Acne is an inflammatory skin disease that specifically targets the hair follicles and sebaceous glands of your face, back, neck, scalp, shoulders and other areas of the body. Acne starts as a comedone (blackhead or whitehead), which forms in the follicle as dead skin cells and sebum oil combine into soft plugs. As bacteria and inflammation are introduced to the area, acne lesions can develop, resulting in inflammatory acne (such as pustules or nodules). Depending on the severity of your acne, there are several ways to treat the problem.
Natural
Before investing money in other methods, natural substances can be helpful in treating your acne breakouts. For example, tea tree oil is a successful antimicrobial in the treatment of acne, targeting and killing acne-related bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). According to research performed by the Department of Dermatology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, a 5 percent solution of tea tree oil is as effective as some over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide medications in treating acne.
Over the Counter
The over-the-counter medicine market is full of possible treatment products that may be successful in treating your acne outbreak. For example, salicylic acid is a popular additive to over-the-counter products, and works by breaking down blackheads and slowing down the rate in which skin cells shed in the follicle. Benzoyl peroxide can also be an effective treatment, as it reduces the populations of P. acnes bacteria in the lesions. Other over-the-counter products include alcohol, acetone and sulfur.
Prescription
When over-the-counter medications are not effective for acne, prescription treatments may be used. For example, prescription antibiotics such as erythromycin and clindamycin may be used orally or topically to reduce P. acnes populations, and in some cases acne inflammation. Retinoids, such as oral isotretinoin, or topical adapalene and tazarotene can be used to unclog blocked pores and prevent future acne outbreaks from occurring, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. For extreme cases of inflammatory acne, prescription corticosteroids may be injected into acne lesions to control swelling.
Physical
Physical procedures can also be used to treat acne. For example, your doctor or dermatologist may extract a blackhead or whitehead from your skin. For extreme cases of inflammatory acne, your doctor may surgically drain the acne lesion of fluid to prevent scar formation. Laser treatments may be used to damage sebaceous glands, reducing the amounts of sebum available for comedone formation. Light technology may also be used to kill P. acnes bacteria on the skin.
References
- The Medical Journal of Australia: A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne
- The Mayo Clinic: Acne
- American Academy of Dermatology: Prescriptions for Treating Acne
- Patient Education Institute: Acne
- American Academy of Dermatology: Physical Procedures for Treating Acne
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