Skin Care Information

Your first line of defense against acne is over-the-counter medications. If they don’t seem to be helping, and after six to eight weeks you acne is getting worse… it’s time to see a doctor. You will know it’s time for medical help when

- Your acne causes you psychological distress.

- There are big, tender pimples on your face.

- You begin to see some scarring

- If you have dark skin and dark patches form where the pimples used to be.

What treatment can you expect the doctor to recommend?

First of all your family doctor may send you to a dermatologist if you have severe acne.

Acne can be treated with medications that are either applied to the skin or taken by mouth. Any treatment will be designed to attack the things that trigger acne, like….

- An increase in sebum that leads to a narrowing of the sebaceous glands and produces the bacteria that causes acne

In most cases you can continue with any home remedies that you have been using. The treatment of teenage acne usually will continue until the suffer moves into their 20s.

The first attempt at treatment often begins with lotions or creams that are applied directly to the skin’s surface.

Your doctor may initiate a treatment with azelaic acid (eg Skinoren cream) or benzoyl peroxide (eg Panoxyl, Acnecide) for mild to moderate acne. These medications help prevent the narrowing of the openings of the sebaceous glands and slow the growth of the acne bacterium.

A common treatment is a product that combines benzoyl peroxide with a topical antibiotic such as erythromycin (Benzamycin gel), or clindamycin (Duac once daily gel), or treat the outbreak with a topical antibiotic alone, eg clindamycin (Dalacin T), erythromycin (Eryacne gel), tetracycline (Topicycline).

Doctors often prescribe adapalene (Differin) for people with blackheads, whiteheads and mild inflammatory acne. Women should only use adapalene if they are using effective contraception, such as contraceptive pills. Pregnant women must not use adapalene. Topical tretinoin (Retin-A) and isotretinoin (Isotrex gel) have similar uses and exclusions.

“Systemic treatment” means medicines that are taken orally.

Strange as it may seem adult women with severe acne may benefit from treatment with contraceptive pills containing anti-androgens (Dianette).

For people with severe inflammatory acne, long-term treatment with oral antibiotics such as tetracycline or minocycline (eg Minocin), combined with one of the medications mentioned above are often effective. Tetracycline antibiotics are never given to pregnant women; women who are breastfeeding; or children under 12 years of age.

For patients with severe cystic acne that does not improve with other medications, oral isotretinoin (Roaccutane) is used as a last resort. It is very important that women should neither be pregnant, nor get pregnant, while taking isotretinoin.

Isotretinoin is not suitable for people with liver or kidney disease. The medicine has several severe side effects which is why it can only be prescribed by a dermatologist, but it also often effect an almost miracle like cure of acne.

That brings us to rule number one… don’t stress over your acne. You aren’t the only one who has ever had the problem. Just relax and get to work doing everything you can to keep it under control.

Mark Walters shares startling acne remedies and treatments from his web site http://www.acnerescue.com

Tags: acne, advice, treatmentacne, advice, treatment

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Cystic acne treatment is best tackled after a clear understanding of acne and its roots. There are many forms of acne - a skin condition that is often referred to as having pimples or zits. Acne is caused by bacteria that develop in the follicles of your skin, most often your facial skin. Acne can be mild or severe, its discomfort ranging from moderately annoying to scarring, with psychological repercussions.

Cystic acne is acne in its severe form, where the acne has formed cysts that are filled with pus. This cystic acne can scar your skin, especially if you pick at it or squeeze the pus from its cysts.

The best starting point for your cystic acne treatment is a clear skin methodology which is the standard treatment for any type of acne. This regimen is very specific and often results in noted diminishment of acne. This cystic acne treatment requires specific supplies. Benzoyl peroxide is the primary ingredient in this cystic acne treatment, but you must start with a low dose of this in your cystic acne treatment as it can have a harsh effect on your skin and cause redness.

You’ll need a good over the counter cleanser for your cystic acne treatment. This cleanser should be gentle and not too drying. You don’t want to strip your skin of all its oils. Experts suggest that you never use standard bath soap.

Next on you list of cystic acne treatments is a face moisturizer. This must be used every day to counteract the reddening and drying effect of the benzoyl peroxide part of your cystic acne treatment. The best choice in moisturizer would be a sunscreen that is not comedogenic and also has moisturizing effects. Eucerin Skin Renewal, for example, is terrific at prevent your skin from flaking, although you may not want to use it until you’ve been treating your cystic acne treatment for two or more weeks. It contains lactic acid and can sting your skin when first used in conjunction with the benzoyl peroxide.

Make a 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide cream or gel part of your cystic acne treatment. If your face is generally quite sensitive you should apply the benzoyl peroxide only once a day for the first couple of weeks of your cystic acne treatment, gradually increasing its use as your skin learns to tolerate it.

Should your skin become crusty or otherwise indicate an allergy to benozyl peroxide (though rare, it does happen) of course you would discontinue its use as part of your cystic acne treatment.)

Don’t dispair! You can fight back against cystic acne.

