Do Adults Really Get Acne?

September 14, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Research




Most people are aware that teenagers are prone to acne. We have heard a great deal about the hormonal changes that contribute to acne in adolescents. Take a look at any given group of youngsters and you can be sure that at least a few, if not all of them, will be suffering from acne of one kind or another.

You probably remember struggling with an acne problem at some time or other during your adolescence. At the time, it probably seemed like the end of the world. But as the years passed, so did the acne and naturally in time, you forgot all about it.

Could that be acne? But you happened to look in the mirror the other day, and what you saw sure gave you a jolt. Welcome to adult acne. If you ever thought you had finished with acne just because you are no longer a teenager, it is time to come back to earth. It is time to realize that adults do suffer from acne, although it is a little different from the acne that troubles teenagers.

Adult acne, the bad news. In a way, adults have a bigger problem with acne because the kind of acne that develops in adulthood, appropriately called adult onset acne, does not require greasy skin to develop. Dry skin will do just fine.

As far as adults are concerned, men are really in a spot (pun intended) if acne develops on the face. If this happens, shaving can be a tricky and painful business as they negotiate their way around their acne to avoid going through it.

Acne in adults is a complex issue. There is another problem with adult acne. Most of the products on the market are intended for the treatment of acne in adolescents. But they contain substances that irritate the skin of adults. Apart from that, acne that develops in adulthood can last for years and may also cause the skin to age faster. Hormones also play a part here, as women have to deal with the hormonal changes accompanying menstruation and pregnancy. These are conditions that sometimes encourage the development of acne.

Adult acne, the trouble spots. Unfortunately, adult acne also tends to make the skin age faster. In addition, if it is not treated promptly, the scars that are caused by adult acne tend to be permanent. The natural response of the body to acne is to focus antioxidants in the affected area. As a result, the skin of adults who have acne is given to wrinkling.

All of a sudden, adult acne is looking like a rather complicated business, would you not say? And you thought you were through with acne years ago. But it is time to take a look at what you can do about it.

Do not lose heart, you can beat your acne. The best thing you can do about your acne as an adult is to ensure that you maintain a good lifestyle and eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water and make sure that you get plenty of fresh air. Above all, try not to touch your acne.

Remember that there are a number of products on the market for the treatment of acne. However, many of these products have unpleasant side effects, so you should select your acne treatment carefully. You could perhaps try to tackle your acne the proactive way.

Safe treatments for your acne. Proactive acne treatment relies on natural remedies but not all acne sufferers are convinced of its effectiveness. The proactive approach is about treating acne internally and externally, and you can be sure that it will be completely safe. Proactive products for the treatment of acne have improved in recent years.

One product that has become pretty popular from this perspective is 101E Acne Getaway. This could be just the product for you because it is specially formulated to tackle several skin problems, heal and revive your skin, apart from tackling grease, pimples and blackheads. It will also restore the moisture balance of your skin. You could also consider Oregano Oil RX, which comes in the form of an organic skin care cream, 300% stronger than the conventional oregano oil.

So there you are, even if you have been caught off guard, there is no need to get too upset because there is plenty of help at hand. Your acne need no longer be the nightmare it once was, so do cheer up!



Acne Medicine – My Experience with OTC medicine

August 12, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Research




Did you know that over 180,000 people search for information on acne everyday, out of which 77,000 want to know more about acne medicine ? And that there are over 22 million sites talking about acne, and acne medicine, treatment and products ? This tells me a few things. One, there are many people out there suffering from acne, and they are interested in knowing what kind of acne medicine is available to help them cure their problem. Equally, there are millions of available acne treatments and products out there. Obviously, no one acne medicine is suitable for any one person then.

First, a quick review on what acne is. It is what the layperson calls “pimples” or “zits”. There are different forms of acne, and all can occur at the same time, though one stage does not necessarily progress to the next. There are comedones, or blackheads and whiteheads, as they are usually called. Then there are acne spots caused by bacteria, leading to inflammation, resulting in a red possibly painful swelling called a papule. If the papule does not subside spontaneously, a pustule may form. This heals by discharging pus. A severe enough reaction may cause a lot of deep damage, leaving behind scars.

Acne medicine has different purposes. There is acne medicine to prevent acne. There is medicine to prevent infection of the acne. And there is medicine to prevent scarring from the acne. Finally, there is medicine to minimise the effects of acne scarring, should scars form.

Acne medicine can be divided into those that are applied to the skin – called topical acne medicine, and those that are taken orally – called systemic medicine.

Topical treatments come in the form of creams and lotions. There are two main types of topical acne medicine . The keratolytics , which act by peeling off the top horny outer layer of the skin, so helping to dislodge the comedones ( blackheads and whiteheads), and the antiseptics, which attempt to get rid of harmful bacterial action. Examples of keratolytic acne medicine include benzyl peroxide, Retin A, and sulphur. Examples of antispetic acne medicine include iodine ( eg Betadine), chlorhexidine, zinc salts, which are frequently incorporated into acne creams and lotions, azelaic acid.

