Adult acne – why must we suffer aging skin AND acne??
As a young woman who suffered through agonizing periods of merciless acne breakouts in the already angst-filled years of my young adulthood, I thought that once I became an “adult”, I would no longer have to suffer the unbearable cycles of noticeable, painful cystic acne. I remember feeling like every zit on my face was the focal point in every conversation I had with people, and I swore that everyone had clearer skin than I did. Even a day with clear skin was like a rare treat to me, to be savored cautiously, as I knew it would never last, and a breakout was just waiting for it’s next opportunity to strike. Read more…
More severe cases of acne tend to be characterized not just by the presence of pimples and blemishes, but also by the formation of nodules or cysts. Acne that involves the development of cysts is called cystic acne.
A cystic acne lesion is much larger than a regular pimple, sometimes 5mm or more in diameter. These lesions can be hard and painful. Cystic acne lesions are filled with pus but should not be squeezed. Squeezing a cystic lesion can lead to a worse infection and inflammation. The lesions are prone to scarring and should be taken care of by a dermatologist, who often uses procedures to reduce swelling and to lessen the likelihood of scar formation. Read more…
There are a plethora of acne medications currently on the market. Some of these are prescription medications, such as accutane. Others are over the counter chemical compounds, such as benzoyl peroxide. There are even herbal based acne medications, such as tea tree oil. However, many of them are not as effective as advertised.
Part of the problem with finding the right acne medication is that there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to acne. Different people respond differently to the various medications and treatments. However, there are several acne medications that have been clinically proven to be effective in treating acne, and these are the medications that will stop acne for most people.
Prescription Acne Treatments Read more…