Acne often starts in the early teenage years as the body's hormone balance changes. But it is not just a problem of adolescence: Acne can last well beyond age 25, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Genetics are a factor, so if one or both of your parents had acne, you might have an increased chance of developing it, too. Fortunately, acne is a highly treatable condition.
Features
Acne results when skin oil, called sebum, builds up and mixes with dead skin cells to clog hair follicles, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The acne can manifest in the form of a whitehead or, if the plug forms near the surface where it is exposed to air, a blackhead. The familiar pimples of the teenage years develop when blockages grow large enough to rupture the follicle wall. When such ruptures occur deep in the skin, painful cysts and nodules can appear.
Treatments
Over-the-counter creams containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, lactic acid or resorcinol are helpful for mild acne cases, according to the Mayo Clinic. For tougher cases, a dermatologist might prescribe antibiotics in topical or oral form to kill bacteria that inhabit the skin. Other prescription creams are available often derived from vitamin A. Among them, according to the Mayo Clinic, are tazarotene and tretinoin. Other treatments a doctor may order include oral contraceptives (for women), chemical peels, laser therapy and a powerful drug known as isotretinoin.
Time Frame
Over-the-counter products are worth trying for about 2 months, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. After that, it is best to see a doctor. The treatments that a physician prescribes typically show results after4 to 8 weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic. In the case of isotretinoin, treatment spans for 15 to 20 weeks.
Side Effects
Both over-the-counter and prescription topical treatments can cause skin irritation, including redness, peeling and burning. Vitamin A derivatives, also called retinoids, increase your susceptibility to sunburn, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Isotretinoin is reserved for severe cases of acne and is never given to pregnant women, because it has been linked to miscarriages and birth defects. Women of child-bearing age are required to use two forms of reliable birth control when taking isotretinoin.
Misconceptions
Sometimes oily food and chocolate get the blame for acne, but this is not the case, according to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Other factors that do not cause acne, despite widespread beliefs to the contrary include dirt, sexual activity and masturbation, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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