DermaTalk

Lets Talk about your Skin

You are here: Home / Archives for acne

acne

10 Makeup Tips To Help Prevent Acne Breakouts

by 4 Comments

Does it seem like the more you try to hide your acne, the more acne you have to hide? If that is the case, then part of the problem may be the makeup you are using. We’ll try some makeups tips to prevent acne breakout.

If you are a woman who is prone to acne breakouts, you probably use makeup to conceal those breakouts. There is nothing wrong with using makeup to conceal unsightly pimples unless the makeup you are using is actually making the acne breakout worse.

There is no need to stop using makeup to conceal your acne, you just need to start choosing the right types of cosmetics; ones that won’t cause more breakouts.

Here are some tips to help you choose cosmetics that will not aggravate your acne, along with some tips for proper makeup usage that will help prevent additional makeup-related acne breakouts.

1. Use water-based, hypo allergenic makeup and moisturizers. These properties won’t guarantee that the products will not promote acne but these products are less likely to do so.

2. Avoid oil-based cosmetic products. Using heavy oil-based makeup is, most likely, the cause of most makeup-related acne breakouts. Beware of products that claim to be oil-free but actually contain synthetics that can provoke an acne breakout.

A simple test to show oil content is to place a dab of the cosmetic on a piece of quality cotton fibre stationary and leave it for twenty four hours then check for a high migration of oil, in the form of large oil rings.

3. Avoid products that contain ingredients such as lanolins, coal tar and coal tar derivatives like D & C red dyes (look for products that use Carmine for red coloring). Isopropyl Myristate is one of the worst acne-provoking ingredients, it is used in makeup to help it apply smoothly.

Also check cosmetic labels for acetylated lanolin, cetyl alcohol, decyl oleate, isocetyl stearate, isopropyl isothermal, isopropyl palmitate, isostearyl neopentonate, laureth 4, myristyl myristate, octyl palmitate, octyl sterate, PPG myristyl propionate, putty stearate and stearic acid; avoid these products if at all possible.

4. Makeup that is labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic is formulated to not clog oil-producing pores, thus they help prevent acne breakouts. But that doesn’t mean using cosmetics with these labels won’t worsen your acne. If the makeup you are using is labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic and it still seems that you experiencing makeup-related acne, try a different brand as there may be an ingredient that you are sensitive to.

5. Use powdered rather than liquid makeup as the liquids are more likely to contain oil that will exacerbate any acne breakouts you may be experiencing. Lightly apply as little powder as possible to get the effect you seek.

6. Only use the minimum amount of makeup necessary. Go as light as possible to help avoid the pore blockage than can cause an acne breakout. Try new techniques that will allow you to use less makeup thus preventing additional acne.

7. Clean your makeup applicators often or simply purchase new ones. Using a dirty applicator can cause acne-producing dirt and bacteria to be applied directly to your skin.

8. Try different brands. What works for others may not work for you. Trial and error can be an effective way to find the right cosmetics for you; cosmetics that don’t exasperate your acne.

9. Remove makeup completely as soon as possible. Wash thoroughly each night and be sure to completely rinse away all soap residue.

10. Whenever possible, do not wear any makeup. Give your skin a break and let it breath.

Hopefully these tips were informative and helpful. Remember, makeup-related acne prevention is really all about finding what works for you and your skin.

Acne Treatment Tips

by 1 Comment

If you want to find useful skin care advices to cure your acne, fasten your seatbelt and let your eyes glued to this article. In this article, you will find complete skin care tips to help you cure your acne immediately. Here are 16 Acne treatment tips that you can start to apply today.

1. Choose your skin care product carefully
Choosing the right skin care product is the first step to treat your acne correctly. Choose only natural acne skin care products and avoid chemical and synthetic products that will harm your skin.

2. Do not squeeze or scratch your acne
Squeezing or scratching your acne can cause acne scars and hyper pigmentation in your skin. In the time when you’ve successfully eliminated your acne, there will be various new problems arise such as acne black spots, dark spots, scars, and post inflammatory hyper pigmentation.

