Acne is a disorder of the skin caused by inflammation of the skin glands and hair follicles. Since it
forms under the skin, washing away surface oils does not do much to prevent or
cure it. Acne treatment falls into three categories:
- Cleansing & Exfoliating
- Keeping It Clear
- Medications
Cleansing & Exfoliating
It is a myth that people get acne because they don't wash enough. Gentle
washing is important, but too much washing can irritate the whiteheads
and blackheads, causing them to be more infected and making more pimples.
Use a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil, or an acne cleanser such as Aveeno acne
bar, Neutrogena Acne Wash, or Benzoyl Peroxide 5 percent bar.
Exfoliating, which removes the layer of dead skin cells, is also important for healthy skin.
After washing your face with a mild cleanser, exfoliate with face facial scrub
one to two times a week. This can help reduce dead skin cells and debris which
can clog pores and cause more acne.
Keeping It Clear
To avoid further clogging of your pores, all cosmetics, lotions, and
sunscreens should be oil-free! To avoid dry skin, use an oil-free lotion such
as Complex 15. To avoid sunburn use oil-free products such as
Neutrogena or Coppertone Oil-free Sunscreen. And remember to beware of hair
products and gels, as they tend to be very oily.
Look for product labels that read "noncomedogenic",
meaning they won't clog pores.
Medications
Benzoyl
peroxide
Benzoyl
peroxide can be found in many over the counter acne medications. It kills
bacteria that worsen acne, unplugging oil ducts, and helping to heal acne
pimples.
Directions:
- Start conservatively, with 5
percent gel or lotion once a day (such as after you wash your face to go
to bed).
- After one week, increase use
to twice a day if you are not using another medication.
- If your acne is not better
after 4 to 6 weeks, try a 10 percent solution. It is now available
over-the-counter (without a doctor's prescription). Be sure to get the
pure form: you may want to ask the pharmacist for the type that used to be
available by prescription only.
Retin-A
Retin-A
is available with a doctor's prescription, as well as in over-the-counter
solutions at your local drug store.
Directions:
- Retin-A may cause your skin
to become very red and dry skin, and may cause peeling. Newer
medications have milder side effects. You should ask your doctor to switch
your medication if you suffer some of these side effects.
- As your doctor will tell
you, Retin-A should only be used at night, because it makes your skin more
sensitive to the sun and more susceptible to sunburn. Use extra sunscreen
and sun protection when outdoors.
- It may take two to three
months to see improvement in your skin. Be patient, follow your doctor's
instructions and remember to stick with the program. (Acne may get worse
before it gets better.)
- For females: your physician
may prescribe birth control pills prior to starting you on Retin-A, as it
can be extremely harmful to fetal development in pregnant women.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics
are available with a doctor's prescription only. Antibiotics can be very
helpful for acne that is swollen and red, or for acne that is not improving
with other medications. The antibiotics kill the bacteria which contribute to
whiteheads.
Directions:
- Be sure to follow your
doctor's instructions. Take the antibiotic pills with plenty of water.
- Some antibiotics may
increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, wear sunscreen when outdoors.
Accutane
Accutane
is available with a doctor's prescription only. Accutane is a very powerful
pill – it is intended for people with severe scarring, or acne that cannot be
controlled by other medications.
Directions:
- Blood testing is done
frequently when taking Accutane, as it can affect blood cell count and
levels.
- For females: your physician
may require you to prove you are on two forms of birth control prior to
prescribing Accutane, as it can be extremely harmful to fetal development
in pregnant women.
- Some physicians will not
prescribe Accutane
