Acne Welcome to the Affordable Drugs acne information page. Here you can learn about birth control methods, the effectiveness of various types of birth control, how birth control pills work and more. You can also find the best available birth control prices. The information contained on this page is not intended to replace the professional advice of your physician.
What Is Acne? Acne occurs when pores become plugged with dirt and oil, resulting in pimples or zits. While it can show up on the neck, back, arms and shoulders, breakouts are usually found on the face. Most teenagers are prone to pimples because of changes during puberty but it's not uncommon to find adults between the ages of 20 and 40 to have occasional breakouts. While acne is not a life threatening condition, it can be embarrassing for the person who has it. Common terms of acne include pimples (whiteheads and blackheads) and zits. A pimple that is more severe causing deep lumps in the skin is known as nodules or cysts. These types of acne get started when sebum, or oil, attempts to drain from the skin but gets blocked at the surface. When this happens bacteria starts to grow. This is the start of a pimple or zit.
The two main types of acne are non-inflammatory which is more common, and inflammatory which is more severe and noticeable. Non-inflammatory acne is skin blemishes known as whiteheads and blackheads.
Whiteheads are formed when the sebum (oil) and bacteria is trapped underneath the skin's surface. They usually appear as small white lumps filled with fluid, or pus. Blackheads are formed when a pore opens on the surface of the skin and sebum rises. Sebum then oxidizes and turns a black or brown color as it contains melanin. Blackheads cannot be washed away and may remain on the skin as a black or brown spot for a long period of time as the sebum drains slowly.
Inflammatory acne is usually caused when a blackhead or whitehead ruptures. This can be due to touching or picking the skin. The 4 main types of inflammatory acne are known as papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.
Papules form when there becomes a break in the wall of a hair known as the follicular wall. Once a break occurs, white blood cells enter the pore and it becomes inflamed. Pustules form when the white blood cells arrive at the surface of the skn. This is usually a few days later. Nodules are formed when a follicle breaks at the bottom. A complete collapse can occur, resulting in a large bump that is inflamed and painful to the touch. A cyst is a very large lesion on the skin filled with pus. This is a severe reaction that is very inflamed and is usually painful and hard to heal.
Another type of acne, known as milia, is tiny white pumps that are caused by pockets of dead skin cells. They are usually common in newborns and the small bumps will be found on the nose and across the cheeks. These bumps usually disappear by themselves after a few days. Milia in adults can be an ongoing problem and persist throughout their life.
Acne Causes Acne affects nearly everyone including adolescents and adults alike. While many people believe that acne is caused by what they eat, how much they exercise or wash their face and even environmental factors, none of this is true. Acne is actually caused by a number of factors that are occurring under the skin. By knowing the causes of acne, you will have a better chance of fighting of this common condition before it occurs. Acne Causes: Hormones
Hormones are one of the biggest culprits of acne. This is why it's so common to see teenagers with breakouts as this is the time when their hormones are raging. When the body produces hormones known as androgens, they cause the sebaceous glands to increase in size and result in over stimulation. Androgens are also to blame for acne flare ups during pregnancy and menstrual cycles.
Acne Causes: Blocked Follicles
Normally when skin cells die, they fall into the skin's surface. Sometimes when this happens the dead skin cells along with your body's natural sebaceous glands block and plug follicles. This prevents the skin from releasing toxins from the body resulting in acne. During puberty, skin cells usually shed more rapidly resulting in teenage acne.
Acne Causes: Excessive Sebum
Many people with oil prone skin have constant breakouts. The reason for this is that the body produces excessive sebum. Unlike normal skin, there is more sebum that then mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria on the skin. All of these factors together plug the pores of the skin causing breakouts. Preventing the sebum, or oil, from building up upon the face with a mild cleanser or frequent face washing can help to keep the oil at bay.
Acne Causes: Inflammation
When your skin finds unwanted bacteria on or beneath its surface, it sends white blood cells to attack and rid of the intruders. When this happens, common symptoms of inflammation appear. You will notice redness, swollen and sore pimples. Inflammation is very common in adult women but can appear in almost any skin type, gender and age.
Acne Causes: Bacteria
Among the causes of acne, bacteria are one of the main reasons we get pimples or zits. Bacteria are found on all skin types and it can easily clog pores. Bacteria multiply very fast and can lead to the spreading of acne as well as inflammation in a short period of time. Not only can the pimple itself become inflamed but the follicle and surrounding skin can also become red and painful.
Acne Causes: Stress and Diet
Although factors such as stress and diet do not initially cause acne, they can aggravate the symptoms. When the body goes through stressful situations, an inflammatory response takes place and the walls of the pores break. With the breaking of the pores, zits occur. Diet also plays apart in acne as diet effects the body's insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone in the body that affects other hormones such as the androgens. Significant fluctuations in our insulin levels can lead to acne flare ups. With a healthy diet high in fruits, veggies and meat, the insulin levels stabilize, leading to fewer breakouts.
