Acne (cont.)
What can you do about acne on your own?
Think back to the three basic causes of acne and you
can understand why the focus of both home treatment and prescription therapy is to (1) unclog pores,
(2) kill bacteria, and (3) minimize oil. But first a word about...
Lifestyle: Moderation and regularity are good things,
but not everyone can sleep eight hours, eat three good meals, and drink eight
glasses of water a day. You can, however, still control your acne even if your routine is frantic and unpredictable. Probably the most useful lifestyle changes you can make are to apply hot compresses to pustules and cysts, to get facials (see below), and never to pick or squeeze pimples. Playing with or popping pimples, no matter how careful and clean you are, nearly always makes bumps stay redder and bumpier longer. People often refer to redness as "scarring," but fortunately it usually isn't in the permanent sense. It's just a mark that takes months to fade if left entirely alone.
Open the pores
Cleansing and skin care: Despite what you read in
popular style and fashion magazines, there is no magic product or regimen that is right for every person
and situation.
- Mild cleansers: Washing once or twice a day with a
mild cleansing bar or liquid (for example, Dove, Neutrogena, Basis, Purpose, and
Cetaphil are all inexpensive and popular) will keep the skin clean and minimize
sensitivity and
irritation.
- Exfoliating cleansers and masques: A variety of mild
scrubs, exfoliants,
and masques can be used. These products contain either fine granules or
salicylic acid in a concentration that makes it a very mild
peeling agent. These
products remove the outer layer of the skin and thus open pores. Products containing glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids are also gentle skin exfoliants.
- Retinol: Not
to be confused with the prescription medication Retin-A, this
derivative of vitamin A can help promote skin peeling.
Kill the bacteria
- Antibacterial cleansers: The most popular ingredient in over-the-counter
antibacterial cleansers is benzoyl peroxide.
- Topical (external) applications: These products come in the form of gels,
creams, and lotions, which are applied to the affected area. The active
ingredients that kill surface bacteria include benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, and
resorcinol. Some brands promoted on the Internet and cable TV (such as ProActiv) are more costly
but not really any better than ones you can buy in the drugstore.
Benzoyl peroxide causes red and scaly allergic skin in a
small number of people, which goes away as soon as you stop using the product. Keep in mind that benzoyl peroxide is a bleach, so do not let products containing benzoyl peroxide leave unsightly blotching on colored clothes, shirts, towels, and carpets.
Reduce the oil
You cannot stop your oil glands from producing oil (unless you mess with your
hormones or metabolism in ways you shouldn't). Even isotretinoin
(Accutane, see below) only slows down oil glands for a while; they come back
to life later. What you can do is to get rid of oil on the surface of the skin
and reduce the embarrassing shine.
- Use a gentle astringent/toner to wipe away oil. (There are many brands
available in pharmacies, as well as from manufacturers of cosmetic lines.)
- Products containing glycolic acid or one of the other alpha hydroxy acids
are also mildly helpful in clearing the skin by causing the superficial layer of
the skin to peel (exfoliate).
- Masques containing sulfur and other ingredients draw out facial oil.
- Antibacterial pads containing benzoyl peroxide have the additional benefit
of helping you wipe away oil.
Next: What are
other things you can do for acne? »
- doxycycline, Vibramycin, Oracea, Adoxa, Atridox and Others - Learn more about Doxycycline, including a description, generic and brand names, drug class and mechanism, preparations, storage, reasons for prescription, dosing, drug interactions, effect on pregnancy and nursing mothers, and common side effects.
- Photodynamic Therapy - Read about photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT uses a photosensitizing agent and light source to treat cancers (skin, lung, esophageal, Barrett's esophagus), acne and rosacea.
- Boils - Learn about boils (skin abscess), localized infections deep within the skin that begins as a reddened, sore area. Eventually, the area hardens and fills with pus. Boils may be caused by ingrown hairs, clogged sweat glands, or foreign material that becomes imbedded in the skin. Treatment typically involves heat application, draining the boil, and antibiotics to eliminate bacterial infection.
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