Archive for July, 2010

Introduction to Acne

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Sometimes the cells inside the follicles shed too fast and stick together, forming a white, cheesy plug at the surface of the skin. If the opening to the surface stays partly open, the top of the plug may darken, causing a blackhead.

Formation

This is an explanation of how acne forms. It is a general description, and mentions both mild and severe cases of acne.

If the opening to the surface closes, the follicle may fill up and its wall may start to bulge, causing a whitehead. The mixture of oil and cells inside the follicle also aids the growth of bacteria. If the follicle wall bursts, the oil, cells, and bacteria spill into the skin.

The result is redness, swelling, and pus, in other words, a pimple. Whiteheads usually form from pimples. However, occasionally blackheads will form.

Blackheads are formed when too much oil is produced from the glands of skin. The excess oil collects in the pores of the skin and hardens into plug. Since the pores are open, the tip of the clogged oil is exposed to the air. It oxidizes and turns black.

This is a more severe form of acne. The lumps may be painful, and if they are not treated by a doctor, permanent scars could develop.

However, one of the best ways to treat acne is to prevent it from forming in the first place. The following section provides you with prevention tips.

Prevention

Getting rid of acne can be a challenge. You need to take several steps to make it happen. Some things you can do to prevent acne include the following:

  • Stop using oil-based make-up, hair products, lotions, and creams.
  • Eliminate consumption of greasy fast foods, pizza, fried chicken, etc.
  • Avoid getting too much of any kind of oil on your skin.
  • This includes mechanical oils and grease, as well as cooking oils should not come in contact with skin.
  • Diet and lifestyles may need to be changed in order to get rid of acne (i.e. eating less sugary and salty snacks, candy, chocolate, donuts, or chips).

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Intro: Rosacea Acne Types Explained

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

This is an introduction to rosacea, one of the most common acne problems and what to do about them. If you read this and it sounds like you, then you know this may be your main kind of acne trouble.

Common Acne Conditions

Rosacea is one acne condition that affects millions of people. Most of the “victims” of this condition are over the age of 30. If you want to recognize this condition, you should know that it appears as a red rash on the cheeks, nose, forehead or chin-or on all of the above.

The redness you see is often accompanied by bumps, pimples, and skin blemishes. Another problem with people who suffer from this particular skin condition is that they may have blood vessels that appear more visible on the skin.

It should be noted, however, that blackheads are not part of rosacea. Furthermore, this condition is more prevalent in women. However, it often does appear in men-and when it does unfortunately it is more severe.

If Left Untreated

Normally rosacea is harmless. However, when left untreated for way too long it causes serious problems. Issues that are common among people with untreated rosacea include the following:

  • Swelling of the nose and growth of excess tissue (rhinophyma)
  • Irritated and “bloodshot” eyes
  • Itching and irritation of skin
  • Migraine headaches
  • Re: Treatment Path

Treatment is often different for rosacea than for acne, and it is important that you consult a dermatologist if you suspect you are experiencing rosacea. Furthermore, each path of treatment is expected to be individualized.

Two main treatments:

Laser therapy is one option. Usually this requires one to three treatment sessions to achieve the best results. Furthermore, sessions are generally spaced four to eight weeks apart. Therefore, sometimes a different solution may be used.

LPI Therapy is used to treat some rosacea sufferers. This treatment may require one to five sessions which are repeated every three weeks. It might sometimes be combined with laser therapy, and sometimes follow-up treatments may be necessary for maintenance purposes.

Laser and light therapy could become a preferred combined treatment option. It can help correct the redness, flushing, and dilated blood vessels of rosacea.

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Isotretinoin Acne Treatment Warning for Potential Patients

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Doctors are finding that over time the bacteria that are associated with acne are becoming resistant to treatment with certain antibiotics. Therefore, medical researchers are working on new drugs to treat acne, particularly topical antibiotics.

Current Developments

Medical practitioners often prefer Isotretinoin today. This is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A that serves as a very powerful way to end to bacterial proliferation.

It also helps control the sebum secretion, and also works on mitigating the inflammation, thereby helping to get hold of severe chin acne. However, just like any other acne treatment Isotretinoin can have serious side effects.

Risks of Use

Isotretinoin can cause dryness in the eye, mouth, lips, nose, and skin; itching, nosebleeds, susceptibility to sunburn, muscle aches, and poor night vision. It can also have a detrimental affect on liver functioning and it can cause high triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

The worst side effects of all are that it can cause birth defects. This is one of the most serious reminders why you should always seek the advice of your physician other health professional before trying any new acne treatment.

This is what will ensure whether Isotretinoin is right for you or not. This usually would be determined upon a thorough checkup during which time you would disclose medical history to your doctor.

You would also let your doctor know what supplements, medications, vitamins, herbs, and other substances you are using. It is highly imperative that you remember that isotretinoin should never be used without proper dermatologist supervision.

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Acne Care Warning for Using Benzoyl Peroxide Users

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Benzoyl peroxide is found in many acne skin care products. It is used because it is considered to be gentler than using alcohol-based skin cleansers.

The Problem

Benzoyl peroxide could possibly irritate the skin. It also could cause a mild drying of the skin which leads to drying and/or redness and peeling. However, the main concern is if you leave it on the skin for two hours or longer.

Most of the time you probably would not, as usually you would wash off most peroxide-based cleaners right away. However, you should also note that benzoyl peroxide is not just used in over-the-counter facial cleansing products.

It is also used in solutions used to treat modest cases of non-inflammatory acne. This is a case in which you should remember to wash off the peroxide-based product within two hours or less.

In this case, you can experience the full benefit of using this less-harsh but strong enough chemical on your skin. However, if you leave it on your face too long that is when the redness, peeling, and rashes could occur.

A Solution

Although there is a small risk of reaction, benzoyl peroxide products are generally regarded as safe and effective treatments for acne. However, in order to be sure you remain safe you should take care to use the low concentration of it possible.

If you use benzoyl peroxide right it will greatly benefit you. However, besides using it right and in the right proportion you should also only use it as often as needed. This will prevent dryness as well as other side effects mentioned above.

Other natural alternatives for clear skin include the following: vinegar water, mild exfoliates with almond shells in them, or witch hazel. However, using benzoyl peroxide is by some consumer and expert standards better for your skin than SD alcohol 40.

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Overview of Blue Light Acne Treatment

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Blue light acne treatment is an alternative to laser treatments. It often is preferred because it requires no use of ultra-violet light to remove skin problems.

Advantages

One main advantage is that it is safe and affordable. It is more affordable than other types of laser or light acne removal procedures.

This procedure is ideal for moderate to severe cases of acne. It actually zaps the bacteria that cause the pimples to form. It is more effective than even some of the best creams and lotions.

Disadvantages

It may be too expensive for some people. It also could slight redness or irritation, or it could cause burning and/or swelling. It may not work as well alone as would when combined with photo-dynamic therapy.

Some Background

The use of blue light procedures was approved by the FDA in 2002. Since then millions of acne sufferers have taken advantage of this way of addressing unsightly skin problems.

Since the invention of this type of acne treatment new kits have become available. They can be used for treatment right at home.

Certain kinds of blue light therapies have also been used to remove age spots and wrinkles. It is regarded as a way to help keep people looking young.

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