Acne Care Tips


Acne Scar Removal

Posted in Acne Treatment by toni on the February 6th, 2008

Acne refers to lesions or pimples caused when the hair follicles (or “pores”) on the skin become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Acne scar can be deep or superficial, but the result is a socially debilitating disorder. Most serious scarring is caused by the more severe forms of acne, with nodules more likely to leave permanent scars than other types of acne. The best way to deal with acne is to get treatment soon after the acne appears to prevent further severe acne and more scarring. There are several methods of removal or smoothing of the scars depending on age, health condition and severity.

Dermabrasion may be used to minimize small scars, minor skin surface irregularities, surgical scars, and acne scars. Dermabrasion involves removing the top layers of skin with an electrical machine that abrades the skin. Other methods of acne scar removal laser resurfacing. Laser resurfacing can damaged top layer of skin and tightens the middle layer, leaving skin smoother. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Laser resurfacing may be used to minimize wrinkles and fine scars. The newest form of treatment for acne scarring is called fractional laser therapy. This type of treatment works at a deeper level.

Punch grafts is another method for removing scars. These are small portions of skin that are taken from one part of your body and implanted where deep holes have occurred. The skin that is transplanted comes from soft tissue parts of your body such as the ear lobe. Chemical peels are often used to minimize sun-damaged skin, irregular pigment, and superficial scars. The top layer of skin is removed with a chemical application to the skin. An autologous fat transfer uses fat taken from another site on your own body and it is injected into your skin. The fat is placed beneath the surface of the skin to elevate depressed scars.

This method is used to correct deep contour defects caused by scarring from nodulocystic acne. Steroid injection directly into the scars may sometimes result in scar improvement. Collagen injections are used in treating fine lines and wrinkles, as well as shallow scars. Most often, collagen injections treat areas around the mouth, like laugh lines and deep nasolabial creases. A final solution for your acne scarring is to have major plastic surgery. There is a warning for this as far as acne is concerned. When a person has plastic surgery it thins the skin and if acne returns the person has less layers with which to work.

Tea Tree oil for Acne

Posted in Acne Treatment by toni on the October 5th, 2007

Acne is a ordinary skin disease. Acne lesions are commonly (Equally with or by all ) mentioned to as pimples, spots, or zits. Acne is a highly complicated and uncertain form of skin infection. It is most common throughout adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers, but not infrequently also continues into adulthood. There are many fables about what causes acne. Chocolate and greasy foods are usually blamed, but there is little proof that foods have much effect on acne in most people.

Another common fiction is that dirty skin causes acne; however, blackheads and pimples are not caused by dirt. Some factors that don’t normally cause acne are hormones , heredity , dirt , stress and cosmetics. Some people get so upset by their pimples that they pick at them and make them last longer. The typical acne lesions are: comedones, papules, pustules, nodules and inflammatory cysts known as cystic acne, one of the more severe forms.

These are more inflamed and pus-filled or reddish bumps, that can easily result to scarring or serious infections. Many lotions and creams are sold at drugstores to help obviate acne and remove it up. Tea tree oil or melaleuca oil is a clear to very pale golden color essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odour. Tea tree oil has proven to be a very successful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

Tea tree Oil is a golden colored oil that is made from the steam distillation of leaves of a certain type of tree. Tea Tree Oil is used in medically used cosmetic products also. Some references are there to propose its role as antiviral. Tea tree Oil can decrease the amount of acne breakouts a person has, but it will never cure acne completely. Double-blind, randomized controlled trials are needed before we can conclude whether tea tree oil can help acne.

Acne zine combines a topical cream as well as a pill to fight acne and is specifically formulated to target acne before it surfaces. Apply this product to the affected area of skin as directed. However harsh cases of acne have been shown to benefit from anti-acne preparations that contain up to 15% tea tree oil, an effect that can be construed by the oil’s antibacterial and skin-healing properties. Apply a drop or two to each acne lesion thrice a day. This study enrolled 60 people with mild to temperate acne.

Participants were distributed into two groups and treated either with placebo or with 5% tea tree oil gel. Tea tree oil reduced the number of acne lesions and also their harshness, producing a benefit that the researchers considered meaningful in real life terms. If you are pregnant tea tree oil is not recommended because of the potential risk to the infant.

