Part 2 on the Basics of Acne
- What makes my acne worse or better?
- What treatment options do I have for acne?
- How can I keep my acne under control?
- What specific things can I do to take care of or prevent acne?
This is part 2 of a 2 part series on the basics of acne.
What factors make acne worse?
Acne lesions can come and go. These factors can cause acne to flare:
- Changing hormone levels in women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period, during pregnancy, or when starting or stopping birth control pills
- Oil from skin products (moisturizers or cosmetics) or grease in the workplace (for example, a kitchen with fry vats)
- Pressure from sports helmets or equipment, backpacks, tight collars, or tight uniforms
- Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity
- Squeezing or picking at blemishes
- Hard scrubbing of the skin
What are the treatment options for acne?
Almost all cases of acne can be effectively treated. Treatment goals are to heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming, and prevent scarring.
Acne treatments aim to control one or more of the underlying causes of acne. For instance, topical retinoids, such as Differin or Retin A Micro, may help unclog sebaceous glands and keep pores open. Antibiotics may be used to fight the P. acnes bacteria. Accutane or hormonal agents, such as birth control pills, may be used to reduce sebum (oil) production.
Your doctor will recommend a treatment based on these factors:
- Severity of your acne. Mild acne may respond well to a topical retinoid alone. Moderate acne may respond better to a combination of topical retinoid with an antibiotic or other medication. Severe acne with scarring may need treatment with an oral retinoid (Accutane, Sotret).
- Results of previous treatments. Medications may be added in a step-wise fashion, only if previous treatments are found to be ineffective.
- Degree of scarring. More aggressive therapies may be started earlier if acne scars have already started developing.
- Gender. Some treatments are available only for females, such as birth control pills.
Whatever your treatment plan, it is important that you give it enough time to work. This may mean waiting 6 to 8 weeks to see results. While the older acne lesions are healing, the medication is hard at work keeping new lesions from forming. Staying on your medication is the most important step to getting acne under control.
How can I keep my acne under control?
After your acne clears, your doctor may recommend that you continue therapy with a topical retinoid to keep it under control. It is always a good idea to maintain good skin care and use skin care products labeled as “non-comedogenic” (do not promote acne)
What about self care and prevention?
For ongoing acne skin care and prevention of acne, follow a few simple guidelines:
- Clean skin gently—Use a mild skin cleanser twice a day, and pat skin dry. Harsh cleansers and astringents can actually worsen acne.
- Do not pop, squeeze, or pick at acne lesions, as this can promote inflammation and infection. Keep hands away from your face and other acne-prone parts of the skin.
- Limit sun exposure—Tanning only masks acne at best. At worst, sun exposure can lead to skin damage, especially if you are using an acne treatment that makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight and UV rays (this includes tanning booths).
- Choose cosmetics with care—As mentioned above, choose non-greasy skin products, and look for words like “non-comedogenic,” “oil-free,” and “water-based.” Some facial products contain active acne-fighting ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, to help keep mild acne at bay.
- Be patient with your treatment—Find out how much time it should take for your acne treatment to work (generally 6-8 weeks) and then stick with it. Stopping treatment early may prevent you from seeing good results or even cause a relapse of symptoms. Your skin may look worse before it begins to improve. You may need to try more than one type of treatment.
