Utah County Tips: Acne Myths & Treatments

Contrary to popular belief in Utah County, acne and diet are not closely related. Acne isn’t caused by sugar, chocolate, or greasy foods, although it’s generally a good idea to limit such snacks. Nor is acne caused by sexual activity, masturbation, or dirt on the skin. It can be aggravated by oily cosmetics, stress, picking at blemishes, rough cleansers, or hard scrubbing.

Another acne myth is that sunlight can make acne better. A suntan can temporarily lessen the appearance of acne lesions, but it won’t make it go away, and the sun can damage the skin in other ways (wrinkles, skin cancer).

How is teen acne treated?

Acne treatments range from over-the-counter (OTC) topical acne medications to oral drugs for the worst cases. In teens treating acne early is especially important to prevent it from getting worse or causing acne scars.

• Many people attempt to first treat their acne at home with non-prescription medications, such as Proactiv or Sensiclear. Unfortunately, many people discover that these over-the-counter medications take too long to work, prolonging the acne and increasing the risk of developing acne scars.
• For moderate acne, or mild acne that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter treatments, you may need a stronger prescription acne medication that acts faster and provides longer-lasting benefits. Physicians may prescribe a topical retinoid, a mainstay of acne therapy. Topical retinoids help to clear up acne quickly and provide ongoing clear skin. Brands of topical retinoids include Differin™(adapalene), Epiduo™(adapalene + benzoyl peroxide), Retin A Micro™(tretinoin), Tazorac™(tazarotene), or Ziana™(tretinoin + clindamycin). These medications may be used alone or in combination with other acne medications, such as antibiotics.
• For the most severe cases of acne (such as cystic acne), physicians may prescribe isotretinoin (Accutane, Sotret). This daily oral medication has shown to be an effective treatment when other medications have failed, but it has serious possible side effects and should never be taken by pregnant women. Women using isotretinoin must agree to use two types of birth control, and abstain from sex within a month before and after taking the medication.

Stick with it

No medication can do its job properly unless it is given time to work. It’s very important to be patient and take your medication as directed, for as long as directed. If you don’t see results right away, don’t be discouraged. Your medication is hard at work preventing new lesions from forming. Stopping treatment early will likely cause pimples and zits to reappear.

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©2010 Vivacare.
Last updated July 1, 2010.

This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns.

Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 24th, 2010 at 10:26 pm and is filed under Acne. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.