduces the redness and swelling of acne eruptions that have already occurred.

Additionally, Sodium Sulfacetamide and Azelaic Acid are prescribed to fight P. acnes bacteria, although neither are antibiotics.

Azelaic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Resorcinol, sulphur, and Adapalene are products that approach acne skin care with the intent to reduce clogged pores by peeling or sloughing off dead skins cells. Salicylic Acid is found in over-the-counter acne care products, such as Stridex, as are Resorcinol and sulphur.

While most acne skin care treatments in this group target the surface of the skin, Adapalene, a prescription-only medication, reduces the build-up of dead skin cells inside the pore itself. Also a prescription-only skin care product, Azelaic Acid has the added benefit of killing P. acnes bacteria.

To reduce oil production, there are two common acne skin care treatments: oral contraceptives, and Isotretinoin (Accutane). Of the two, Accutane, a vitamin A derivative, has the most severe side-effects, which include a high risk of birth defects, and is used for severe cases when other acne skin care regimens have failed.

Oral contraceptives work as an acne treatment because they are anti-androgens—they reduce levels of male hormones, specifically testosterone. Increased oil production in women has been linked to elevated levels of testosterone. Not all birth control pills work in the same manner, and the progestins used in some actually act like androgens, so be sure to inform your doctor if you wish your oral contraceptive to serve the dual purpose of acne skin care.

Every acne skin care product available today has side effects, some of them quite severe. Always consult your doctor or dermatologist, and read carefully all labels and warnings before beginning an acne skin care regimen.

About The Author

Jerrick Foo has been researching and developing all dry skin care the purpose of offering men and women safe, dry skin care tips. He have created Dry Skin Care Guide to share his 10 years of combined expertise with you. Visit http://www.dry-skin-care-guide.com for essential skin care tips.

contact@dry-skin-care-guide.com

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Did you know that more than 25% of the adult population worldwide suffers from acne? If we leave the pages of statistical data and look at people with plain eyes it will be hard to find a man or a woman who did not suffer the gnawing problem of zits. However, even though this problem is “skin deep”, its effects germinate into bouts of despair and social angst, which jeopardizes quality of life.

Digging Into The Roots Of Adult Acne

Sebum secreted from the hair follicles moves to the skin pores and lubricates the skin. But sometimes the oil glands expand, producing an excess of sebum, which ultimately gets trapped in the hair follicle and clogs the pores. These clogged pores permit bacteria and growth of Propionibacterium acnes. This bacteria causes inflammation of the hair follicle and the surrounding skin and thus acne emerges.

Though till now the exact causes of adult acne are not known, most of the theories suggest hormonal imbalances as the root cause. Some other causes proposed are evolutionary biology, diet, stress, vitamin deficiency and the list goes on.

Some Effective Treatments To Get Rid Of Adult Acne

Studies reveal that Vitamin A plays an important role in the reduction of serum and keratin production and thus minimizes their growth in follicle comedos. So, nourish your system with Vitamin A and take at least five servings of vegetables and fresh fruits daily. However, always consult a doctor before starting up with any kind of regime.

Zinc is an important element in treating acne too. Zinc enhances the functions of Vitamin A and lends a helping hand in the healing and regeneration of tissues. Zinc also reduces the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which shrinks sebum production.

Most acne sufferers lack Selenium, which plays a crucial role in the action of the enzyme Gluthathione Peroxidase that prevents the inflammation of the hair follicle. Vitamin E minimizes this process and plays a vital part in the action of Vitamin A and Selenium.

Friendly bacteria, Acidophilus, can check injurious intestinal bacteria including yeasts such as Candida albicans. You can take in Acidophilus either in gel capsule form or as yogurt with live culture.

Benozyl peroxide reduces pimples and is effective for acne. You can have it in cream or lotion form.

Creams containing sulphur are also useful in treating acne

Medications containing iodide and bromide can worsen your acne condition so stay away from such products.

All these things are medicines, all of which may have side effects and should not be taken without a prescription and the guidance of a doctor.

Good News For Foodies

You will be glad to know that chocolate or fried foods do not cause acne. These foods are often seen as unhealthy food habits and therefore “must be” related to skin breakouts, but this theory has no scientific backing.

However, foods which are high in refined sugar, trans-fatty acid (milk products) oxidized fatty acids (fried oils) and synthetically hydrogenated vegetable oil contents may not cause acne but are definitely not very good for your health, and so an excess of these foods should be avoided. You can be infected with intestinal toxemia if your diet is low on fiber and essential vitamins and high on these contents. The result of glut of toxins may show on your skin.

Some Natural Remedies Of Adult Acne

The good news about the use of natural things is that they come without the risk of side effects.

Name And Fame Of Some Natural Ingredients

Azelaic acid

This acid makes the keratin production stable and you will get almost same results as using Benzoyl- Peroxide or oral antibiotics.

Tea Tree Oil

Reduces acne with its antibacterial and antifungal qualities.

Green Tea

A renowned antioxidant, which trims down inflammation and infection

Topical Vitamin C And E

Both are strong antioxidants, which improve skin condition by diminishing inflammation and infection.

Fruit Acids (AHAs And BHAs)

These acids gently exfoliate your skin, leaving it smooth.

Some Tips To Control Outbursts Of Adult Acne

Cleanse your face with a mild soap or sulphur soap but do not rub your face with a towel.

Never ever pick or squeeze the zits, it will only worsen your skin condition.

Some acne treatment products will hike up your skin’s photosensitivity so when you are using these products, use a sunscreen and wear a hat when you are out. Avoid the tanning booths while using these products as well.

Try to avoid the use of oil-based products on your skin. To prevent the clogging of pores use only “noncomdomedogenic” skin products

Try to avoid friction from sports equipment and airborne grease from fast food places; these can make your acne worse.

Along with a good diet include at least 8 to ten glasses of water in your daily regimen to keep your system clean and the skin glowing

Choosing the right path will help your skin get rid of adult acne scars. Make your skin dazzle with a smooth glow by following the tips in this article.

About The Author

Frank Cordova

Learn how you can cure yourself of acne in just three days by visiting my web site at:

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Cystic acne treatment is a type of severe acne treatment that affects the various lymph nodes all over your body. It is extremely important that this type of acne be treated by your dermatologist. A dermatologist is a medical doctor that specializes in and diagnoses skin conditions. Cystic acne is a severe form of inflammatory acne and normally will not improve with medications that are normally used on the other acne cases.

Cystic acne treatment requires the use of isotretinoin (Accutane) which is a type of retinoid. This medication is taken orally one to two times per day for anywhere from 16 to 20 weeks. By reducing the size of the oil glands, which prevents oil from being produced, this medication can get very good results. By reducing the production of oil, which is a major cause of acne, the severe acne should be prevented. Isotreinoin also helps to reduce the amount of cell shedding and reduces the stickiness of the cells in the follicles, thus preventing the development of comedones.

Isotetinoin Advantages

Isotretinoin is a very effective medication for the treatment of cystic acne and is also effective in the prevention of extensive scarring in many patients. In approximately 90% of patients who used this medication for 16 to 20 weeks, the acne either completely or almost completely went away. However, in some of the patients the acne came back causing additional treatment with isotretinoin as a cystic acne treatment.

Disadvantages of Isotretinoin

Many disadvantages should be taken into account for anyone using isotretinoin. Among these disadvantages are, first of all, this drug is expensive to use. Some of the severe side effects include inflammation of the lips and the mucous membranes of the eye. Dry mouth, itching skin, muscle pain, nosebleeds, sensitivity to light, and possible decreased night vision are symptoms that are associated with it. Included among the more serious side effects are increased blood cholesterol, lipid and triglyceride levels, and abnormal liver enzymes. Your physician will need to monitor your complete blood count, blood chemistry, cholesterol, triglycerides, and liver enzymes prior to starting this treatment and several times during your cystic acne treatment. Your treatment with isotretinoin should be immediately stopped when any of these symptoms occur. These side effects will stop once the medication is no longer being taken. Any patient suffering from any of these side effects should tell their doctor immediately so that he can reduce the dosage of the drug until the side effects have stopped.

Tetragenic, which can cause severe birth defects in the developing fetus of a woman who is pregnant, is an additional disadvantage of using isotretinoin. It is essential that women of childbearing age or who plan to get pregnant should completely avoid isotretinoin. Women should also use an appropriate birth control method for a one-month prior to taking this drug, during the entire treatment with this drug, and for one full month after the therapy stops. They should consult with their doctor about when it is safe to get pregnant when treatment has stopped.