One treatment - Accutane, may cause severe birth defects and Depression, which has led the FDA to strengthen restrictions on its use. These new restrictions require manufacturers of Accutane and its generic versions to keep track of the doctors who prescribe the drug, and also the pharmacies that sell the drug and the patients who use it.
The actual cause of acne is still not really understood. Some believe it lies in genetics. Others believe it is a combination of factors such as androgens, allergies, stress, or the use of certain mediations. Natural practitioners tend to believe it is a result of nutritional deficiencies, and toxins in the body that can cause the liver to dysfunction.
Makeup conceals acne, it doesn't cure it! But you already knew that, right? Using makeup to conceal acne isn't difficult, but there are some basic rules that you should always follow. Your three acne hiding weapons will be a concealer, a foundation and a finishing powder. Stay away from the dollar store and use only brand names that you can trust. Choose only oil-free makeup products that match your skin tone. Oil-free is the key to success here so read the labels carefully. You don't want to aggravate your existing acne problem by layering a fresh coat of oil on skin that already has too much to begin with. Choose a hypoallergenic brand while you're at it.
On the other hand, there are many popular myths and delusions about what causes acne. Acne does not occur as a result of stress, or of eating chocolate and greasy food. Also, acne is not an infectious disease, i.e. it cannot be transmitted by touch or through a sexual intercourse (like Chlamydia which is also a skin disease but is transmitted sexually).
Stress does not cause acne. Stress is a part of our daily lives and believe it or not it is not a contributing factor to the acne residing in your face. Only severe stress treated by the doctor may cause acne to erupt and then only as a side effect of the drugs a person may be taking. If this is the case, consult your doctor immediately.
Hormones (or a lack of them) during later years - especially for women - can play a role in acne flare-ups and prevention. One recent study showed that about 50 percent of women have acne, referred to as hormonal acne, problems during the week before their menstruation. Treatment options include topical retinoids, oral antibiotics and Benzoyl Peroxide for teen years. For adults oral contraceptives or hormonal birth control pills and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) may be helpful for women, combined with systemic or topical treatments, prescription or over-the-counter products and medications.
The psychological harm acne or Zits causes it's many sufferers should not be underestimated; treatments however, are slowly improving. The number of people afflicted around the world is huge so science research is making advances; this is good news with the range of effective skin care treatments improving all the time. Acne skin care products all fall into one of three main categories:
*Preventive *Over-the-counter: Treatment *Prescription: Dermatologist or Doctor, specialist cream or ointment
Probably the largest part of the skin care market is products designed to clean the skin and inhibit the formation of acne; this sector deals with skin creams, lotions and cleansers that can help stop the problem. Many people these days use products like this to maintain their skin; there use is not just confined to individuals who are suffer with the complaint.
More specialized cleaners are designed in the same way as acne skin care products; they work by limiting the production of sebum/oil and prevent clogging of skin pores. These products prevent the oil from getting trapped in pores and can hamper the growth of bacteria, this can lead to the bad skin condition.
This type of skin care treatment also includes those which exfoliate such as skin peels; these are easily obtainable in any drug store. They work by reducing oil plus other contaminants from the skin and in the pores; this can reduce harmful bacteria and stop their chance of growth.
The growth of the skin care market has allowed even more specialized acne skin care products to be available without the need to visit the doctor. Most of these creams etc. are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne); these include products which extract the unwanted oil from the skin.
It is preferable when you first start using this type of product to keep the concentration of it low, around 5.5 percent is best; should a reaction occur, products containing alpha hydroxy acid are generally safer. You might have to try a few different creams or lotions before you find the acne skin care product that is effective for you're skin; however, if nothing you try seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist. If you do need to see your doctor or skin care specialist then he may give you a prescription for antibiotics or special ointments.
Your doctor can recommend that in order to extract the contents of the pustules that a small surgical procedure could be carried out; never try to squeeze your zits however, as it can lead to permanent damage of your skin. Hormone treatment might be suggested as hormone changes can cause skin problems; studies show that hormone based skin care treatments often prove effective. There is no longer any reason to despair if you have this skin complaint or are prone to its effects.
Both Paul Rhodes & Steve Davidson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Paul Rhodes has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acne Treatment, Property Guide and Candida Infection. Sarah Rhodes suffered from severe acne for many years before finally discovering a cure that works. Read about Sarah and the secret that permanently cured her acne at: