What Are The Best Treatments For Acne?

It is often frustrating for young men and women who are suffering from an acne condition to find a way to control and even cure it. In fact, statistically, many are not even aware that such treatments are readily available. Well, they are and they can be very effective. There is no single answer which will work for everyone, so the challenge is to find the one which is right for you.

There are, however, some principles of treatment for acne which apply to most of us and these will be discussed here. Following, are the most frequently used approaches for the treatment of acne along with some information about their effectiveness in general.

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The first approach one may consider is a topical therapy which will likely include the use of lotions, creams, gels and other such ingredients. Today, many popular over the counter treatments contain benzoyl peroxide. This substance can be quite effective, however it is drying to the skin and it creates an increase in free radicals which will ultimately encourage wrinkling and other skin conditions and which young people may not be considering.

An alternate choice to benzoyl peroxide as the most common treatment for acne is salicylic acid which is far less drying and creates far fewer free radicals in the skin.Topical products may also contain a topical antimicrobial like clindamycin or erythromycin, but these require a doctor's prescription. Like most drugs, they can be quite effective for most, but the chance of side effects is always a consideration one must have.

Topical retinoids are also popularly used to treat such things as blackheads and sub-dermal bumps. Many are available over the counter but again, the more effective ones will require prescriptions. For some people these retinoids are the only way to treat certain micromedones which are the lesions that can precede acne. But not all skin conditions fall into this category and if you don't need it, then you should probably consider not using it. Increased sensitivity to the rays of the sun (risk of sunburn) is one side effect so continuous use of sunscreen is recommended before going outdoors.

Some treatment for acne may be included in cosmetics and this is a rapidly growing area of development. Salicylic acid is frequently used in these products as it is a well documented, effective treatment for acne, especially among younger men and women.

For severe cases of acne and for adult onset acne, oral medications have proven to be quite effective much of the time. Hormonal fluctuations are considered to be one cause of acne and these medications can minimize these, especially in women. Oral contraceptive pills, hormone replacement therapy and spironolactone are what is most commonly recommended. Hormone replacement is usually reserved for women past menopause, those who are not pregnant, and those whose acne is accompanied by anxiety, sleeplessness, mood swings and concentration difficulties.

There are other oral drug therapies used for adults in their treatment for acne and it is recommended, of course, that one consults with their physician, most often a dermatologist, to determine an appropriate course.There are also physical procedures used to directly treat specific cysts, bumps and nodules. Dermatologists may inject a corticosteroid into the lesion which will reduce the pain and the potential for scarring.

Generally, intelligent skin care is an effective preventative and treatment for acne. Gentle washing of the face with a mild cleanser which features salicylic acid (to clear the pores and reduce breakouts), use of warm (not hot) water, a toner to calm angry red skin and control sebum (oil) levels, a day treatment which includes not only salicylic acid but also mandelic acid which not only erases the signs of past breakouts but also fades dark spots on the skin's surface and a night treatment which features not only salicylic acid, but retinol and alpha lipoic acid which helps minimize breakouts while you sleep.

Avoidance of any vigorous scrubbing which can irritate and worsen the acne is always recommended. Also, sun protection is very important. There is a common misperception that sun bathing or even tanning salons will help acne. This is a big mistake. Tanning will increase the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. Especially important to young adults is the fact that the use of tanning beds before the age of 35 can increase the risk of melanoma by 75%.

Highly recommended is the use of products for skin and hair which are labeled "non-comedogenic" or "non-acnegenic." Picking and popping should be avoided at all costs as that activity will cause scarring and just make the situation worse.

Some interesting new possibilities to enable the treatment for acne are now upon us. Scientific research with human genes has greatly increased since the completion of the human genome project about 8 years ago. The completion of the mapping of our genes has yielded and is yielding much information which is hoped will eventually unlock the key to curing many diseases. In the process of doing various research, certain groups, or clusters, of genes were found and were identified with the growing of our skin. It was discovered that as we age, those genes begin to misfire information to the related skin cells and as a result we begin to see a reduction in collagen and elastin production.

The result? Loss of moisture, body and elasticity and the appearance of sunkeness and wrinkles, not to mention an associated increase in discolorations (age spots) and scaliness. Certain universities (Stanford and Purdue) along with the leading anti-aging laboratory were able to create a compound which signaled those genes to rebalance their instructions to the cells, restoring the skin to its condition when we were in our 20's. In other words, new skin was being grown not as it was yesterday, but as it was when we were much younger.

Gene related approaches to treatment for acne has not specifically been released yet, but in the meantime those gene based applications that do exist have also been seen in several cases to greatly improve acne scarred skin as well as the acne condition itself. This topical system is non-invasive (gentle creams and lotions), and as it turns out not nearly as expensive as many a treatment for acne out there for a long time.

The best treatment for acne will offer many benefits including lessening the risk of scarring which can be with you long after the acne leaves. Young adults suffer in many varied ways from their acne conditions, and as bad as it may seem when you are young, it can feel worse when you are older. That's one very good reason to take control as early as possible. Be smart and be happy.

What Are The Best Treatments For Acne?

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