Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Kinds Of Acne

There are different kinds of acne. Knowing what kind of acne you are having would help you know the right medication you should undergo.

1. Whitehead. This kind of acne is mild where the completely blockage of the sebum together with the bacteria by the dead skin is manifested.

2. Blackhead. This is a form of acne where oxidation happened which caused its black color. The pores having blackheads are partially blocked.

3. Papule. This is red acne yet has no head.


4. Pustule. This is an inflamed, red acne with a white or yellowish center.
 

5. Nodule. It is a severe form of acne which is formed beneath your skin. It is commonly painful and hard which can lead to deep scarring. If not given the right care, nodules could get back to skin and would stay longer than usual.


6. Cystic. Just like nodule, cystic is very visible and is big as much as 5mm plus. It is also painful and might give you a deep scar.


7. Acne Rosacea. A condition like this exists if a part of your skin is very red where there are a lot of acne and rush. This might swell because of the production of unnecessary tissue. You need to meet a dermatologist if you suspect yourself of having it.


8. Acne Conglobata. One of the most severe acne is this one. It is like a solid lesions and abrasions which are connected with each other commonly experienced by men. This condition is often hard to cure that it needs a consistent treatment from experts.

9. Pyoderma Faciale (Rosacea Fulminans). A form of acne which only females experience. This is like a combination of pustules, nodules and other forms of acne. Most probably, women who never had acne in the past can experience this when they reach their 20's to 40's.

Some acne can be treated at home by natural Acne Remedy or some chemicals available. However, there are really some forms of acne, especially those which are severe should be treated by the dermatologists or they might leave marks forever.

Laser Acne Treatment

 

Laser is one of an emerging group of light-based acne treatments that show promise in treating various skin conditions. Since these treatments are relatively new, studies so far have been short-term; however, results have been good for people whose conditions do not respond to more traditional methods. If you've been suffering with unresponsive acne, acne scars, or rosacea, laser acne treatments may offer the relief you're searching for.

How it works. Laser acne treatments use an intense beam of concentrated light to reach the middle layer of the skin. The beams pass through the skin surface without affecting the outer skin layer, and penetrate just far enough to interact with the oil-producing sebaceous glands.


It is believed that the acne laser produces heat only at its deepest penetration, causing injury to the sebaceous glands, which reduces oil production. Since excess oil blocked in the pores is an instigating factor in acne, this therapy works to lessen acne breakouts. Laser also kills the P. acne bacteria that causes the redness and inflammation of pustules.

Laser acne treatment can be mildly painful, somewhat like a warm stinging, so topical painkillers are applied to the skin before the treatment begins. A method of surface cooling may also be used to protect the outer skin from possible damage.

What it's good for. Lasers used for acne are used only on specific acne lesions, but other laser therapies have other benefits. The body reacts to the laser by producing collagen. This plumps up the skin, erasing fine lines and wrinkles. Acne scars are also less noticeable after a laser treatment. Yet another use of laser is cauterizing the tiny veins visible in cases of rosacea.

Considerations. Since laser acne treatment is relatively new, long-terms risks and benefits are not yet known. So far, side effects seem to be limited to temporary swelling and redness or mild drying and flaking of the treated area.

More studies are needed to determine who is likely to benefit most from this modality, although the best results have been seen on adults. Laser therapy may need to be combined with other therapies in order to address each contributing factor in a case of acne.

Acne laser treatment is done in several sessions over a period of weeks or months. Each session can cost up to $200, and since laser is still such a new method of treating acne, many insurance plans will not cover it.

While there are still questions about long-term effectiveness of laser for acne, it may be just the treatment for those who have not found relief from traditional therapies.



Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Common Misconceptions About Acne

 
At this day and age, even with all the technological advancements that we have made, some beliefs still refuse to die hard. While almost all of us would agree that the earth isn't the center of the universe, some people would still insist on what they falsely believe as facts when it comes to acne. The only trouble with this is that as these wrong beliefs remain, so will the acne problems that continue to hound many of us.

