Acne is an incredibly common skin condition that affects all age groups. But, if you are shocked at the high prescription acne medication costs, then you should be even more surprised about the money that is wasted on ineffective and potentially dangerous over-the-counter products.
Acne is not just a problem for teenagers; it can affect children as young as eight, and adults well into their twenties, thirties and beyond. While there is no cure for acne, there are lots of effective ways to prevent and treat breakouts. Learn how to choose the right treatment options for your skin type, and how to avoid making common mistakes when treating acne.
If you have severe or cystic acne, your dermatologist may prescribe Accutane® (isotretinoin). Accutane works by shrinking the oil glands in your skin. It reduces oil production, which helps prevent clogged pores and breakouts. This medicine can have serious side effects, so you must use it exactly as your doctor prescribes it.
Acne is an incredibly common skin condition that affects all age groups. But, if you are shocked at the high prescription acne medication costs, then you should be even more surprised about the money that is wasted on ineffective and potentially dangerous over-the-counter products.
The most important thing to know about treating acne is that there really isn’t a cure. Effective acne treatment requires long term management of your skin care regimen. Because acne is so common, there are many different products available to treat it. The problem with this is that as a consumer, it can be very confusing to know what is effective and what isn’t.
There are three main categories of acne medications: topical, oral, and laser and light therapies. Topical treatments include creams, gels and lotions applied directly on the skin. Oral medications include pills (oral antibiotics) or vitamin A derivatives (oral retinoids). And the third category includes lasers and other light based therapies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), blue light therapy, and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.
The first step in treating your acne should always be to see a dermatologist who specializes in treating this condition. This is especially important if you suffer from severe or cystic
Acne is an incredibly common skin condition that affects all age groups. But, if you are shocked at the high prescription acne medication costs, then you should be even more surprised about the money that is wasted on ineffective and potentially dangerous over-the-counter products.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 90% of people have some form of acne and it is estimated that there are 40 million Americans who suffer from acne each year.
Acne develops when pores become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. The bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) can inflame these plugged follicles, causing pimples to develop. These pimples may appear as whiteheads, blackheads, pustules or cysts – often in the T-zone areas (forehead, nose and chin) but can affect any part of the body frequently associated with sebaceous glands, including back and chest. Acne is not just a teen problem; it occurs in adults as well. In fact, approximately 5% of women aged 25 to 40 years old and 1% of men aged 25 to 45 years old experience acne.
Treating acne often involves multiple different therapies and an individualized approach – particularly when treating moderate to severe cases and
Acne is an incredibly common skin condition that affects all age groups. But, if you are shocked at the high prescription acne medication costs, then you should be even more surprised about the money that is wasted on ineffective and potentially dangerous over-the-counter products.
It’s estimated that teens spend as much as $100 million dollars a year on over-the-counter acne treatments, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Unfortunately, many parents are unaware of how to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to treating their teen’s acne.
Some teens may even self medicate, choosing the wrong product and applying it improperly, which can make their acne worse or lead to skin irritation and dryness.
The first step to treating your child’s acne is finding out exactly what type of skin he or she has. Then, choose products specifically formulated for your child’s skin type.
Products containing salicylic acid work best for oily skin and whiteheads because they help break down dead skin cells so they don’t clog pores. Products with benzoyl peroxide are beneficial for people with blackheads and inflamed pimples because they reduce bacteria on the skin surface.
Avoid using any products containing alcohol because they will dry out the skin too much
Acne is an incredibly common skin condition that affects all age groups. But, if you are shocked at the high prescription acne medication costs, then you should be even more surprised about the money that is wasted on ineffective and potentially dangerous over-the-counter products.
Over-the-counter acne medications can be harsh, with chemicals that irritate the skin and dry it out excessively. They also don’t treat the cause of acne, and it may come back again even if you use these products for months or years.
Unfortunately, the cosmetic industry makes a lot of money from consumers who are seeking to reduce their acne. There are thousands of products available on the market, such as facial cleansers, creams and toners, which promise to reduce or eliminate your pimples. In fact, many studies have shown that these products do not work effectively in treating acne.
Acne is an incredibly common skin condition that affects all age groups. But, if you are shocked at the high prescription acne medication costs, then you should be even more surprised about the money that is wasted on ineffective and potentially dangerous over-the-counter products.
Acne medications are usually made up of a lot of harsh chemicals and can actually be harmful to your skin. They tend to dry out the area, which results in a short term solution. However, once the medicine is stopped being applied to the skin, it reverts back to its original state. The only real solution for acne is prevention and there are many natural methods that can be used instead of medications.
The most important (and simple) way to prevent acne is by keeping your skin clean. Make sure that you wash your face at least twice a day with a non-abrasive cleanser. Also, do not use soap as it will dry out your skin and cause it to produce more oil, which leads to acne breakouts. It is also important that you avoid touching your face with unclean hands throughout the day as this may cause pores to become clogged with dirt and oil from your hands.
Another simple natural method of preventing acne is by avoiding make-up
acne is a disease of the sebaceous glands. Acne usually begins in puberty and affects almost all teenagers to some extent. It is not dangerous, but can leave skin scars. The sebaceous glands are tiny glands found near the surface of your skin. The glands are connected to hair follicles, which are small holes in your skin that an individual hair grows out of. The sebaceous glands lubricate the hair and the skin to stop it drying out. They do this by producing an oily substance called sebum.
Acne develops when:
– you have too much sebum production
– the dead skin cells lining the pores clump together
– excess sebum and dead skin cells build up inside the pores
– bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) multiply in the blocked pore
– inflammation (redness and swelling) develops in or around the blocked pore.