HOW TO TREAT ACNE

Acne is a fear of most women, making many people feel insecure about their appearance when communicating. Together we will learn about effective acne treatments through the article below.

1. Signs of Acne
Signs and symptoms of acne vary depending on the severity of the condition, including:

Whiteheads (closed pores)
Blackheads (open pores)
Small, red bumps
Pimples (pustules), which are pus-filled papules at the top
Appears large nodules under the surface of the skin, solid and painful
Pustules that appear below the surface of the skin (cystic lesions)



2. What causes acne?
The four main factors that cause acne include:

Skin is too oily
Pore ​​clogging
Bacteria
Overactive hormones (androgens)
Acne usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders because these areas of the skin have the most oil (sebaceous) glands. The pores are connected to the sebaceous glands.

Blackheads are clogged hair follicles caused by dead cells, bacteria, and oil that when exposed to air will oxidize and turn black. Whiteheads are different from blackheads, this is also a type of acne caused by clogged pores, but this type is not exposed to the outside air, so it is white.

Pimples are raised red spots, usually white when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Congestion and inflammation deep within the hair follicles create cystic masses under the surface of your skin. Other pores in your skin, like sweat glands, are not usually associated with acne.

Several factors can make acne worse, such as:

Hormones: Androgens hormones increase in boys and girls during puberty, causing the sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. Hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and oral contraceptive use can also affect sebum production. Low androgen levels in women can make acne worse.
Some drugs. Examples include drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone, or lithium.
Diet. Studies indicate that certain dietary factors, including skim milk and high-carbohydrate foods — like bread, bagels, and chips — can worsen acne.
Stress: Stress can make acne worse.



3. Acne treatment
If you've tried acne products for a few weeks and haven't worked, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications to:

Control acne
Avoid scarring or other damage to your skin caused by acne
Acne medications work by reducing sebum secretion, speeding up skin cell turnover, fighting bacterial infections, or reducing inflammation - helping to prevent scarring. With most prescription acne medications, you may not see results for four to eight weeks, and your skin may get worse before it gets better. It can take months or years for acne to completely disappear.

The treatment regimen that your doctor recommends depends on your age, and the severity of your acne, and requires more patience on your part. For example, you may need to wash and apply medication to the affected skin twice a day for several weeks. Often topical and oral medications can be combined. Pregnant women will not be able to use prescription drugs to treat acne.

Several medications are used, including:

Topical:

Retinoids: Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and include tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, others), adapalene (Difin), and tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage), commonly found in skin care products such as creams, gel or lotion. You use this medicine in the evening, when starting it should be used 3 times a week, then you can use it daily when your skin gets used to it. Retinoids work to unclog pores.
Antibiotics: antibiotics work to kill skin bacteria and reduce redness. During the first few months of treatment, you can use both a retinoid and an antibiotic, possibly with an antibiotic in the morning and a retinoid in the evening. Antibiotics are often combined with benzoyl peroxide to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. Such as clindamycin with benzoyl peroxide (Benzaclin, Duac, Acanya) and erythromycin with benzoyl peroxide (Benzamycin).
Salicylic Acid and azelaic Acid: Azelaic acid is a natural acid found in grains such as barley and wheat. Azelaic acid has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. A 20% azelaic acid cream is as effective as many other conventional acne treatments when used twice a day for at least four weeks. It is even more effective when used in combination with erythromycin. The drug azelaic (Azelex, Finacea) can be used during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Side effects include a change in skin color and minor skin irritation.
Salicylic acid can treat acne conditions, but the effect of the drug is quite limited.

Dapsone. Dapsone (Aczone) 5% gel: use twice daily to treat inflammatory conditions caused by acne, especially in adult women with acne. Side effects include skin redness and dryness.

In addition, doctors may use other therapies with or in combination with medication:

Lasers and photodynamic therapy: A variety of light-related therapies have been tested with some success. But more research is needed to determine the ideal method, light source and dosage.
Remove whiteheads and blackheads: Your doctor may use special tools to gently remove whiteheads and blackheads (comedos) that have not been cleared with topical medication. This technique can cause scarring.
Steroid injections: Lymph node and cystic lesions can be treated by direct injection of a steroid medication. This therapy has resulted in rapid improvement and pain relief. The side effect of this technique is thinning of the skin in the treated area.
Most research on acne medications has involved people from 12 years old and up. In a study of 365 girls aged 9 to 10, 78% of them suffered from acne lesions. If your child has acne, you should consult a pediatric dermatologist. A guide to medications that should be avoided in children, appropriate dosages, drug interactions, side effects, and treatments that can affect a child's growth and development