Acne is a frustrating and persistent skin condition, often affecting young people as they enter puberty. In other words when they are at their most vulnerable. Read on to learn more about causes and what you can do to get rid of these blemishes.
What Causes Acne?
Acne is caused by the hair follicles becoming clogged. A substance known as sebum is supposed to travel through the hair follicles to lubricate the skin, but if the follicles are clogged, this becomes impossible, and the sebum instead bulges out of the skin and become infected and inflamed. This is the acne that is visible.
Three factors causes the hair follicles to become obstructed. These are too much production of oil, slow and irregular shredding of skin cells which irritates the hair follicles, and buildup of bacteria.
Effective and Appropriate Acne Treatment
Luckily, effective treatment of acne has been developed. The condition vary greatly in severity, it is important to pick treatment appropriate to how persistent the acne attack is.
For very light attacks, a lot can be done through good skin care and over the counter topical creams. The creams work by speeding up the shredding of dead skin cells, reducing oil production, and reducing the build up of bacteria. Using the cream can cause slight skin irritation and skin dryness, these side effects usually lessen after a few weeks of treatment.
For moderate to slightly severe attacks, prescription creams and antibiotic treatment can be considered. Prescription creams use active ingredients derived from vitamin A. They are very effective in promoting skin cell turnover. The side effects are similar in nature to over the counter creams, but can be more severe. Oral antibiotic treatment works by killing bacteria. Side effects include increased skin sensitivity and upset stomach. A combination of prescription creams and antibiotics is an effective treatment.
Severe cases of acne can be treated by an accutane regiment. This is a very powerful drug which can cause dire side effects and requires very close supervision by your doctor. It is highly effective in cases unresponsive of other treatments.
Consult your Doctor
It is important to consult your doctor when acne starts to become a problem. It can be treated effectively, especially if the treatment starts early.
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