3. Drink eight glasses of water a day
Water is important for your skin. As your skin consists mostly of water, you need water to keep your skin smooth and radiant. Eight glasses of water a day may help treat your acne problem and avoid dryness and inflammation.

4. Wash your face regularly
Wash your face regularly in the morning and night. If you wash your face regularly, you will keep your face clean and fresh. If you want use cleansers, moisturizers, or scrubs, you should use only natural acne skin care products for sensitive skin.

5. Move out and exercise
Exercise will help you to open up clogged pores and let the oxygen penetrates your skin. It can make your skin smooth and radiant. So, practicing small exercises every day can be beneficial for your skin.

6. Detoxify your body
You should detoxify your body regularly to get rid of toxins and free radicals inside your body. Eat foods with high fiber to smooth the detoxification process inside of your body. If you want faster detoxification, using detoxification supplements will do the trick.

7. Change the way you eat
Toxins and free radicals are usually come from your foods. Junk and greasy foods are usually the culprit of toxic buildup inside your body. If you want to get rid of your acne, change the way you eat. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

8. Juices from fruits and vegetables
If possible, consume more juices from various fruits and vegetables. Juices from apples, cucumbers, spinach, and other nutritious foods will help your skin to fight free radicals inside your body, which help to eliminate acne quickly.

9. Take a bath in regular basis
Personal cleansing is important for your skin. When you have a clean body, you will tend to have a clean skin. So, bathe your body regularly. It will remove dirt, germs, and bacteria in your body.

10. Use natural soap and shampoo
Remember to use natural soap and shampoo to prevent irritation in your skin. Chemical soap and shampoo can worsen your acne and irritate your skin.

11. Avoid excessive sun exposure
Excessive sun exposure will burn your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. It can also cause dark spots, acne black spots, and hyper pigmentation in your skin. So, it is better for you to avoid excessive sun exposure. Always protect your skin with good sun block lotion.

12. Eliminate your stress
It is already known through scientific research that stress can aggravate your acne. So, it is better for you to relax your body and mind by practicing some relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and meditation.

13. Use natural acne masks
Natural acne masks can boost your acne healing process significantly. When using a natural acne mask, choose the mask that has refreshing and soothing effects for your skin. Cucumber and honey masks are good for treating your acne.

14. Have 8 hours of quality sleep a day
Having quality sleep may assist your healing. Your body needs enough rest to make it efficient in treating your acne. Basically, your body has a natural healing mechanism during your sleep period. So, if you have eight hours of quality sleep a day, you can help your skin to heal itself.

15. Keep your hair clean and oil free
Keep your hair clean and oil free and avoid covering your forehead or face with hair. This will prevent additional oil or dirt from clogging your pores.

16. Choose the right makeup brand
When you buy your favorite makeup, don’t forget to see the label with “nonacnegenic” or “noncomedogenic”. Always remove your makeup before bed.

If you want to treat your acne correctly, apply the 16 Acne treatment tips above, and you will see great improvements in your skin.

How To Get Rid of Black Spots From Acne

by 5 Comments

It is very hard to fight acne. Most often  it can be depressing to see various acne black spots appear after you’ve successfully eliminated your acne. When those acne black spots appear on your skin, a proper treatment regimen should be conducted immediately to fade acne spots and to prevent acne scar.

Dark skin pigmentation is often caused by excessive sun exposure. It is also referred as photo aging. Dark spots on your skin can also be caused by acne. Your acne black spots are often appeared because of excessive exposure to the sun’s ultra violet rays when you still have acne. The results are ugly dark spots and acne scars.

However, you don’t need to worry as there are various natural acne skin care treatments that you can use immediately to get rid of black spots from acne. You can use 7 solid treatments below to fade acne black spots easily:

1. Manuka Honey – This kind of special New Zealand honey has been trusted by skin care professionals to cure your dark spots naturally. If you have dark spots on your skin, applying Manuka honey to the affected areas after bathing will help lighten the dark spots.

2. Aloe vera gel – The gel of aloe vera is known as a substance that can effectively repair skin damage. It has been used since ancient time to fight skin problems. It can effectively cure acne black spots on your face.

