Archive for ◊ May, 2009 ◊

Author: admin
Sunday, May 31st, 2009
Category: Acne |  Tags: , , | Leave a Comment
Arnold Hexden asked:


Acne is a common skin problem for most adolescents and also afflicts some adults. People of all ages and backgrounds have had to deal with acne at some point. Hence, there has long been a desire to prevent it or cure it. We will look at some of the causes of acne as well as some of the ways in which people treated. Our hope is that you will gain a better understanding of why people get acne and what they can do for treatment and prevention.

Can acne be more serious than simply a cosmetic issue?

Many people ask this question. Perhaps you are wondering if acne has ever gotten so bad for someone that it turned into something worse. The answer is “yes”. Though acne is a larger health issue for only some people, it is still worth noting the development of the skin irritation into something more troublesome.

In some cases, acne leads to the scarring of the skin or the outbreak of a serious infection. This form of acne is known as cystic acne. Much like its name applies, cystic acne results in a large bump or cyst. Once a cyst heals, it may leave an obvious scar. It should be noted, however, that cystic acne is rare. If you believe that your acne is turning into something more serious than the usual skin irritation, consult a doctor.

How long will acne last?

The good news is that for most people, acne is a somewhat temporary situation. Ask any teenager about acne, however, and he or she will likely tell you that a fear is being destined to a life of acne. Such is the sense of despair and embarrassment caused by acne.

These teens will be glad to know that most will stop developing acne as they near their twenties, if not sooner. They can also rest assured that in most cases, the effects of acne are much less harsh as people exit their teen years. Unfortunately for some, acne can linger for many years after puberty.

Some adults experience severe cases of acne or notice occasional outbreaks as they near their thirties and beyond. In some extremely rare cases, individuals who have never had acne develop it in their later years.

What are the mental effects of acne?

Acne may show a body’s failure to properly deal with hormonal changes. Acne can indicate that a person is not dealing with stress effectively. It may be evidence of a potentially serious allergic reaction to a medication or other element. It is not these effects of acne that tend to do the most damage, though.

More than a health issue, acne is known causing people (mainly teens) a sense of shame and embarrassment. Acne is falsely associated with being unclean. Clear, healthy skin is associated with cleanliness, while severe forms of acne are often believed to be the result of sanitary neglect. Not only that, acne can be ugly and turn people away.

Most people who experience severe acne are emotionally scarred by the social rejection, leading to adolescent emotional insecurity and a sense of self-doubt. Because of this, acne should be treated as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.

Isn’t it true that staying clean helps prevent acne?

It is always better to rid your skin of toxins and dirt that accumulate during your normal routine. So yes, to some extent, it is true that washing skin can help prevent or decrease acne. Acne is a chemical matter, and it is something that occurs beneath the surface of the skin more so than on the skin itself.

Both daily cleansing and care of one’s skin will help reduce the bacteria that rests on the skin, but they cannot lessen the testosterone levels beneath the surface of the skin that help produce acne.

Understanding this basic fact should help reduce some of the stigma attached to acne. It should also allow people who suffer from acne to take some comfort in knowing that they are not necessarily less clean than others. The truth is that they have very little control over what is going on beneath their skin.

How important is a healthy diet to preventing acne?

It is no coincidence that people who eat healthy food tend to have skin that shines and glows. In contrast, think of someone you know who eats nothing but junk food. It is likely that they have some issues with acne. Experts agree that a good, healthy diet can go a long way towards either preventing acne or helping diminish it. The Chinese believe, and have been widely accepted in their belief, that acne is solely attributed to a poor diet.

They claim that too much sugar or grease leads to the potential for acne. Thus, they discourage the consumption of excessive amounts of chocolate and fried foods. Fruits and vegetables are generally considered better for the skin and a deterrent to acne. Another factor known to eliminate acne is continual drinking of water. Drinking plenty of it is your best bet to avoid acne.



Author: admin
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Juliet Cohen asked:


Acne breakouts are caused by a variety of environmental, gene, and age factors, even stress. Acne is one of most common skin conditions in the world, afflicting 40 to 50 million Americans. There are several methods of removal or smoothing of the scars depending on age, health condition and severity. Scarring is usually caused by a chronic condition of acne. Ice pick scarring is the most prevalent. It appears like rumpled plastic in a crater-like texture and can appear on the face, arms, back and buttocks. Acne scars result from two types of tissue response to the inflammation of acne: First is increased tissue formation, and second is loss of tissue. Increased tissue formation scars caused by increased tissue formation are caused by a build up of collagen in the skin.

These are called hypertrophic and keloid scars. Keloid-type acne scars on the back of a young man’s neck. Keloids tend to “run in the family”—that is, there is a genetic predisposition to form keloids after tissue injury. Another method for treating acne scarring is dermabrasion, which uses a rotating wire brush or spinning diamond instrument to wear down the surface of the skin. Acne scar removal is treated in much the same way as fine line and wrinkle removal. Lasers promote new collagen growth, filling scars from the inside out. Brown and red discoloration left from acne scars are removed using treatments similar to the removal of pigmented lesions and vascular lesions. There are peels available and UV sun lamps just to name a few.

Retin A is also good for healing. Soft-tissue augmentation can correct some atrophic (loss of tissue) scars. Injections of subcutaneous fat or collagen under the scars elevates them to bring the surface of the scars even with the surface of surrounding skin. A chemical peel or microdermabrasion to help improve the appearance of scarred areas. Laser resurfacing uses high-energy light to burn away breakage skin. Laser resurfacing may be used to minimize wrinkles and fine scars. Punch grafts are small skin grafts used to replace scarred skin. A hole is punched in the skin to remove the scar, which is then replaced with unscarred skin. Injection of steroids directly into keloid scars can sometimes result in scar improvement. Laser treatment(s), plastic surgery or topical creams, are all beneficial methods.

Acne Scar Removal and Treatment Tips

1. Treating the acne on scar prone skin is the most important step in preventing scarring.

2. Chemical peels are often used to minimize sun-damaged skin, irregular pigment, and superficial scars

3. Laser resurfacing uses high-energy light to burn away damaged skin.

4. Punch grafts are small skin grafts used to replace scarred skin.

5. Laser treatment(s), plastic surgery or topical creams, are all beneficial methods, but no method guarantees success.

6. Using an anti-DHT solution to attack and prevent acne.