How to Get Rid of Acne (Acne Treatment)

Acne is one of the most common skin disease presenting to family physicians. Almost 95% of population is affected at once or twice by Acne. Actually, every adolescent or teenager (85%) have to face at some stage more or less. Condition may appear for the first time in the mid-twenties or even later. Specially most frequent in late teen age years. 90% having mild acne or cosmetic acne and 10% need medical treatment-  severe acne with 1% difficult to treat. Although it has a number of worse effects on your personality along with considerable psychological impact on quality of life. There is no cure, but the disease can controlled through proper medications.
Four important factors of proliferation are

• Plugging of hair follicle (The root of acne)
• Increase activity of sebaceous glands
• Inflammation
• Proliferation of bacterium acne

The main factor is the grease or sebaceous glands due to which acne develops and is characterized by blackheads, whiteheads collectively termed as comedones also called Non-inflammatory lesions and  red spots, papules, and eventually postules or large cysts (Inflammatory lesions). There are several types of lesions like comedonal lesions, inflammatory lesions, nodulocystic lesions.

Normally oily skin is more prone to acne because it develops in oil producing structure and its present in face, shoulder, lower back and chest. By increasing the activity of sebaceous glands it tells body to produce more oil. Another theory say that Acne develops when hormones level increase in your body and it happens normally during puberty when testosterone hormones level increase. The bacteria on your skin alter the hormones to produce substance that cause acne. So dead skin cell, bacteria and testosterone hormones plug the hair follicle where acne start to develop. This result in inflammation and development of lesions called comedones commonly termed as blackheads and whiteheads. That's why during teenage, your body is more prone to acne.

Inflammatory Lesions

Nodulocystic Lesions

Common Myths:

Diet: Normally people think that strong relationship is there between acne and diet. However, no medical evidence is there which proof that diet cause acne and following food is not usually clear acne. While some people thought their skin acne seems more worsen when they eat chocolates, hot pepper and fried food etc. They should avoid such foods which aggravate their acne.

Hygiene: If you think that acne and blackheads are due to dirt or poor hygiene then its certainly a myth. Just forget about it. Blackheads and whiteheads are due to the oxidation of sebum. However, some precautions are there that have to follow. Never wash your face with high pH value and harsh soaps.
Cosmetics: Some cosmetics and moisturizers are there which may worse your skin acne. But Non comedogenic (water based oil free) cosmetics are unlikely to cause acne. Lipstick,Eye liner and eye shadow can be used without any risk of worse acne. But keep remember cosmetics should be properly washed off before going to bed.

Therapeutic Strategies

The ideal skin is what that should be oil free and without pimples and spots. Also have plenty of hair on head and no hairs on face, under arms and legs. But in practice ideal skin may not be achieved. However, up to some extent it can be achieved by proper treatment either by topical therapy or care.
In order to apply therapeutic strategies, you have to be known about different things like classification (discussed above),causes (discussed above), indications and basic rules of therapy. Keep in your mind treatment is long term and results are not achieved overnight. Also continue treatment regularly. The indications are comedonal acne and mild to moderate inflammatory acne. The basic rules of topical therapy are 1) medication should not be overused 2) Avoid strictly applying medication right after washing out. 3)Apply medication on all acne prone area properly. 4) In case of dryness apply oil free moisturizer.
How to treat your skin with cosmetics with respect to skin type? What kind of cosmetic product is suitable for your skin type? Lotion can be used on all type of skins. For dry and sensitive skin, always use creams and for oily skin, gel and solutions are suitable.

Anti Comedonal Agents

What are the Anti-comedonal agents and How to use Anti-comedonal agents? So be conscious, Otherwise they may have side effects.

• Salicylic acid 0.5 to 2% (The ointment or lotion containing this component helps in clearing the clogged pores and soak up the excess oil. Applied twice daily and side effects are skin dryness and irritation)
• Topical retinoids 0.025 to 0.5%( It helps in reducing the oil production by affecting on sebaceous glands along with clear and peel the dead skin. It should be start with low concentration and apply at night as a test dose also keep in your mind avoid in pregnancy) In case of using 0.025 to 1.0% then it may have side effects including photo-sensitivity, skin irritation, erythema, dryness,peeling and postular flare.
• Azelaic acid 20% (used twice daily, decrease in pigmentation and side effects are erythema and irritation)

Anti-Inflammatory Agents

It includes

• Benzoyl peroxide 2.5 to 10% (The treatment containing this component helps in peeling off the dead skin and acts like an antiseptic. It must be used at-least once daily, avoid to apply at night and always used as test dose. The side effect is skin dryness).
• Topical Antibiotics (Apply two time daily and side effect is same dryness of skin).

In the end I would like to say that the right choice of treatment always help you to get rid of acne and other skin problems quicker and with best results. You have to ignore the minimal side effects if you are getting cure of such big problems which directly effect your happier life.