Acne Facials

Some people believe that the best way to treat acne is with an acne facial. This involves going to a spa or health center and performing a special cleansing of the skin. While this may clean the face in the short run. The long term benefits can be disputed. As we know acne is the result of many factors and cleaning ones face is not always the answer.

When choosing a spa or health center for an acne facial do your research first. You want to go somewhere that incorporates the latest technology and medical discoveries. Sometimes facials can hurt, as deep cleaning rubs off the top layers of the epidermal. Make sure you check some references before choosing someone to do an acne facial.

In addition to the facial other services may be provided to help one relax and soothe your soul. If you're not sure if an acne facial is right for you consult with your dermatologist. They are trained and can give you the truth. The people at the spa or health center may give biased information since they want to make money.

Acne Treatment for Teenagers

Acne is a very troubling condition for those that suffer from it. When a person suffers from facial acne there is no hiding it and when acne is drawn out over a long time it can have damaging effects on the self-esteem of those that are struggling with it. Acne is not the hopeless skin disease that it once was, there is treatment for almost all types of acne. It is very important to learn as much information as possible about acne and to know what help and what treatments are available.

There are many types of acne all with varying levels of severity. Cystic acne is one of the most severe forms of acne. It can be painful and it can also lead to troublesome scarring. As much as possible, it is best to seek treatment for acne way before it ever reaches the level of cysts and nodules. However, if for some reason that has not been possible, aggressive treatment will be necessary to halt any further progression. The first step in gaining control of severe acne is to make an appointment with a doctor or dermatologist.

Acne cysts are larger than your average pimple or blackhead. A person that suffers from cystic acne is likely to have acne spots spread over fifty percent or more of their face and they are also likely to suffer some degree of pain. Acne cysts are usually more 5 millimeters in diameter and are formed when pockets of pus are trapped just below the surface of the skin. What makes these spots extremely frustrating for those that have them is that they can last for months without going away.

Although it is great to understand what is happening with your skin, for most people the most valuable information is how to solve the problem. Most people simply want a cure, a cure that works. First, let us talk about what should not be done. Under no circumstances should a person struggling with cystic acne try to squeeze or burst a cyst. This can have detrimental consequences. Often, this will serve only to make any infection deeper, causing the cyst to take longer to heal than if left alone.

Unfortunately, no simple, catch-all cure exists for acne, especially severe acne. Doctors do have methods to help prevent scarring, which is one of the reasons that any treatment that you undertake be done with advice from your doctor. Most people find that they have to try several types of treatment or combinations of treatments before they are able to hit upon a solution. More often than not, it is a combination of treatments that do the trick.

Microdermabrasion Acne Treatments

What is dermabrasion? It is a type of surgery that removes certain surface scars and reduces the depth of deeper scars. This may be performed by a dermatologist for those individuals with deep scars from acne. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons also perform such operations. Microdermabrasion uses negative pressure and a surge of aluminum oxide crystals to slightly peel the top layer of the skin. Benefits of this include: a more youthful look, scar removal, and acne reduction.

Microdermabrasion is different than traditional dermabrasion as it is an office-based mechanical resurfacing technique. While the procedure is relatively new the US market it has been available in Europe since 1992. Microdermabrasion machines provide many benefits that were not previously available before their invention.

Why is Microdermabrasion for acne treatment becoming so popular? The main reason include its effectiveness, the simplicity, there is a low patient and operator risk, and generally a very rapid recovery. Both the epidermis and dermis are positively affected by microdermabrasion. Research and trials have shown that there is a consistent increase in epidermal thickness. Additionally it has been observed that the dermis shows changes of the elastin content. However there have been no changes in collagen content observed.

The beneficial results of microdermabrasion on scarring and photo aging has been documented in certain studies which suggest that making changes in the dermis before epidermal injury may be responsible. The key is microdermabrasion is able to activate a dermal remodeling-wound healing sequence, but at the same time ensure there is a minimal epidermal disruption. Studies are being conducted to determine the performance based on time between sessions and the number of sessions.

Some people may wonder what the dangers of micro abrasion are. Obviously anytime a layer of skin is removed various side effects may occur. Anyone with extremely sensitive skin may have reactions that may cause some discoloration. There are even various microdermabrasion home systems that are coming on the market. Some creams and lotions offer beads or crystals that give a similar effect. When these OTC products are combined with cleaning agents and salicylic acid it offers a cheaper alternative to the expensive in office procedures.

Resources for Acne Treatment

There are many different types of acne treatment that people can use. Just about everyone you know has some kind of magical remedy. But where did they obtain their information? It is little wonder that there is a lot of misunderstanding on the subject. Acne is generally placed into one of three categories; mild, moderate or severe. The management for each of these stages varies significantly. Acne is a health condition and needs to be treated as such.