Acne Causes: Conclusion
Acne is caused when a pore collapses upon itself and sebum, or oil, is trapped inside the skin. When this clogging effect happens, the toxins can not be released from the body, causing a built up of oil and dirt within the skin. Not only can acne occur when this happens, but your skin will visibly look oily and dull. Fixing the causes of acne before they happen can help you maintain a fresh, clean complexion.
Acne Treatments - Non-Pharmacological Acne occurs as a result of the body's excess production of sebum - an oily substance that normally lubricates the hair and skin. This excess sebum can build up in the hair follicles, causing a pimple to form. Doctors aren't certain what causes the body to produce excess sebum, though it's not related to food or dirt. There are various acne treatments that attack acne in different ways. Doctors can prescribe several types of drugs to treat acne, applied orally or topically. But there are also non-pharmacological acne treatments that sufferers can try. Manuka Honey
For millennia, honey has been used to disinfect wounds and fight infections. Its antimicrobial properties kill the bacteria that cause acne to form. Manuka honey is a type specific to New Zealand with antibacterial properties that cannot be found in any other honey. Researchers and doctors in England are even successfully using it to treat antibiotic-resistant infections in hospital patients. Acne sufferers can use it to treat acne with honey masks - honey applied directly to the skin. Companies also produce many different kinds of acne treatments that include honey as one of the essential ingredients. Active Manuka honey is ideal, with a UMF rating of at least 10.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil also kills acne-causing bacteria. It has a long history of use in acne treatments, both in its pure form or in diluted concentrations. Unfortunately, pure tea tree oil can be very irritating to the skin, especially to those with sensitive skin. For people who cannot tolerate the pure oil, companies make tea tree oil acne treatments with a lower percentage of the oil, which do not have the same side effects. If skin starts itching or becomes irritated from tea tree oil, people should immediately stop using it.
Green Tea Extract
Green tea contains a powerful antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as well as a high concentration of polyphenols. Green tea extract has been shown to reduce inflammation, decrease hormonal activity, and kill bacteria, so it's not surprising that numerous acne treatments contain the extract. Studies have even shown that acne creams containing 3% green tea extract were just as effective at treating acne as creams containing 4% benzoyl peroxide. Even better, green tea extract didn't cause the negative side effects as did the benzoyl peroxide solution.
Light Therapy
One of the newest acne treatments is light therapy, also known as photo rejuvenation. This treatment uses compressed light from the red and infrared spectrums to treat severe cases of acne. It uses LED lights that are cold to the touch. Combination light therapy is a newer form that incorporates both red and blue light. Red light penetrates the skin to a depth of 8-10mm; it's an anti-inflammatory that can kill bacteria. Blue light also kills acne-causing bacteria and is itself FDA-approved for the treatment of acne. While light therapies show promise and have had some success, they're still relatively new so further testing is needed. Still, they're non-invasive and non-pharmacological acne treatments, so for acne sufferers wanting an alternative to drug treatments, they're an option.
Acne Treatments - Over the Counter There are dozens of over the counter acne treatments available to treat mild to moderate acne. Making a decision that can effectively treat acne can be difficult and confusing. The best method to choose an over the counter acne treatment that will work is to understand the active ingredients in the medication and how they work with the skin. Some over the counter acne treatments are intended to cleanse the skin of oil and dirt, some are intended to remove dead skin cells that can clog pores and some are formulated to kill the bacteria that cause acne flare ups. Over the counter treatments will not usually combine more than one active ingredient and each will have mild to moderate side effects and should not be over used. Using the products more often than indicated on the label will not produce faster results, as acne can often takes weeks to begin clearing.
Benzoyl peroxide is commonly known to be one of the most effective active ingredients used to treat mild to severe acne. Benzoyl peroxide kills the active bacteria that cause acne, Propionibacterium acnes, and is available in strengths from 2.5 to 10 percent. Over the counter acne treatments with Benzoyl peroxide should be used with care as they can cause skin dryness and sensitivity to sunlight.
Over the counter acne treatments containing salicylic acid are available in strengths from 0.5 to 2 percent and are used to prevent the build up of dead skin cells inside pores. It is also used to breakdown whiteheads and blackheads associated with acne. Being an acidic active ingredient, products containing salicylic acid can cause a burning sensation and temporary redness.
Alcohol or acetone may also be found as an active ingredient in over the counter acne treatments to remove dirt and oils from the pores of the skin. Generally, astringent liquids and cleansers contain alcohol or acetone. These treatments should also be used with care as they can cause excessive dry skin and sensitivity.
Any over the counter acne treatments should be selected in the lowest active ingredient dosages to avoid lessen the side effects. If the lowest dosage is not working after a period of a few weeks, a product with a slightly higher percentage of active ingredients should be selected. All acne treatments such as cleansers, toners or astringents should be used in conjunction with an oil free moisturizing product to lessen the side effects of dryness or redness.
Acne can be a difficult and confusing medical condition to treat with over the counter medications. It will usually take some amount of experimentation to find an effective treatment method. Thorough research should be done into each over the counter acne medication prior to selecting a course of treatment. Although over the counter medications are less potent that prescription medications, they should not be combined for faster results.
