| Acne Treatments Treatments for acne come in two forms; topical treatments (applied to the skin) and oral medicines (taken by mouth). While mild acne usually responds to self-care measures and topical treatments, moderate to severe cases may require prescription medicines. It’s a good idea to try to get an understanding of your acne and how severe it is. This will help you to select the most appropriate treatment. Home and Over the Counter Acne Treatments Self Care: Keep acne prone areas clean but avoid aggressive cleansing with strong soaps. Do not pick pimples or spots as this can aggravate your acne and result in scarring. Skin cleansers: are available over the counter and are usually useful in the treatment of mild acne (e.g. Oxy and Clearasil Max). More on skin cleansers. Benzoyl peroxide: (Benoxyl, Benzac) helps shed excess skin, unblock the hair follicles and decrease skin oiliness. It’s antibacterial properties help to reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin. Benzoyl peroxide is a bleaching agent and can stain clothes and towels. Wash your hands after applying. More on benzoyl peroxide. If these do not work you may want to see your doctor who can give you a prescription for a stronger medicine.. Nutritional Treatments Wholefood diet: A diet high in refined sugars and starches tends to increase quantities of insulin in your body. This may in turn increase the levels of male hormones that cause acne. Cutting back on refined carbohydrates may help although there is little evidence to support a consistent link between diet and acne. Antioxidants: Antioxidants neutralise damaging free radicals that are believed to play a role in acne and inflammation. Fresh fruit and vegetables are naturally rich in antioxidants. You could also try a drink like carrot juice which contains beta-carotene - a powerful antioxidant and precursor to Vitamin A. Alternatively there are many good antioxidant supplements available. Zinc: 60 to 90 mg a day of this mineral improves some people’s acne. Several double-blind trials indicate that zinc supplements can reduce the severity of acne. Alternative Treatments Acupuncture may be helpful in the treatment of acne. Several studies have reported that acupuncture can help with acne treatments however the general consensus is that more study is required. Hypnosis: Anecdotal evidence suggests that hypnotherapy may help in preventing scarring from acne. Acne Treatment Time Scale Many acne treatments may take a while to work (anywhere from 2-6 months). Don’t stop using the treatment within this time period. If your acne does not improve talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Your should also talk to them about any side effects from, or irritations to, your acne treatment. Some acne treatments tend to dry out the skin during the initial stages but the skin usually adjusts. |