If you have acne and you feel that it is getting worse instead of better, the best thing that you can do is let a professional dermatologist have a look at your condition and prescribe an appropriate treatment for you. Mild acne is first treated by gently washing the area twice daily with warm water and soap. In addition to cleansing the area, an over-the-counter cream or similar otc products that incorporates benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid should be used. These can be found in most pharmacies, and kill the bacteria on the epidermis. Proper skin care is essential. 

It is important to comprehend that improvements take time and do not happen overnight, especially with topical solutions. Look for a gradual, steady improvement in the condition of your skin. Some physicians will recommend certain vitamins to help the appearance of the skin. Remember acne can occur nearly any part of the body, including the arms, neck, back, the legs, and the arms.

Acne is moderate when pimples (blackheads , whitehead, and comedones) cover approximately half of the face. If you have moderate acne, consult a dermatologist in order to quickly get a handle on your situation. Although acne can be very depressing for those that suffer from it, doctors say that most acne is completely treatable. Usually, a combination therapies is used to treat moderate acne. 

This would usually be a mixture of a physical treatment such as extraction or light therapy and a prescription treatment like an antimicrobial or retinoid cream. Sometimes, oral acne treatments or oral contraceptives have been known to work as well. Acne scars can definitely become more serious if it is not taken care of in the moderate stage. Therefore, it is very important to try to resolve acne as soon as you can.

When acne is severe, the symptoms will be very obvious to the individual suffering from it. Pimples and zits become deep, inflamed and cyst-like. Usually a lot of scarring and damage to the skin occurs, causing feelings of sadness and depression. Remember though that you can find acne treatment and, as much as possible, should be sought before the acne has reached this level.

Dermatologists will use very aggressive treatments to try to prevent the progression of severe acne. They will try to stop it in its tracks while at the same time, work to prevent permanent scarring. Oral antibiotics and medications such as accutane, may be used at this stage as well as drainage techniques and surgical incision, also known as Acne Surgery. Other acne treatments such as injections of corticosteroids can be used. This is primarily used to melt cysts over a period of a few days.

It is important to obtain well-informed information from a medical professional regarding your acne. Acne treatment requires patience as it usually takes between six to eight weeks of management before visible signs of improvement can be seen. Misinformation can have you using an ineffective remedy for a long period of time, in a desperate attempt to cure your acne. Mistakes can waste time, ultimately making your acne last longer. Be persistent and work with the prescribed medications and stick with the instructions given to you by your doctor.

Acne Scars and Acne Scar Removal

Many people are unaware of the fact that there are many effective treatments for acne. Therefore they fail to seek early treatment. This is unfortunate, as it is only after acne has progressed from a mild or moderate stage to severe acne that there is the risk of developing acne scars. If it is possible to halt the progression of your acne in the early stages, it is best to do this since acne scars should be avoided at all cost. 

Sometimes acne heals itself with time, when left alone. Other times, it progresses into a more advanced, serious stage. Once acne reaches the stage where acne cysts and acne nodules are developing, there is the possibility of acne scars forming. There are a few treatments aimed at removing acne scars however still some scarring will be permanent or require regular treatment. In general, the great effects from treatments for acne scars are temporary. 

If your acne becomes severe, it is important to aggressively pursue treatment to halt any further progression. You should consult a doctor or a dermatologist as early as possible in order to get the correct medical advice and to gain access to the latest prescription medicine. Effective treatment, at this stage, can be the difference between ridding yourself of acne and being plagued with a lifetime of scarring. Acne spots are much larger in the severe stage, than during the mild or moderate stages. They can also be quite painful as well. 

All cases of acne are unique. Treatments that work perfectly for one individual can have absolutely no impact on another. The same is true for treatments for acne scarring. Acne affects the skin of every individual in a different way and each instance of scarring is unique. Therefore, acne scarring treatment is usually dealt with on a case by case basis. 

There are six well-known treatments for acne scarring. More often than not, a combination of treatments are used as opposed to a single treatment. Acne scars are generally treated using one or more of the following treatments; Dermabrasion, Laser Resurfacing, Chemical Peels, Punch Techniques, Subcision or Augmentation. These treatments vary in price and in effectiveness. A high price does not always mean the most success for you so weigh each option and its proven results carefully.

Augmentation is when a substance is injected under an acne scar to help raise the crater-like scars that severe acne leaves. Collagen is often used for this and at times fat from other areas of the individual’s body. Collagen has only temporary results and the treatment would need to be repeated on a regular basis. Other methods such as Dermabrasion and Laser resurfacing are very expensive, however they are not always what you need and they are not always successful in treating scars.

Making a decision on an acne scar treatment is tough. Try not to make a decision based on emotions but rather on facts. Think both long term and short term and most importantly, ask your doctor for all of the facts and ask him to clarify any points that are not clear to you. This will help you to make an informed decision that you are happy with.