Tag: Acne Treatments

Acne: 10 Most Common Myths

What we think we know about acne is steadily being replaced by what scientists are learning. Meanwhile, many myths continue to circulate and endure. Clearing up some of the misunderstandings about acne is what this article is about.

Myth #1: Acne only affects appearance. Acne can also cause deep psychological distress. Severe acne can lead to low self-image and feeling depressed. There is a strong link between severe acne and social withdrawal.

Myth #2: Acne is caused by poor hygiene. While skin infections are associated with acne, lack of cleanliness is not the reason for acne outbreaks. The combination of oil and dead cells which produce acne is located beneath the skin’s surface where it is impossible to clean it away. Gentle cleansing with soap and water once or twice daily will keep your skin as healthy as possible. Scrubing too hard may worsen acne.

Myth #3: Acne is caused by specific foods. Chocolate has long had a reputation as a pimple producer. Studies have shown no scientific evidence that this is true. The same holds true for potato chips and sugar. There are some foods that do seem to aggravate (not cause) the condition: milk and foods high in iodine, such as seafood.

Myth #4: Acne has to run its course. There are many acne treatments available both over-the-counter and stronger medicines from a dermatologist.

Myth #5: The more acne medicine the better. Some people believe that if their acne gets worse they should just use more medicine. That’s a bad idea because medicines can be dangerous when taken in large quantities. Excess use of acne ointments may just irritate the skin further.

Myth #6: Sunbathing is good for acne. Exposure to the sun dries out excess oils, so it does improve acne short-term. However, long-term the skin adapts and the acne is unfazed. Worse, there is scientific evidence that sun exposure damages the skin and increases the chance of skin cancer.

Myth #7: Makeup causes acne. Some makeup products can clog the pores, which is bad for the health of your skin. Cosmetics that are labeled “noncomedogenic” or “nonacnegenic” are safe to use. Some brands are made with ingredients that actually treat acne.

Myth #8: Acne is only a teenage condition. While most teens have acne, so do many adults. Acne generally clears up by the early 20s. But some people experience acne for the first time as late as their 40s. And for the most unfortunate of all, some people endure acne flare-ups their entire lives.

Myth #9: Acne is related to sex. We’ve probably all heard that either celibacy or too much sex causes pimples. There is no evidence for this. There is a link between sexual activity and hormone production, but the relationship between sex and the production of sebum (the oily substance which combines with dead skin cells to cause acne) is not known. Stress and anger also affect hormone levels.

Myth #10: Popping pimples is the best way to get rid of them
The fact is popping pimples may worsen acne by spreading the bacteria that is causing it. Popping can also lead to eventual scarring, which in severe cases, can be permanent.

IPL Acne Scars-Laser Treatments Are Popular

Laser treatments for acne have become more popular in recent years, but many people are not able to take advantage of them for any number of reasons. The good news is that there is another possible treatment. With IPL acne scars can be reduced or completely eliminated. IPL is short for Intense Pulse Light and while not an actual laser treatment, both methods rely on beams of light to eradicate acne scars.

When it comes to acne scars, IPL is often more affordable than laser treatments. One of the big reasons for this is that the IPL machine is less expensive than a laser machine. Of course the dermatologist or aesthetician can still charge you as much as they want, but all other things being equal, IPL acne scars treatment could save you quite a bit of money.

The cost of the treatment may not matter to some people, but some of us prefer methods that will save us money. This becomes even more of a factor because health insurance rarely covers IPL or laser treatments for acne. It is normally considered a cosmetic procedure, but be sure to check your insurance policy to see if the treatment is covered in certain circumstances.

Notice that either a dermatologist or an aesthetician can use an IPL device (in most jurisdictions, be sure to check where you live). Therefore, you may not have to go to a doctor’s office to get the treatment done. However, you do have a chance, no matter how small, that an office visit would be covered by your insurance, but a visit to an aesthetician won’t be.

Whether you go to a dermatologist or an aesthetician, what you really need to watch out for is how experienced they are with giving IPL acne scars treatments. As long as the person operating the machine is knowledgeable in its use, then you should see the results you are looking for. While IPL devices are relatively simple, it can be reassuring to know that you are being treated with skilled hands.

It doesn’t matter who’s using the device if the device itself doesn’t work; so does IPL work for reducing the scars caused by acne. At least one medical journal published a report that showed a noticeable improvement on inflamed and raised scars, though it was deemed to be more effective on smaller scars. Some studies have led researchers to believe that IPL acne treatments increase collagen production which makes the skin look smoother and helps to reduce scarring. However, IPL treatments can be applied to scars of just about any size, though you should discuss any concerns you have with the person doing your treatment.

While there may be a few minor drawbacks with IPL acne scars treatments, it appears as though the potential benefits are far greater. What it comes down to is this: you do not have to live with acne scars any longer, and IPL treatments are one of the viable options that you can use.

Acne Scars Treatments-Good News

Good news! There is no reason to continue suffering from acne scars. It doesn’t matter if you have deep, pitted scars, or relatively minor ones, there are acne scars treatments available that can help you. These treatments cover everything to inexpensive home remedies to fairly pricey procedures that can only be performed by a medical professional.

Which option you choose will depend on several factors:
– How many scars you currently have
– How severe the scarring is
– The amount of time you are able to take to get rid of the acne scars
– How much money you have and what acne scars treatments your health insurance will cover
– Whether past treatments have worked

In most cases it is best to wait until you are done with your acne outbreaks before getting treatment for any scarring you may have. After all, you wouldn’t want to pay to have scars removed only to have a new outbreak cause more scars.

You should always check with your doctor or a dermatologist before trying any of the several acne scars treatments that are available. With that word of caution in mind, here are some options you may want to try:

1. Home remedy acne scars treatments. There isn’t a lot of medical evidence to back up claims about the effectiveness of home remedies, but many people use them and swear they work. Gently applying vitamin E or olive oil seems to moisturize the skin and reduce scarring, especially if you catch it early. Some people like to use lemon juice, but others find it to be too acidic, so be sure to test it on a small area of the skin first.

2. Medication for acne scars. You can go to the store and find several products that will help with acne which can minimize future scarring. There are also products that are made to reduce scarring, so you may want to give those a try. Another option is to talk to your doctor about prescription medications that you can use.

3. Acne scar procedures. There are also a few good options that require a visit to a doctor or an aesthetician. Lasers basically burn away old skin cells and promote the growth of healthier new cells. IPL (Intense Pulse Light) does the same basic thing, but does not require a medical license (in most jurisdictions) to be used. Dermabrasion is another of the acne scars treatments that removes old skin so new skin can take its place. Chemical peels are another option that removes skin, but many people are sensitive to this procedure; however, if your dermatologist believes you can tolerate it, then it’s worth a shot.

As you can see, there are several acne scars treatments that are available to you. However, none of them will do you any good if you just read about them. Instead you need to take action. See, you don’t have to live with unsightly scars from acne, so go ahead and take the first step now toward looking your best.

Acne Scars Is There Hope?

It is estimated that eighty percent of people between the ages of fourteen and twenty suffer from acne. For most of us, acne is a short-lived annoyance during certain periods of our lives. Unfortunately, for some people acne is painful long after the pimples have been treated. Scarring from acne is most common for those who have suffered from severe acne, but scarring can affect anyone who has experienced acne.

If you are one of the millions of people living with acne scars, theres good news. There are many options available to diminish these unseemly blemishes. All of these techniques work to restore the normal, healthy appearance of scarred skin; it may not always be possible to get rid of all acne scars, but with the right treatment for you, no one will ever know you were scarred. Acne scar treatments vary in their approaches depending on the severity of your scarring and your budget. You should discuss all of the available options, costs, and side effects with your dermatologist.

Before we talk about the treatments available, we should take a look at why acne can cause scarring. The primary reason for any kind of scar is tissue damage. When body tissue is damaged, our body tries to heal and protect it from infection. In the case of acne, dead skin cells block the bodys pores, preventing the secretion of natural oils in the skin. This creates a perfect environment for bacteria to grow, which irritates the skin and causes acne. When acne is aggravated due to harsh scrubbing or other forms of physical attention, it further aggravates the condition and harms the sensitive skin tissue. When the skin finally is able to heal, a scar is left behind.

One of the most popular acne scar treatment techniques is injecting collagen under the surface of the scarred skin. Collagen puffs out the skin and evens out the scarred area, making acne less noticeable. Another important acne scar treatment technique is what is called autologous fat transfer. This process makes use of your own bodys fat. Fat is taken from another part of your body and is injected into the affected part, filling up the scar.

This technique requires repeated applications because the fat is eventually absorbed into the body, making the scar noticeable once again. Your dermatologist may suggest you try laser treatments or dermabrasion. Both of these techniques are very effective. In the most extreme cases, skin grafting and skin surgery may be considered.

Keep in mind that these are only a small number of the options available for acne scar treatment.