Different Types of Acne Treatments

For some people acne is considered an adolescent right of passage. For other it follows them from puberty all the way into adult hood and can be quite distressing. This skin disease affects millions across the country and there are thousands of treatments for it. This article will examine what acne is and the different treatments that are available for it.

Acne is a skin condition that occurs as a result of the overproduction of oil by the oil glands of the skin. For acne to occur, the oil that your skin naturally produces becomes logged in oil ducts. As a result of this we will have the formation of whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. This is essentially what acne is and there are different levels of this condition. You may have pimples that contain pus, or blackheads, whiteheads and finally cysts that can have the skin looking broken.

There are different ways to treat acne, but some people use various natural products. One such product is Azelaic acid. This product is often used in many skin creams, lotions and gels. It is especially good at treating acne because of its efficiency at killing bacteria and also its anti inflammatory properties. Azelaic acid is also attacks bacteria that infects the pores and inhibits the production of keratin which can also lead to the break out of acne.

Another product that is good at treating acne is Tretinoin. It is a Vitamin A derivative and it is very useful at getting rid of acne, whiteheads and blackheads. No one really knows how tretinoin works but the way it works on the skin is remarkable. It will unclog pores and also aide in the peeling of skin. This product has been approved by the FDA since 1971 for the treatment of this type of acne. It is available in a topical liquid, gel or cream. For this product it is best used everyday. If used properly, the individual should see some positive changes in the skin between six to eight weeks. One thing about the tretinoin treatment is the fact that acne will get worse, before it starts to clean up.

Desogen to Cure Acne

It is widely known that the contraceptive pill is often prescribed for the treatment of women’s acne and was approved by the FDA in 1997 for this treatment of this condition. However, if you are considering asking your doctor for the popular brand, Desogen , there are some facts you should know, especially if you have certain health problems or inherited medical conditions.

What exactly is Desogen and How does Desogen work in my body?
Desogen is an oral birth control pill that contains a combination of synthetic female hormones to stop an egg being released from a woman’s ovary. If an egg is not released, it cannot be fertilized by a male sperm- so the woman cannot become pregnant. Most women take Desogen to prevent them from falling pregnant but others have found it to be extremely effective for clearing up their acne or significantly reducing breakouts.
Desogen does this by controlling the level of androgen (a male hormone) connected with the production of oil in our skin (from our sebaceous glands). Why is the amount of oil produced by our sebaceous glands important?

Why does acne occur and what does it look like?
On the surface of our skin are little ‘breathing holes’ or pores and ‘pockets’ (follicles) out of which each hair grows. The sebaceous gland in each follicle produces oil or sebum. When too much sebum is produced, these glands become blocked and inflamed which results in pimples, ‘zits’ and blackheads - a chronic outbreak is known medically as acne. In acute cases, these pustules can result in cysts or abscesses that become infected and scar the skin’s surface. If the production of sebum can be decreased then the acne is usually reduced also.

Since the hormone, androgen, controls the release of sebum, it is not surprising that if there is an imbalance in hormone levels, especially during adolescence, then there is going to be an imbalance in the level of sebum produced. Even though contraceptive pills work effectively on acne treatment, they are not ideal for teenagers to take if they are not sexually active (unless they have had a thorough talk to their doctor first).

Desogen and acne is a ‘balancing act’.
Since Desogen affects the level of the androgen hormone within a woman’s body, it follows that every woman’s body will be operating on varying levels of hormone production so, to some degree, it is trial and error with a contraceptive medication such as Desogen for controlling the level of sebum produced and therefore controlling the severity of her acne. It is for this reason that Desogen can be extremely effective or in some cases, just not be compatible with the level of androgen being produced in certain women so their acne seems to get worse. Ethinyl etradiol is the synthetic estrogen in contraceptive pills that affects the level of androgen.

The contraceptive pill Desogen resolves acne conditions in many women
Doctors prescribe Desogen specifically for the treatment of acne in woman they consider suitable for this combination of synthetic hormones. Woman who can take Desogen will find that this birth control pill balances their hormones effectively and is the ideal drug for helping them to manage their acne. It should be noted though, that no single treatment for acne, including Desogen, should be relied upon to treat this severe skin condition. A dirty skin, make up and bacteria also aggravate acne so topical products, such as lotions, creams and anti bacterial skin cleansers should be considered for use in conjunction with Desogen.

Always consult your doctor if you wish to try Desogen for your acne treatment and tell him which other medications/topical products you are also using.

As with many medications, however, some women find they do experience various side effects when taking Desogen.
Some common side effects include nausea, headaches, slight bleeding, weight gain and possible mood changes.
After taking Desogen for three months, many of these effects disappear but you should monitor your body closely and consider a different treatment if they persist or if they worsen.

The clearly documented risks associated with all contraceptive pills must be noted for Desogen also, whether taken for acne or as your preferred birth control method. These risks include stroke, blood clotting and breast cancer (although the contraceptive pill has positive benefits in reducing ovarian and uterine cancer)

Smoking is bad for you anyway but the risks of developing heart disease increase if you are on the ‘pill’.

If you do take Desogen to prevent acne, take it as prescribed by your doctor - even if you buy it on line

Missing a dose of Desogen will not have such a bad effect on your acne but it will affect your risk of getting pregnant.
Check the leaflet that comes with the Desogen pack if you miss a pill and of course, if you are unsure as to whether you can two pills on one day, check with your doctor or medical practitioner. To reduce the anxiety or stress further, it would be wise to use additional contraception at this time.

Desogen is ideal for reducing the painful and embarrassing condition of acne in many women but unfortunately it is just not suitable for a certain percentage of woman. It is probably worth trying though as the benefits can be excellent and it is likely that if you keep in contact with your doctor you will eventually find a combination of the ‘pill’ and a topical skin product that will help you through your acne ‘chapter’.

Tips How to Reduce Acne

Eliminating acne can be quite a challenge as the problem of acne varies from one person to the next. Most people start off trying the over the counter medications or creams. These can work well for some people however for many these kinds of acne treatments are not always the best option.

Over the counter cleansers and creams focus on cleaning the skin and keeping it oil and dirt free. For many people these products tend to dry out their skin excessively and this can cause quite a bit of irritation. Acne prescription drugs can come with unwanted side effects so it is best to avoid them if you can and look for an alternative solution.

Diet can play a role in your acne condition so it is important to keep an eye on what you are consuming. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables is often a good idea as these kinds of foods tend to have a cleansing effect on your body and are very useful in removing toxins from your system. Reducing the amount of oils and fats you are consuming can have a positive effect also. Many foods like cookies and bagged potato chips and similar ‘junk foods’ contain excessive amounts of vegetable oils. Simply reducing your intake of these kinds of foods can make a positive difference to your acne.

Stress is also believed by many to contribute to acne. There are many ways to reduce stress from your life. One of the best ways is to exercise such as doing aerobics and strength training. Just going for a short jog or walk in a nice natural environment like a park or the beach can do wonders when it comes to relieving stress.

Many people today work from home so it becomes very important for them to get out of the house on a regular basis otherwise stress levels may increase and cause your acne condition to get worse. Many acne treatment systems often recommend solutions that are not practical like going on severe fasting diets and such so you need to find something that is easier to follow and that you will stick with in the long term.

Some people believe that acne is caused by an imbalance of hormones in your body. One of the ways to potentially solve this imbalance is by taking some sort of colloidal silver supplement. Visit your local health food store and ask for a colloidal silver supplement. There is unfortunately no single product that can get rid of acne for all people so keep an open mind and try different approaches.