|
The Good News About Acne
Acne is not
caused by
poor hygiene
or diet.
Mirella Giudice, BScPharm, is a Drug Information Pharmacist
at the Ottawa Hospital, General Campus, Ottawa
If you have acne, you may be confused with all the information
that’s out there. The good news is that
you can get excellent results from treatment — whether
your acne is mild, moderate, or severe.
Who gets acne and what causes it?
Anyone can get acne, but it is most common in people between
the ages of 11 and 30. It may affect
the face, neck, chest, back, scalp, upper arms, and buttocks.
Many factors may cause acne, such as
hormonal changes (e.g., teenage years, high levels of testosterone
in the body, pregnancy), heredity,
environment (e.g., heat and humidity), certain medications
(e.g., birth control pills, corticosteroids),
oil-based cosmetics, stress, and physical pressure (e.g., from
headbands or sports helmets).
Stages of acne
We all have sweat glands that secrete an oily substance (known
as sebum) via pores (hair follicles) onto the
surface of the skin. If you produce too much sebum, the pores
may become blocked with sebum and dead
skin cells. You may then see a soft, white plug (whitehead).
When the plug remains open, air causes the
surface to darken, forming a blackhead. Pimples are formed
when the pore becomes inflamed. If pimples
become infected, pus-filled bumps (pustules) will form. Nodules
are the most severe form of acne. They are
thick, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin and
are usually painful. You should see your doctor
right away if you have pustules or nodules. Newer treatments
can be extremely effective.
How is acne treated?
There is no cure for acne, but many non-drug measures may
be taken in order to control it. You can safely:
- Wash with a mild soap or soapless cleanser no more than
twice daily, but avoid scrubbing
- Shave gently and keep it to a minimum
- Choose only oil-free cosmetics and use as little as possible.
Avoid products labelled as water-based as
they may still contain oils. “Non-comedogenic” cosmetics
are not always oil-free.
Although tempting, it is important not to pick at or
squeeze acne pimples as this may lead to scarring or
discolouring of the skin.
What about medications for acne?
For milder acne, you may try over-the-counter products,
such as peeling agents or exfoliants (sulfur,
salicylic acid) and antibacterials (benzoyl peroxide,
chlorhexidine). These come as soaps, washes, creams,
lotions, gels, pads, and astringents. Apply these once
or twice daily to the entire affected area. Don’t
despair, many weeks of treatment are usually needed
before a response is seen, and acne may actually get
worse before it improves. If these products aren’t
helping, you may want to discuss prescription drugs with
your physician. Options include both antibiotics (pill
or ointment) as well as forms of vitamin A.
If acne is bothering you, do not hesitate to speak
with your doctor or pharmacist. There are many effective
treatments available!
For more information:
www.medicinenet.com/acne/article.htm
www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet
---------------------------
The information in this newsletter was prepared and reviewed
by pharmacists for the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal.
 |
Ask Your Pharmacist newsletter is produced through
an unconditional educational grant from APOTEX/PACE. |
 |
Back to Top | Click
for more Health Features
|
