| Proper Hygiene | | | | - Salicylic Acid: Unclogs your pores and |
| | | | encourages skin renewal. |
| One of the most common misconceptions about | | | | |
| acne is that it's caused by dirt. It's not! | | | | - Tretinoin (Retin-A(R)): Promotes healthy |
| Acne is caused by a combination of factors | | | | sloughing. |
| you can't control, like your hormone balance | | | | |
| and the natural pace of your skin's renewal | | | | - Antibiotics: Kill bacteria and reduces |
| system. Fortunately, there are a number of | | | | inflammation. |
| things you can control that may help you keep | | | | |
| your acne in check. Begin by following these | | | | - Oral Contraceptives: Help regulate hormone |
| simple suggestions for healthy-skin hygiene. | | | | levels. |
| | | | |
| | | | - Anti-Androgens: Inhibit the body's |
| | | | production of acne-causing hormones. |
| Acne Prevention - Tip #2: Skip harsh scrubs. | | | | |
| It's okay to exfoliate, but be sure to use a | | | | - Isotretinoin (Accutane(R)): Treatment for |
| gentle formula with small, smooth grains. | | | | severe cystic or nodular acne. |
| Avoid products with almond or apricot shell | | | | |
| fragments; they can irritate or even tear | | | | There are a number of prescription |
| your skin and further aggravate your acne. | | | | medications known to cause acne. If you |
| | | | routinely take any of the following drugs (or |
| Acne Prevention - Tip #3: Say no to alcohol. | | | | drugs like them) and have problems with acne |
| If you use a toner, avoid products with high | | | | breakouts, you may want to consult your |
| concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or | | | | physician to discuss an alternative treatment |
| common rubbing alcohol. A strong astringent, | | | | with fewer side affects. But try to keep it |
| alcohol strips the top layer of your skin, | | | | in perspective, your health comes first! |
| causing your sebaceous glands to produce more | | | | |
| oil. The result? Dry, red skin - and possibly | | | | Anticonvulsants (like Dilantin) are |
| more blemishes. | | | | prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy and |
| | | | other kinds of seizures. Most medications in |
| Acne Prevention - Tip #4: Don't squeeze or | | | | this family list acne as a common |
| pick. Squeezing or picking your blemishes - | | | | side-effect. |
| with fingernails, pins or anything else - can | | | | |
| force bacteria deeper into the skin, causing | | | | Corticosteroids (like Prednisone) are often |
| greater inflammation and infection. You'll | | | | used to treat asthma and other chronic lung |
| also increase the damage to the surrounding | | | | diseases. Like cortisol, a natural steroid |
| skin, so the blemish is more likely to leave | | | | produced by the body during times of intense |
| a permanent acne scar. | | | | stress, corticosteroids can stimulate sebum |
| | | | production and lead to blemishes. |
| Acne Prevention - Tip #5: Hands off! | | | | |
| Propionibacterium acnes (the bacteria that | | | | Disulfuram (or Antabuse) is prescribed to |
| causes breakouts) is a normal resident of | | | | help chronic alcoholic patients who want to |
| your skin; it doesn't lead to acne until it | | | | remain in a state of enforced sobriety. When |
| gets trapped inside the hair follicle. | | | | mixed with alcohol, this drug causes a range |
| Excessive touching of your face, including | | | | of unpleasant symptoms intended to discourage |
| rubbing or even resting your chin in your | | | | further mixing. Unfortunately, regular use of |
| hands, can drive bacteria into your pores - | | | | Disulfuram (even when not drinking) can cause |
| where it can begin its dirtywork. | | | | acne in some patients. |
| | | | |
| Acne Prevention - Tip #6: Work out, wash off. | | | | Immuran. Like other immunosuppressants, |
| When you exercise, your movement generates | | | | Immuran is used to suppress the immune system |
| heat; clothing and equipment cause friction. | | | | in patients awaiting an organ transplant. It |
| Until you shower off, heat and moisture are | | | | can help prevent organ rejection; it can also |
| trapped against your skin, creating an ideal | | | | suppress your body's natural ability to fight |
| breeding ground for the spread of bacteria. | | | | the bacteria that cause acne. |
| So whenever you can, shower off immediately | | | | |
| after exercising. | | | | INH (or Isoniazid) is typically used to treat |
| | | | tuberculosis, or TB. Thought to be largely |
| Acne Medications | | | | eradicated, TB experienced a resurgence in |
| | | | the late 1980s among the homeless population |
| Acne Prevention Treatment - Find a regimen | | | | and in patients suffering from AIDS. It |
| and stick with it. Most cases of mild acne | | | | continues to be a problem today. |
| can be improved with "over-the-counter" | | | | |
| products, or products that don't require a | | | | Quinine is prescribed as a precaution against |
| prescription from your doctor. There is a | | | | - or treatment for - malaria. If you're |
| wide range of treatments available, and | | | | traveling to a part of the world where |
| there's a good chance one of them will work | | | | malaria is a risk, be sure to ask your doctor |
| for you. If you start treatment before your | | | | about alternative solutions. |
| acne gets severe, you'll have a better chance | | | | |
| of avoiding physical and emotional problems | | | | Thyroid preparations. Some thyroid |
| down the road. But if your acne gets worse or | | | | medications (such as Thiourea and Thiouracil) |
| lasts more than a couple of weeks, see a | | | | are known to trigger acne. These preparations |
| dermatologist. Here's a quick listing of the | | | | are used to stimulate the thyroid gland in |
| most common products used to treat acne - | | | | patients with low thyroid function. Large |
| click on the links that interest you for more | | | | amounts of iodine, which also helps to |
| information on that course of acne treatment. | | | | regulate thyroid function, can also cause |
| | | | breakouts. |
| - Benzoyl Peroxide: Kills the bacteria that | | | | |
| causes acne. | | | | Kerwin Chang writes for where you can find |
| | | | out more about acne and other skin care |
| - Proactiv(R) Solution: A dermatologist | | | | topics. |
| formulated Combination Therapy(R) acne | | | | |
| management system. Click Here and receive 2 | | | | Kerwin Chang writes for where you can find |
| free bonuses when you try Proactiv(R) | | | | out more about acne and other skin care |
| Solution Risk-Free for 60 Days! | | | | topics. |
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