That is why we have written this article. We'd like to help spread the word about how to fight acne effectively-starting with taking down the most common misconceptions about it. So, if you're ready, then, read on.

Misconception #1: Chocolates and Nuts Cause Acne

Up until 10 years ago, the belief that chocolates and nuts cause acne was still prevalent. The belief still persists until today, however, in a number of people. The argument is that these foods are fatty and oily, which can drive our oil glands haywire and so cause acne. However, numerous studies have already debunked this belief.

The truth is that foods rich in carbohydrates are more likely to cause acne in people. That is why we recommend that you minimize your intake of these foods if you don't want to have acne. Better yet, have a healthy diet overall and you'll be just fine, not only from acne, but from a host of other ailments.

Misconception #2: You Need Expensive Products vs. Acne

The cosmetics industry is built upon expensive anti- acne solutions, which is why manufacturers of these products will naturally push for what they're selling. However, you don't actually need expensive anti-acne products if you're only suffering from mild acne. Usually, washing your face with tap water twice a day will suit you just fine. There are, of course, other anti-acne products that you can find at home such as egg and toothpaste. They're cheap and they're easily available-and they work well against your pimples.

Misconception #3: Only Teenagers Have Acne

Remember when you were in your teens? Remember how much you wanted to become an adult to be rid of your acne once and for all? But once you reach adulthood, the reality hits you in the face: you can still have acne even at this stage. Women are more prone to having acne as adults because of their hormonal imbalances. But the good thing is that there are solutions around this such as taking the pill, or taking a holistic approach towards one's acne problems.

There are tons more of misconceptions about acne that continue to be propagated by a lot of people. It's not their intention, of course, to mislead people, only that they're misinformed. That's why we hope that the ones we shared with you in this article will shed some light on the truth behind some of the things that others misunderstand about acne. And with this information, we hope that we have helped you to be acne-free for good!
Dr. Albert Coley, MD



Acne Care Treatment


Acne sebaceous gland follicles
causes of acne are tied to the changes that happen when a child passes from infancy to puberty. Many persons still believe that acne is caused by dirty skin. The truth is, instead, is that to only wash the skin does not make acne disappear, nor does it prevent it. Adult acne treatment methods works just like those addressed to other age groups. To wash the skin, however, helps to remove the excess of sebum and the dead cells of the skin, and adults should be aware of this as well. Many persons use every type of product, including alcoholic detergents and exfoliant creams, often irritating the skin more than clearing it! Adult acne treatment approaches should also consider the social and psychological effects of adult acne. To wash the face two times a day, in a delicate way with water and a delicate detergent, is the best choice. However, acne is caused from a complex array of biological factors that cannot be eliminated just by washing. For this reason, it is necessary to begin a serious adult acne treatment focused on the problem of acne.

Adult acne treatment – myths and facts

In some cases, acne also persists in the adult age. This type of acne, generally, hits the skin of the face, but also the one of the body, and men are more exposed then women. Adult acne treatment for women takes into account the fact that the appearance of this type of acne is parallel to the menstrual cycle. In other cases, the acne is introduced randomly in the adult age: this type of acne plagues men and women alike. Acne is not caused by food, but some food items do have the potential to irritate the skin. To follow a tight diet will not recover your skin. While some think that their problem of acne is aggravated from the foods they consume (like the chocolate, drinks, fat oysters and foods), there are no scientific tests that demonstrate this being true. However it is not a mistake to avoid the fatter foods, but a focused and well-applied adult acne treatment is also necessary in order to get rid of this annoying condition. There are several ways to eliminate zits in adulthood. The most successful acne treatment methods may include acne blemish laser treatment, acne rosacea treatment, laser acne treatment. Consult with your dermatologist in order to determine which adult acne removal treatment will work best for you.


