Professionals recommending a course of treatment will rank acne by Grade.

Grade I includes milder, non-inflamed types such as blackheads, whiteheads or milia. Grade II involves a larger number of these, and frequently includes papules or pustules that are mildly inflamed.

Grade II Acne. Papules are small lesions, a change or break in the skin, that is smaller than 5 mm – about the width of a thin cigarette. They’re in the form of a bump that rises above the surface. A pustule, by contrast, is pus-filled – a mixture of bacteria, white blood cells and dead skin cells.

Grade III is more severe. The papules or pustules will be red, larger and more numerous. Grade IV is the most severe level, and includes nodules and cysts. The inflammation is usually wide spread and includes more than just the face.

Acne vulgaris is the common form of mild acne. Any of the Grade I forms will fall under this heading. They can usually be treated with over the counter medications.

In more severe form acne can develop into a type known as acne congoblata. The name may sound amusing, but the condition is anything but. It’s characterized by heavy inflammation and deep abscesses. The result is often scarring and other forms of serious skin damage.

Inflamed nodules will form around comedones – a general term for blackheads, whiteheads and milia. They often grow until they spontaneously discharge pus. While they do, they’re painful. When they do, they’re unsightly. Keliod-type scars are commonly left behind.

Acne Fulminans

Another type is known as acne fulminans. Here, the nodules will often ulcerate, leading to a painful and recurrent form of acne. The person afflicted may even develop a fever or aching joints. Treatment with corticosteroids or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is usually called for. But these treat symptoms, not the underlying cause.

In still more severe forms, a person may develop nodulocystic acne. Cysts form (red bumps produced by severe inflammation), but they’re of an unusual type. Sometimes they become numerous and close enough together to form a larger inflamed area. When they form small tunnels under the skin, infection can spread more readily. A treatment of antibiotics is called for, and isotretinoin (brand name: Accutane) is frequently employed.

Gram-negative folliculitis occurs when the follicles – the shaft in which hairs grow and sebum flows from the sebaceous glands – become infected. Bacteria grow inside and the body responds by dispatching white blood cells to fight the infection. The result is a deep eruption that calls for special treatment.

The type of bacteria that produces it may be resistant to normal antibiotics. In fact, the condition may have resulted from treatment of other types of acne treated with antibiotics.

Proper diagnosis of these forms of acne calls for a visit to a professional. A dermatologist’s care is warranted in these cases, as it may be in other forms of severe acne.

Q: My child has acne and the dermatologist we have been going to just keeps giving them antibiotics.

The problem got slightly better but now they want them to keep taking antibiotics long term.  I am concerned about this, and the long term effects of the drugs on my child.  Is there anything that acupuncture, Chinese medicine or other chinese acne cure holistic therapies can do to heal this?

A:  Thank you for your question, and it is a common question indeed!

First of all, the presence of acne (usually in adolescence) is a manifestation of a systemic disorder from a Chinese medicine perspective.  Therefore, in order to attempt to use a chinese acne cure, one MUST address the reason the acne is there in the first place.  From a Western medicine perspective often the finger is pointed at “hormone imbalance” as the cause of acne.  However, if this were the case then all teenagers would have acne, which is not the case.  The question of “why are the hormones out of balance?” needs to be asked on an individual basis.  This will then assist in getting down to the bottom of the issue, and therefore the cause of acne.  When this is done in a thoughtful and educated manner, then their is hope for finding a chinese acne cure for that acne sufferer.

Chinese Acne Cure and Food

From my chinese acne cure medicine experience, usually the child’s diet is a major factor in contributing to the cause of acne.  In addition, the gut’s micro flora (healthy gut bacteria  such as L.Acidophillus, etc.) which is in part responsible for the proper breakdown of food, is often wiped out due to repeated courses of antibiotics.

This is true because as the antibiotics attack the infection causing bacteria, they ALSO DESTROY HEALTHY, IMMUNE ENHANCING , HEALTH PROMOTING BACTERIA that lives in your body.  Unfortunately, this will, in the long run hinder the person’s ability to assimilate food and nutrients, and will cause a weakening of the person overall.  Of course, this does not lend itself to a healing environment of the body-mind.

