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You wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and what's the first thing you see? A new pimple joining its friends on your face. Seems like they're going to have a party! What to do? Not to worry, there are things you can do. It's not much comfort knowing that teens all over the world are waking up to the same sight. Maybe you will feel better if you understand the causes and how to handle your unwanted visitors.
WHAT IS ACNE AND WHY DO I HAVE IT?
Acne is a general term for pimples and clogged pores. Severe acne can leave permanent scars, which you want to avoid. Your face, shoulders, back, neck, chest and upper arms can be involved. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects 40 to 50 million Americans. Although acne most frequently affects teens and young adults, older adults also get acne.
There are a lot of myths about acne. Despite what you may hear, chocolate, French fries and pizza do not cause pimples. Stress and being dirty also don't cause acne. Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder of the oil glands and hair follicles. It affects roughly 80 percent of people between the ages of 11 and 30, reports the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
High hormone levels during puberty lead to enlargement of your oil glands and overproduction of skin oil, or sebum. The excess sebum can block your skin pores, leading to pimples. Blackheads are clogged pores that are open to the skin surface; whiteheads are collections of oil below the skin surface. When a clogged, infected pore ruptures, a pus-filled pimple forms. Pimples can extend deep into the skin and form cysts, which cause scarring. Because you have large numbers of oil glands in the skin of your face, back, chest and shoulders, these are the areas most affected by acne. The tendency to develop acne runs in families.
SKIN CARE
Acne control begins with general skin care. Wash your face with mild soap and warm water twice daily. Do not scrub your face forcefully; this may make your acne worse. Never pop or squeeze pimples yourself. You don't have the sterile instruments that a dermatologist uses to do this and she knows the proper technique. Popping pimples yourself can lead to permanent scars. If you wear makeup, choose oil-free brands; these products often state that they are "noncomedogenic," which means they don't cause blackheads and whiteheads. Use an oil-free sunscreen, too.
There are many types of acne treatment; what to use depends on the severity of your outbreaks, how deep the pimples are and how you respond to a given treatment regimen. Mild to moderate acne can often be managed with over-the-counter products. If you have moderate to severe acne, you may want to see a skin doctor, or dermatologist, because you are at risk of developing acne scars.
OVER-THE-COUNTER TREATMENTS
Over-the-counter acne products may contain one or more active ingredients, including benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur and resorcinol. These medicines have different effects. Most work by helping to break down blackheads and whiteheads. Benzoyl peroxide reduces oil production and kills bacteria. In general, start with the mildest product and see how your skin responds. Go with a stronger product only if you aren't seeing results after eight weeks of treatment. Use over-the-counter acne treatments according to the directions on the package; overuse can cause skin irritation, redness and burning. If you have a skin reaction to a particular product, stop using it and try something else. Be patient; most over-the-counter treatments don't produce results until you've been using them for approximately eight weeks.
ANTIBIOTICS AND OTHER PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES
Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to help control your acne; tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline are often used. Oral antibiotics reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin and often quiet skin inflammation associated with acne. Talk with your doctor about possible side effects of antibiotic therapy. Your skin doctor may recommend prescription-strength topical treatments, such as lotions, creams or cleansers. If you are already on birth control pills or considering taking them, your doctor may suggest certain brands that help reduce acne. If you have severe, scarring acne, your doctor may recommend a medicine called isotretinoin. This drug is highly effective but causes birth defects. Women who choose to take isotretinoin must use two, reliable forms of birth control while taking the medicine and for a month after completing treatment. Be sure you understand the risks and benefits before deciding whether to take isotretinoin.
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