Acne (or pimples, zits, spots,….) are the bane of any teenager’s life. You see them first thing in the morning in the mirror. They are a point of ridicule by friends, family and even strangers.I believe acne is a part of growing up and maturation that is natural for everyone. They are usually considered a sign of onset of puberty which involves hormonal changes. This leads to changes in the activity of oil glands which is often the precursor to acne.
Acne
Having Acne! Does it mean not being clean?
Acne often occurs because of blocking of opening of oil glands on the skin. These are termed as blackheads and white heads as per their appearance. In time, these oil glands with a blocked opening get inflamed and burst within the skin causing red and pus filled spots. This process is aided by bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes.
Washing the face multiple times does help in clearing the dust and grime that settles on the skin during the day. A deep cleansing face wash will help in unblocking pores as well as preventing further formation of acne.
Do Antibiotics have a role in treatment of Acne?
We know very well the role of Bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes in causing Acne. This can be easily controlled with a long course of a low dose antibiotic which the dermatologist can suggest depending on the severity.
The trick to preventing Acne from progressing is to take long courses of antibiotics rather than stopping them after 2 weeks.
Most cases of Acne subside with antibiotic creams and gels along with other skin care tips.
What kind of diet should be followed by a person suffering with Acne?
It has been found in studies across the world that Acne are more common in individuals who have a sweet tooth ie. Persons who eat lots of sweets, chocolates,….etc. However, it does not mean that acne do not occur in a person who does not eat sweets. There are no studies to date that show an oily diet or cheese will increase acne. Often youngsters with acne wonder why drinking tons of water during the day is not helping them get over Acne. Good quantities of water consumption can work to cleanse the system only to a certain extent, beyond which it becomes ineffective. This only strengthens the argument that acne is not caused by impurities in the blood. (I hope this explains why certain natural remedies which claim to clean blood impurities have not cleared Acne).
At Juvenis, we advise eating a healthy balanced meal at regular times every day. This reduces the load of hormonal stresses on the body which is known to increase acne. Sleeping at regular hours with a sleep time of 6-8 hours every night helps tremendously in preventing acne. Daily exercise increases blood supply to the face which helps in clearing the bacteria from skin.
How do you prevent scars on the face after Acne?
It is very important that the face is not touched at any time other than for washing and application of treatments. This reduces the transfer of bacteria from hands onto the facial skin. The Acne should never be
picked or squeezed to take the dirt or pus out. This drives the infection deeper into the skin which leads to much severe scarring.
The best way to prevent scars on face is to treat Acne early on with the right and effective medications from the dermatologist at the Clinic. Do not waste time in trying out natural and homeopathic medications that have no studies to show that they work for Acne.
For more information on what treatments are offered for Acne Scars click here.
Is there a permanent cure for Acne?
For the last 2 decades we have a very effective medication called Isotretinoin, a Vitamin A precursor, which has been time and again shown to completely abolish the tendency to get Acne in youngsters. It has to be taken for a course of 4 months at full dose to have long term benefits. The dermatologist at Juvenis is well versed with this medication and has used it for many of his patients with successful outcome. It has been found to be most effective in the severest of cases.
What is Adult Acne Rosecea?
These days increasingly more number of adults are seeking consultations for adult onset of acne. Some of them have never had acne as a teenager and hence are at complete loss as to how to manage their skin eruption. Often this can have disastrous effects on personal and social life.
Most of these are adults in their late twenties or early thirties with a history of going through periods of prolonged stress at work or at home front. This in turn starts off the hormonal imbalance that leads to a change in skin behavior. The skin becomes dull and lustreless. Often they find their skin to be of a “sensitive” type. Women tend to have flare up of Acne just before their monthly cycles.
The dermatologist at Juvenis has good experience handling such cases. Every patient undergoes a thorough medical checkup and treatment is suggested as per the clinical severity of Acne and lifestyle.