« How to Stay Within Your Budget by Making Homemade Wedding Favors | Home | Best Hotels in Sydney Australia for Families »
Acne Help: Don’t Pop That Zit
By | February 2, 2010
Over the years there have been increased options for people who need acne help. Online tips are available that offer various skin treatments and advice for the sufferer. Regardless of this advice, it is highly recommended that anyone suffering from severe acne, or acne that continues without relief for an extended period of time, consult a professional licensed dermatologist
Acne is widely thought to be caused by bacteria and exacerbated by hygiene, diet, exercise, and other environmental factors. However there is also likely to be a strong genetic component, especially for people suffering from psoriasis and other severe and persistent conditions. A simple first treatment is to clean the face often, and especially pay attention to outbreak areas. Some people who regularly maintain good hygiene will still suffer outbreaks, however, likely due to genetics and their environment.
The millions of young people seeking acne help must sort through a growing set of choices to find the best treatment for them. Teens, along with some adults who can suffer outbreaks into their 20s and 30s, undergo a nightly ritual of experimentation with different soaps and creams.
Options for battling acne range from basic retail and over-the-counter topical creams and lotions, to more potent treatments available by prescription only. The active ingredient in widely available topical creams is often Salicylic acid, also known as aspirin. However, results may vary for some who use soaps and creams, especially if they experience outbreaks in places that are not very dirty or oily, like the neck and trunk. Stronger topical compounds are available by prescription, most serving as antiseptics against bacteria.
The most potent available treatment may be high-dosage Vitamin A, which is taken orally for several weeks. As a side effect it may produce severe facial dryness and chapped lips, since it affects the oil glands. It is available only through prescription due to the risk of severe birth defects for pregnant women. Those undergoing the treatment also need regular blood screenings to monitor the liver.
Acne help is still needed by millions of people despite the advances of medicine over the years. Popping pimples and squeezing can damage tissue and actually push the pustule deeper below the surface, to dermatologists usually advise against it. Permanent scarring can occur if a pimple is excised improperly. Despite the risk, ugly whiteheads are still popped and squeezed by many until they go away on their own.
- Cinthia Mazzo
Topics: Articles |