About

Acne is a disease that can last for years in some teens. It is a process in which the tiny tubes leading from the oil glands become completely or partially plugged. This results in back pressure on the oil glands themselves and trapping of bacteria. These bacteria are called Propionibacterium acnes. These P acnes bacteria do not actually cause an infection, but the bacteria multiply within the oil gland, producing an enzyme called lipase that splits oil into very irritating substances called fatty acids. These cause irritation of the oil gland and eventual rupture of it, resulting in what appears as a red acne bump.

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TREATMENTS

There are thousands of treatments for teenage complexion problems. Choosing the right ones from among the many over the counter and prescription products is the most important therapeutic dilemma in acne treatment.

ANTIBIOTICS

Tetracycline is an excellent antibiotic that has been used in acne therapy for years. It has two functions. The first of these is to kill off the P acnes bacteria. Happily, they are exquisitely sensitive to that medicine. Also, the tetracycline appears to be an inhibitor of the enzyme lipase, which causes rotting of the oil below the surface. In short, it’s a bump stopper. If your dermatologist prescribes tetracycline for your acne, make sure you let him or her know if you are on a birth control pill. Some pills’ effectiveness is decreased by tetracycline.

ASTRINGENTS

These products are supposed to inhibit the appearance of shine on the skin for a long time.

While not actually harmful, they can cause problems. There’s really nothing that can stop oil from being secreted by the skin. So you’re really left with removing the oil as it forms with astringents, or by covering up the oil with absorbent powders. These products are not harmful; they just don’t really do what they claim to do. They remove surface oil only.

BENZOYL PEROXIDE

Topical benzoyl peroxide has several uses in acne. Some consider its main function one of a drying and peeling agent, but it appears now that it’s a much more remarkable substance than we had first realized. Besides drying out acne, it actually inhibits the growth of P acnes bacteria. There are many forms of benzoyl peroxide. The best are the acetone and water gel formulation. Some can be bought over the counter.

Benzoyl peroxides also can dry the skin sufficiently so looks as though very little oil is being secreted. Benzoyl peroxide can irritate skin too, so be sure to ask your doctor which strength is right for your skin type.

RETIN A

Retin-A cream is a form of vitamin A acid applied topically It a to correct the defect in the oil gland lining that causes plus the canal. However, Retin-A can be an irritating substance. Many dermatologists prescribe Retin-A, especially in whitehead and blackhead acne.

Be prepared for a slight worsening of your condition for up to a few weeks on Retin-A, and it may take up to 2 to 12 weeks to see the maximum effects.

SULFA

Sulfa is an antibiotic given internally for various infections, though allergic reactions can develop to it. While allergic reactions can also develop to sulfur used topically, the two drugs are not related and should not cross-react in any way. The sulfur that you may use on your skin is a drying agent that can indeed cause stinging and itching. But this is usually not an allergic reaction, and decreasing the strength of the medicine, or the frequency of its application, can alleviate this problem altogether.

X RAY

X-ray therapy can decrease the size of oil glands and help acne. However, researchers found some twenty to thirty years later that X-ray therapy given for acne can cause problems with growths in the thyroid gland in the neck, especially when the neck was not shielded during the x-ray procedure. So most dermatologists are recommending that any patients who have ever been treated with X-ray for acne have a yearly check of their thyroid with a physical examination.

About Acne And Acne Treatment