When a person gets a moderate form of acne they usually turn to popular over-the-counter products. As people laden with formidable acne know, over the counter treatments such as Clearasil will fail to minister to anything more than the mildest cases of blemishes.
Luckily, dermatologists now have an arsenal of prescription strength ointments and medications at their disposal to fight acne. For a few individuals these prescription strength treatments either have little effect on their blemishes or the medications side effects are not worth the benefits.Typical types of topical medication that dermatologists will prescribe include retinoids (e.g. tretinoin, and tazarotene) and antibiotics (e.g. clindamycin, peroxide, and benzoyl). Oral treatments can include hormonal medication or a drug called Accutane. Although Accutane is effective it has some severe side effects. Once these other methods have been exhausted, your doctor will likely recommend acne laser skin treatment.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology acne affects between 40 and 50 million people. Serious acne can has a negative effect on self-esteem and can cause mental health issues. Socializing and being out in public can be your worst nightmare.
There are various types of acne. You are probably most familiar with comedonal which we commonly refer to as blackheads and whiteheads. The papulopustular variety is typified by inflamed bumps and pustules. The cystic variety is the most severe and consists of deep rooted nodules. People with severe acne often have a combination of all three.
When pores and hair follicles become obstructed with dead skin cells the result is acne. The reason that many teens are inflicted with acne during puberty is because the lining of the skin cells become sticky which prevents the dead skin cells from migrating out of the skin as it would normally. The skin cells then plug up the pores. Plugged pores can also be attributed to an over abundance of oil which is typical of the hormonal changes teens go through. There is always a small amount of bacteria present in the pores but when they become plugged the bacteria grows and often leads to inflammation and more severe acne.
Other matters that have an impact on blemishes include some medications and greasy makeup. Keeping the area clean is imperative but over cleansing the skin can also antagonize it and make the acne worse.
In cases of severe acne, the problem will likely continue to be a problem years past the puberty stage. If over the counter products don't work in keeping the acne under control, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a dermatologist. The sooner treatment begins the less likely scarring will result afterwards. Fortunately, laser treatment can successfully treat acne scars.
Author Resource:
Angela Smithers is a freelance author for Fix It With Laser. If you're looking for deeper information related to acne laser scar treatment then you'll unearth distinguished information about laser treatments on our website.