Acne Treatments Acne Treatment Prescription Overview Acne treatments vary in strength, duration and type, but all are designed to treat specific incidences of acne. Depending on what type and level of acne you have, and how your body reacts to medication, a doctor may prescribe either a single medication or a combination of several different medications to treat your acne. While some treatments can be taken orally, other treatments are applied topically.
There are a few general categories of prescribed acne treatments, including oral contraceptives, oral antibiotics, an oral retinoid, and topical retinoids, antimicrobials, and other topical applications. Many of these treatments are dangerous for pregnant women, young children, and women who are considering becoming pregnant. Therefore, the prescription that you receive will be based on a number of factors, including your age, your desire to bear children, and the success or failure you have experienced with prior acne medication.
Additionally, the combination of some topical applications and oral antibiotics can actually increase the resistance of some forms of bacteria to the treatment. Here is a brief description of the benefits and side effects of each category of acne treatment.
Oral Contraceptives: For Mild to Moderate Acne
Oral contraceptives have a long-term, preventative effect on acne due to the contraceptive's suppression of overactive sebaceous glands. However, oral contraceptives are not recommended for severe acne, and have dangerous side effects for women, especially those over the age of 35 who have a history of migraines and blood-clotting problems. Women who smoke are also strongly encouraged not to take oral contraceptives.
Oral Antibiotics: For Moderate to Severe Acne
Like other antibiotics, acne antibiotics can diminish in their effectiveness because the bacteria being attacked by the antibiotic builds up a resistance. This resistance can require increasingly stronger dosages of antibiotics or an entirely different variety of antibiotic to effectively treat the acne. Therefore, oral antibiotics are generally only recommended in cases of moderate to severe acne, and should not be used for milder forms of acne. Patients with recurring acne who opt for an oral antibiotic cure will usually have to switch antibiotics roughly every six months.
There are several major varieties of oral acne antibiotics, including erythromycin and tetracycline. Erythromycin is a broad-based antibiotic that not only destroys P. acnes, the primary bacteria that causes acne, but numerous other types of bacteria. Because of this broad-based destructive power, erythromycin can occasionally cause gastrointestinal irritation by attacking bacteria in this region of the body.
Tetracyclines are targeted toward diminishing acne pustules, and come in two primary synthetic forms, minocycline and doxycycline. Doxycycline excels at preventing inflammation, while minocycline generally avoids building antibiotic resistance, and is recommended when other courses of oral antibiotics have outlived their usefulness. However, tetracyclines are powerful, and not for use in children under 8, as they can stunt growth and stain teeth. Because of tetracycline's growth-stunting properties, pregnant women should absolutely not ingest tetracyclines.
Oral Retinoid: For Severe Acne Only
Isotretinoin is for the most severe forms of acne, and should not absolutely not be ingested by pregnant women, or women who are planning on bearing children due to its extremely strong, potentially disfiguring nature. Available in both capsule and liquid forms, isotretinoin is generally used when all other methods of prescribed acne treatment have failed. Isotretinoin treats severe nodular acne.
Topical Applications: For Mild to Moderate Acne
Retin-a, a topical application, comes from Vitamin A, and is for relatively mild acne such as white heads and black heads, the technical terminology for which is "comedones." Additionally, Retin-a takes anywhere from 6 to 9 weeks to become visibly effective, but works best with consistent applications over the course of a year. The side effects of retin-a include skin flaking.
Topical Antimicrobials: For Mild to Moderate Acne
The topical antimicrobials are suited best to treat mild to moderately severe inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne. The most prevalent of these is Azelaic acid, which is based on an acid that naturally occurs in the skin. Although the process of how azelaic acid works is not precisely known, scientists believe that the azelaic acid helps to cure acne by reducing the bacteria P. acnes, leading to a reduction in skin shedding and inflammation.
Another excellent topical antimicrobial for treating inflammation is sodium sulfacetamide, although some patients object to the corresponding sulfur smell. This particular sulfur smell is generally confined to the older versions; newer versions have reduced the smell and gritty texture of this topical treatment. Clindamycin also reduces inflammation, although it is an antibiotic and should be used with care so as to not build up resistance.
Benzoyl peroxide does not reduce inflammation, but does kill the bacteria P. acnes, and is available in a variety of strengths. However, if used in combination with an antibiotic, benzoyl peroxide can contribute to the build-up on antibiotic resistance. Side effects include the occasional allergic reaction and bleaching of hair.
Topical Retinoids: For Mild to Moderate Acne
Tazarotene and adapalene are among the topical retinoids available by prescription. In general, topical retinoids can cause sensitivity to the sun and skin irritation. However, much like retin-a, they are excellent for the removal and prevention of blackheads and whiteheads.
Adapalene is a synthetic retinoid and excels in unclogging pores, which prevents the subsequent appearance of comedones. Although it takes between 8 and 12 weeks for results to show, adapalene is the best choice for pregnant women.
Tazarotene, which also clears pores, should not be used by pregnant women or women who are considering becoming pregnant because of its potentially severe birth defects.
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