Breakout: Acne Vulgaris Strikes Again

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While the common term for acne is acne vulgaris, there are various types of acne vulgaris one can suffer from and some of these are worse than others. While most often people will get acne in their teenage years it is not uncommon for some people to have their first outbreak in their adulthood too. Acne vulgaris occurs mainly on the neck, back, face and shoulders. Though some people often claim to have it on their upper arms, these are more likely than not to be keratosis pilaris. The lesions you get with more acute acne vulgaris include pustules, comedones, papules and nodules which can become cysts.

The Different Types of Acne Vulgaris

There are three main types of acute acne vulgaris. These include Acne Conglobata, Acne Fulminans, and Nodulocystic Acne.

Acne Conglobata - The Conglobata type is chronic and acute and affects more men than women. It is identified by large eruptions and blackheads on the face, arms, neck and buttocks with inflammation and deeply concealed ulcers. This can cause extensive scarring and is treated with a form of the Vitamin A derived isotretinoin (Roaccutane, Accutane and topical Isotrex). This form of acne vulgaris will often recur even after treatment.

Acne Fulminans - The Fulminans form of acne is usually caused by a recurring of the Conglobata acne. It affects skin that is already inflamed and will often be accompanied by aching joints, fever and violent, ulcerating acne eruptions. The treatment for this form of acne will be a course of anti inflammatory non steroidal medication and perhaps long term treatment with isotretinoin.

Nodulocystic Acne -The Nodulocystic acne type is identified with large cysts on the face, scalp, neck, back, chest and shoulder. These cysts can be quite painful and are caused from nodular or popular lesions that have become infected. These should only be touched and handled by a dermatologist, because if two are close together, they could merge and turn into acne conglobata. Some extreme cases require surgery, but usually isotretinoin is quite effective at bringing nodulocystic acne under control.

Treatment for Acne Vulgaris

The treatment for any type of acne vulgaris ranges from ointments and antibiotics for the milder outbreaks to LASER therapy and surgery for the more severe outbreaks.

Consulting a dermatologist is the first step to find out what type of acne you have and what the best treatment is for that particular type. Benzoyl peroxide is commonly used as an over the counter medication for acne vulgaris, but it can often cause excessive drying of the skin accompanied by redness of the skin.

Some antibiotics are successful when used but in due course the bacteria tend to become resistant to it and for subsequent outbreaks you could find that the once effective treatment is now ineffectual. Lately women have also begun using hormone therapy to reduce the amount of androgen and for more severe cases oral isotretinoin can be taken (Accutane). Products like TriClear and Proactive are great for mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

How Acne Scar Treatment Helps

Acne scars are painful; not only do they hurt physically; they also cause depression and low self-esteem. The problems that were caused by acne in a person’s teenage years can continue to cause them grief all the way into adulthood through the scars. Acne scar treatment is important to help restore the individual’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Take the Example of 34-year-old Janet McGrath…

This Las Vegas graphics designer was tortured by her scars. Her problems with the condition sent her into a depression. After receiving treatment for her depression over six months; reality set in. She realized they were not just going to go away. The acceptance of her reality helped her realize something else; the acne scars may not go away by themselves but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do something about it. She looked for an appropriate acne scar treatment and a year after starting the treatment; Janet was looking and feeling better. Her major scarring is gone and the scars had minimized. According to Janet in that one year, her face has gone from looking like the moon’s surface to the surface of a dirt track. If you picture that, you’d know that that was indeed a remarkable improvement.

The Two Kinds of Acne Scars

Noted Dermatologist Andrew Waite says he sees a lot of acne sufferers who come to him for post-inflammatory pigmentation. This is a common problem with scars. Even after the acne has healed, there continues to be redness, swelling and pain.

Scars from acne are typically one of the following two types:

Ice pick scars - the most common type of scarring. These are caused by the loss of tissue from acne flare-ups. These are the scars many people refer to as “pits”.

Keloids - these scars are caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue. They are shaped irregularly and they are the more painful of the acne scars.

