A Beginners Guide To Acne Treatments
Acne is tough to deal with, no matter the age of the sufferer. There are a variety of things that can make acne worse (like stress, certain facial cleansers, and even specific foods), but it can hard to figure out what to do to make it better.
But there are some treatments that are more effective than others. Half the battle is identifying the severity of the acne and treating it according to the severity. Acne treatments for someone with mild acne will be vastly different than for those with moderate to severe acne.
Mild acne treatment is usually fairly simple. Mild acne is usually defined as having just a cluster of blackheads or whiteheads or a smattering of pimples. The treatment is usually mild soap followed by an effective topical treatment like benzoyl peroxide or a product that contains salicylic acid. If these treatments don’t work, a doctor can usually prescribe a slightly more intense lotion that will work for the mild acne symptoms.
Moderate or severe acne is usually defined as nodules or cysts that can be painful or very large. If left untreated (or if over treated) this kind of acne can leave scars. If you have moderate to severe acne, the treatment gets more intense. If you go to the doctor with acne that’s severe at the time, he or she might prescribe oral antibiotics to kick start the healing process.
Treatment for moderate to severe acne usually includes a combination of products and treatment regimens. Treatment is usually customized for the unique problems of each patient.
Some treatments that might be prescribed for moderate or severe acne include prescription gels, creams and lotions which contain antibiotics, and prescription retinoids that are applied via a lotion. Some other treatments include taking oral retinoids, the most common of which is Accutane. Sometimes a doctor will treat severe acne by draining cysts and pimples, or having the patient apply azelaic acid.
It’s important to know that some treatments might take several weeks (from six to eight) to work and some might even make the acne worse before it gets better. Other treatments might include a change in diet (though, contrary to popular belief, chocolate and greasy foods do not cause acne), a change in hair products or skin products and even an avoidance of the sun, which is often found to help reduce the severity of acne.
Acne can be uncomfortable and embarrassing to live with, but it’s not incurable. There are many things people can do to make acne less of a lifestyle problem and more of a simple nuisance that requires regular care and attention.
Worrried about the side effects of those acne treatments you’re using? Why not try natural acne treatments that clear up your acne and don’t do anything nasty to your skin?
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