Acne

This factsheet is for people who have acne.

Acne is a skin condition that causes spots. Most people affected by acne are aged between 12 and 25.1 However, men and women in their 30s and 40s can also suffer. There are many treatments available to help deal with the condition.
What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following

blackheads comedones
whiteheads
red or yellow spots
greasy skin
scars

Acne typically affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms and the severity of the condition can vary.

Acne affects people of all skin colours. The processes that cause acne are exactly the same in people with black or brown skin but the impact is altered by the skin pigmentation.

Acne is very common and affects about 80 in 100 people aged 11-30 at some time.

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Acne

This factsheet is for people who have acne.

Acne is a skin condition that causes spots. Most people affected by acne are aged between 12 and 25.1 However, men and women in their 30s and 40s can also suffer. There are many treatments available to help deal with the condition.
What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following

blackheads comedones 2,3
whiteheads2,3
red or yellow spots2,3
greasy skin2,3
scars2,3

Acne typically affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms and the severity of the condition can vary.1,4

Acne affects people of all skin colours. The processes that cause acne are exactly the same in people with black or brown skin but the impact is altered by the skin pigmentation.

Acne is very common and affects about 80 in 100 people aged 11-30 at some time.4
The skin

The surface of the skin has lots of small sebaceous glands just below the surface. These glands make an oily substance called sebum that keeps the skin smooth and supple.

Tiny pores holes in the skin allow the sebum to come to the skin surface. Hairs also grow through these pores.

IIllustration showing the structure of skin
Illustration showing the structure of skin
What causes acne?

Acne is caused by the overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oily substances onto the skin.

The sebaceous glands of people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of a hormone called testosterone, found naturally in both men and women.

Testosterone in people prone to acne triggers the sebaceous glands to produce an excess of sebum. At the same time, the dead skin cells lining the openings of the hair follicles the tubes that hold the hair are not shed properly and clog up the follicles.

These two effects combined cause a build-up of oil in the hair follicles. This causes blackheads and whiteheads to form.

For some people, their acne does not progress beyond this stage.

However in other people, the build-up of oil in the hair follicles creates an ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes to grow.

These bacteria normally live harmlessly on your skin but when this ideal environment is created, they grow. They feed off the sebum and produce substances that cause a response from your body’s immune system. This inflames the skin and creates the redness associated with spots.

In more severe ‘inflammatory acne’, cysts develop beneath the skin’s surface. These acne cysts can rupture, spreading the infection into nearby skin tissue. This can result in scarring.

What makes acne worse?

There are a number of things that can make your acne worse. These include the following

picking and squeezing the spots may cause further inflammation and scarring1
stress can make acne worse in some people, although it is not clear why1,
in women, outbreaks may be affected by the hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle1,
excessive production of male hormones such as testosterone from conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome may be another cause.5 For more information, please see the separate BUPA factsheet Polycystic ovary syndrome
some contraceptive pills may make acne worse. This is due to the type of progestogen hormone in some pills whereas some other types of contraceptive pills can improve acne – see Treatments section below. Your GP will advise you which contraceptive pill to take
some medicines can make acne worse. For example, some medicines taken for epilepsy, and steroid creams and ointments that are used for eczema. Do not stop a prescribed medicine if you suspect it is making your acne worse, but tell your GP. An alternative may be an option
steroids can cause acne as a side-effect

Treatment

Acne may cause you considerable emotional distress but there is a range of treatment options to help you tackle the problem. No treatment will completely ‘cure’ your acne. The aims of treatment are to prevent new spots forming, to improve those already present, and to prevent scarring.3
Home treatment

It is important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser.1,6 The skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so avoid aggressive washing with strong soaps.

There are a number of over-the-counter remedies available from pharmacies to treat mild acne. These usually contain antibacterial agents such as benzoyl peroxide eg Oxy and Clearasil Max.

As well as its antibacterial effects, benzoyl peroxide can dry out the skin and encourage it to shed the surface layer of dead skin. Together, these effects make it harder for pores to become blocked and for infection to develop.

Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling, especially to start with. This tends to settle down if you reduce the number of times you use it. You can then build up your use gradually.

