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Hormone Therapy for Acne
April 30, 2008Comments (0)Acne is such a common skin problem that a lot of skin experts and dermatologists continue to develop various treatments for the skin disease. One of the treatments for acne is hormone therapy. This treatment is especially effective for women.
The Hormone Therapy acne treatment has long been used by dermatologists. This treatment is recommended for women no matter how severe the acne is. So why is hormone therapy effective? Hormone is known as a contributing factor for the development of acne, and if there is a way to balance our hormones, it will help reduce or eliminate acne for good.
How hormones affect our skin
Androgens which are the masculine hormones are the ones that contribute to the growth of acne. These hormones increase when we reach puberty, and they affect the production of oil in the oil glands or sebaceous glands. When too much oil or sebum is produced, the pores of our skin will be clogged. If this happens, the dead skin cells get trapped too. Now, when the bacteria from outside factors like dust and dirt come in contact with the clogged pore, they will cause an infection. When the bacteria have not propagated yet, what you see is either a whitehead or a blackhead. Clogged pores that you usually see are whiteheads, and they become blackheads when some pigmentation caused by melanin makes them dark-colored. Now, when bacteria have infected a certain area on our skin, inflammation will develop. That?s what we call a pimple.
Hormonal Therapy
The purpose of hormonal therapy is to disrupt abnormal hormonal activities that cause acne growth. Hormonal therapy is done by taking oral contraceptives such as:
On the other hand, there?s a non-contraceptive anti-androgen medication that can be taken for hormonal therapy. This medicine is called Spironolactone, which comes in the form of estrogen and progestins. As mentioned previously, androgen contributes to acne growth. By keeping androgen production at a minimum level with anti-androgen medication, acne will be reduced, or even eliminated.
You can also check out Acne Guide for more helpful tips about hormone therapy for acne.
Labels: acne, acne treatments, hormone therapy
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Find Out the Side Effects of Acne Treatments
April 18, 2008Comments (0)People have different skin types and react to various acne treatments differently. Therefore, the treatment that you found to be effective on your skin may not be effective for your friend. Reversely, what your friend used to treat his or her acne may cause you side effects. Though some people may not encounter any side effect from a certain treatment, it is best to know the possible side effects that come with acne treatment. Before you take any prescription medication or start a treatment, learn about it and the problems that may occur. Below is a list of side effects from acne treatments:
- Allergies
One of the most common problems experienced by patients when treating acne is allergic reaction. Some people do not know that they have an allergy for a drug or cream until they first use it to treat their acne. If you are using a new product and you encounter rashes or difficulty in breathing, immediately stop your medication and call the dermatologist. Let your doctor know what you have experienced and let the expert tell you what you should do. - Flaking, Redness, Inflammation, Itching
Since acne treatment products are mostly made of chemicals, it is most likely that the skin will experience dryness. Most chemicals will drain the moisture from the infected skin and cause dryness. As we all know, itching, flaking, and redness are some of the conditions that result from dryness. When we first use a treatment product, we may not be aware of the problem it may cause, so we tend to scratch the infected area because of the itching. However, it will only get worse as it becomes inflamed. - Yeast Infections
Antibiotics are among the drugs that can trigger yeast infections. This will happen if you have been using antibiotics for a long time. The bacteria will become more resistant to antibiotics if you use them regularly. - Depression, Birth Defects, and other Serious Side Effects
There are some drugs like accutane that can cause depression, birth defects on expecting mothers, and other serious side effects such as suicide tendencies. Though some people may not experience these side effects, it?s best to check the warning text of any medication or treatment you plan to use.
There are other side effects that come with certain medications or treatment products. Make sure you ask your doctor about the side effects before you use any treatment. You can learn more about acne treatment side effects from Ezine Articles, Acne Guide, and Chet Day.
Labels: acne, acne treatments, side effects
- Allergies
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Find Out How Acne Develops
April 15, 2008Comments (0)We know that acne is a very common skin condition. Some people encounter mild acne while others suffer from severe cases of acne. Acne is considered a skin disease that affects us not only physically, but emotionally as well. When you have acne on your face, it is not exactly a pleasant sight and you may feel embarrassed to go out and socialize because of the acne. However, there are ways to get rid of acne so that you can live a normal life with confidence.
What Triggers Acne?