Benefits of tea tree oil Tips

1. Tea Tree oil helps in clearing skin infections such as boils, warts, sores and ulcers.

2. Another benefit of tea tree oil is that it is capable of killing stubborn germs such as Staphylococcus aureus.

3. Fungal infections can be treated with tea tree oil.

4. Hemorrrhoids and candidiasis can be treated with tea tree oil.

5. Massaging tea tree oil on sore muscles and joint injuries helps alleviate discomfort and pain.

6. The benefits of tea tree oil extend to treating gum inflammation and reducing plaque.

7. Tea tree oil is used in a wide variety of preparations, from creams and ointments to shampoos and astringents.

8. Tea tree oil can also be used to treat vaginal yeast infections.

Acne Laser Treatment

Posted in Acne Treatment by toni on the October 5th, 2007

Acne is the most common skin ailment. Acne is a highly intricated and variable form of skin infection. It is most common during adolescence, touching more than 85% of teenagers, but not infrequently also continues into adulthood. Some factors that don’t generally cause acne are hormones , heredity , dirt , stress and cosmetics. Some people get so upset by their pimples that they cull at them and make them last longer. Other general myth is that dirty skin causes acne; though, blackheads and pimples are not caused by dirt.

The basic acne lesions are: comedones, papules, pustules, nodules and inflammatory cysts known as cystic acne, one of the more severe forms. There are many myths about what results in acne. Chocolate and greasy foods are often criticized, but there is little evidence that foods have much effect on acne in most people. There are many types of acne such as mild, moderate and severe acne. There are many treatments and preventions for reducing acne.

One of the newest developments in treating scars associated with acne is acne laser treatment. The laser treatment program for acne scar eradication is somewhat different than laser treatment. Acne laser treatment is the best, popular and effective treatment for reducing acne.

Laser treatment for acne is a comparatively new procedure but even though only a few studies have been done on this, laser treatment of acne scars is showing a lot of promise because the actual treatment penetrates into the skin with a fine degree of control that even the depth is uniform — a far departure from other more conventional methods of treating acne scars. Fraxel laser treatment is the first Non-Ablative Resurfacing laser treatment in the world. It is the best treatment to treat severe acne and beneficial to improve the skin’s texture. Vbeam laser and IPL treatment are convenient and effective to treat acne from the surface of skin.

Other Acne Treatment Tips

1. Oral antibiotics (tablets), such as tetracycline, can be prescribed for inflammatory acne.

2. Isotretinoin (eg Roaccutane) is a medicine known as an oral retinoid, which also exists in a topical form (see above).

3. Washing your face a few times a day with a mild soap can usually clear up a lot of acne by ridding the face of excess oils.

4. A topical antibiotic lotion applied to the skin can be used to control the Pimples and acne.

5. Avoid aggressive washing with strong soaps.

Acne Treatment Methods

Posted in Acne Treatment by toni on the July 21st, 2007

Every patient having arne should know that arne is a selflimiting disease and it will disappear by the time the patient Acne Treatmentattains the age of 25 years or so. She/he should however, also be aware that the tendency to develop acne will continue till it ultimately disappears by the age of 25 years. The best way to manage acne is to prevent acne, because, if not prevented, the patient is likely to be left with permanent scars for the rest of his /her life. Prevention will also help to keep the face clear. We therefore, recommend that as soon as a child attains puberty, he/ she should start observing the following precautions and schedules for preventing arne.

Cleaning the Face is commonly recommended that arne patients should wash their face frequently. Washing the face properly and thoroughly is more important than washing the face frequently. Washing the face once or twice a day is as a rule sufficient, provided it has been washed properly. Proper washing includes applying an adequate quantity of soap and massaging it thoroughly into all parts of the face, taking special care to clean the folds around the nose, between the lower lip and the chin, behind the ears and the under-surface of the chin and the neck, which are likely to be left out from proper cleaning. The tip of the nose is another area which usually gets ignored while cleaning the face.

Proper cleaning does not require more than one extra minute of bathing time. Bathing should therefore, be undertaken in a relaxed manner and not in a hurry.

Soaps are the best agents for cleaning the skin. The common belief that soaps harm the skin is erroneous. The main action of the soap is to emulsify the oil on the skin and release the dust, dirt and bacteria sticking to the oil. One should therefore, apply an adequate quantity of soap which can emulsify and remove all the oil present on the skin. If all the oil is not removed, the process of cleaning will be incomplete. For this reason, use of soaps having greasy components like fats, oils, cream, milk, etc. or the use of so-called mild soaps is an illogical and scientifically incorrect concept.

