How can I manage acne at home?
For those who develop acne, all oily cosmetics should be avoided. If one does wear cosmetics, they should be water based. The majority of synthetic chemicals have the ability to irritate and make acne worse. Therefore, the fewer cosmetics you wear, the better it is for your skin. Wash your face to rid of the oils and debris. Do not use harsh detergents and soaps on your face. Avoid too much sun. If you find that one particular food aggravates your acne, change your diet. Further, stop picking at your acne; it can cause severe scarring. Lastly, do not look for a cure for acne online- you will only find a lot of disappointments.
So how can I treat severe acne?
The treatment of acne is difficult. Almost everyone has an opinion on how to best treat it. For those who have persistent or inflammatory acne, it is best to seek help from a dermatologist. There are many antibiotics which can help. The latest creams and pills derived from Retinoids and can do wonders for acne. However, one should be reminded that what works for one individual may not work for another.
In the initial phase one may try to apply a topical antibiotic for several weeks and when that fails, one may try a retinoid. The Retinoids come as a cream and also as a pill. Retinoids do work well but can cause skin irritation and photo sensitivity of the skin.
One of the best acne drugs is Accutane, Accutane has been found to be an excellent treatment for acne when used under the guidance of a dermatologist. The drug is relatively safe and the two most common side effects include skin dryness and also the risk of damage to the fetus when taken by a pregnant female. Thus, Accutane is often not prescribed to females of child bearing age. Each female has to discuss this issue with the physician before taking Accutane.
Showing posts with label accutane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accutane. Show all posts
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Acne Facials: part 3
So how do acne facials work?
To control oils on face, the therapist may use some type of chemical peel like salicylic or azelaic acid. Hot steam therapy opens up pores and allows for easy extractions of blackheads and comedomes. This is then followed by a cosmetic mask to help dry up the oils. The mask as always is nothing simple- it is always made up of exotic and naturally occurring substance like clay, sulfur, extracts of tea or seaweed. Once the mask is completed, an oil free moisturizer is applied on the skin to help prevent dryness
How often should one undergo acne facials?
As always when there is money to be made, many sessions are required. The therapists claim that one needs an acne facial every 6-8 weeks to look great.
Is there anything one can be done at home?
Most therapists also recommended that one practice face cleaning at home with an acne cleanser such as benzyl peroxide. Please consumers do not buy acne facial kits for home use. They do absolutely nothing, are expensive and a waste of time. It is like giving your hard-earned money to Mr. Bernie Madoff.
What are results like?
You have to be realistic in expectations. Results of acne facial are quite variable and depend on severity of your acne and when treatment is sought. There are many types of acne facials and one should try out a few to select the best one that works. This usually means that nothing ever works.
What is cost?
In general, acne facials are not cheap. The basic treatment can cost $50. Depending on what the therapist does and how much mucking around is done, it can easily cost anywhere from $150-$1,000. Acne facials with physicians are even more expensive because you also have to pay to listen to crap.
Final point
Before you enroll for facial acne, get an opinion from a friend, college, or better still talk to an aesthetitician/dermatologist. Everyone is offering acne facials these days. Therapists, Technicians, Filipinos, Thai, Vietnamese, Italians, French, and even unemployed cooks. Acne facials make you feel good, and do make your face look clean for a few hours. As far as acne is concerned, it is rubbish (or should I say crap). People who go for acne facials have money to waste. If you really want your acne to go away, start with cleaning your face at home 2-3 times a day, wash the oils off regularly and keep the face clean. Eat healthy, exercise, do not smoke, and use a retinoid (e.g. accutane). I am not sure if this will completely get rid of your acne, but it will save you from being ripped off by scam artists in the field of cosmetics.
To control oils on face, the therapist may use some type of chemical peel like salicylic or azelaic acid. Hot steam therapy opens up pores and allows for easy extractions of blackheads and comedomes. This is then followed by a cosmetic mask to help dry up the oils. The mask as always is nothing simple- it is always made up of exotic and naturally occurring substance like clay, sulfur, extracts of tea or seaweed. Once the mask is completed, an oil free moisturizer is applied on the skin to help prevent dryness
How often should one undergo acne facials?
