Posts tagged Acne

Acne Problems in the Adolescent

Acne in Adolescents

Acne is one of the most common problems in adolescent teens affecting nearly seventeen million people in the United States. Acne is nothing but a disorder involving sebaceous Acne in Adolescents

Acne is one of the most common problems in adolescent teens affecting nearly seventeen million people in the United States. Acne is nothing but a disorder involving sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Acne results from the clogging of sebaceous glands leading to the formation of pimples and cysts. The condition usually begins with the onset of puberty.

Going by the facts, as teens attain puberty the androgens also called male sex hormones are

produced in high number leading to sebaceous glands becoming over active which results in sebum being produced in high proportions.

Sebum, which is nothing but oil is produced by sebaceous glands which travel to the skin surface through hair follicles. But, skin cells block the follicles which results in oil also being blocked. When these hair follicles are blocked it results in the development of skin bacteria known as Propionibacterium Acnes within the follicles which in turn results inswelling of the skin called Acne.

If the hair follicles are partially blocked it results in blackheads. If the follicles are completely blocked they result in whiteheads. But if these plugged follicles are not treated they ultimately burst causing the oil, bacteria and skin cells to spill all over the skin resulting in irritation and formation of pimples. Acne can be shallow as well as deep in various individuals depending on the nature of skin and amount of oil produced.

Causes of Acne

There can be various causes why Acne forms. Apart from rising hormone levels due to puberty it can also be attributed to certain other factors like intake of drugs which contain lithium, barbiturates and corticosteroids. Acne can also be caused due to excess grease and oil in the scalp, due to cooking oil and use of some cosmetics can actually alleviate the acne problem. Acne problem many times is inherited also.

Acne problem is worsened if the pimples are squeezed or scrubbed too hard.

Acne can form at any place on the body but they most commonly form in the areas where the sebaceous glands are present in high proportions such as face, chest, shoulders, neck and upper back.

The symptoms may differ from person to person but commonly seen symptoms are: formation of blackheads, whiteheads, lesions filled with pus and which are very painful and lastly nodules. One may get confused sometimes as symptoms of acne may be like some other skin condition and it is always advised to consult a doctor in this scenario.

Some of the treatments for acne

The primary goal of the treatment is to reduce scars and better appearance. There are various treatments and the doctor decides which specific treatment you need based on: the extent of acne problem, age, medical history, overall health, tolerance to specific medications and procedures, expectations and last but not the least what patients prefer.

Treatment of acne is classified into topical and systemic drug therapies which are given based on extent of severity. In some instances the combination of both the methods might be the way to go for acne treatment. Topical medication is nothing but creams, gels, lotions, solutions etc. prescribed to patients for acne treatment.

Some of the examples of topical medication are: Benzoyl Peroxide which kills the Propionibacterium Acnes bacteria, antibiotics helps in stopping or slowing down the growth of the bacteria and also reduces inflammation, Tretinoin helps in stopping the formation of new acne lesions and Adapalene reduces formation of comedo.

Systemic drug therapies involve prescription of systemic antibiotics primarily for the treatment of acne problem which is moderate to severe in nature. The examples of antibiotics prescribed are Doxycycline, erythromycin and tetracycline. In some cases an oral drug called Isotretinoin is prescribed for teenagers with severe acne problem which shrinks down the sebaceous glands that produce oil.

The results are pretty good and almost ninety percent of the adolescents have success with this oral drug. But the drug has some serious side-affects and thus it is very important that one consults a doctor before use.

This article is a basic instuction on Acne, it’s causes and cures. This is number one of

a series of 25 articles on this subject. No claims are made of any professional medical knowledge by the author of these articles either seperately or collectivly

Acne Treatment – Essential Information For Clearing Severe Acne

Under the best of circumstances, trying to find an acne treatment that works for you can be difficult. Most treatments for severe acne can be harsh on the skin, causing further irritation, but you can’t let your acne go untreated either, as that risks the possibility of acne scarring.


One of the oldest acne treatments for severe acne is Accutane, or its generic counterparts, which are a derivative of Vitamin A. Accutane is extremely effective for getting control of severe acne, and can sometimes virtually bring an end to acne breakouts. The drawback is the toxicity of Accutane, which causes a long list of undesirable side effects.


Essentially Accutane causes your oil glands to shut down during the treatment period, which typically lasts four to five months. Because you are not secreting any oils, your skin becomes very dry, which many users report as feeling like a sunburn. Accutane users also report that nosebleeds are very common, as well as hair loss. It has also a tendency to make users feel very depressed. Although Accutane can get acne problems under control, the side effects make it an option that should be used sparingly.


Antibiotics as an acne treatment are also very effective. There are a variety of antibiotics used, but, like Accutane, some forms have some undesirable side effects. Minocycline, one of the oldest antibiotics used to treat acne, has a reputation as being the most toxic. Doctors still prescribe it since the body is slow to build up immunity, but they are increasingly using other, more gentle, antibiotics despite the tendency for users to build up immunity.