Mark Walters presents acne cures, remedies, treatments and instruction on his web pages at http://www.acnerescue.com

Tags: acne, cure, cystic, remedy, treatmentacne, cure, cystic, remedy, treatment

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A chemical skin peel is a popular procedure used to treat various skin problems and conditions from acne, age spots, wrinkles and even some cancerous and precancerous growths. A caustic acid or substance is applied to the skin to burn and usually slough off or remove the outer layers of the skin (epidermis) and allow new skin to grow. Some chemical peels may go deeper into the dermis (next layer of skin). The purpose of this chemical peeling is to remove damaged, blemished, sun-damaged, freckled skin and replace it with younger, healthier skin. After healing the skin will be tighter, thicker (due to increased collagen production - an added benefit of the stronger peels). Upon healing the skin may appear fuller, smoother with smaller pores and with less wrinkles and fine lines. Basically ones skin will look rejuvenated and more youthful following a chemical peel.

There are many types and varieties of these chemical peels. They are usually grouped and defined by their relative strength and depth of the peel that is achieved. There are basically four groups, the light peels (AHA), light oil-based peels (BHA), medium peels (TCA), and deep peels (Phenol).

AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) - These are the mildest of the peels. They are usually sugar derived hence their names, glycolic, malic, lactic and other fruit acids. These peels are usually performed by a dermatologist or esthetician and have minimal healing or downtime. Downtime is referred to as the time when the skin is healing and may be uncomfortable to be viewed in public due to peeling and possibly discolored dead skin that is usually associated with a deeper peel. These lighter peels are usually done on an outpatient basis and are commonly referred to as a ‘lunch time’ peel. An occlusive dressing similar to plastic wrap or layering (more than one application at one time) may be used to drive the acid in further and result in a deeper peel. They are effective for light skin pigmentation problems, reduction of oil produced by overactive sebaceous glands, sun spots, light sun damage and other minor skin problems. Usually multiple treatments are required to have the desired effect as it is not a deep peel. AHA’s are easily dissolved in water and are prepared either as a liquid or a cream. Glycolic acid is the most popular and extensively used of these peels.

BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acids) - The main difference between these acids and alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA) is that BHA’s are only oil soluble. There is basically only one BHA, salicylic acid. This unique feature of being oil soluble makes this acid very effective in cleaning and removing bacteria, dead skin cells and sebum oil from deep inside the pores. Because of this solubility difference, salicylic acid is better suited for use on oily, irritated skin with postules, blackheads and whiteheads. It is available in numerous forms, cream, gel, lotions, shampoo and topical solutions. The latter two forms are primarily for treating the scalp as salicylic acid has also been found effective in the treatment of dandruff, psoriasis, and dermatitis of the skin and scalp. Same as with AHA peels, occlusive dressings and/or layering may be used to drive the acid in farther.

TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) - TCA or trichloroacetic acid peels are deeper medium depth peels. TCA is a more effective and longer lasting peel than the sugar and citric peels as it goes deeper into the dermis and can therefore treat more skin ailments, conditions and problems. A TCA peel does not require layering or occlusive dressings (methods used to drive AHA and BHA peels deeper). TCA, being a deeper peel, is effective on more skin conditions and problems. Basically a TCA peel has the benefits of both AHA and BHA peels along with deeper penetration and longer lasting effects. Healing or downtime tends to be longer as much as several weeks or more depending on the depth achieved. Peeling is more severe and the results more dramatic. TCA peels are routinely used by dermatologist and plastic surgeons in office as recommended treatments for all stages of acne including acne vulgaris. Numerous clinical studies have found to be every bit as effective as Accutane without any of the side effects (Accutane has been in the news lately for some rather severe potential side effects). TCA peels have also been proven to remove and treat freckles, years of sun damage, bad pigmentation, scars, loose skin and wrinkles and fine lines. TCA has recently even been used by doctors to treat, remove and lighten tattoos.

Phenol Peels. Phenol peels are the deepest chemical skin peels. They commonly result in a permanent bleaching pigmentation effect as they reach deeply through the dermis.. Phenol is toxic when absorbed through the skin and can effect heart rate, function and cause arrythmias, so a phenol peel is always done in a doctors care and with anesthesia as it is the deepest and most painful of the peels. It is a last resort peel due to its harshness and bleaching properties. Phenol is rarely performed nowadays due to its toxicity and the advent of safer medium depth peels like the TCA peel. Phenol peels have a long healing process and can require extensive care.

There are various derivatives of each of these 4 groups, but basically these are the various chemical skin peelsl. Clinical studies published in the Annals of Plastic Surgery and elsewhere show the TCA peels are the most effective of the peels on the most skin conditions and problems. Regardless of the peel used, maximum sun protection must be used to protect the new skin from harmful UV rays that can cause cancer in unprotected skin. A high SPF (sun protection factor) sun block and protective attire (hats) are recommended.

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests and manufactures various skin peels and other for doctors offices and medispas. For more information on TCA peels please visit: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

Tags: acne, acne peel, aha, bha, chemical peel, dermatologist, glycolic, skin peel, tca peel, treatmentacne, acne peel, aha, bha, chemical peel, dermatologist, glycolic, skin peel, tca peel, treatment

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