Posts by jasonw93:
What Exactly Is Acne And More Importantly, What Is Behind It?
November 19th, 2008Acne, also known as Acne Vulgaris, is simply put- an inflammatory disease of the skin. Acne shows itself in the form of pimples, zits or spots. It is often caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units. The pilosebaceous units refer to the skin which consists of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. “Acne” derives from the Greek words “acme” (which means skin erruption) and “bacne” or “backne”. The latter terms are often used to refer to the form of acne found on one’s back.
Acne is found quite often in pubescent individuals. Because of a high genetic disposition to the condition, acne is particularly common in Western societies. It is believed that the presence of acne is due to an abnormal response to normal levels in the body of testosterone, the male hormone. For many individuals, this response tends to diminish over time, causing the acne to decrease by the time they reach their 20′s, or even disappear. Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell how long it will take for acne to completely disappear; for some people they may experience it for many decades- even beyond their 30′s or 40′s. A large number of people will experience this condition at some point in their life.
There are various types of acne and these are shown below:-
1. Acne Vulgaris- found on the face, chest and shoulders. It is the most common type of acne, and will typically appear around puberty.
2. Acne Rosacea- predominantly found on one’s face. It presents itself as a red rash.
3. Acne Keloidalis Nuchae – Also known as Pseudofolliculitis Nuchae and is a rash caused by shaving.
4. Acne Conglobata (also knowns as Hidradenitis Suppurativa) – usually found in armpits, on the groin or buttocks, or also under women’s breasts. This type of acne describes chronic abscesses or boils on sweat glands and hair follicles.
5. Acne Cosmetica – as indicated by it’s name, this form of acne is caused by cosmetic use.
6. Acne Fulminas – Is an extreme form of Acne Conglobata.
7. Acne Medicamentosa – typically triggered by starting or finishing a course of medication.
8. Baby Acne – This is a form of acne that is a rash that is seen on the cheeks, chin and forehead of an infant.
9. Chloracne – caused by being exposed to chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as PCB’s or dioxins.
Hopefully the information provided to you above with regard to acne will help you to understand more clearly what it is and how it is caused.
Can A Dermatologist Treat Acne Better Than Other Medications?
November 18th, 2008While a mild case of acne isn’t necessarily a serious problem, it’s still a good idea to see a dermatologist. They can give you helpful information about what could be causing your acne as well as the best treatments.
Plus, there is another skin condition called keratosis pilaris that is sometimes mistaken for acne and a dermatologist can tell you if that is what you’re dealing with, saving you the time and hassles of using the wrong treatment.
It’s a good idea to prepare for your visit with the dermatologist by making notes about your acne – as much as possible. They will ask you about your background – things like how long you’ve had acne, how you’ve treated it and what form it has taken (lesions, whiteheads, blackheads, etc.) They might also ask if there is a history of acne problems in your family.
Be sure to tell the doctor if you are allergic to any medications. Females might be asked about their menstrual cycle and males might need to tell the doctor how often they shave.
You might be given a choice of treatments so it helps to know a little about the options before you make your choice.
Antibiotics are one treatment – they’re used to kill the bacteria that leads to acne. They can be taken orally or as a lotion or ointment that gets applied directly to the skin. In severe cases, it may be necessary to use both forms.
Topical treatments include things like benzoyl peroxide and retinoic acid. They usually come in the form of a gel and can sometimes cause redness and dry skin.
In more severe cases of acne, the dermatologist may recommend a physical treatment. This could include removal of whiteheads and blackheads and possibly drainage of cysts.
Whatever type of treatment you end up choosing, it’s critical that you follow the doctor’s directions. Take the recommended dosage – no more or no less. And even if your acne clears up, you need to continue to take the medication for as long as the doctor tells you to or the acne may reappear.
Some of the questions you should keep in mind to ask the doctor include:
- What kind of treatment would work best for my acne? – How long will it take before I see results? – What is the best way to care for my skin? – What can I do to prevent scarring? – Is it okay for me to use makeup? – Does this treatment have any side effects? – How long will I need to take this medication?
As acne treatments can go on for some time, make sure you ask any questions you have each time to see your doctor. Being as informed as possible will make your treatment much easier to deal with.
What Is Murad Acne Complex And Can It Really Work?
November 14th, 2008Dr. Murad, a dermatologist who dedicated his life to the science of clear skin, developed the Murad Acne Complex. For the past 30 years, he has treated more than 50,000 patients; because of his experience he had great insight as to his patients’ skin care needs. He developed the Murad Acne Complex skin care products for patients to use at home.
Dr. Murad still has a busy dermatological practice in California. He continues to develop new skin care products and keeps people’s skin in great condition.
There are many skin conditions which can resemble acne- eczema, perioral dermatitis and folliculitis. These may not involve all the factors that cause real acne, but have one thing in common with acne, which is the inflammation involved. The great thing about the Murad Acne Complex kit is that it takes into account all factors relating to acne and also skin breakouts. How it does this is it reduces the cell build-up, extra oil and inflammation of the skin. Each of the products in the Murad Acne Complex kits contain 3 key ingredients, as follows:
1. Hydrating agents 2. Anti inflammatories 3. Antioxidants
They also contain specific acne fighters which work together to provide optimal skin results. They also include a patented internal supplement. This is used to treat any acne breakouts from the inside. If you have acne or something which resembles such, you can use Murad in order to keep your skin healthy and beautiful.