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Acne Scar Treatment to the Rescue

Mild acne, whcih is the acne that consists of only a few pimples sparsely scattered, usually does not cause the skin to scar. It is only the harsher form of cystic acne that leaves the physical and mental scars. The first step in fighting the scars and the despair is to identify the kind you have.

Acne scar treatment for milder scarring would usually involve the simple application of some type of topical ointment whereas more severe scarring may need laser therapy, dermabrasion or even skin grafts.

• Dermabrasion - The most intense scars may have to be treated with dermabrasion. In this therapy, the first few layers of scar tissue and skin are essentially “scrubbed off”. Because it is an agonizingly painful procedure, it is generally done under general anesthesia. It can take several months to heal from dermabrasion and the skin will be sore for a while. It may be worth it for someone who otherwise would have had a life-long condition. This acne scar treatment procedure however does not work on ice pick scars.

• Laser Therapy - Laser therapy uses carbon dioxide to remove layers of skin. The recovery is much the same as with dermabrasion.

• Chemical Peeling - Peeling is another treatment available for removing milder scars. 

Acne Basics – Tips & Tricks For Concealing Acne

While it is great that there are so many effective acne treatments, from over the counter medications and prescriptions to treatments such as light therapies, they do take time to have any effect. While you are waiting, you may want something that will help in concealing acne.

Telling people not to be so concerned with the way they look only makes them feel worse about themselves. They should not have to feel guilty for having issues with their skin’s appearance. A person is not necessarily vain or shallow just because they feel awkward about their acne. The desire to look as good as possible is ingrained in most people.

Concealing Acne With Cosmetics

We may not like to admit it but the undeniable truth is that women are more often judged more by their looks than men are. In the light of this, it does make sense that women are usually more concerned over their skin’s appearance than men tend to be. While this does make acne more difficult for a woman to deal with initially, women do have an advantage when it comes to concealing acne: makeup.

When buying make up for concealing acne it is important to buy the non-comedogenic type of makeup. “Comedones” is a general term for mild acne that includes blackheads and whiteheads. Non-comedogenic makeup helps to keep pores clear so they don’t get clogged. Clogged pores contribute to acne.

The first layer of makeup to be applied should be the concealer. A green tinted concealer will help to cover redness. It is important that the concealer you buy should match your skin tone. A concealer of the right shade can be very effective at concealing acne and making it almost invisible. Dab the concealer on carefully with your fingertip or a disposable sponge made for makeup application. Be careful not to overdo it. 

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Next, you will apply foundation. Foundation helps to cover redness and uneven skin tone. It can also help to blend concealer with the skin so it is not obvious to the naked eye. You should pick a foundation that is light and matches your skin tone so when you are done, you don’t look like you have put a mask on. Foundation’s main purpose is to make the skin appear to be one even color.

It does more than that, though. Foundation makes the skin less reflective. That softens shadows on the face. If you have acne, the use of foundation to soften shadows is a big plus. The contrast of bumps is lessened to some degree. We all know that lighting has an effect on how our skin looks. Foundation has the same type of effect.

Using a facial powder after foundation will help to soak up oil and keep your makeup from wearing away as fast.

Concealing Acne - Men

Men don’t wear makeup outside of the entertainment industry as a rule. Luckily for men, there are some medications for acne that have a concealer that is built in. Men can wear makeup - why not? The trick for men is to find a light makeup that works at concealing acne without showing that they are wearing cosmetics. 

Don’t forget that all makeup, even those that are used for concealing acne, should always be removed before going to bed.

Acne And Skin Care

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It is not necessarily a lack of good skin care that causes a person to develop acne. Instead of being the cause, acne and skin care are connected more closely when it comes to treating acne.

Scrubbing skin does not prevent acne either but when acne has developed, cleansing along with good skin care can have a positive effect.

Scrubbing the skin is not a good idea when you have acne. It makes the skin dry and rough. When skin is scrubbed roughly, layers of skin come off. The lower layers or interim will protect itself with oil and a new layer of skin. This exposes the interim to bacteria from the air and surfaces. Our skin is our body’s front line defense against bacteria and toxins. Scrubbing off layers of it is not a good idea for acne and skin care.