3. Castor oil – There are various healing properties contained in castor oil. This oil is effective to fade dark spots in a few days. You can use this oil in the night, before going to bed. Leave this oil overnight and wash your face in the morning.

4. Yogurt – Can yogurt help eliminate your skin discoloration? You bet! It is a natural bleaching for your skin. Just combine the yogurt with lime juice and apply the paste to your face every day. You’ll watch your dark spots fade away slowly.

5. Lemon – Lemon can also be used as natural bleaching treatment. Lemon juice, whether you apply it topically or drink it regularly, can help you to eliminate the black spots immediately. If you can, use lemon as internal and external skin treatment.

6. Extrapone nutgrass – This root extracts can fade your dark spots within two weeks. Extrapone nutgrass is an essential herb that can lighten your skin discoloration and make your skin looks white.

7. Cucumber – A special fruit with abundance skin healing properties. You can include this fruit to your regular diet, especially in your salad. You can also take advantage of cucumber by applying cucumber mask every two days to gradually eliminate acne black spots.

Treatment Options For Acne Scar

by 5 Comments

Acne Scar has a significant impact on ones self-image and quality of life. Even clinically mild acne may cause considerable social embarrasment. So ones perception of the severity of the problem is an important function is choosing treatment. Several options regarding treatment could be considered. Some of the common technique will be discussed here.

OTC or prescription gels,creams and ointments: There are several OTC gels creams and ointments available in the market. But it is very important to consult a dermatologist before buying so he/she can suggest you the right for you.

Laser Skin Resurfacing: Ablative CO2/Er:YAG laser skin resurfacing can improve the appearance of acne scar of all types but requires significant postoperative would care and recovery time. A newer fractional resurfacing device, Fraxel, shows promise for remodeling acne scars through a series of treatments with less downtime. Nonablative lasers are thought to stimulate collagen production and thereby, gradually improving the appearance of pitted acne scars.

Dermabrasion : Dermabrasion using high-speed diamond buffing drills can remove small and superficial scars and sometimes deep scars. However, this method is highly dependent on doctor technique and can result in scarring in untrained hands.

Fillers: Fat transfer and injection of fillers substance can also be used to elevate acne scars.

Surgical techniques: Different surgical techniques like punch excision, punch elevation and elliptical excision can also be used to remove isolated ice-pick or deep boxar scars.

As acne might yield both scarring or pigmentation changes, it is essential to prevent and minimise the scarring. Adequate treatment will decrease its severity,scarring and pigmentation which can be easily treated with topical application and skin lightening products available in the market. However treated wrongly it might leave permanent nodular hypertrophic scar.

If you have any questions regarding treatment options for acne scar ask us at DermaTalk Skin Care Forum

How To Choose An Acne Treatment?

by 1 Comment

Water water everywhere… But not a drop to drink! Do you get the same feeling as you browse through the acne skin care section of your drugstore?

There are so many acne products flooding the skin care market that more often than not, people get confused about what to purchase. Even a search on the Internet turns out such overwhelming results that it only adds to the confusion. Fortunately, the right kind of knowledge can make things easier for you and help to decide on the right product…

In order to choose an effective acne treatment, we first need to understand the prime causes of acne.

Causes of Acne

Acne can be a result of a number of reasons including genetics, hormonal alterations, medications, stress and most importantly bacterial infestation. Acne is formed when bacteria, dead skin cells and sebum particles get clogged inside the skin pores. It further gives rise to the formation of whiteheads and blackheads

Choosing Acne Care Products

It is not enough to use acne care products. Rather you should make sure that all the other skin care products that you use help to keep acne at bay. Here are some handy tips…

Skin Cleansers
Should be mild and remove the skin impurities without making it too dry. Dry and irritated skin is more prone to breakouts. Look for ‘anti-acneic’ labels!

Toners
Acne prone skin is usually oil. So consider using toners containing witch hazel.

Moisturizers
Use lightweight oil-free moisturizers preferably in form of serums and gels. Avoid creamy ones.

Spot Treatments
Look for products containing ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. They are powerful acne fighting ingredients and can provide great improvement in acne. Also look for tretinoin, again a powerful anti-acneic ingredient.

So, the next time you go to purchase your skin care products, you won’t be confused anymore and can make a wise decision.

