Acne - A Nightmare for teenagers

Acne is caused by an excess production of oil in the sebaceous glands. Acne is most common during adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers, and frequently continues into adulthood. It is one of the most common skin diseases in the United States. It is not contagious, but rather develops most prevalently during the teenage years and the early 20s.

Acne comes in many varieties including blackheads, whiteheads and more severe forms including severe nodular acne and cystic acne and are commonly referred to as pimples, spots, or zits. The causes for acne are not limited to one portion of the population and can  affect all ages, races and genders.

Causes of acne include one or a combination of the following:

Genetics hormones Prescribed Medications Oil-Based cosmetics Stress Physical irritation Humidity and Environmental pollutants

Treatment:

What can you do about acne on your own?

• Eat three good meals, and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
• Have a good eight hours sleep.
• Never pick or squeeze pimples. Playing with or popping pimples, no matter how careful and clean you are, nearly always makes bumps stay redder and bumpier longer. People often refer to redness as "scarring," but fortunately it usually isn't in the permanent sense. It's just a mark that takes months to fade if left entirely alone (yes, l know we have all been there and done that, and then suffered the consequences)

• Washing once or twice a day with a mild cleansing bar or liquid (for example, Dove, Neutrogena, Basis, Purpose, and Cetaphil are all inexpensive and popular) will keep the skin clean and minimize sensitivity and irritation.
• A variety of mild scrubs, exfoliants, and masques can be used. These products contain either fine granules or salicylic acid in a concentration that makes it a very mild peeling agent. These products remove the outer layer of the skin and thus open pores. Products containing glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids are also gentle skin exfoliates.

Facials: While not absolutely essential, steaming and "deep-cleaning" pores is useful, both alone and in addition to medical treatment, especially for people with "whiteheads" or "blackheads." Having these pores unclogged by a professional also reduces the temptation to do it yourself, which can cause some times more harm than good.

• One popular home remedy is to put toothpaste on zits. There is no medical basis for this as well as vinegar. (but l swear by toothpaste, it always works for me!)
• You cannot stop your oil glands from producing oil so what you can do is to get rid of oil on the surface of the skin and reduce the embarrassing shine.
• Use a gentle astringent/toner to wipe away oil. (There are many brands available in pharmacies, as well as from manufacturers of cosmetic lines.)
• Products containing glycolic acid or one of the other alpha hydroxy acids are also mildly helpful in clearing the skin by causing the superficial layer of the skin to peel (exfoliate).
• Masks containing sulfur and other ingredients draw out facial oil.
• Antibacterial pads containing benzoyl peroxide have the additional benefit of helping you wipe away oil.
• Herbal treatment: Herbs that work wonders at clearing up acne are: Echinacea taken orally and applied externally to the skin, Oregon grape root applied as a cream, tea tree oil applied to the skin, oregano and basil oil applied to the skin or taken orally. Be careful using any new product because you may be sensitive to it and if you are using any prescriptions or other topical acne treatments you might have to watch out for reactions. Check with your dermatologist or health acre professional to make sure it is alright to use any herbal treatments with the medicine you are already using.

If you haven't been able to control your acne adequately, you may want to consult a primary-care physician or dermatologist. Here are some of the things they can assist with:

• Oral antibiotics: Most doctors start treatment with tetracycline or one of the related "cyclines," such as doxycycline and minocycline. Other oral antibiotics that are useful for treating acne are cefadroxil, amoxicillin, and the sulfa drugs.
• Oral contraceptives: Oral contraceptives, which are low in estrogen to promote safety, have little effect on acne one way or the other. Some contraceptive pills have been to shown to have modest effectiveness in treating acne. Those FDA-approved for treating acne are Estrostep, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and Yaz. Most dermatologists work together with primary physicians or gynecologists when recommending these medications.
• Laser treatments: Recent years have brought reports of success in treating acne using lasers and similar devices, alone or in conjunction with photo sensitizing dyes. It appears that these treatments are safe and can be effective, but it is not clear that their success is lasting. At this point, laser treatment of acne is best thought of as an adjunct to conventional therapy, rather than as a substitute. But l suggest that you do your homework on this one, before paying a lot of money and getting it done.
• Chemical peels: Whether the superficial peels (like glycolic acid) performed by estheticians or deeper ones performed in the doctor's office, chemical peels are of modest, supportive benefit only, and in general, they do not substitute for regular therapy.
• Treatment of scars: For those patients whose acne has gone away but left them with permanent scarring, several options are available. These include surgical procedures to elevate deep, depressed scars and laser resurfacing to smooth out shallow scars. Newer forms of laser resurfacing ("fractional resurfacing") are less invasive and heal faster than older methods, although results are less complete and they may need to be repeated three or more times. These treatments can help, but they are never completely successful at eliminating scars.

The only good news if you are suffering from acne is that your skin will still be wrinkle-free in your later years while your friends who had clear skin will be getting worry lines around their eyes.  

Acne remains the most common skin disease in the United States and completely treatable. From the light cases to the severe, there is no reason for anyone to suffer from acne with the multitude of methods available. If a patient is uncertain about what type of acne they have or what causes it, they should consult a dermatologist. The rewards for treatment include a better complexion and better self-esteem.

(Sources: acne-resource.org, medicinenet.com, free-beauty-tips.glam.com)