The selection of a proper soap is important. An ordinary soap is as a rule adequate. The so-called herbal soaps, or those with anti-bacterial agents or sunscreens can be positively harmful. Some of the antiseptics used in foreign soaps contain sun-sensitising chemicals which can lead to an increased sensitivity to the sun and produce pigmentation or severe dermatitis on the exposed parts of the body. Some antiseptics indiscriminately kill a large variety of diseaseproducing as well as harmless bacteria but spare the dangerous disease-producing bacteria. Constant use of soaps containing such antiseptics can actually lead to serious skin infections. Several herbal products can lead to pigmentation or other types of reactions in the skin when used on a regular basis.

Topical Treatments for Acne

Posted in Acne Treatment by toni on the July 20th, 2007

Acne is a skin problem that usually happens in your teens. Acne develops as a result of blockages in follicles. Pimples form Acne Topical Treatmentwhen hair follicles under your skin clog up. It is shows up as different types of bumps. They include whiteheads, blackheads, red bumps (pimples), and bumps that are filled with pus (cysts).  Most pimples form on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders.  Hyperkeratinization and formation of a plug of keratin and sebum (a microcomedo) is the earliest change. Enlargement of sebaceous glands and an increase in sebum production occur with increased androgen (DHEA-S) production at adrenarche. Increased sebum production provides an environment for the overgrowth of Propionibacterium acnes. Bacterial overgrowth of Propionibacterium acnes can cause inflammation.  Some adult women experience mild to moderate acne due to hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, their menstrual cycles, or starting or stopping birth control pills. More than four out of five people between the ages of 12 and 24 develop acne at least once.

Acne condition is most common during adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers, but frequently continues into adulthood. Acne most common form   acne is  “acne vulgaris.  Many teenagers get this type of acne. Beneath the skin, in your pores, is where the acne forms. The mix of your natural oils and dead skin cells cause the formation of acne. Sebum (oil) which normally drains to the surface gets blocked and bacteria begins to grow. Both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a microcomedone.  There are many misconceptions and rumours about acne. Any medication containing halogens (iodides, chlorides, bromides), lithium, barbiturates, or androgens. Exposure to high levels of chlorine compounds, particularly chlorinated dioxins, can cause severe, long-lasting acne, known as Chloracne. Common myths state that masturbation causes acne and, conversely, that celibacy or sexual intercourse can cure it. Seafood often contains relatively high levels of iodine. Iodine is known to make existing acne worse but there is probably not enough to cause an acne outbreak.

Hormonal changes in your body can provoke or aggravate acne. Friction or pressure on your skin caused by items such as telephones or cell phones, helmets, tight collars and backpacks. Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling. Externally applied antibiotics such as erythromycin, clindamycin, Stiemycin or tetracycline aim to kill the bacteria that are harbored in the blocked follicles. Oral antibiotics used to treat acne include erythromycin or one of the tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline, the better absorbed oxytetracycline, or one of the once daily doxycycline, minocycline or lymecycline). Trimethoprim is also sometimes used. Topical antibiotic such as erythromycin (Benzamycin gel), or clindamycin (Duac once daily gel), or treat the outbreak with a topical antibiotic alone, eg clindamycin (Dalacin T), erythromycin (Eryacne gel), tetracycline (Topicycline). Azelaic acid lotion or gel, which is put on twice a day. Long-term treatment with oral antibiotics such as tetracycline or minocycline (eg Minocin), combined with one of the medications mentioned above may be helpful.

Topical Treatments for Acne Tips

1. Acne lotions may dry up the oil, kill bacteria and promote sloughing of dead skin cells.

2. Oral contraceptives, including a combination of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol , have been shown to improve acne in women.

3. Externally applied antibiotics such as erythromycin, clindamycin, Stiemycin or tetracycline aim to kill the bacteria that are harbored in the blocked follicles.

4. Topical antibiotic such as erythromycin (Benzamycin gel), or clindamycin.

5. Azelaic acid lotion or gel, which is put on twice a day.

6. Long-term treatment with oral antibiotics such as tetracycline or minocycline (eg Minocin).

7. Trimethoprim is also sometimes used.