Acne Consultation & Treatments At Pharmacy2U
Acne is a very common cause of spots in teenagers; it tends to
last for an average of five years, although it can last longer
and may persist into adulthood. Acne usually affects the face,
back or chest.
Acne can cause blackheads or whiteheads to form on the skin or
in more severe cases, pus-filled spots or cysts which can become
infected. In some cases, these spots can leave scarring on the
skin after the acne has cleared up.
Acne is often mild, and easily treated with simple cleansing
measures or over-the-counter medicines. However, in some more
severe cases, it can require stronger treatments from a doctor,
such as special creams, ointments or oral antibiotics. It is
estimated that around 30% of teenagers with acne would need
stronger treatments to prevent the skin from scarring in
later life.
Glands just under the surface of the skin naturally produce an
oily substance called sebum, which keeps it smooth and supple.
This is released onto the skin surface through small holes
(pores), through which hairs also grow. During teenage years,
the skin produces a greater quantity of sebum in response to
hormonal changes; some medicines also have this effect. There is
also a greater chance of acne if one or both parents had it.
If too much sebum is produced by the skin, it may not be able to
escape from the pores and they can become blocked, allowing
spots, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads to occur.
If this trapped sebum becomes infected, the skin can become
inflamed, and pustules or cysts can appear. These can be
treated, but there is a greater chance of skin scarring if the
symptoms are not managed quickly.
Acne can be made worse by picking or squeezing the spots, by
excessive sweating, or by the monthly hormone cycle in women.
Some medicines, such as the progestogen-only contraceptive pill
(“mini pill”), can also make the appearance of acne more likely.
Acne is not made worse by stress, or poor hygiene. Other common
myths are that using sun beds, or washing the area more often,
can help – this is not the case.
For mild acne, a good daily cleansing routine is very important.
Wash the area, but not excessively - twice a day is usually
enough. The dark colour you see in blackheads is not dirt – it’s
skin pigment, so no amount of extra washing will remove it. Use
simple, hypo-allergenic cosmetics, and try to find products
marked “non-comedogenic” (“comedones” means blackheads
or whiteheads).
Instead of using soap, there are face washes and other products
available designed specifically for people with acne, containing
antiseptics and other ingredients to clean the skin and unblock
the pores.
There are many medicines that can help to treat acne. Some are
applied directly to the skin, and others are taken orally.
Benzoyl peroxide is applied to the skin and is usually the best
treatment to try first for mild to moderate acne. It can be
purchased from pharmacies without a prescription in several
branded products such as Quinoderm and Panoxyl.
It works by removing the blockage from the skin pores, and it
also has an anti-bacterial action. If you are using it for the
first time, it’s best to start with a lower strength (4-5%) and
try it on a small area of skin first, as some people find that
it can irritate the skin. Higher strengths (up to 10%) are also
available. Acne treatments that don’t require a prescription are
available through our online pharmacy here.
Azelaic acid 20% cream (Skinoren
Cream)
works in a similar way to benzoyl peroxide and is only available
with a prescription.
Sometimes, antibiotics may be necessary. Some can be applied
directly to the skin, such as Dalacin-T
solution, Duac
Once Daily gel,
and Zineryt
Topical solution.
Another option is to use a product containing a medicine that is
related to vitamin A (“retinoids”). These have been shown to be
very effective at treating moderate to severe acne. They can
cause some redness and skin peeling at first, but this usually
resolves with time. Products include Differin cream
or gel, and Isotrex gel.
Epiduo Gel is
a prescription-only product that contains both benzoyl peroxide
in combination with adapalene for use in mild to moderate acne.
Adapalene is a retinoid like drug that specifically acts on the
processes of the skin that cause acne by reducing the formation
of blocked pores and it also has anti-inflammatory activity.
For moderate to severe acne, or where products applied to the
skin are not working or irritate the skin too much, an oral
antibiotic is another option to consider. Antibiotics used for
this purpose include; Minocin
MR capsules, Oxytetracycline tablets,
and Tetralysal capsules.
Dianette tablets are
another option for women to consider. This is an oral medicine,
for women who have severe acne that has not got better even
after using oral antibiotics. It also acts as an oral
contraceptive, but it should not be used just for that purpose.
C onsult
our Online Doctor here >>
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