The way facial acne treatment should be tackled can vary considerably from person to person. The best course of action to take will differ depending on the acne sufferer’s age, skin type and the likely cause of the acne. The first step in treating the condition is identifying it (for example, there’s a marked difference between heat rash pimples and acne). Once identified, by understanding the cause, it’s easier to treat.
Most people suffer from the condition at some point during their lives. It’s usually during the teenage years, when hormones are at a high-point, that people generally experience the condition. It’s also a common occurrence among women whose hormone levels are raised due to their menstrual cycle. Hormonal acne is caused by androgenic hormones; the sebaceous glands and hair follicles on the skin are sensitive to these hormones and when there’s an excess of them in the body, the skin produces more sebum (which is basically the oil on your skin).
This extra oil, along with dirt and shedding skin cells, will clog pores. There’s a bacteria called P Acnes that’s on everyone’s skin, whether they experience acne flareups or not. This type of bacteria is called an aerobic bacteria, which means that it survives best and is able to rapidly grow in places where there is no oxygen. So on somebody with non-problem skin, because their pores aren’t blocked, oxygen is able to go deep down into the pores and the P Acnes bacteria isn’t able to grow.
In people who do have problem skin, because their pores get blocked easily, the bacteria is able to grow in the oxygen-free environment. This leads the body to initiate its immune response (to kill the bacteria), and this response causes inflammation of the skin.
Acne and Oily Skin Care Treatment
Some people become so desperate to cure their skin condition, they’ll try strange remedies, such as yogurt for treating acne or milk of magnesia as acne treatment (some of which can be beneficial; some less so). However, when looking at curing the problem, the facial acne treatment should attack the issue from various angles, including:
- Trying to reduce the amount of hormone on the skin, or reduce the hormone’s effect on the sebaceous glands (I.e. less sebum / oil, less blocked pores and subsequently less acne);
- Reduce the amount of P Acnes bacteria on the skin;
- Ensure the pores are as clear as possible.
In reality, most acne and oily skin care treatment products will tackle at least one, and the best solutions will tackle all three of these points.
Products For Hormonal Acne
So what products for hormonal acne are available? Well firstly, you should use a mild cleanser twice a day and a gentle exfoliant as needed. However, for people with consistent and impossible to remove (with a thorough skin care routine) acne, you may like to try something a little different. As mentioned, it the androgenic hormones that cause the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil, which leads to clogged pores. So a great help is to use products for hormonal acne that have an anti-androgen effect.
One of these products is Nizoral shampoo. It’s actually an anti-dandruff shampoo, but the active ingredient (ketoconazole) has been shown to reduce the effect of androgens on the skin. It’s been used by many acne sufferers, who have reported good results. Simply massage it into the skin and leave on for a couple of minutes. Be careful not to get it into your eyes. Always start by using just a little on a non-noticeable part of your body in case you have a reaction, and if you don’t, begin by using a small amount on the face once to twice a day (reducing this frequency quite quickly as the acne starts to fade; if it doesn’t fade after a few weeks you may want to look into alternatives).
Adult Acne Cleansers
As mentioned, this is a problem for people at any age, from the teenage years onwards. So if you do suffer from the condition, it’s important to follow a good skin care routine, which includes selecting products such as adult acne cleansers. You should experiment with a few brands from the local drug store until you find one that suits you – it’s usually best to choose a cleanser that contains salicylic acid to help keep your pores as clear as possible. There are many brands that are suitable for adults, including the Lacura Skincare range, Clean & Clear, Simple, etc. If you don’t just suffer from the condition on your face, an anti acne body wash is also an essential purchase.
Fast Home Remedies For Acne
There are many home remedies for acne and acne scars , which will have varying degrees of success. In honesty, the companies that make products for facial acne treatment have spent millions of dollars on developing their products; if there’s a home remedy that really works, the likelihood is that it’s already been studied and incorporated into a product.
One of these home remedies is the use of hydrogen peroxide to kill the P Acnes bacteria. As discussed above, P Acnes bacteria is an anaerobic bacteria, meaning that it can only grow in environments where there is no oxygen. A Hydrogen Peroxide molecule is similar to a standard water molecule (H2O), but with an additional oxygen atom attached. It’s very reactive and gives up the extra oxygen molecule quickly when on the skin – this kills the bacteria.
To use fast home remedies for acne such as this, you always need to be really careful. Hydrogen peroxide, if not diluted suitably will burn the skin! You should never use a solution with more than 3% hydrogen peroxide in it. Use a cotton ball to dab the skin with the solution and allow to dry (this can sting and itch a little, so be ready to moisturize with a salicylic acid moisturizer). Also ensure that the hydrogen peroxide doesn’t touch your hair or eyebrows as it can dye them and if you get any in your eyes, flush with plenty of water. Don’t use this method for too long, as the additionally dried skin can cause the skin to look prematurely aged if used for too long.
If you’re looking for fast remedies for acne on the body, the hydrogen peroxide solution noted above isn’t really suitable. Instead, you might try Freederm’s range of products.
A question that’s been researched a lot recently is does blue laser light cure acne? This sounds more strange than it really is. Basically the P Acnes bacteria that is largely responsible for acne is sensitive to various types of light. UV light kills it completely, which is why you may have noticed that getting lots of sun can really improve your complexion (although it’s important to remember that too much sub can damage your skin). There are various products now on the market that use red and blue light to try to reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin – there have been various pieces of research done into the technology, with many studies indicating that the technology can be beneficial. However, it’s important to note that, although the end result of the studies showed promising results, many were conducted by the companies that actually produce the devices. That’s not to say that they don’t work, just that it’s important to properly research them before buying (as many cost several $100s to purchase).
If your facial acne treatment is able to clear your skin up, you may still be left with scars. Although there are plenty of products on the market that promise to get rid of acne scars on body, it’s often beneficial to discuss the best course of action for your skin with a dermatologist.