No home treatments for acne will work immediately. It can take weeks, if not months, for significant effects to be noticeable. If home treatments have not worked after two months, or you have severe acne, you should visit your GP.
Prescription medicines

Your GP may start your treatment by prescribing a preparation containing benzoyl peroxide. If this does not work, or if you have more severe acne, there are a range of other treatment options that you can either rub onto your skin topical or take in tablet form oral.
Topical treatments

There are several topical treatments you may be prescribed including those listed below

azelaic acid Skinoren is an alternative to benzoyl peroxide and may not make your skin as sore as benzoyl peroxide
topical retinoids eg Adapalene are medicines based on vitamin A, which are rubbed into the skin once or twice a day.7 They work by encouraging the outer layer of skin to flake off
a topical antibiotic lotion applied to the skin can be used to control the P. acnes bacteria eg Dalacin T. Treatment needs to continue for at least six months. Preparations that combine an antibiotic with other acne medication are available eg Benzamycin which combines an antibiotic with benzoyl peroxide

Oral treatments

There are several oral treatments you may be prescribed including those listed below

oral antibiotics tablets, such as tetracycline, can be prescribed for inflammatory acne. They should be taken daily for around three months, although it might take four to six months for the benefits to be seen.7 The success of this treatment can be limited because the strains of bacteria are often resistant to the common antibiotics. Antibiotics do not prevent pores from becoming blocked so treatment to prevent blackheads, such as benzoyl peroxide, is often also prescribed at the same time
some types of oral contraceptive tablets help women who have acne. A combination of the usual pill hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate eg Dianette suppresses male hormone activity so is often used in women with acne
isotretinoin eg Roaccutane is a medicine known as an oral retinoid, which also exists in a topical form see above. Isotretinoin works by drying up oily secretions. It tends to be prescribed to people with severe forms of acne that have proved resistant to other treatments. There a number of serious side-effects of this drug, such as liver disorders and depresssion. You should not take isotretinoin if you are pregnant, as it is very dangerous to an unborn baby. For safety reasons, isotretinoin is only prescribed under the supervision of dermatology specialists.

Kerwin Chang writes for where you can find out more about care topics.

When talking about skin problems, nine times out of ten you will discover that the topic is acne. Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, mostly in teens but also with adults, acne can prove to be a very serious problem.

One of the products that have been swiping the markets is acne soap, almost every cosmetics and dermatology company that respects itself has some kind of acne soap out there for the public to use, many soaps may cause irritation to some of its users, some soaps are scented and some users are irritated by them too. Soaps have become the number one product to fight acne.

These anti acne soaps come in two different forms, in liquid or in classic bar shape, most of the soaps have a similar version in bar or liquid so it is really the preference of the user if he or she likes this form or the other better. Cleansers are used to fight and remove oil and dirt from the surface of the face thus cleaning and opening it. this is not a one step procedure, the cleaning is a first step, allowing the active topical acne cleaner to treat the acne and decrease it.

One major problem with teens using these soap and anti acne treatments is that they are too eager to eliminate their acne that they overuse the products, this may cause other problems, as the use of soap on the face skin creates dryness and irritation. In this case there should be a regular, and steady use of the treatment products, and not an acne blitz to try and eliminate acne immediately, this simply does not work.

Another important factor is the kind of skin the user has, it is important to know and understand what kind of skin you have before you even buy your acne treatment products, soaps or cleansers. Dry or oily skin require a product that will treat the face skin accordingly, otherwise the user may make his problem worst than better, this is very important, and this should not be left for the salesperson to deiced. Users with dry skin should gentle cleansers and soaps, as they will feel an aggressive one immediately and it would not help their condition. Synthetic detergents are sometimes recommended for dry skin, they should not be used often and have been known to work well on that skin type.

One skin type that needs to be most careful of all is a sensitive skin type, if you have sensitive skin you should be very careful with what you use, try and make sure well in advance that the product is fro sensitive skin and that it will not hurt your skin face, try not to use any products that require scrubbing or aggressive washing, look for gentle soaps and liquids, cleansers and special sensitive skin products.

It is important to know what you are shopping for and what kind of skin you have, before you even go out to the shop. You should put some thought into the acne treatment that you are going to use, and think about a long term fight against acne and not a one day effort, find a product you like and that is good for you, and use it every couple of days, always read the instructions and use common sense when looking for new products.

“Who hasn’t encountered the dreaded “”"”zit”"”" at some point in their life making acne one of the most common of all skin disorders. Acne is a common eruption of the hair follicles and oil-producing glands of the skin. Acne usually is found on the face, neck, and upper body. Pimples and blackheads are caused by the increase in hormones adolescence or before a woman’s period and by bacterial infections of the skin.

Waste and toxins are eliminated by the skin through sweat pores. Thus, constipation or irregular bowel movements worsen the problem and need to corrected in acne treatment.

While there no one “”"”best acne treatment”"”" the following are the top five natural acne treatments which should be considered by anyone seeking an acne solution.

1. Supplements and Vitamins for Acne Treatment

Zinc 50 milligrams, 2 times per day. If Zinc Picolinate is used due to superior absorption 50 milligrams is taken only once a day.

Vitamin A 100,000 Units per day for 2 months. Excess Vitamin A be toxic to the liver and needs to be used under a physician’s supervision. Pregnant women or women who may become pregnant should not take more than 10,000 Units per day.

Vitamin B3 Niacinamide topical gel, containing 4 Niacinamide, applied twice per day.

