Solutions for Treating Acne
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What causes acne? There are Five main causes of acne Hormones: Androgenic sex hormones cause follicular glands to make more sebum, which can clog follicles and cause acne. Genetics: Acne may run in certain families. Stress: A new job, marriage, pregnancy, and other causes of stress can trigger acne outbursts. Infection: The bacteria P. acnes and Staph. epidermis are linked with acne. Bacteria may cause skin inflammation, which can worsen appearance of acne. Diet: Certain foods with high glycemic load are linked with worsening of acne. Obesity may also be linked with acne, but it s unclear if it s the obesity or the diet that is the cause.
Acne Treatment Goals Given these causes, there are Four basic goals when treating acne: 1. Reduce sebum/oil production 2. Fight bacterial infection 3. Reduce inflammation 4. Speed up new skin cell replacement Benzoyl Peroxide Do common treatments meet goals? Benzoyl peroxide is a bleaching agent found in many over-the counter and prescription acne creams. Because it acts as a bleach, it does not reduce oil production (1) nor reduce inflammation. If anything, it can cause redness and inflammation. Benzoyl peroxide, because it is a bleach, can fight bacteria if they are on the surface. However, benzoyl peroxide is difficult to get into pores where the bacteria actually reside. Lastly, benzoyl peroxide does speed skin cell replacement by bleaching off the upper layers of skin.
Summary - Benzoyl Peroxide Treatment Goal Reduce Oil Production? Fight bacterial infection? Reduce inflammation? Speed skin cell turnover? Benzoyl Peroxide No Weak No Yes
Salicylic Acid Related to aspirin, salicylic acid is an anti-inflammatory agent. It does not reduce oil production, nor does it fight bacterial infection. Salicylic acid can reduce inflammation, but is can be quite irritating. Lastly, salicylic acid does speed skin cell replacement by bleaching off the upper layers of skin. Summary - Salicylic Acid Treatment Goal Reduce Oil Production? Fight bacterial infection? Reduce inflammation? Speed skin cell turnover? Benzoyl Peroxide No No Yes Yes
Prescription Options There are five prescription options available to fight acne. No single kind of prescription meets all of the treatment goals. So you need a blend of approaches, which can be Expensive Increases chance of side effects Summary - Prescription Options Treatment Goal Oral Contraceptives Antibiotics Retinoids Laser Reduce Oil Production? Fight bacterial infection? Reduce inflammation? Yes No No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Speed skin cell turnover? No No Yes No
First, don t get frustrated. So what do I do? Acne is a very complicated condition. Because it s so complicated, no single product will address it. Here are some tips and ideas for each treatment goal. Keep in mind, again, that no single product will cover all of these treatment goals. Reduce Oil Production - Look for facial cleansers that are free of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Also, look for facial masks that you can use twice a week. Just make sure those facial masks are oil-free, and specially designed for use in acne. Fight Bacterial Infection - Same as above Reduce Inflammation - Moisturizing after cleaning your skin is an important step. Just make sure the moisturizer is oil-free, fragrance-free, and designed for acne. Speed skin cell turnover - Masks and moisturizers can help.
What do I do next? Let us know what works for you in your fight against acne. We d love to hear from you. ** Free Gift For Your Comments** Submit your comments HERE