Author: MichaelGreen
Source: articledashboard.com
There are various types of acne and therefore various ways to treat it. One of the most important things to know is that you should keep the area as clean as you can. An unperfumed or special acne cleanser is good. You should avoid harsh soaps or anything containing alcohol. Try not to touch or pick at the acne and if your hair is oily, wear it off your face so it does not cause irritation.
There are various topical treatments you can try including benzoyl peroxide which dries the skin and promotes shedding of dead skin cells. When this happens, the pores do not get blocked so easily. When pores are blocked, this encourages infection to develop. Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling initially so you might have to let your skin become used to it slowly. If you have body acne, remember than benzoyl peroxide bleaches clothing so it is best to wear white clothing.
Oral antibiotics might help if your acne is inflammatory. They might take up to 6 months to work so you have to be patient. Some women with acne find that taking oral contraceptives helps because they regulate her hormones. Isotretonion is an oral retinoid useful to dry up oily secretions but it can cause side effects including liver disorders and depression.
With severe acne you should consult a dermatologist or doctor. The same applies if you have been using over the counter remedies for over 2 months and your acne has not improved. Azelaic acid is a topical treatment that is more gentle than benzoyl peroxide on the skin.
A healthy diet and the use of supplements might prevent or improve your acne and is worth a try. Vitamin A has many of the same properties as isotretonoin but no side effects. To reduce cellular aging and repair skin, Vitamin E is good. Zinc encourage Vitamin A absorption and regulates the levels of Vitamin E in the blood. It boosts your immune system and helps to kill the bacteria causing the acne. Magnesium can balance the hormones. A balanced, nutritional diet should contain most of these but if in doubt you can take supplements. Drinking a lot of water is healthy and helps to flush toxins out of your system. Most people need 8 cups of water a day but if you feel thirsty, this is a definite sign of dehydration. Wearing tight clothes can make body acne worse and anything that does not let your skin breathe, such as spandex or nylon, should be avoided if possible.
Some medicines can cause or exacerbate acne so if you want to be sure of staying acne free, it is best to avoid the following: anticonvulsants, quinine, INH, thyroid preparations, immuran, disulfuram and corticosteroids. If you need to take any of those, you can discuss your acne worries with your doctor and perhaps an alternative treatment can be prescribed instead.