The Murad Acne Complex kit consists of 3 treatments. In clinical studies, they determined that over 90% of those who participated had experienced a noticeable reduction in their blemishes in just 4 weeks. The following are details of the Murad Acne Complex treatments:
1. Clarifying Cleanser This has been clinically proven to reduce 99.99% of irritating surface bacteria in less than one minute. It contains triclosan and salicylic acid which helps to gently but effectively reduce any acne blemishes as well as keeping the skin clear.
2. Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel This patented formula blends retinol with salicylic and glycolic acids which penetrate pores and sweep them super clean. The hydrogen peroxide also in this treatment purifies the skin without drying and leaves it clear and healthy.
3. The Skin Perfecting Lotion- An ultra-light and oil-free treatment which hydrates the skin without leaving an oily residue. It also contains retinol and arnica. These work together to reduce redness and prevent pores from becoming clogged. The result is a softer and more evenly textured skin.
If you are looking for another method to try for treating your acne, you should consider trying out the Murad Acne Complex treatment system.
How Is It That Acne Occurs?
November 11th, 2008Unfortunately the exact cause of acne is unknown, but many doctors believe it results from several related factors. One of the most important factors being the rise in a person’s hormone levels. Often these hormones known as androgens (male sex hormones) will increase in both boys and girls during the pubescent stage of their lives and can cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce more sebum.
A cause of acne is heredity or genetics as researchers believe that there is a tendency to develop acne as it can be inherited from your parents. In fact studies have shown that many school-age boys who are suffering from acne have a family history of the disorder.
Acne is caused by the sebaceous glands becoming over active and they then secrete oily substances on to the skin and those people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of the hormone called testosterone and this triggers the sebaceous glands to then produce an excess of sebum (oily substance).
While the oil increases, the dead skin cells that line the hair follicle openings are not shed, which in turns clogs the follicles. With the combination of excess oil and clogged follicles, blackheads and whiteheads form. For many people though, they experience acne only during puberty.
But for other people the build up of oil in their hair follicles will create the ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium Acnes to grow and this normally lives harmlessly on your skin but when the environment is right for them it will grow.
The bacteria feeds off the sebum and will produce substances that cause your body’s immune system to respond and this in turn inflames the skin and creates the redness that we associated with spots.
With worse inflammatory acne, cysts will develop under the skin’s surface. These will then rupture and spread infection into nearby skin tissue. This can often result in one’s skin scarring.
This article has provided some information as you the cause of acne. Other articles we’ve written include the types of acne explained, as well as acne treatments that are available.
How To Find The Right Acne Product For You
November 10th, 2008Today there are a lot more acne products out there for you to choose from. The hardest decision is deciding just which one is right for you. The benefits can be endless and some will be more suited to you than others.
You want to look for a product that’s safe and easy to use with no side effects. Make sure it doesn’t stain or make your acne worse.
Remember that what works for someone else isn’t necessarily going to work for you. There are so many types to choose from; even the forms they are sold in may differ. The topical antimicrobials and retinoids are very popular as they can be applied right on the skin. Lately however, it has become popular to combine products as well as using hormone therapy as another way to treat problem acne.
Your dermatologist will aid you in finding the correct product for you but there are a few things that you should also consider.
1. Instead of a prescription would an over the counter product do as good a job?
2. What are the most effective remedies that you can get?
3. Can you treat multiple causes of acne with just one product?
4. Which type of topical delivery system is best for your skin type? Could it be a cream, gel, lotion or foam?
5. Are there any bonuses to using one type of form over another?
After talking to your dermatologist and considering these questions you should be able to make an informed decision on which product will work best for your treatment.
Acne Scar Treatment: Ways To Eliminate Scars
November 7th, 2008When a person’s acne becomes very serious, it can leave the skin of the face severely scarred. Such scars are can become major sources of both embarrassment and shame for individuals who have to deal with them. Clearly, there is no one who wants to have scars because of their acne problems.
If you are one of the many people out there who is dealing with acne scars, you should know that fortunately, there are effective acne scar treatment options available to you, which is above and beyond your basic acne skin treatment and which is used specifically for acne scars.
Acne Scar Treatment
One of the several available treatments for acne scarring is using sandalwood paste. This paste will moisturize scarred skin, causing scars to fade away. It also protects your skin from becoming even more damaged. You can make your skin younger looking by rubbing ice cubes on the scarred areas as well.
Your doctor can also write you a prescription for an acne scar treatment. Such medications have proven to be very effective for some individuals.
In addition to using different acne scar treatments, it is very important that your scars do not become worse. You can prevent further skin damage by choosing any makeup that you choose wisely and thus avoiding any products that can clog your facial pores. Avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun is also important.
Surgery is really the last resort, if you have tried all other acne scar treatment options and none of them have offered you the results that you are looking for. Some ice pick scars may be removed by “punch” excision of each individual scar, and in this procedure ach scar is excised down to the layer of subcutaneous fat, with the resulting hole in the skin able to be repaired with sutures or with a small skin graft.
Under certain circumstances, skin graft surgery can treat acne scarring. If the sebaceous follicles have been inflamed because of the presence of bacteria and sebum, tunnels in the skin may be revealed because of dermabrasion. To treat the skin, skin grafting would be necessary.
The important thing, regardless of which treatment you decide to try out, is that you know there are some effective options out there and that you can deal with your scarring one way or another. Keep in mind however that if your acne scarring is particularly severe you may not be able to completely remove it.