Acne and Skin Care - What To Do

Wash your skin gently with a cleanser that does not have harsh irritants. If you have acne in places other than your face be careful to make sure those areas are fully cleansed in the shower. A light cleanse of the face may be necessary more than twice a day - depending on how much oil your skin produces. But be careful of too much cleansing! Sebum (oil from the skin) does have its part in the development of acne but getting rid of all of it is not the goal. When skin becomes too dry, cracks can occur in the outer layers essentially leaving the door open for bacteria. This can happen if we are too diligent with cleaning our skin.

Moderate use of an over the counter astringent is a good way to cleanse your skin. Use it sparingly or it can dry out your skin, too.

Women with acne have an advantage over men with acne. They don’t have to shave their faces. Men have to worry about shaving off blemishes and cutting themselves. An electric razor can help but you must be patient and careful. Using a softener before you shave is a good idea. It is possible to use a regular razor as they have not been shown to cause acne. Ingrown hairs are not caused by shaving. Always shave in the direction of the hair growth.

Acne and Skin Care - Makeup

Women can now buy makeup that is non-comedogenic - that is, it does not clog pores. Still, be sure to go lighter on the areas that are prone to acne. “Non-comedogenic” refers to “comedones”. That is the common form of acne that includes whiteheads and blackheads.

Use an over the counter medicine that kills bacteria. This will help treat acne and protect against the development of more. Using too much is not helpful. In fact, it can make your problems worse clogging up the pores. The pores on your skin should always be open so oil can flow through it and dead skin cells can shed. If you have questions about your acne and skin care, ask your dermatologist for help.

Symptoms & Treatment of Genital Acne

One thing worse than getting acne on your face is getting genital acne. When you first experience genital acne, you may feel that you have herpes or genital warts if you are sexually active. On top of having the acne, which is uncomfortable enough as it is, you then have to worry about whether or not you contacted and STD.

Fortunately, genital acne is quite common and easy to clear up. Unlike herpes, it is not permanent and unlike warts or other STDs, it cannot spread to your partner. It is just something that you may have to live with every once in a while. It can definitely make you self conscious during sexual activity, which is why some people avoid sex when they have genital acne.

Symptoms of Genital Acne

Although a doctor should diagnose genital acne, the main characteristics of this type of condition are pimples in the genital area that are uncomfortable, just like regular pimples. They can be cyst like in nature. Unlike herpes, which presents like sores and blisters and is usually in clusters, genital acne usually presents with one or two pimples that are not blisters. They will eventually come to a head, like a regular pimple, and then dry up.

Unlike genital warts, genital acne feels uncomfortable and is red. Again, they will resemble the pimples that you get on your face. You may get a pimple in the genital area once in a while or you may get them often.

The problem with genital acne is that most topical creams that are recommended for acne are not to be used in the genital area. Time is the key factor in clearing up genital acne. The area should be washed thoroughly and the acne will usually clear up in a few days. You will not want to use topical ointments that are prescribed for regular acne in the genital area as this can cause severe burning. 

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Treatment of Genital Acne

If you feel that you may have genital acne, do not panic. Again, this is common condition. You should talk to your doctor about the acne so that he or she can make a proper diagnosis. If the acne is severe and appears on other parts of your body as well, your doctor may prescribe accutane to get rid of the acne. You should not pick at it or try to pop the pimples as this can make things worse. Acne is the result of a bacterial infection in the skin. When you mess with it, it tends to make the acne even worse.

The good news about acne is that it is usually caused by a fluctuation in hormones. Take note of when you get the genital acne. If you get it the same time each month, you can bet that it is true acne. When the hormone fluctuation subsides; so will the acne problem.

Acne can be a problem no matter where it occurs on the face or body. The main problem with genital acne is that many people are worried about it resembling STDs and being rejected by their sexual partners. Again, genital acne is not contagious and cannot be transmitted sexually or any other way.