AcneDay

I will say this first, I never had acne in my life. Before my daughter was born, for some odd reason, I became a teenager again. I always had clear skin and it was very upsetting to me to have such blemishes on my face. I tried astringents, changing make up, no make up, creams you name it and nothing worked.

I even tried herbal supplements. The ONLY thing that worked for me was ProActive! ProActive changed my skin, the 3 step program everyday is a little tedious, but the outcome is amazing. The pictures they show you on tv are true! I still use the facial cleanser and the blemish cream and what a difference its made. I feel good again and I feel like myself again.

You start with a clean face using a regular soap. Then, wash your face with the face wash, its gritty and feels great. Pat your face dry and then apply the astringent. After that dries, apply the blemish cream and then you may also add your own facial moisterizer, which I always did. The results are amazing. I’m a beliver in ProActive and would recommend this product and do recommend this product to everyone! Hello – I will say this first, I never had acne in my life. Before my daughter was born, for some odd reason, I became a teenager again. I always had …

Yes. Work with your doctor to find the best treatment for you.

Moderate to moderately severe acne. This type of acne consists of several whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules that cover from ¼ to ¾ of the face and/or other parts of the body. It can be treated with antibiotic lotions or gels, as well as retinoic acid. Retinoic acid is an altered form of vitamin A. It helps prevent whiteheads and blackheads. Your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic pill, such as erythromycin. If you take birth control pills to prevent pregnancy, antibiotics can affect how well they work. Be sure to use a second method of birth control with the pill, such as a condom. Retinoic acid and antibiotic pills can make the skin sensitive to the sun. So, wear sunscreen and stay in the shade while using them.

Severe acne. Severe acne consists of deep cysts, redness, swelling, extreme damage to the skin and scarring. You should see a dermatologist to care for this type of acne. Scarring can be prevented with appropriate treatments. Your dermatologist can prescribe oral antibiotics and oral contraceptives. Large inflamed cysts can be treated with an injection of a drug that lessens the redness, swelling, and irritation, and promotes healing.

Your dermatologist may prescribe Accutane®, if other treatments have not worked. This is a strong medicine that can help prevent scarring and treat active disease. But, Accutane also can cause birth defects. It is important that you are not pregnant and do not plan to get pregnant while taking this medicine. You must use two methods of birth control at the same time. This is done for one month before treatment begins, during treatment, and for a full month after stopping the drug. Talk with your dermatologist about when it’s safe to get pregnant. Other side effects of this drug may include dry eyes, itching, mood changes, and changes in the blood and liver. You and your dermatologist can decide whether this medicine is right for you based on the pros and cons. Use any prescribed medicine exactly as you are advised. Taking more medicine than you are supposed to take may make acne or your general health worse. Ask your doctor what to do if you miss a dose.

Some large cysts do not respond to medication and may need to be drained or removed. Your dermatologist is the only person who should drain or remove these. You should never try to drain or remove your acne by squeezing or picking. This can lead to infection, worsen your acne, and cause scarring.

Overall, if you don’t see a change in your skin in six to eight weeks, talk with your doctor about your treatment plan.

Source: Office on Women’s Health
in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Medical researchers are working on new drugs to treat acne, particularly topical antibiotics to replace some of those in current use. As with many other types of bacterial infections, doctors are finding that, over time, the bacteria that are associated with acne are becoming resistant to treatment with certain antibiotics, though it is not clear how significant a problem this resistance represents.

Scientists are also trying to better understand the mechanisms involved in acne so that they can develop new treatments that work on those mechanisms. For example, one group of NIAMS-supported researchers is studying the mechanisms that regulate sebum production in order to identify ways to effectively reduce its production without the side effects of current medicines. Another group is trying to understand how P. acnes activates the immune system in order to identify possible immunologic interventions. Other areas of research involve examining the effects of isotretinoin on an area of the brain that might lead to depression and developing a laser system to treat acne and acne-related scars without damaging the outer layers of the skin.

Researchers in Germany, funded by German institutions, have taken P. acnes and identified its genetic information (genome). This information may help researchers develop new treatments to target the bacteria.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services