Acne Skin Care at Home
There are plenty of solutions sold for the treatment of acne, many of them without any scientifically- demonstrated effects. However, a mixture of treatments can strongly minimize the amount and severity of acne in many patients.
It is highly recommendable to ask a specialist about the tradeoffs between these treatments for any particular case, specially when considering applying any of them in combination. There are a number of treatments that have been proven efficient.
Destroying the bacteria that are gathered in the obstructed follicles. This is done either by the intake of antimicrobials or by treating the affected patches externally with bactericidal substances like benzoyl peroxide or erythromycin. However, reducing the P. acnes bacteria will not, in itself, do anything to minimize the oil secretion and aberrant cell behaviour that is the first cause of the blocked follicles. Benzoyl Peroxide has the advantage of being a strong oxidiser and does not appear to produce bacterial resistance. Acne will usually reappear quite soon after the treatment has ended; days later in the case of topical administrations, and weeks later if oral antibiotics were used.
Reducing the secretion of oil from the glands. This is achieved by a regular oral dose of vitamin A by-products like isotretinoin (sold as Accutane) over a period of a few months. Isotretinoin has been demonstrated to be highly efficient in alleviating severe acne and is efficient in well over 80% of patients. The drug has a much longer effect than anti-bacterial therapies and will often eliminate acne for good. The treatment requires close medical supervision by a specialist because this drug has many known unwanted effects, even some severe ones. The most common unwanted effects are dry skin and nosebleed. The drug also produces birth defects if women become pregnant while taking it or take it while pregnant. For this reason, female patients are required to use two separate forms of birth control or vow abstinence while on the drug. For this reason, the drug is supposed to be administered as a last option after regular treatments have failed.
Exfoliating the skin. This can be done either mechanically, using an abrasive cloth or a liquid scrub, or chemically. Known chemical exfoliating agents include salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which encourage a peeling of the external layer of skin to prevent a build-up of devitalized skin cells which combine with skin oil to block pores. It also helps to unblock already clogged pores.
Note that the word “peeling” is not meant in the classic sense of shedding, but rather as the destruction of the external layer of skin cells at the microscopic level. Depending on the type of exfoliation used, some visible flaking is possible. If you want to give them a try, moisturizers and natural acne skin care solutions containing exfoliating agents are usually available over-the-counter.
A new acne skin care product offers the opportunity to get rid of scars, blemishes and other dermal imperfections, while at the same time protects you skin and keeps its hydration.
- Patricia Bascunan
:: Jul.18.2008 :: Health :: No Comments »
