Acne Prevention & Treatment

How to Prevent Against This

A good first step in preventing and treating acne is keeping the skin clean. Although dirt does not cause acne, the buildup of oil can clog pores and lead to breakouts. A skin care regiment that involves a cleanser, moisturizer, and medication might help keep skin clear.

In any case, preventative measures are different for everyone. Pay attention to what might be causing acne. Then, try to limit these causes, which might include dress, certain soaps or detergents, and other irritants. For some women, certain birth control pills can help regulate hormones that cause acne. It is important to work with a doctor or dermatologist to achieve a solution that works.

If you have experienced acne in the past, you may have cycled through doses of medications. It is important to understand that these medications, prescription and non-prescription, are not always ideal for preventative solutions. Before starting your medication or regimen again, you should talk to your doctor to make sure that the products are safe. You may need a different type of treatment, and the doctor might need to see you to reevaluate you.

Some acne is normal, and mild acne will usually clear up on its own or with over-the-counter products. For some people, acne persists. If your acne has been bothering you for more than a few weeks, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Your primary care physician may be able to help you, or you may need to see a dermatologist.

If you have already experienced acne, you should see a dermatologist regularly, and keep following up with regular checkups. The doctor might be able to identify and begin treating early stages of acne before it becomes a problem that disrupts your life. 

Diet Tips

Hydration is important. For some people, drinking lots of water can help prevent and relieve symptoms. It is also believed that people should follow diets that are rich in vitamin A and vitamin E. Avoiding processed foods with certain growth hormones might also help.

It is a common myth that chocolate and high-fat foods will cause acne. For the most part, chocolate and greasy foods do not have a causal relationship with acne. In any case, everyone is different. You may notice that you experience breakouts when you eat certain foods. Try avoiding these foods if you believe that this is the case, and see if these changes help improve your condition.

Treatments & Relief Methods

Over-the-counter products that include benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can be particularly helpful for treating minor breakouts. In some situations, a topical or oral prescription is necessary. These prescriptions are normally some sort of antibiotic. Typically, treatments will show only minor improvement within two weeks. A period of three months is necessary for treatments to show success. After these three months, the treatment may plateau and stop working.

Typically, treatments specialize in four areas: preventing blockages in the pores, killing bacteria, soothing inflammation, and regulating hormones. Treatments will vary from person to person, and typically some degree of trial and error is necessary in order to determine an effective and individualized treatment plan.

It is important not to overtreat acne, as dry skin and peeling might occur of excessive treatments. It is recommended that people avoid touching their face, as hands may be contaminated with bacteria. When sleeping, cover the pillow with a cloth or towel, or wash and change pillowcases frequently. When sleeping or lying down, a person contaminates his or her pillowcase with bacteria that repeatedly contaminates the face.   

If you are experiencing acne, it is important to drink lots of water since hydrating your skin may help. You should also take efforts to keep your skin moisturized. Be careful about overexposure to sun because your skin might become damaged. If you are using acne treatments, be sure to talk to your doctor about safety precautions and skin care regimens.

Common Surgeries

Several options are available to help treat acne and scars. The first is called subcision, which is a technique used to treat deeper scars in order to make the skin more level. Once the skin is leveled, laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels might be helpful. Laser surgery helps fade scars and can help prevent acne from forming in the first place. To be effective, the laser must target the follicle, oil glands, and growing bacteria. Only a doctor and dermatologist can assess whether surgery is an ideal option.