Treatment – Alpha hydroxy acid


Also known in the medical community as ascorbic acid, this technique mainly focuses on improving the levels of oil in the skin. It actually reduces the oil amount produced by the skin, thus diminishing the chances of acne eruptions. Alpha hydroxy acid also reduces the number of dead cells in the skin so your face looks healthier and with less irritation. This particular acne care treatment is effective when used in the early or mid stages of the problem, but it also used in severe acne treatment. The acid is found in several acne treatment drugs and ointments

Chemical peels acne treatment
In most cases, chemical peel treatments are used to remove lines under the eyes and around the mouth, as well as, sun-damaged skin, mild scarring, age spots and other skin problems. Acne treatments may include this method in which the dermatologist applies a certain chemical substance to the skin. The targeted spot blisters and can be peeled off. This method of acne care treatment is effective mostly for removing scars, especially in the facial area. The treatment is accompanies by some heat and stinging sensation, a fact that most patients found acceptable given the efficiency of the acne treatment.

Acne care treatment final remarks

There are several other methods for curing acne, such as home remedies or laser treatment. In order to select the best treatment for your pimple and zits you should consult with your doctor or dermatologist.






Hormones And Acne

In this article I will cover hormone imbalance.

Hormones are chemicals that are produced by glands in the body and circulate in the bloodstream that control numerous body functions including sebum (skin oil) production and regulation.

The hormones that are responsible for acne are called androgens. These androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands (glands in the skin that secrete oil to the surface of the skin.)

When you have too many androgens in the blood, your sebaceous glands begin to over-produce oil in the skin. It is not only oil that will cause acne but It's the initial problem you want to resolve.

The next part of the problem is toxins in the blood and lymph. When your liver and kidneys are not properly cleansing the blood and are overloaded, the liver is unable to properly 'deactivate' used hormones and remove them from the body.

The combination of oil, bacteria and toxins blocks pores. Inside the blocked pores also are bacteria which grow in a low-oxygen environment. This bacteria aggrevates the skin and causes an inflammatory disease, otherwise known as acne.

Hormone imbalance doesn't only cause acne, but can be responsible for many other problems including: allergies, fatigue, headaches, mood swings, anger and insomnia.

For most teenagers, hormone imbalance occurs during puberty when the body is busy producing hormones for growth, maturity and reproduction.

Adult acne predominately arises from the inability of the liver and kidneys to effectively eliminate excess hormones and toxins from the blood.

In order to cure your acne you have to be able to get your hormones into balance by feeding your body the key nutrients that aid hormone regulation in the glands and also strengthen the liver which is the other hormone regulatory system.



 

Friday, April 15, 2011

The Side Effects Of Laser Treatment For Acne Scars


After getting rid of acne many ex-acne sufferers have to deal with the problem of scarring. These scars many times are permanent and they may remind you of the bad days when you had acne. So removing the acne scars is another crucial step in order to completely get rid of the acne from your life.

There are many scar treatments available from procedures like dermabrasion to laser treatments. Nowadays laser treatments are very popular because they allow the patient to get rid of his scars without any pain. There is mainly one version of laser treatment for scars. The laser burns the surface of the affected skin in order to allow fresh skin cells to replace the burned-off.

Although laser treatment is known for its effectiveness, the acne-scars sufferer must be aware of the side effects of that treatment.

Except the fact that laser treatments are very expensive and many patients can't afford them and they are also ineffective against the deep scars they may cause some of the following side effects:

1.    The main side effect of a laser treatment is that it will cause redness and swelling of the skin. This condition may last up to a few weeks. During that period you have to avoid exposure at sun and use of makeup products.


2.    Another possible side effect is getting more acne. If you do a laser surgery while you still have acne, the treatment may lead to even more breakouts. That's why it's not advisable to start an acne scar laser treatment while you still have acne.


3.    Other side effects which may affect people with very sensitive skin are changes in the skin colour, eczema and milia.

Most of these side effects are not very common but every patient who wants to follow a laser treatment must be aware of them. Before starting the laser surgery there are many things which can be done in order to minimize the risks. Many dermatologists suggest timing the laser surgery so as not to conflict with any important appearance for you and also stop the use of peeling products for your skin 15 days before the surgery. Your doctor will help you do the treatment when your skin is ready so as to avoid any of the above. After the treatment it is important to follow doctor's guidelines so as to avoid any unwanted situations. Remember that if you see anything going wrong you must immediately consult your doctor.


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