Acne (Treatment and Advice)

Acne is a usual skin condition, which affects most people at some point in their life. It causes spots, oily skin and sometimes skin that is painful to touch. It mostly develops on the:

·    Face

·    Back            

·    Chest

How to manage acne

·      Making sure that the affected area is not washed more than twice a day, this is because it could irritate the skin and make the acne worsen.

·      Make sure the affected area is washed with cleanser with lukewarm water, nor too hot nor cold as it can irritate the skin. 

·      Do not try to "clean out" blackheads or squeeze spots. This can make them worse and cause permanent scars.

·      Be sure makeup is completely removed before bed (Females).

Acne treatment falls into three categories these includes;

·      Cleansing & Exfoliating

·      Keeping It Clear

·      Medications

Cleansing and exfoliating 

Cleansing and exfoliating implies washing the affected area gently, not too much washing as this can irritate the blackheads triggering them to be more infected, and causing more spots.

Exfoliating the skin, removes dead skin cells, after washing the face one can exfoliate the skin by using facial scrub one to two times in a week, as this can help to reduce dead skin cells, which could clog pores and cause even more acne.

Keeping it clear 

In order to avoid further clogging of the pores, most lotions and cosmetics (Makeup) should be oil free, to avoid dry skin. Using an oil free lotion, makeup or sunscreen can really make a difference to one’s skin. When shopping for skin products it is important to have a look at the label to make sure it reads “non-comedogenic” this is implying that they will not clog up the pores.

Medication

Although acne cannot be cured, it can be controlled with treatment. Several creams, lotions and gels for treating spots are available at pharmacies, and if it persists seek medical help and advice from the Doctor.

Benzoyl peroxide works as an antiseptic to reduce the number of bacteria on the surface of the skin. It also helps to reduce the number of whiteheads and blackheads, and has an anti-inflammatory effect, this medication can be found over the counter in a pharmacy.

Benzoyl peroxide is usually available as a cream or gel. It is used either once or twice a day. It should be applied 20 minutes after washing to all of the parts of affected area. 

Antibiotics can also be used with a Doctors prescription only. They are very helpful for acne; this is due to the fact that antibiotics kill the bacteria, which adds to whiteheads or blackheads.

Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Acne/Pages/Introduction.aspx