Acne in children

by 2 Comments

Acne in children is not uncommon and can be seen in the first year of life, early childhood, prepubertal age, and puberty.  However, in mid-childhood, between 1-7 years, acne is uncommon, and when it is encountered it should be evaluated for hyperandrogenism. There are several subsets in childhood acne.

Neonatal acne

It is actually not acne. It has been renamed as neonatal cephalic pustulosis (NCP). It presents in new borns, in the first few weeks of life, as papules and pustules on the cheeks, chin, eyelids, and forehead Comedones are absent. NCP represents follicular or poral colonization with Malassezia sympodialis and M. globosa. It is usually self-limiting and does not require any treatment.

Infantile acne

It is less common than NCP and starts later, typically between 3-6 months. Boys are more frequently affected than girls, and there is usually a family history of severe acne. The clinical picture shows the usual mix of acne lesions – comedones, inflammatory lesions including nodules and cysts, and in some cases, even scars . The severity and course varies. Typically it remits between 1-2 years of age. If antibiotics are required, the choice is between erythromycin and trimethoprim (unavailable in India). Oral isotretinoin is indicated for nodular/scarring infantile acne. Isotretinoin administration in young children is complicated because it is only available in gelatin capsules and is inactivated when exposed to sunlight and oxygen. It is suggested that capsules should be opened in dim light and mixed with butter and jam and spread on a bread slice. A second suggestion is to freeze the capsule to a solid consistency and then cut the capsule to the desired dose and conceal it within a palatable food such as a candy bar.

Mid-childhood acne

In mid-childhood between 1-7 years of age, acne is very rare. Clinically it is similar to infantile acne, but denotes hyperandrogenism. The best screening test for hyperandrogenism in this age group is bone age.

Prepubertal acne

It represents early adrenarche and may appear as early as eight years of age. It is more frequent among girls. It is predominantly comedonal and central part of forehead is where it begins. It is associated with raised levels of DHEAS and, in some cases, free testosterone.It evolves into common acne and continues as adolescent acne. The treatment depends on the type and severity of lesions, and the age at treatment. Macrolides are the treatment of choice. Tetracyclines may be given above the age of eight years, although some experts draw the line at 10 years. Cephalexin is an option in the below 8-years age group.

Kubba R, Bajaj AK, Thappa DM, Sharma R, Vedamurthy M, Dhar S, Criton S, Fernandez R, Kanwar AJ, Khopkar U, Kohli M, Kuriyipe VP, Lahiri K, Madnani N, Parikh D, Pujara S, Rajababu KK, Sacchidanand S, Sharma VK, Thomas J. Acne in India: Guidelines for management – IAA Consensus Document: Acne in children. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol [serial online] 2009 [cited 2009 Mar 3];75(Suppl 1):S57-S8. Available from: http://www.ijdvl.com/text.asp?2009/75/7/57/45490

Acne in pregnancy

by 4 Comments

Acne and pregnancy interact in a variable way. In the majority, pregnancy has a beneficial effect on the activity of acne, and this is through the sebosuppressive effect of estrogens. In a small number of cases, there is a flare-up of acne requiring active intervention, especially if scarring is a threat. Acne may also appear for the first time during pregnancy.

There are reports of women experiencing acne only during pregnancies. If an acne patient during active treatment conceives then careful assessment of teratogenicity issues needs to be carried out and the safety to carry the pregnancy to term needs to be determined. There are times when a medical termination of pregnancy may be a safer option.

It is difficult and challenging to treat acne in a pregnant woman as most drugs are contraindicated or considered unsafe. For comedonal acne, BPO (2.5-5.0%) is safe and may be sufficient. Azelaic acid, although not contraindicated, is not recommended. Topical retinoids are controversial in pregnancy because of concerns of systemic absorption. However, in clinical studies of topical adapalene and tazarotene, plasma concentrations were found to be below 3 nM, which is similar to or lower than endogenous tretinoin, suggesting that the teratogenic potential of topical retinoids is negligible.