As always when there is money to be made, many sessions are required. The therapists claim that one needs an acne facial every 6-8 weeks to look great.
Is there anything one can be done at home?
Most therapists also recommended that one practice face cleaning at home with an acne cleanser such as benzyl peroxide. Please consumers do not buy acne facial kits for home use. They do absolutely nothing, are expensive and a waste of time. It is like giving your hard-earned money to Mr. Bernie Madoff.
What are results like?
You have to be realistic in expectations. Results of acne facial are quite variable and depend on severity of your acne and when treatment is sought. There are many types of acne facials and one should try out a few to select the best one that works. This usually means that nothing ever works.
What is cost?
In general, acne facials are not cheap. The basic treatment can cost $50. Depending on what the therapist does and how much mucking around is done, it can easily cost anywhere from $150-$1,000. Acne facials with physicians are even more expensive because you also have to pay to listen to crap.
Final point
Before you enroll for facial acne, get an opinion from a friend, college, or better still talk to an aesthetitician/dermatologist. Everyone is offering acne facials these days. Therapists, Technicians, Filipinos, Thai, Vietnamese, Italians, French, and even unemployed cooks. Acne facials make you feel good, and do make your face look clean for a few hours. As far as acne is concerned, it is rubbish (or should I say crap). People who go for acne facials have money to waste. If you really want your acne to go away, start with cleaning your face at home 2-3 times a day, wash the oils off regularly and keep the face clean. Eat healthy, exercise, do not smoke, and use a retinoid (e.g. accutane). I am not sure if this will completely get rid of your acne, but it will save you from being ripped off by scam artists in the field of cosmetics.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
What is a good topical treatment for acne? Part 2
Retinoids have been around for many years and are infinitely better than any antibiotic or herbal product. One has the best chance of a cure with a retinoid. Retinoids act by decreasing oil on skin and also help remove dead skin and debris. This helps unplug the pores and prevent pimples. Retinoids also prevent the acne from spreading and reduces the redness.
Before one gets a pill (Accutane), it is best to try a topical retinoid ointment. The topical Retinoids are also much cheaper than the pill. Your physician may be unwilling to give you a retinoid pill but one can ask for a topical retinoid. In general, Retinoids are reserved with severe and recurrent acne.
Most physicians will use a retinoid when all other medications have failed. The topical retinoid creams do require a prescription. The drugs are effective but one always has to be aware of the side effects.
Tretinoin: For decades, Tretinoin (Accutane) was the only available topical medication for acne. Even as a single agent, Accutane is fairly effective for mild to moderate acne. Today, Tretinoin is available in various formulations such as a gel, cream or a liquid. The liquid formulation works best for acne. The liquid should be applied 2-3 times/day after washing the face. Retinoids act like skin peelers and side effects of the drug include dryness, redness, and peeling of skin. Some individuals also develop a mild irritation to the drug.
The skin irritation is fairly obvious and is usually associated with higher strength cream. The other fact about Tretinoin is that after application, one should avoid the sun. Retinoids can cause photosensitivity- meaning that the skin becomes very sensitive to sun and one can easily develop a severe sunburn like effect. Thus, a sunscreen is highly recommended after application of Tretinoin.
Always start with low concentration of Tretinoin. If irritation does occur, it will generally improve with time. The dryness of skin and redness is common initially and usually subsides over the next several days. One can also use a small amount of skin moisturizer to decrease skin peeling and dryness.
Retinoids do tend to work on at least 50%-70% of individuals. This number is better than all other drugs combined. In most cases, several weeks of application of the cream will do the trick. The great thing about Retinoids is that when used for long periods, they can also erase signs of photo-aging, fine lines and solar pigmentations.
When the topical Retinoids fails, one may want to try the pill, which is many times more effective.
Before one gets a pill (Accutane), it is best to try a topical retinoid ointment. The topical Retinoids are also much cheaper than the pill. Your physician may be unwilling to give you a retinoid pill but one can ask for a topical retinoid. In general, Retinoids are reserved with severe and recurrent acne.
