Topical Acne Treatments
December 3, 2008Topical acne treatments are the most commonly used because they work directly with the skin with minimal side effects. Unlike oral treatments that may have more effects on your system, and have to work through the body before getting to the skin.
Most topical acne solutions come in the form of gels, lotions, creams, and cleansers. You either manually apply these treatments directly to the skin with your hand or you’ll be provided with cotton swaps to apply it more thoroughly.
Types of Topical Treatments
The kind of topical solution you get prescribed depends on many factors. No one solution will work for everybody, as every one has different skin types and different degrees of acne. Your dermatologist will be the person that best person to find a treatment that will actually cure your acne. Many people won’t find the perfect solution on their first try. It usually takes some testing to find out what will and won’t work for you.
Topical creams and gels are used to treat the skin itself. Sometimes that aid of oral medications is also required. The primary purpose of most topical treatments is to clean hair follicles and pores, kill bacterias, and control inflammation and breakouts. The use of multiple treatments usually yields better results.
Retinoids
There are numerous different types of topical treatments, the most common being retinoids. Retinoids are obtained through the intake of vitamin A. They work by helping the skin shed more easily, preventing it from getting blocked up by dead skin. Retinoids essentially help keep you skin clean, discouraging the growth of acne causing bacterias. In turn, reducing the appearance and development of white heads, black heads, and inflammation.
The topical medication you’re prescribed by your dermatologist will not necessarily require a prescription. Depending on your particular scenario, an over the counter treatment may be equally effective.
The label on the topical medication will give you specific details on how to apply the treatment. In most cases, they require you to apply small pea-sized amounts at a time to the affected area. Some light sensitive products will require you to apply them before bed, but in most cases you can apply them at night or in the morning.
Seeing Results with Retinoids
You will likely start seeing results with 2 months of starting a treatment, that is if you have been using it regularly in the way instructed. Peak rate of improvement usually occurs a few months into the healing process.
Retinoid Symptoms and avoiding the Side Effects
When you first begin use of a topical treatment, many people report signs of extra irritation, and inflamed looking skin. Don’t let these symptoms discourage you from continuing the treatment. In 99% of cases, this is just the medicine doing its job. You skin may be irritated in the beginning, but this is just the active ingredients fighting off the acne.
To avoid these side effects there are a number of things you can do. Again, these symptoms usually occur in the first few weeks of treatment. After a few weeks your skin will build a tolerance to the product and side effects will slowly diminish. If the irritation just won’t stop, you may be using a treatment that has an overly powerful concentration of active ingredients; a milder treatment may be in order. Use a moisturizer to curb the effects of the peeling skin. Excessive use of these products bay be counter productive.
If you have any questions about how to apply to topical solution or how the handle the side effects, your dermatologist should always be available to answer your questions.
Antibiotic Topical Treatments
The next kind of topical treatment are antibiotic applications. These treatments go directly after the nasty bacterias that cause acne. Because the directness of their treatment, results are reached much faster.
Antibiotic solutions are applied just like retinoids, in small amounts. Instead of applying once daily, most of these treatments require you apply them twice daily.
If you have exceptionally sensitive skin antibacterial treatments may be too much for you and your skin to handle. To avoid irritation opt for a ointment based solution.
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Tags: acne, acne solutions, acne treatment, blackheads, dermatologist, facial acne, retinoids, topical creams, topical medication, whiteheads
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