Vitamin B6 100 milligrams per day, especially if acne is associated with the menstrual period.

Vitamin C 1,000 milligrams, 4 times a day. Reduce dosage if diarrhea occurs.

Vitamin E 600 Units per day.

Pantothenic Acid – 2.5 grams, four times per day, orally. In research, this has been used together with a topical cream containing 20 Pantothenic acid which was applied four to six times per day.

Deodorized garlic, 10 to 16 capsules per day, depending on the severity of the acne and until symptoms improve. Reduce this dosage gradually, over a 3-week period, to 4 capsules per day.

Evening Primrose oil or Linseed oil 2 capsules per day.

Most of these supplements can be taken in a multivitamin tablet and extra Vitamin A and Zinc.

2. Proper Diet as an Acne Solution

Increase fruits and vegetables in the diet. Eat at least 2 pieces of fruit and 1 cup of vegetables daily.

Eliminate sugar and sugar containing foods because sugar increases the fats that are secreted by the sebaceous glands. These are the glands that are infected by bacteria when a person has acne.

Limit junk foods, fatty foods, fried foods, and milk products. All these foods tend to aggravate acne.

3 The Herbal Acne Remedy

A tea can be made from equal parts of Oregon Grape Root, Dandelion Root, and Burdock Root. Brew 1 teaspoon of this mixture per cup of boiling water. Simmer 5 minutes, then steep for 15 minutes. Up to 6 cups per day for 12 days are taken, or less if nausea or an upset stomach occurs.

A tea of Vitex has often been considered useful, especially when premenstrual symptoms and hormonal imbalances are involved.

4. Physical Treatments in Acne Care

Exposing the skin to sunshine and fresh air or to the light of a tanning lamp, but not long enough to burn the skin. Overexposure to tanning lights may increase the risk of skin cancer.

5. Homeotherapy Acne Skin Care Products

Silica 6C and Hepar sulph 6C Each day, 3 pellets of Silica in the early morning and afternoon and 3 pellets of Hepar sulph at noon time and in the evening. The pellets are dissolved under the tongue.

Note A wide range of homeopathic medicines can be effective acne treatment solutions. A health care professional trained in homeopathic prescribing will usually be the best way to select the correct acne medicine.”

To treat acne, there exists many types of acne medication and solutions. Many of the acne medication treatments may include topical or systematic acne solutions. Additionally, homeopathic treatments may also be applied to prevent the out-break of acne, an example of which is the use of mild soaps and water. Which acne medication to use first depends on what is the cause of acne.

There can be many causes of acne. Some of the causes include

Over-secretion of the sebaceous glands of its sebum natural oil of the skin.

Hormon imbalances due to internal changes in your body.

The weakening of the immune system due to the attacks of the acne-infecting bacteria called as “Propionibacterium acnes”.

Impaired internal detoxification system.

The reaction of the digestive system to the food items you eat.

Stress.

Genetic influences.

Environmental pollutants or toxins.

Cosmetics that contain chemicals, preservatives or harmful substances.

The severity of your acne problem determines the type of acne medication to be used. In fact, for the less serious acne cases or conditions, it is best to start with natural acne solutions. This normally comprises of natural herbs and exotic plants that are effective in removing blemishes and the prevention of bacterial formation. One example of less serious acne symptoms are those that appear on the onset of an acne outbreak.

Fruits and vegetables are perfect in lessening the effects of the above mentioned factors. They contain eeded minerals and vitamins for healthy skin. These may also have the properties of effectively cleansing and removing the oil from the skin tissues, like that of cucumbers and tomatoes. Most vegetables and fruits have a high water content. Water itself is potent in releasing body toxins from the body. Increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of distilled water can help prevent the onset of acne.

However, if you have a serious acne breakout, the use of acne medication treatment may be suitable. Acne medication products include topical and systematic acne solutions.

Topical acne solutions are those which you apply on the skin surface. One ingredient found in a topical acne medication product is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is effective in reducing the quantity of bacteria on the skin. However, prolonged use can result in dryness of the skin, contract dermatitis and cause skin irritations.

Another ingredient in a topical acne medication product is Azeilic acid. Azeilic acid is known for its diminishing effect like that of benzoyl peroxide, on the bacterial presence on the skin. This acne solution is also effective in evening out the darker complexions produced by the recent flare-ups of acne. The side effects of this acne solution are impermanent discoloration on the affected area and extreme dryness.

In addition, Erythromycin in its topical form may reduce the acne inflammation. This acne solution is often combined with benzoyl peroxide to rigorously attack belligerent infection caused by the “Propionibacterium acnes”.

An acne solution that does not only obstruct the growth of the acne-infecting bacteria but may also address inflammation and clogged pores is Sodium Sulfacetamide treatment. However, it is not commonly used as a treatment to acne because of its smell. Yet, it has been proven to help acne flare-ups in many cases.