Most physicians will use a retinoid when all other medications have failed. The topical retinoid creams do require a prescription. The drugs are effective but one always has to be aware of the side effects.
Tretinoin: For decades, Tretinoin (Accutane) was the only available topical medication for acne. Even as a single agent, Accutane is fairly effective for mild to moderate acne. Today, Tretinoin is available in various formulations such as a gel, cream or a liquid. The liquid formulation works best for acne. The liquid should be applied 2-3 times/day after washing the face. Retinoids act like skin peelers and side effects of the drug include dryness, redness, and peeling of skin. Some individuals also develop a mild irritation to the drug.
The skin irritation is fairly obvious and is usually associated with higher strength cream. The other fact about Tretinoin is that after application, one should avoid the sun. Retinoids can cause photosensitivity- meaning that the skin becomes very sensitive to sun and one can easily develop a severe sunburn like effect. Thus, a sunscreen is highly recommended after application of Tretinoin.
Always start with low concentration of Tretinoin. If irritation does occur, it will generally improve with time. The dryness of skin and redness is common initially and usually subsides over the next several days. One can also use a small amount of skin moisturizer to decrease skin peeling and dryness.
Retinoids do tend to work on at least 50%-70% of individuals. This number is better than all other drugs combined. In most cases, several weeks of application of the cream will do the trick. The great thing about Retinoids is that when used for long periods, they can also erase signs of photo-aging, fine lines and solar pigmentations.
When the topical Retinoids fails, one may want to try the pill, which is many times more effective.
Lasers and acne scars part 3
What is recovery time after laser treatment?
If you just have one tiny acne scar, there is no down time. However, if you have the entire face zapped with laser, you will need some time off. The skin does tend to become red, swollen, and bruised after laser. These transient side effects usually resolve in a few days.
Any precautions after laser?
Yes, avoid the sun. If you go out, wear a sunscreen and protective garments. Intense sun exposure can cause permanent darkening of skin treated with laser
How long before one can see results after laser treatment?
Sometimes never. Laser does not work immediately nor does it work in everyone. The tissue changes and remodeling induced by laser do not manifest on the outside skin for 2-3 months. Most individuals see some changes in skin at around 8-10 weeks. If the laser has not worked at the end of 2-3 months, it is unlikely to work at all.
How long between each laser session?
To get the maximum benefit from laser, everyone is recommended to undergo multiple sessions. You can rest assured, you will never walk out of a cosmetic surgeon’s office with just one appointment. Each session is spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
Can laser treatment be performed if one is taking Accutane?
Definitely not recommended. Most physicians will recommend that the individual wait anywhere from 6-9 months after stopping accutane. The reason is that accutane and laser do not go well together. Individuals who take accutane can have severe skin burning and discoloration if laser is used prematurely
If you just have one tiny acne scar, there is no down time. However, if you have the entire face zapped with laser, you will need some time off. The skin does tend to become red, swollen, and bruised after laser. These transient side effects usually resolve in a few days.
Any precautions after laser?
Yes, avoid the sun. If you go out, wear a sunscreen and protective garments. Intense sun exposure can cause permanent darkening of skin treated with laser
How long before one can see results after laser treatment?
Sometimes never. Laser does not work immediately nor does it work in everyone. The tissue changes and remodeling induced by laser do not manifest on the outside skin for 2-3 months. Most individuals see some changes in skin at around 8-10 weeks. If the laser has not worked at the end of 2-3 months, it is unlikely to work at all.
How long between each laser session?
To get the maximum benefit from laser, everyone is recommended to undergo multiple sessions. You can rest assured, you will never walk out of a cosmetic surgeon’s office with just one appointment. Each session is spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
Can laser treatment be performed if one is taking Accutane?
Definitely not recommended. Most physicians will recommend that the individual wait anywhere from 6-9 months after stopping accutane. The reason is that accutane and laser do not go well together. Individuals who take accutane can have severe skin burning and discoloration if laser is used prematurely
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