Inflammatory acne may be treated with BPO or topical antibiotics, or a combination of the two. Macrolides are generally regarded as safe in pregnancy. Oral erythromycin is permitted for scar-threatening acne, and may be given for 3-9 months as needed. Presumably, it is just as safe to administer newer macrolides, roxithromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin, in usual acne dosages. Any such intervention must be well justified, and the perceived benefits must outweigh the uncertainties. Tetracyclines (including doxycycline, minocycline, lymecycline) being unsafe in the second and third trimester of pregnancy (vide supra) are best avoided at all stages of pregnancy, whereas oral retinoids being highly teratogenic are absolutely contraindicated.

Source: Kubba R, Bajaj AK, Thappa DM, Sharma R, Vedamurthy M, Dhar S, Criton S, Fernandez R, Kanwar AJ, Khopkar U, Kohli M, Kuriyipe VP, Lahiri K, Madnani N, Parikh D, Pujara S, Rajababu KK, Sacchidanand S, Sharma VK, Thomas J. Acne in India: Guidelines for management – IAA Consensus Document: Acne in pregnancy. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol [serial online] 2009 [cited 2009 Mar 2];75(Suppl 1):S59. Available from: http://www.ijdvl.com/text.asp?2009/75/7/59/45491

The Most Efective Combined Therapy For Acne

by 3 Comments

With many research and study, combined therapy with retinoids, Benzoyl peroxide gels and topical antibiotics are found to be most effective in treating most of the acne infections.

With this type of therapy, the retinoids prevents or removes comedones, whereas benzoyl peroxide or any other topical antibiotics eradicates P.Acnes. The retinoids also enhances absorption of the other medications. Sometimes irritation reactions limit the use of this combination therapy. So before you apply the combination therapy for your acne, there are few things you should know.

Always use retinoids creams or solution in the evening or bedtime as a single agent .

Apply benzoyl perixide gel or any other topical antibiotics prescribed in the morning.

If you acne have decreased then you must decrease the frequency of therapy and the concentration of the medications.

If you are using tretioin, apply the agent at different times, not simultaneously. Mixing highly saturated tretinoin with reactive oxidants like benzoyl perixide  might destroy both chemicals.

If you have any questions regarding use of combination therapy ask us at DermaTalk Skin Care Forum

Topical Antibiotics Used for Acne Treatment

by 4 Comments

Acne is common skin disease that affect almost 90% of the people at some time in their life. Acne is caused by abnormal desquamation of follicular epithelium which results in obstruction of the pilosebaceous canal. The  obstruction of the pilosebaceous canal further  leads to the formation of comedones. These comedones becomes inflamed due to overgrowth of Propionibacterium acnes.

Topical Preparations like Benzoyl peroxide, Salicylic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Retinoids, Sulfur Preparations and many topical antibiotics are mainly used in the treatment of acne. These topical preparations are either used a single line regimen or with combination therapy.

Topical antibiotics are safer and accurate to use as compared to other oral antibiotics . Topical antibiotics are mainly used for their role to kill  P acnes. They may also have anti-inflammatory properties, Thus killing the bacteria and keeps the glands unblocked. The most commonly used topical antibiotics are Tetracycline, Erythromycin and Clindamycin. Study shows that Clindamycin is more effective than topical tetracycline in treating acne. They are most effective in combination with benzoyl peroxide. These preparation can be used once or twice a day depending upon the nature of acne. Gels and solutions may be more irritating than creams or lotions.

Clindamycin: Clindamycin  is one of the most commonly used topical antibiotics. It is available in 1% concentration in a hydro-alcoholic vehicle as a gel or lotion. This can be Applied once or twice daily. Some common side effects might be Skin dryness and another which is rare ( only 2-3 cases ) might be  pseudomembranous colitis. Patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease should not use this antibiotics. The therapy must be stopped if any gastrointestinal symptoms occurs. It can be used in combination with benzoyl peroxide prepration for better outcome.

Erythromycin : Erythromycin is another popular antibiotics used as topical treatment. It is available as 1.5 %  solution, 2% solution or a combination 3%  Erythromycin and 5%  benzoyl peroxide gel. It can be applied once or twice daily. It doesn’t have much more side effects and can be used in pregnancy too.

