What is Acne?
Acne is a commonly found chronic skin disease, especially amongst adolescents and young adults, characterized by the swelling of the sebaceous glands, usually causing pimples on the face, back and chest.
Treatments for Acne
Topical treatment of acne
Generally, this is the first method that people go for. There are various topical antibiotics available in the market, but the one best for you should be decided by a doctor.
Topical antibiotics kill the Propionibacteriumacnes bacteria infesting the skin. This clears off some infections in the pores and also keeps the pores open. There are several types of antibiotics available for topical use such as Clindamycin, Erythromycin, Tetracycline, Metronidazol, etc.
Clindamycin is used quite frequently for the topical treatment of acne. It is available in the form of a solution, lotion or gel and applied twice a day to acne prone areas. It usually suits peoples’ skins, but may sometimes cause irritation.
Erythromycin. After Clindamycin, this is the most frequently used topical antibiotic. This is also available as a solution, gel or ointment and applied twice a day. The best part about Erythromycin is that it is safe for use by expectant mothers.
Tetracycline is not used too often as it contains sodium bisufite that can cause allergic reactions and also yellowing of the skin. It is available as an ointment and a solution.
Metronidazole is commonly used for acne caused by rosacea. It is available as a gel and is supposed to be applied twice a day. It may sometimes cause irritation, though it is known for being well-tolerated.
Treating acne with oral medicines
If topical treatments don’t seem to work for you, you should ask your doctor for a prescription of oral medicines. Your doctor may also decide to give you birth control pills for some time. Birth control pills regulate the hormones estrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body. Those women whose hormones are not secreted in proper amounts may suffer from acne. Birth control pills provide a supplement of these hormones out of which estrogen helps in controlling acne.
Washing and cleansing
The most important thing that you can do to keep acne at bay is to keep your skin clean from dirt, dead skin as well as the extra oil that your skin produces. If your skin is clean, it will prevent the clogging of pores and reduce the formation of acne. It will also help in the easier absorption of any topical cream that you use.
There are various types of cleansers and face washes available in the market. When looking for an acne cleanser, find one with the terms “oil-free”, “non-irritating” and “non-comedogenic” and use them not more than twice a day, otherwise they are likely to cause irritation to your sensitive skin. A few types of face washes are as follows:
Salicylic acid based facewashes
- These are recommended for those who have an oily acne-prone skin.
Benzoyl peroxide based face washes
- These are meant for those with an extremely oily skin and severe acne.
Soaps with sulphur
- These are used by people with oily skin that has blackheads and whiteheads.
Soaps containing triclosan
- These have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Face washes with tea-tree oil
- These should be used for sensitive acne-prone skin
Cleansing lotions with cetyl alcohol
- Prescribed for those with a highly sensitive skin
Skin Hydration
- Hydration of skin is also a very important factor in acne treatment. If you are dehydrated, the pores of your skin may get blocked and result in acne. So, drink lots of water and consume water-rich foods.
Things to remember to get rid of Acne
- Never pick, rub or press acne lesions as this may result in their spread to nearby areas and also the formation of scars.
- You must use acne creams not only on acne spots but on the entire acne-prone area.
- Do not use cleansers with granules, scrubs or sponges on your face as it may result in the spread of acne.
- Avoid the use of make-up, but if you really have to, use water-based make-up.
- Avoid getting a facial, as it can cause more harm than good.
- Consumption of oily and fatty food stuff should be avoided, as also foods you are allergic to.
- Too much iodine in your diet can also aggravate acne, so it is best avoided.
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