Acne Treatment – A General Guide
Acne is a condition that affects the oil glands those are present underneath the skin. The very tiny holes present onto the surface of the skin (known as the skin pores) get clogged and as a result of that, the oil glands those produce an oily substance known as the sebum starts getting collected. A pore that connects to the oil-glands by a canal is known as a follicle. Inside the follicles, oil channels dead skin cells to the outer surface of the dermal layer. When this follicle of a skin gland gets clogged up, acne grows. Most of the acnes are found on the face, neck-region, back, and shoulder. Acne treatment becomes necessary as it might not cause a serious health problem but, it can certainly leave scars.
Let us look at some of the known acne treatments:
Isotretinoin - Isotretinoin is one of the very potent techniques to treat severe forms of acne that has not responded enough to other treatments. Isotretinoin is the best treatment method considered as a surefire for cystic acne. Isotretinoin is a kind of Vitamin A and generally Isotretinoin is taken in the form of pills (one or two pills a day) for up to 15-20 weeks. However, the dermatologist is a better judge for this. Isotretinoin is never to be taken without any medical supervision. Isotretinoin is adopted worldwide as it helps treating all the major four causative components of acne formation namely; extra oil, chocked pores, inflammation of the skin and the bacteria known as P. acnes.
Oral antibacterial drugs - broad spectrum antibiotics can help overcoming the infection due to the bacteria P. acnes considerably. With the reduction in the number of such bacteria, the inflammation also gets reduced. The choice of the antibiotic is better to leave on a doctor. Nevertheless, the antibiotic might include drugs like tetracycline, cefadroxil, doxycycline etc.
Oral contraceptives - acne treatment, for female patients can be sometimes tackled using contraceptive pills. The overactive sebaceous glands form extra sebum which is one of the main causative factors of acne can certainly be under controlled taking oral contraceptive pills. However, such drugs are to be taken only under medical supervision. Sometimes, the woman might have to consult gynecologist in case where there are complications.
Corticosteroids – this is considered as a great help to prepare for some social occasion. In this method, a mild steroid is injected into the affected area, preferably cystic portion. The steroid would reduce the acne significantly within some days. This treatment would also prevent scarring since it reduces the chances of bursting of cysts and dry them quickly.
Surgery - a doctor might find this necessary to cut and open the acne and then draining them. It is done using sterile equipments and requires high skills. Acne patients must not do draining of acne.
Natural Remedies – natural remedies have always been sought-after matter as acne treatment. This is because they do not have any major side effects. Herbs such as Aloe vera, turmeric, and Indian gooseberry and Tinospora cordifolia are few of the herbs that have healing effects onto the skin treating acne. They can be used in any form but generally, such herbs are available in the gel/cream or lotion form to apply topically.
