Acne is sadly a common problem experienced by people of all ages and not just teenagers. While mild cases of acne can last for between four and six years it is possible for extremely severe cases it can last in excess of twenty years. It is therefore vitally important that, as soon as a person shows signs of developing acne, medical advice is sought at the earliest opportunity so that treatment can begin.
There are a number of acne treatments available over the counter. The most widely used, over the counter acne treatment, is a topical cream which has an active ingredient of azaleic acid or benzoyl peroxide which are incredibly successful with patients who have predominantly inflamed lesions. Other topical therapies in acne are antibiotics and retinoids. All of these topical acne therapies can be used alone or in a combination and it is a matter of experimentation to find the most effective.
When seeking an acne treatment the physician will first assess the severity of the acne and take a look at the type of lesions. He/she will then look at the history of the problem and attempt to determine the psychological effects of the disease upon the patient. Following this he will discuss the causes of the acne and the possible treatments available. Usually the first step in combating the disease is a course of oral antibiotics together with the topical therapies mentioned above.
If the oral antibiotics and topical therapies prove ineffective your physician may suggest prescribing you oral isotretinoin which is almost guaranteed success. It is important, that prior to commencement of any treatment, you understand the level of success likely to be experienced and the most likely time scales involved. It is highly likely that you will not see any visible improvements in your acne within the first month but by the second you should see an improvement of about 30%. It is common to see a 50% improvement after six months but it will be after around eight months that any serious improvements (around 80%) will be witnessed. Alarmingly P. acnes is showing increased resistance to antibiotics and this may have an effect upon the success of therapy and your family physician will need to adjust or change the therapy.
It should be noted that many topical preparations cause primary irritant dermatitis. It is extremely important that you do not assume that the treatment is not working and do not stop your treatment prematurely without further discussion with your G.P. In fact the truth is that if there is a total absence of skin irritation, when using benzoyl peroxide (and some retinoids), it is more likely that the topical therapy is not being used correctly. If you have suffered a reaction your doctor will suggest that you cease the treatment for a few days and apply moisturizers (and in some cases steroids) until the skin irritation subsides. Only after the irritation has passed should you resume your acne therapy and it is likely that your doctor will suggest a reduced frequency of application. Any changes in your skin during, acne treatment, should be reported but do not get too alarmed.
Adverse reactions can, and sometimes do, occur. Some can be rather alarming. The use of topical tetracycline can cause the skin to (temporarily) appear slightly yellow and it is known to fluoresce under certain lighting conditions. This may sound amusing but to a young teenager suffering from acne suddenly having your face glowing in the dark at a school disco could be disastrous and cause untold misery.
One treatment which has been scientifically proven to help in the treatment of acne is the cosmetic procedure known as microdermabrasion. Chemical peels can also help but microdermabrasion offers almost zero side effects. The only side effect would appear to be a temporary reddening of the skin's surface but it is extremely important that you follow any after care treatment or advice given by your consultant. You should also avoid direct sunlight for, at least, a couple of days.
It is important to note that microdermabrasion is never carried out upon active acne. The treatment of unaffected areas of skin greatly helps reduce the likelihood of new acne developing there. As old acne lesions heal more unaffected skin is made available for microdermabrasion and less fresh acne lesions appear and, over time, there is steady improvement in the skin's appearance. If you are planning to incorporate microdermabrasion into your acne therapy you should first discuss it with your doctor. Furthermore, prior to your first session, you will have a consultation at the clinic during which all aspects of your acne treatment will be considered before discussion proceeds onto the subject of how your microdermabrasion treatment should proceed.