One of the main problems with topical acne medicine is that they can be rather harsh. They can cause skin irritation and inflammation. Some, like retin A cannot be used during pregnancy. Sulphur containing acne medicines can be extremely smelly, like rotton eggs !

I can still remember the days when acne used to rule my life. I was so desperate for a cure I must have tried every over-the-counter acne medicine there was available. And there were plenty. That was the time when nobody thought acne was a serious problem. Everyone got it. Nobody had died from it. So it never occured to me that maybe I would need help.

It started with a few small spots. So I tried the standard sulphur-based acne medicine. I would apply it just over the offending spots and wait patiently till they went away. But they gradually got worse, with the number of red spots extending to different areas of my face. Soon it covered large areas of my face. I followed the instructions for how to use the acne medicine. I would cover my face with it faithfully every night, and went to bed smelling of sulphur. Even my pillows would smell of it. But I would hope and pray the medicine would do its wonderful work, and my acne would be gone. I always awoke the next day disappointed. I would wash my face, apply on a fresh layer of acne medicine and go about my day. I finally gave up when someone pointed out to me they always knew when I was coming, because the smell of the acne medicine announced my arrival !

I decided to try the benzyl peroxide-based acne medicine next. At least these did not smell of sulphur. The instructions seemed easy enough to follow. Just apply the acne medicine twice a day after washing the face and the acne would be gone within three to five days. It was again with great hope that I applied the new acne medicine. The first night, nothing happened. By the second night, my face was beginning to get a little itchy. By the third night, the side effects of the acne medicine were causing me to have a rather dry and red face. By the fourth night, my poor face was positively uncomfortable. By the fifth night, I gave up. The acne was still there. This acne medicine had not worked either.

Things just got from bad to worse. The small little red spots progressed to big spots. Big spots joined with other spots to form entire continents. There was hardly a clear space on my face. My confidence dipped to an all-time low. Acne ruled my life. It was the first thing I saw when I awoke, and the last thing I saw when I went to bed. Well meaning friends and relatives constantly commented on it and had lots of advice of what type of acne medicine would work best. I had tried everything.

Generally topical acne medicines work well for those with mild acne. A good number can be simply bought over-the-counter without the need of a doctor’s prescription. And for many, this may be the only treatment required for acne.



Combat Acne With Effective Acne Treatment And Acne Products

August 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Research




“Oh no, is that a pimple on my face? Icky, it’s so gross! Oh I cannot face anyone ever again — I look hideous!”

Many teenagers around the world probably share this sentiment as they discover with horror their first pimple on their freshly scrubbed face. As teenagers enter into puberty, they are faced with new and exciting discoveries and challenges. Puberty though is also fraught with frustrations and changes, including physical changes in their bodies that often leave the teenagers with less than desirable pimples on the face.

Acne commonly occurs during the adolescence period. It is often caused by excessive secretion of oil from the glands. The typical acne lesions that appear on the face and body are comedones, papules, pustules and pimples.

Aside from the physical scar that acne leaves on your skin, it also inflicts an emotional toll, negatively affecting teenagers’ self-esteem and confidence. For some, acne can become so severe that they shun social contact, leading to social insecurity and sometimes even depression.

With the advanced acne treatments and acne products available today, acne need no longer have such a crippling impact on the sufferers’ life. Once the outward symptom of acne first becomes apparent, that is, inflammation and lesion on the skin, it is important that you treat it right away so as to slow down or stop further inflammation.

It is a good idea to pay the dermatologist a visit and to have the doctor recommend the best acne treatment for you. The treatment recommended will vary on skin type and also your age.

Acne can be treated much more effectively if it is treated along with acne products, be they over the counter or prescribed. There are numerous acne products sold over the counter currently for the prevention and treatment of acne, with many of these products scientifically proven to be effective in the treatment of acne.

In severe cases, it is best that you consult the dermatologist for advice and get a prescription for stronger acne products. These acne treatments and products require a higher degree of monitoring, as they tend to have more side effects.

The acne product recommended depends on the type and severity of the acne. There are acne ointments and acne creams containing benzyl peroxide to treat both mild and moderate acne. For more serious acne, there are topical antibiotics that kill the bacteria in the blocked follicles. For even more serious cases, oral antibiotics are effective. And for extremely severe cases, laser surgery can cut the root of the acne.

Aside from treating acne with products, a proper diet is also very important. Teens should avoid eating foods that are too oily, too spicy or too acidic.

So with all these acne treatment options available, you can rest assured that acne will never be an ugly and permanent fixture on your face. When acne rears its ugly head, do not let it ruin your life. With the right acne treatment and right acne products you can get rid of acne for good!



Next Page »