Feature presented by Dr. Benjamin Barankin
Dr. Barankin is a medical surgical and cosmetic dermatologist and given my obsession with my adult acne and my untiring quest to find ways of controlling it and getting rid of my acne scars, Dr. Barankin wanted to provide readers with a few basic understanding about that can come in handy and prevent a few of you from making mistakes that can make your condition worst.
Dr. Barakin’s Tips to Understanding & Managing Acne:
Acne is a skin condition which has plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), inflamed pimples (pustules), and deeper lumps (nodules). Acne occurs on the face, as well as the neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. Although most teenagers get some form of acne, adults (usually women) can also develop acne. Often, acne clears up after several years, even without treatment. Acne can be disfiguring and upsetting to the patient. Untreated acne can leave permanent scars. To avoid acne scarring, treating acne is important.
>>> Types of Acne and How Acne Forms Acne is not caused by dirt. Testosterone, a hormone which is present in both males and females, increases during adolescence (puberty). It stimulates the sebaceous glands of the skin to enlarge, produce oil, and plug the pores. Whiteheads (closed comedones), blackheads (open comedones), and pimples (pustules) are present in teenage acne.
Early acne occurs before the first period and is called pre-pubertal acne. When acne is severe and forms deep “pus-filled” lumps, it is called cystic acne. Adult acne develops later in life and may be related to hormones, childbirth, menopause, or stopping the pill. Adult women may be treated at the period and at ovulation when acne is especially severe, or throughout the entire cycle. Adult acne is not rosacea, a disease in which blackheads and whiteheads do not occur.
>>> Cleansing
Acne has nothing to do with not washing your face. However, it is best to wash your face with a mild cleanser (eg. Toleriane, Cetaphil, or Spectroderm) and warm water daily. Washing too often or too vigorously may actually make your acne worse.
>>> Diet Acne is NOT caused by foods. However, if certain foods seem to make your acne worse, try to avoid them. In some patients, milk or nuts may aggravate acne, and low glycemic diets appear to be helpful for some patients.
>>> Cosmetics Wear as little cosmetics as possible (I know ladies, I also thought this one might be a hard one to pull for most of us, but hey, I rarely wear make-up during the weekend … that could help in giving you a break). Oil-free, water-based moisturizers and make-up should be used. Choose products that are “non-comedogenic” (aka, products that should not cause whiteheads or blackheads). Remove your cosmetics every night with mild soap or gentle cleanser and water (ladies, if you are reading my site, you should NEVER go to bed with make-up on … even if it’s 5 a.m.).
A flesh-tinted acne lotion containing acne medications can safely hide blemishes. Loose powder in combination with an oil-free foundation is also good for cover-up. >>> Treatment Control of acne is an ongoing process. All acne treatments work by preventing new acne breakouts. Existing blemishes must heal on their own, and therefore, improvement takes time. If your acne has not improved within two to three months, your treatment may need to be changed. The treatment your dermatologist recommends will vary according to the type of acne.
Topicals
* Your dermatologist may prescribe topical creams, gels, or lotions with vitamin A acid-like drugs, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics to help unblock the pores and reduce bacteria. These products may cause some drying and peeling, but are generally very well-tolerated.
* Before starting any medication, even topical medications, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you are trying to get pregnant.
Special Treatments
* Do not pick, scratch, pop, or squeeze pimples yourself. When the pimples are squeezed, more redness, swelling, inflammation, and scarring may result.
* Microdermabrasion may be used to remove the upper layers of the skin improving irregularities in the surface, contour, and generating new skin.
* Light chemical peels with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid or retinoic acid help to unblock the pores, open the blackheads and whiteheads, and stimulate new skin growth.
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