Tetracycline: Tetracycline is another topical antibiotic used in acne treatment. It comes in 2.2 %  solution. It may be applied once or twice daily. Special precautions should be taken before applying it as it might stain skin and clothes. Sometimes  it may cause severe allergic reactions to skins.

It is important to know that acne is not a disease of hygiene. so you should not try to scrub the lesions away, and  should not use alcohol-based astringents which might dry and irritate your skin.

If you have any questions that are not answered here you can ask us at DermaTalk Skin Care Forum

 

Safety of Oral Antibiotics Used in Acne Therapy

by 1 Comment

Although in most of the mild cases of acne over the counter acne products or prescription topical therapies alone can be very effective, there are often cases for which oral antibiotics are needed to control disease. As for severe kind of acne combination of oral antibiotics with other drugs like retinoids and benzoyl peroxide can be highly effective. Patients and their parents often have many questions regarding the safety and efficacy of long-term use of antibiotics for acne. It is of much importance to get a thorough understanding of the antibiotics and their side effects.

Antibiotics therapy for acne cannot be truly evaluated until 6-8 weeks after starting. Antibiotics level in sebum are not detectable until approximately 7 days after treatment has started, and in addition, lipid formed in basal cells of sebaceous follicles may require 1 months to reach the skin surface.Although sebum composition changes,the rate of secretion remains constant,Therefore skin may remain oily. Therapy may need to continue for several months.So it is important to use the full antibiotics dose as prescribe.It is controversial whether to taper the oral antibiotics or to stop with no taper. Tapering may allow organism to grow more redily.Long term use of antibiotics likely contributes to the pool of resistant organism.

Oral antibiotics may also decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.Some study suggest that long term use of antibiotics might be associated with increase risk of breast cancer in women.So the therapy should be limited and long term maintainance therapy should follow on topical or other medications.

Commonly Used Antibiotics for Acne.

Tetracycline: It is the first line of antibiotic prescribed as its cheap and well tolerated for longer period of time.It is effective in low dose because high concentration are achived within sebaceous follicles,especially when inflammation is present.

Apart from minor gastrointestinal irritation, Candida vaginitis is a common complication.Although tetracycline can cause enamel hyperplasia and hence tooth discoloration,by age 12,growth of teeth is essentially complete.Tetracycline should never be used in younger children nor be administered during pregnancy.The duration of treatment can be from 2 weeks to 10 months.Some presenting symptoms might be headache,nausea,vomiting and double vision.

Erythromycin: Erythromycin 1g/day (in divided dose ) is also effective in the treatment of acne.It has several advantages over tetracycline but 40% of P.acnes organism are resistant to erythromycin.So combination with topical benzoyl peroxide help decrease resistant to erythromycin.

Minocycline: They are useful but quite expensive antibiotics used in patients unresponsive to other medications.It is overall the most effective antibiotics to treat acne but it can have some serious side effects.This antibiotics is lipophilic is nature so it crosses blood brain barrier and can precipiate pseudotumor cerebri syndrome.the duration of therapy can be weeks to year with most common presentation being headache,nausea,vomiting,visual distrubance.

Minocycline causes blue discoloration of acne cyst or sites of trauma,this discoloration usually doesn’t appear until 8 months of therapy with a total commulative dose of 70g and usually reversed after discontinuing drug.Once the cumulative dose of 100g is reached,alternate therapy should be considered.

Doxycycline: This is often used for people who can’t tolerate tetracycline or other drugs.It is as effective as minocycline if taken in similar manner and dosage like minocycline.Peoples using doxycycline should not be exposed to sun because of its photosensitivity and cause sun burn.

Clindamycin: Clindamycin is extremely effective against acne.However due to major side effects like pseudomembranous colitis it has been limited to topical therapy ,systemic therapy only given when all drugs fails.

Azithromycin: Azithromycin in 500mg dose three times a week has been shown to yield a 60% reuction is inflammatory papules in 83% of patients inrolled in 12 weeks study.There is no associated pseudotumor cerebri and therefore can be used for an acne flare during early Accutane therapy.

Take part in our poll about antibiotics and share your views here:

The Most Effective Oral Antibiotic For Acne