Systematic acne medications are usually prescribed to more severe cases of acne infections. Generally speaking, the treatment may last up to six months. For women, the most prescribed systematic acne solution is anti-androgens. This form of treatment controls the secretion of a certain hormone and is commonly referred to as hormonal treatment.

Treating your skin with the right acne medication type is important. For instance, if your acne problem is at best mild, you don’t want to be applying too strong a product on your skin. Too harsh a product can cause your skin to age faster and result in wrinkles or dry scaly skin. It is therefore, best to research properly on acne medications that will be the most appropriate for your acne problem.

Because acne is the most widespread skin disorder in the world, a lot of research has been done to determine how acne forms and how it is eliminated. Over the years a number of different treatments, medicines, and products have been developed to help control and eliminate acne.

Currently there are about 7 different treatments that are widely used in the prevention and elimination of acne. Subsequently, there are literally thousands of different products that use these treatments in one form or another.

Acne Treatments

Accutane Isotetinoin Accutane is a very powerful drug that is a derivative of vitamin A. It is normally prescribed for severe acne in cases where other treatments have failed to work. Accutane is normally taken for 4-6 months. The downside to Accutane is the high occurrence of side effects, some very serious.

Antibiotics Antibiotics are designed to fight bacteria and are thus used to control acne mainly from the inside. There are topical antibiotics such as clindamycin that are applied directly to the skin. Other antibiotics such as tetracycline are in pill form.

Benzoyl Peroxide This is an anti-bacterial agent that has been used to control acne for many years. It has been proven to work very well in the elimination and prevention of acne. Benzol Peroxide can be found in many prescription and over-the-counter medicines and products.

Herbal Remedies A relative newcomer to mainstream acne fighting are herbal remedies. It is thought that certain herbs are effective in regulating oil levels and other bodily functions that pertain directly to acne.

Retin-A tretinoin Retin-A is a combination of retinoic acid and vitamin A acid. It is designed to treat acne, wrinkles, and sun damage. It supposedly does this by unplugging follicles and turnover over dead skin cells.

Salicylic Acid This is another widely used formula in controlling acne, especially preventing future breakouts. Salicylic acid helps slow down the shedding of cells inside the follicle. It is available in many over-the-counter treatments.

Sulfur Sulfur is used in acne control mainly to promote drying and peeling of the skin. This may be good for eliminating existing acne but its effects on preventing future acne are questionable.

There you have it. Most acne regimens consist of one or more of the above formulas. It is important to note that everyone’s skin seems to react differently to these treatments. For some people, benzoyl peroxide works great. For others salicylic acid may work better. You really have to experiment a bit and find out which treatment works best for you.

Only 2 months of using the Acne cure method, my acnes have completely under control. Face cleared up twice as fast and pigmentation lighten. I have combined 3 steps of curing methods using mother nature natural resources to control my Acne, NO expensive creams, lotions, or prescribed medicines. Sorry this is not a 1 or 2 days cure method but you will see results in one or two weeks time. Usually I have outbreak after SEX, yes after sex Not sure whether other acne suffers have this problem, but after using this Acne cure methods, NO more outbreaks!

Here comes the cure

Step 1.

Daily routine – THE NIGHT BATH

You must do this every day or twice a day if not convenient for you. THE NIGHT BATH ingredients you need are

4 Cups of Dead Sea Salt Normal sea salt will do but not as effective
4 Cups of Epsom Salt

Why Dead Sea salt and Epsom salt? Epsom salt is well know for expelling toxins out of your body and Dead Sea salt contains minerals and naturally occurring chemicals found in dead sea which could replenish your body lost minerals and also for its antiseptic properties.

Fill your bath tub with the mixtures and lukewarm water, soak yourself inside for about 20-30 minutes. If you are not afraid that the salt will irritates your eyes, you can sink yourself totally into the water as long as your breath can hold. About 20-30 minutes later RINSE YOURSELF WITH COOL WATER.

Note If you cant access to bath tub, than mix 3 tablespoons of Dead Sea salt and Epsom salt with 1 tablespoon of warm water not too watery and a few drops of tea tree oil in a bowl, mix them well. Choose a comfortable area to lie down and apply the mixture on your face, neck or back. Avoid broken skin area, rinse with cool water after 20-30 minutes. This method is not as powerful as soaking yourself in the salt water, but it does helps.

You will have a very relaxing feeling with just 20-30 minutes of miracle salt bath. As I mentioned earlier, this step has to be done everyday until your skin condition improved. After I found this cure than remember when I was 8-12 years old, my dad used to bring me to swim in the sea and my skin was flawless. So if possible, go swim in the sea few times a week. So much for step 1 and if you do it consistently, you can see results very soon.