Will Acne Topical Treatments Stop Your Acne?
Acne treatments come in many shapes and forms. Acne topical treatments are by far the most popular type of acne medication because they are easy to use and widely available at reasonable prices. If you have acne problems and plain soap and water isn’t controlling it, you might want to give acne topical treatments a try.
Acne can be caused by a number of things. The most common cause for acne is when dirt and oils are blocked inside the pores of the skin. This can be caused by sweat or cosmetics or even working outside in the garden or at a construction site. It is important to keep the skin clean and clear of dirt and oils to prevent severe acne. But sometimes no amount of skin cleansing will stop acne.
There is a skin disease called acne vulgaris. This disease is caused by the glands of the hair follicles becoming inflamed. This is usually due to bacteria below the surface of the skin. Acne vulgaris can be mild to severe and can often be controlled by over the counter acne topical treatments, but sometimes will need a prescription of antibiotics to work along with the topical treatments.
Sometimes the acne starts deep under the skin and forms cysts. These cysts can be very painful and are very likely to leave a scar if picked at. It is difficult to resist trying to squeeze the cysts to relieve the pressure from them, and therefore relieve the pain, but if you can resist squeezing them, you can also reduce the chances of permanent scaring. Some acne topical treatments are made just for these deep cysts and can be very helpful.
If cysts are very common, very painful or won’t go away, then it is a good idea to visit your doctor and discuss them. There may be another condition besides acne that is causing them. Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist who is better suited to treat skin conditions. A dermatologist may prescribe medications or may want to try laser treatments to get rid of cysts.
Laser treatments are generally just bright lights that penetrate deep into the skin to attack the bacteria that is causing the cyst or blemish. Some people get regular laser treatments as a preventative maintenance as they feel they get additional benefits of laser such as softer, clearer skin all over the face. Laser is expensive, though, so be sure to weigh the cost of laser versus acne topical treatments.
The treatment you choose will depend widely upon how severe your acne is and the location of the acne. Your age may also determine the treatment you choose, as well as your ability to pay for treatment. Some insurance programs will cover acne treatments from your doctor or dermatologist, but many will not. If you cannot afford laser treatments or microdermabrasion peels done in the doctor’s office, there are still many very good acne topical treatments available that are much more cost effective. |