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Simple Ways To Stop Acne

Discussion in 'Physical & Sexual Health' started by panda, Mar 28, 2009.

  1. GhostDog

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    Oh God, accutane. Don't go on accutane unless NOTHING ELSE WORKS. I'd tried every other acne medication on the market, OTC and prescription, and I had horrible cystic acne. It got rid of my acne, but dry skin was the least of my worries. I got horribly depressed, I got more mood swings than a baseball game full of pregnant women, and I got SO SICK ALL THE TIME because it depressed my immune system. I honestly think I missed 25% of my junior year because of how often accutane made me sick. I very nearly did not graduate, and the attendance office knew my mom was calling just by looking at the number.

    It's rather like dropping a bomb on your body to get rid of a pest infestation. It works, but don't take it lightly.
     
  2. xxxxx

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    Treatment for acne

    There is a range of treatment options to help treat acne. As acne can't be cured, treatments aim to control the symptoms by:

    * preventing new spots forming
    * improving those already present
    * preventing scarring

    Your GP will usually assess your treatment after six weeks and, if beneficial, treatment will continue for four to six months.
    Self-help

    It's important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser. The skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so it's best to use gentle soaps and not to scrub your skin too hard when washing.
    Medicines

    There are a number of over-the-counter remedies available from pharmacies to treat mild acne. These usually contain antibacterial agents such as benzoyl peroxide (eg Oxy and Clearasil Max).

    As well as its antibacterial effects, benzoyl peroxide can dry out the skin and encourage it to shed the surface layer of dead skin. Together, these effects make it harder for pores to become blocked and for infection to develop.

    Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling, especially to start with. This tends to settle down if you reduce the number of times you use it. You can then build up your use gradually.

    Home treatments for acne won't work immediately. It can take weeks, sometimes months, for significant effects to be noticeable. If home treatments haven't worked after two months, or you have severe acne, you should visit your GP.

    Your GP may start your treatment by prescribing a preparation containing benzoyl peroxide. If this doesn't work, or if you have more severe acne, there are a range of other treatment options. These come as creams or lotions that your can rub on to your skin, or as tablets.
    Creams and lotions

    There are several creams and lotions you may be prescribed, including those listed below.

    * Azelaic acid (Skinoren) is an alternative to benzoyl peroxide and may not make your skin as sore as benzoyl peroxide.
    * Retinoids (eg Adapalene) are medicines based on vitamin A, which you can rub into your skin daily. They work by encouraging the outer layer of skin to flake off.
    * An antibiotic lotion, such as clindamycin (eg Dalacin T) or erythromycin (eg Stiemycin), applied to your skin can be used to control the P. acnes bacteria. You will need to continue this treatment for at least six months.
    * Creams and lotions that combine an antimicrobial with other acne medication are also available (eg Quinoderm).

    Creams and lotions are only effective where and when they are applied so you should apply these daily to all areas of your skin that are prone to acne.
    Tablets

    There are several oral treatments you may be prescribed.

    Antibiotics, such as tetracycline, can be prescribed for inflammatory acne. You should take these daily for around three months, although it might take four to six months for you to see the benefits. The success of this treatment can be limited because the strains of bacteria are often resistant to the common antibiotics. Antibiotics don't prevent pores from becoming blocked so treatment to prevent blackheads, such as benzoyl peroxide, is often also prescribed at the same time.

    Some types of oral contraceptive tablets help women who have acne. A combination of the usual contraceptive pill hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate (eg Dianette) suppresses male hormone activity. This drug has been shown to reduce sebum production so is often used in women with acne.

    Isotretinoin (eg Roaccutane) is a medicine known as an oral retinoid, which is also available as a cream (see Creams and lotions). Isotretinoin works by drying up oily secretions. It tends to be prescribed to people with severe forms of acne that have proved resistant to other treatments. There are a number of serious side-effects of this drug, such as liver disorders and depression. You shouldn't take isotretinoin if you're pregnant, as it's very dangerous to an unborn baby. For safety reasons, isotretinoin is only prescribed under the supervision of a dermatologist (a doctor specialising in skin conditions).

    If this help's!! xx
     
  3. panda

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    One reason that I posted this article was to give people an opportunity to see an alternative to chemicals and medications.
    I had bad acne as a kid. once in my early teens while getting on to a roller coaster ride
    the ticket taker said,"Hey Kid! You've got shit on your face!"

    This article talks about diet and how it can affect acne.

    Bill Murray had pretty bad acne and has had a pretty successful career.
     
  4. Roralo

    Roralo Guest

    I burn my acne away. Literally. Well, I don't know if its scientifically proven, but when I was a frumpy little stay in the house tween, my face was like fbadgfae2, ewwwww. But then I first of all, moved the hair from my face and started sports. Oh, and also I took blistering hot showers. My skin is dry but the acne never comes up. I solve my dry skin problem with lotion while my skin is acne free! :] Thats how I solved my crisis years of acne. Either that or it naturally went away.
     
  5. mattypants

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    dont forget genetics. i got lucky here. no acne evar!