27 July 2008 490 views 4 Comments Print This Post  Email This Post

One of the most annoying periods in a teenager’s life is the stage when raging hormones give rise to those lumpy growths on the face. These are what dermatologists call acne. But although, acne problems often begin in the adolescence stage, the condition can persist until adulthood. Acne is characterized by the inflammation in the sebaceous glands of the skin. The condition can be caused by a whole lot of things, from heredity to hygiene issues.

For some, acne will eventually disappear when the body regains its balance during adulthood but for others, who have family histories of acne, the battle can still ensue even after the adolescence period, even into adulthood. Treatment of acne takes many forms.

Mild acne, for instance, can be simply treated with the use of lotions and topical medicines, which are applied on affected areas. Moderate to severe acne, on the other hand, are often treated not only with topical medicines but also surgical procedures.

For those battling the acne war, it could be an uphill climb as far as treatment is concerned. Let’s have look at some components of these so-called ‘miracle’ acne solutions.

-Alpha Hydroxy Acid or AHA are compounds that contain carboxylic acid which is a common ingredient in various cosmetics, particularly those that are formulated to eliminate wrinkles and promote skin health. These solutions are often recommended by dermatologists to people with oily skin.

-Benzoyl Peroxide is often contained in anti-bacterial. It is also known for its ability to kill Propionibacterium, a relatively slow growing, typically aerotolerant anaerobic gram positive bacterium that causes pimples, by dissolving the keratin that can clog the pores of the skin, so it is effective as an anti-acne solution.

-Salicylic acid is a phenol that works by causing the cells of the skin to peel off easily to prevent pores from getting blocked.

- Retinoids work by normalizing the cycle of follicle cells and allow a reduction of oil produced by the skin glands. Retinoids are chemically related to vitamin A, which is an element common among acne-fighting products.

-Herbal remedies that contain natural ingredients and herbal elements are also marketed as acne cures. Popular ones are those with Aloe vera, tea tree oil and papaya. They may be harmless however their level of effectiveness may be not as high as chemically formulated products.

-Hormone medications are often formulated to reduce androgenic hormone levels in women suffering from acne break-outs that are mainly caused by hormonal imbalance in the body due to certain condition the body undergoes such as the onset of the monthly menstrual cycle or on women who are into menopause already.

The bottom line, however, is before we try any of the above-mentioned product components especially if it is for the first time, it is important to always consult a skincare professional to make sure all precautions are covered before trying a product. A worse scenario we all want to avoid is a long-term facial scarring that could eventually lead to surgery just because we didn’t pay that extra care and attention the first time.

Julia Elorriaga - LastSkinCare.com