Acne occurs when our pores are clogged by a kind of oil called sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands in our bodies. Sometimes, our sebaceous glands function improperly and produce more sebum than our skin or pores can handle. When too much sebum or oil occurs, the pores are clogged, and the dead skin cells cannot be removed. When bacteria come in contact with the clogged pore, they will infect our skin and cause acne.
Pilosebaceous Units
Acne lesions are caused by the pilosebaceous units in our bodies. These units consist of hair follicles and sebaceous glands, and they can be found anywhere within our bodies, excluding the palm and the bottom of the feet. You?ve probably noticed that we never get acne on the palm or at the sole of our feet. Pilosebaceous units can be found on the face, chest, neck, and back. Acne will develop when the pilosebaceous canal gets clogged.
How Pilosebaceous Canal Gets Clogged
As previously mentioned, it is the excess oil called sebum that clogs our pores. This happens when there is an overproduction of sebum, which will cause the pilosebaceous canal to get clogged. Sebum is produced by our sebaceous glands, and it will be produced in excess when the sebaceous glands become hyperactive. The activities of the sebaceous glands are influenced by the hormones in our bodies, particularly the male hormones. Any imbalance or stimulation that occurs in the male hormones will always lead to acne.
Ductal Hypercornification
When the over production of sebum occurs, ductal hypercornification occurs too. Ductal hypercornification refers to the overproduction of the follicle wall?s cell lining, and it will prevent dead cells from being removed. With the pilosebaceous canal already clogged up, sebum or oil and dead cells will clog the pores, and this will lead to the development of acne. Some bacteria called propionibacterium acnes can be found on top of our skin. They will draw white blood cells from our immune system and become inflamed. And the result is acne.
For more information on the development of acne, you can check out Medical Center of Central Georgia, Hippocrates World Site, Acne.com, and Yale New Haven children?s Hospital.
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Do Acne Cleansers Work?
April 4, 2008Comments (0) Acne is often conceived due to poor hygiene. However, it is not just the case. It takes more than an unclean skin for acne to rise. Sometimes, over cleansing and scrubbing will even do your skin more harm. That?s why you have to know more about how to take care of your skin. Learn how to take care of your skin to get rid of or prevent acne.
With so many cleansing products out in the market today, people get so confused on what to purchase. Each of these products will promise you clearer and brighter skin. However, you may have already tried a lot of these products but not all have produced good results. Some will work for your friend and won?t do you good. While others have helped your skin problem yet have worsened the acne problem of others. So what should you use and how should you use it?
Trial and Error
It may be a scary thought to try out every single product in the market. However, this is really how you?ll know which one is right for you or not. Imagine there are so many things that may cause breakouts. It can be stress, fluctuating hormones, bacteria and oily skin, plus many others. While the reasons are numerous, we are not a hundred percent sure which factor causes a certain pimple to pop out. That?s why, sometimes, we just have to try out different acne products to see what will work on our skin. By trial and error, you?ll be able to discover what?s causing your pimple. As you try out the products, make sure that you follow as instructed and you take care of your skin at the same time. Sometimes, a product may be right for you. But if you don?t follow the instructions, and you don?t care about your skin, then it won?t do any help at all. The trial and error method will not work. Once you try out the products, notice if it dries out your skin. An effective cleanser will clean your skin without drying it up. Dry skin will lead to irritation and itchiness. That?s not what you expect to replace your acne problem. It?s always best to choose mild soaps to clean your face. After washing, do not rub the towel on your face. Simply pat it dry and make sure your towel is clean. When you choose products, you can narrow down your choices by eliminating those that are alcohol based or has alcohol content. Dry skin also causes more breakouts.
Three-step products
Dermatologists recommend the three-step products you?ll see in the market today. They usually have the exfoliant or the facial cleanser. This will help remove the dead skin cells and expose the bacteria. The second product of the three-step is the toner. This will clean up the exposed skin. When you exfoliate, you are removing the outer layer or the dead skin cells. When you tone, you are cleaning the bare layer. Third of the three-step kit is the product that restores, repairs, or prevents acne. It will kill the bacteria and prevent it from recurring. Sometimes, the repair product will also come like a moisturizer so your skin still gets the moisture it needs to look supple and healthy.
Check out other information about acne, cleansers, and recommended brands of cleansers by visiting the following sites: