Acne Treatment
Acne refers to a skin condition which usually results from the excess production of oil by sebaceous glands. This clogs a person’s skin pores with dead cells while also providing favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria, triggering inflammatory reactions on the skin. Common symptoms of acne range from white heads and blackheads to red cysts containing pus. Although acne mostly appears on the face, it can also appear in other body parts such as chest, neck and behind the ears. Acne can either be mild or severe, though most people have mild acne. In view of this, acne treatment depends of the severity of the condition.
Acne treatment has two main goals, regardless of the severity of the condition. The two goals are to reduce the inflamed spots and also prevent new ones from forming. In order to achieve this, acne treatment aims at reducing inflammation, bacterial infection, proliferation of skin cells and oil production. In most acne prescription treatments, results may not be obvious until the fourth to the eighth week.
Topical treatments bought over the counter are some of the most common forms of acne treatment. They are usually in the form of creams or lotions, which help to kill bacteria, dry up the skin oil or remove dead cells. Over the counter treatments are usually mild and may contain sulfur, benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as their active ingredients. These kinds treatment are usually very helpful for people with mild acne. However, if your acne does not respond to this type of treatment, then you should consult a dermatologist for a stronger prescription.
The other type of acne treatment is the use of antibiotics to treat moderate or severe acne. Oral antibiotics help to reduce bacteria as well as fight inflammation, but they should only be used for a short while. This is because resistance to antibiotics is common in the treatment of acne, thus antibiotics use is usually stopped when symptoms begin to improve. Oral antibiotics and topical medications are used together in most cases, in order to lessen the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Acne treatment is also facilitated by isotretinoin, a powerful drug that is normally used for acne that does not respond to other types of treatment. It is also used in cases where a person has deep cysts, which the antibiotics may not be able to treat effectively. This form of medication is only for the most severe types of acne, and should only be taken under the direction of a dermatologist. Although it is effective, it can have serious side effects, thus a person taking the medication needs to be monitored closely.
Another type of acne treatment is laser and light therapy. This form of treatment normally uses laser or light-based therapy to penetrate the deeper skin layers without hurting the surface of the skin. This type of acne treatment is believed to damage the skin’s oil glands, reducing oil production. Additionally, it also helps to destroy the bacteria causing the acne inflammation, improving the skin texture. Research on this type of acne treatment is however still ongoing, thus it is only recommended for those who cannot tolerate acne medication.