Acne is never fun—especially when you’re a teenager, and you’re extremely self-conscious about your looks. Although acne usually decreases once you hit your early twenties, for some people it is an ongoing problem that has to be dealt with into one’s 30s or 40s. But because acne can have such a negative impact on self-image, there are a host of remedies and medical treatments that seek to lessen or cure the symptoms of acne.
What is acne?
Acne is the result of small hair follicles being clogged or blocked by excess skin cells and by a naturally secreted oil called sebum. When the follicle is blocked, Propionibacterium acnes, a bacterium, enters the blockage and causes inflammation, leading to redness, swelling, soreness, etc.,—in short, pimples. To combat these formations, there are a couple of methods you may want to try before seeing your doctor for an anti-acne medication.
Wash, wash, wash
First, make sure that you regularly wash your face. If acne is caused by follicles blocked by oils and excess skin cells, you’ll need to wash your face regularly to break up the oil and clean excess skin cells off your face. Make sure to use an antibiotic soap to kill the bacteria and scrub your face with a washcloth or loofah sponge meant to scrub away dead skin cells.
Other home remedies
After you’ve washed your face, you can try putting tea-tree oil on trouble spots. Tea tree oil has some anti-bacterial properties that make it a great soldier against Propionibacterium acnes. Other treatments include taking zinc supplements, or applying a mixture of lemon juice and rose water to the skin, both of which have mild anti-bacterial properties.
Medications
If you’ve tried the cheap, homemade options, maybe it’s time to turn to doctor prescribed medications:
1) Benzoyl peroxide is usually the first treatment prescribed by doctors. It is a cream that is applied to the skin and has very mild side effects—generally dryness or redness of the skin and some peeling.
2) Antibiotics are the next step in fighting acne and are usually reserved for more severe cases.
3) Retinols are the last line of medical defense against acne. Taken orally, retinols are thought to affect oil-secreting glands in the body and are generally taken over a 4-6 month treatment regimen. Retinols are much harsher on the body and cause irritation of the digestive tract and nose bleeds, but can have even more severe side effects like liver damage, and birth defects in pregnant women who take the medication. In addition, retinols and have been linked to symptoms of depression in those taking the treatment.
Before you go to your dermatologist, give some home remedies a try. Over-the-counter treatments can also be helpful, but may or may not be any more effective than washing with an antibacterial soap and water.
