Understanding Acne and Reversing the Damage to the Skin. Acne troubling you? Is it impacting your self-confidence? Acne is easily manageable and treatable.
Acne troubling you? Is it impacting your self-confidence? Acne is easily manageable and treatable. Let’s understand what this common skin condition is and how we can overcome it with ease.
What causes Acne?
Our body produces Sebum, an oily substance that lubricates our hair and our skin. Acne is developed when this Sebum along with the dead skin cells plug the hair follicles. Once this happens it can lead to the formation of pimples that can further be aggravated with bacterial infection.
Sebum prevents the hair and skin from going dry but when the body starts producing too much of the substance, it mixes with the dead skin cells and plug the follicle. This plugged follicle then bulges out from the skin forming a whitehead or a blackhead. When these plugged follicles are infected by bacteria then it can result in the painful formation of papules, pustules or cysts on the skin surface.
Acne is commonly believed to be triggered by the hormone testosterone. During puberty the increased levels of testosterone stimulates the enhanced secretion of sebum which may in turn boost the possibility of acne.
Acne can be contributed by genetics as well! If acne has been the norm with either or both of your parents then there is a strong possibility you too will get acne. Needless to say that the probability of you getting acne increases manifold if Both of your parents had it.
It has been found that women are more likely to have acne than men due to the hormonal fluctuations that a woman experiences at certain times like just before the start of the periods, during pregnancy and other conditions that can lead to a flare up of the hormones.
Acne can also be caused by certain medications and cosmetic products, by regular friction caused by certain wears and in some cases due to smoking.
How is Acne treated?
In certain cases, Acne can faze out on its own. But many times acne does last for a long time and can leave scars not just on the skin but psychologically as well. While there are ample numbers of home-remedies that are suggested to treat acne, few are really successful.
Acne is not always caused by a bad diet. Though there is considerable contention over the matter in the scientific community. A well balanced diet can help you stay healthy but may rarely help you overcome the root causes of Acne. While washing and scrubbing your face can help you get rid of the whiteheads and blackheads it may not be the actual answer to its treatment.
Acne can vary from the more common mild form to moderate to the more painful severe forms. Mild acne can be treated with over the counter topical creams containing Benzoyl peroxide. Creams or gels containing Benzoyl peroxide help to reduce the presence of bacteria on the skin surface and also works on reducing the number of white and blackheads on the face.
The moderate to severe forms should be treated by a proper dermatologist to ensure there is a quick recovery and there is no scarring. The initial treatment for acne includes medicines like; Topical retinoids and antibiotics, azelaic acid and others. In the severe form a person may require a combination treatment which will include hormonal therapy as well.
Retinoids
Topical retinoids help in removing dead skin cells from the surface being treated. This helps in preventing the dead skin cells from building up with the Sebum and clogging the follicles. Gels and creams containing retinoid should be used as prescribed by the doctor and should never be taken without a proper consultation.
Antibiotics
Topical creams with antibiotics are suggested to rid the skin of bacteria that could possibly infect the build of dead skin and sebum at the hair follicles. One should always keep in mind that an antibiotic treatment should always be taken in full and should never be stopped in between to ensure the bacteria does not become resistant to the antibiotic making your acne worse.
Azelaic acid
Creams or gels containing Azelaic acid are often used in place of topical retinoids. It helps in removing dead skin cells from the affected area while killing the bacteria present there. This double impact of the treatment helps in addressing both the build-up and the possible infection of the follicles.
Hormonal treatment
Hormonal treatment will vary depending on the diagnosis by the doctor. Hormonal therapy often becomes the most effective treatment especially for women who experience heightened acne spurts during their periods or conditions related hormonal flare ups.
While all of these treatments and specific medications are most commonly used for acne, they are not suitable for everyone. To opt for any skin treatment it is best that you consult with a dermatologist. As we have mentioned, every skin type is unique and the environment that it is exposed to will definitely vary from person to person. Hence it is the best idea to consult a professional before you take any over the counter medication for your acne.
It goes without saying that acne cannot be treated overnight. For any kind of treatment for acne to be effective, medications should be followed for over weeks to see visible results. It is very important that every prescribed medication is taken as per the course suggested and not given up midway.
Rejuvenate Health Multispecialty clinic offers you multiple procedures to help you overcome this skin condition. Not only that with the well planned treatment as per your skin type Rejuvenate Health Multispecialty clinic’s specialists ensure that you do not suffer from such bouts in the future too. You can consult our specialists online anytime from anywhere or book an appointment to have a direct consultation.
Don’t let Acne scar you and your confidence in any way. Acne is treatable and you can get back to the glowing skin that you always knew and wanted, with the right medications. Contact us today.