If you suffer from severe acne, you might opt for a more direct acne treatment. Intra-lesional corticosteroid injections made directly into the cystic nodule have proven to be most effective. The injections act quickly, helping to reduce the swelling much in the same way cortisone injections would for an injured knee or back, though they do create discoloration. Although the treatments work well, intra-lesional corticosteroid injections are only successful on existing cystic nodules.


Lasers have also become a popular acne treatment recently. Not only can lasers treat acne, they can also remove acne scarring. However, because these lasers are currently unregulated, anyone can purchase and legally use these lasers. The danger is that an inexperienced practitioner may overexpose a patient to the laser, causing permanent damage.


There are two types of lasers, ablative and non-ablative. Ablative lasers are the oldest and strongest variety, and they essentially vaporize the outer layer of skin, much like removing a tattoo. When this outer layer of skin grows back, acne scars and wrinkles are greatly reduced. The extreme heat produced by ablative lasers cause your oil glands to shrink, which prevents breakouts.


Because your skin is burned off, treatment from ablative lasers will make your face red and sore for several weeks. Non-ablative lasers are newer and gentler than older lasers.


Non-ablative lasers also shrink the oil glands, but since they do not vaporize your skin, there is usually no soreness or visible side effects. Non-ablative lasers also promote collagen growth, so they also remove acne scarring. Because non-ablative lasers are less harsh, they will require more than one treatment session, while an ablative laser treatment consists of only one session.


Severe acne has never been pleasant and the acne scars reach much deeper than what a person might see on the surface. The long-term effects of acne are damaging, both physically and psychologically. There is hope and more than one type of acne treatment to choose from, though do be aware of potential risks.

Getting Rid of Acne

The first step when it comes to getting rid of the acne is to understand the entire process of acne development; there is a wide variety of different medications that are going to be used according to the specific features of every case. Thanks to these medications, many people will be able to get rid of their acne for good. The acne cure is to be prescribed to every person who is suffering from this skin condition but the patient has to be fully aware that getting rid of his acne is likely to become a challenging process because it involves various aspects. Proper treatments are to be searched for because only these treatments are likely to solve the problem; taking care of your acne condition is similar to taking care of other health problems that may affect the human body. Therefore, you have to know the way your skin is going to react when suffering from severe acne; these symptoms are to be recognized in order for you to pay a visit to a skin expert.

The main symptoms of the acne condition are to be recognized; you will have to become familiar with your own skin and the way it will react when affected by acne. Some people are likely to develop severe forms of acne while others will have a milder type of acne; the treatments will be prescribed according to these types of acne in order not to aggress the skin with too many medications that can worsen the entire condition. You may consider the laser treatment as well but this is to be regarded as a sort of final solution in case that other treatments do not seem to work in your case. The invasive methods are to be used just in the most severe cases and outbreaks because, in general, the aggressive cures are to be avoided. You may also consider the natural ways in order to get rid of acne because a natural acne cure can work miracles if used in the proper manner and according to your skin type. For instance, you may use minerals and vitamins in order to regenerate the damaged skin because these elements are likely to restore the collagen and regenerate the tissues in order to become healthy again.

Actually, one of the most effective methods when it comes to taking care of your severe acne is to make an appointment to the skin expert; the expert will prescribe you the necessary antibiotics in order for the outbreaks to be cured in a rapid manner. Getting rid of your severe acne is actually possible because there are many medications that are effective and affordable too. But you may also consider following some tips in order to improve your skin condition; for instance, you may try to wash your skin twice a day without using harsh soaps that are likely to irritate the skin more. You may combine the acne cure with constant washing that should be done before going to sleep and soon after you have woken up.

The pores must be cleaned on a daily basis because clearing them in this manner will remove the pre-existing forms of acne that are to be found on your face. Another remedy that you should consider is not popping your pimples because you can end up with an ugly infection that may be hard to cure. Popping your pimples will also come along with permanent scars and these scars are likely to be hard to remove in a permanent manner. The proper diet should also be considered and this diet may even be mixed with various home remedies that may help you reduce the already existing scars or pimples. The occurrence of acne can actually be reduced by using the proper acne cure; the only thing that you will have to do is to find the right treatment that is likely to work in your case. You will also have to make sure that you are going to visit your dermatologist in order to prescribe you some anti-bacterial treatments.

The adult acne affects many people who will be interested in finding the right solution for their health problem; this type of acne is usually caused by an internal problem. This inner cause has to be detected in order to treat the very root of the acne outbreaks. The main cause of your adult acne may also reside in the increased level of waste and toxins that is to be found in your body. This waste is to be removed in order to allow your face become acne free. The body will need to be flushed of all its toxins in order to have a clearer face; the acne cure is not likely to have long lasting effects if you do not take care of the inner source of the acne condition. If you want to get rid of acne, you will have to take proper care of it without forgetting about its root cause.