Acne Treatment
What Can I Do To Control Breakouts?
Acne ranges from mild breakouts to disfiguring cysts and scarring. Acne can be controlled with proper medication and skin care treatment. Acne can be a challenging problem making excellent skin care and hygiene vitally important. The first step is a cleanser to remove the excess oils and bacteria that are associated with acne, followed by a toner.
Exfoliate once or twice per week to remove dead skin cells, sebum, toxins, and the build up clogging debris. Following with acne treatment helps kill acne bacteria, control sebum production, and prevent breakouts and inflammation. “See recommended products below”
Step To Effectively Controlling Acne Breakouts
Increased keratinization within the follicle
Part of the acne disease pathway includes increased adherence of keratinocytes to the follicular wall and increased sebum production, resulting in a plugged pore. Skin cells often do not shed enough on their own, creating a build up in surfaces that traps oil and bacteria and thus causing the bacteria to proliferate.
Products and treatment formulations containing Salicylic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Alpha Hydroxyl Acids, Retinyl Palmitate (vitamin A) and Retinol are ideal for helping address this major cause of acne.
Retinoids are the family of vitamin A derivatives that help to increase cellular proliferation and turnover, bringing healthy cells to the surface more quickly. Prescription strength retinoids like Retin-A can be irritating to some skin types, but may be necessary in treating certain grades of acne.
Retinol is a more gently vitamin A derivative that is very effective and non-irritating to the skin. Using daily care products with low levels of retinol treatments allows for better skin function and improved cell turnover rate.
Increased Sebum Production
Controlling sebum production and bacteria build up can cause an inflammatory response.It is imperative to understand that over drying the skin, even over drying oily skin, will cause the skin to compensate by producing an excessive amount of sebum. This will cause even more breakouts as opposed to addressing the problem.
The Following Ingredients Are The Most Effective In Helping To Control Sebum Production
- Salicylic Acid or beta hydroxyl acid (BHA) is a multifunctional ingredient that addresses many of the systemic causes of blemishes, and also functions as an anti-inflammatory.
- Ginger Root: wound healing properties.
- Licorice Root: Anti-inflammatory properties
- Cinnamon Bark: Anti-microbial and antioxidant, but it also can be a skin irritant.
- Cucumber Extract : Anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Decrease Proliferation
Utilizing antibacterial and antimicrobial topical agents and oral or topical antibiotics (when applicable) are suitable ways to control the bacteria population.
The Following Are Ingredients That Decrease Proliferation Of Acne Causing Bacteria
- Salicylic Acid: Most effective over-the-counter choice for a topical antibacterial agent in the treatment of blemishes. It has the ability to penetrate into hair follicles to reach the bacteria that cause the problem and kill them.
- Lactic Acid (AHA): Alpha hydroxyl acid extracted from milk. It exfoliates cells on the surface of the skin by breaking down the material that holds skin cells together.
- Kojic Acid: Is effective for inhibiting melanin production, is skin irritant and also skin lightening agent.
- Azelaic Acid: Effective for treatment of acne and skin discoloration.
- Tea Tree Oil: Effective against the bacteria that cause blemishes.
Control Inflammation
When the number of acne blemishes increases, sebum is broken down into irritating free fatty acids that stimulate an immune response and white blood cells weaken the follicular wall, resulting in rupture and increased inflammation. Utilizing anti-inflammatory topical ingredients will soothe current irritation and help to avoid future inflammation.
The Following Ingredients Are Effective In Helping To Control Inflammation Acne
Aloe Vera: An anti-irritant, wound healing agent and binder of moisture to the skin.
Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5): Improves and increases the moisture retention capacity of the skin. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-itching effects.
Licorice Extract: Anti-inflammatory properties.
Green Tea: An antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.
Acne Care Tips
- Eliminate comedogenic products. Oil-free does not mean non-comedogenic. Examine the ingredients on product labels to determine if they are correct for problem skin.
- Control oil through proper product usage and avoid products those irritate the skin.
- Exfoliate the follicles. Keep follicles clean and exfoliated to keep sebum and cells from building up. Effective ingredient such as: Beta hydroxyl acids (BHA) (salicylic acid).
Avoid Environmental Aggravators Such As Dirt, Grease, Sun, Humidity, And Pollution.
In addition, lifestyle changes can often improve your skin. Drink plenty of water, exercise, reduce stress and practice good nutritional habits. And always remember never to pick or squeeze pimples, avoid sun exposure as much as possible, and apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15.
Never treat more often than the recommended frequency of treatment and avoid the daily use of irritating ingredients. Many products that help treat acne make the skin more sun sensitive, thereby increasing the risk for damage and post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation.