Therefore, the chinese acne cure, holistic time-tested approach to treatment is one that takes into consideration the entire person, and their unique lifestyle, diet, stresses, etc.  This is the way to promote long term systemic health.  Health not just for the acne, but for the entire person’s well-being.  The acne is just an external manifestation of the health of the internal environment of the body.

Chinese Acne Cure is Holistic

For chinese acne cure usually what we recommend is a combination of modifying what one is eating so as to not promote infection causing foods.  This change, in combination with getting the whole person back into homeostasis or balance from an energetic or “Qi” standpoint, will help the person heal.  In addition, to teach each individual about their constitution so they can  learn about exactly what makes them healthy, because everyone’s health needs are unique and different.  All these methods are coupled with topical use of true essential plant oils in an aloe gel base that help the skin heal externally, while simultaneously healing the internal environment for a long term chinese acne cure.
Please write with questions on your or a family member’s health & what you would like have answered to info@RootandBranchOM.com.

Geoff and Eileen DePaula are licensed acupuncturists from the Root and Branch Oriental Medicine, located at 77 West Main Street, Suite 205 in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. For more information on their practice, go to www.RootandBranchOM.com, or call 508-435-8184 to set up an appointment.

The increased oiliness of the skin may be cut down in various ways. When these ways are used effectively, the adolescent’s appearance and outlook on life can be greatly improved. One of the methods that works well is washing with soap and water frequently and thoroughly. The soapy solution is an excellent solvent for the oils, and therefore helps make the skin drier.

Some people benefit from any soap. Others may have skin that is sensitive to, and therefore irritated by, a specific kind of soap. In these cases a less irritating soap can usually be found. If not, there are many soap substitutes now manufactured that have the advantages of soap but not the possible irritations. There are also various types of medicated soaps that include extra ingredients such as germ killers and drying sulphur containing products.

Another inexpensive form of self-treatment for acne is sunshine. There are a few individuals whose skin is extra sensitive to any exposure to sunshine. But for most people the ultraviolet rays of the sun dry out the skin. Sometimes a physician will prescribe artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation although you need to be aware of health risks associated with these.

Another way of clearing the skin is by applying drying lotions and creams. There are many helpful agents, from the time-honored Lotio Alba (white lotion) to the most recent entries in the drug manufacturers’ sweepstakes, which contain sulphur and other sebum-dissolving and skin-drying ingredients. Such preparations are at times combined with cosmetically attractive colorations so that they can be used as blemish hiders as well as treatment for the underlying acne. Your doctor can advise you as to which application is best for you.

Occasionally, in severe cases, a small dose of x-ray treatment to the skin is beneficial. This is usually not done except for those few individuals whose acne is so serious that it seems to the physician that permanent scarring may result.

Most cases of acne leave no traces in later life. A few severe cases leave some scars, but practically never the disfiguring kind that so many teen-agers are sure will scare off everyone they meet in later years.

Doctors may use other methods of treatment for ridding patients of acne blemishes, including cortisone medications, and abrasives to rub off or remove sections of severely affected skin. These treatments should also be reserved for use in severe cases and then only upon the suggestion of a well-qualified physician.

Invasion of acne blemishes by germs can worsen the individual’s appearance as well as undermine his health. Therefore some doctors treat patients who have severe acne with injections of vaccine derived from common skin-invading bacteria. With an obviously infected case a germ-killing medication like penicillin may be of help. Some doctors believe that small daily doses of an antibiotic will help keep acne under control. I believe it is better to reserve the antibiotics for occasional use when specifically indicated for an obvious infection.

Thousands of oil glands can be found in the skin. The oil glands produce sebum, needed to help the skin stay moisturized and effective in its duty as the body’s protective barrier. The face, especially the nose, the mid -cheeks and the forehead have the highest density of oil glands. The back and mid-chest are the parts of the body where the largest oil glands are located. This explains why acne is mostly found in the greatest concentrations on the face, chest and back

Acne begins with clogged skin pores. The early, not-so-noticeable lesions are called comedones Comedones are either open like blackheads or closed like whiteheads. An open comedo is called a blackhead because of the blackish appearance of the skin pore clog. Likewise, a closed comedo is called whitehead because its pore plug is white or skin colored. In terms of openings, blackheads have distended opening around the follicle while a whitehead has a very narrow one, close to the hair follicle. While it’s very tempting, never squeeze your whiteheads or blackheads.

To understand acne better, here are the definitions and explanations of some important terms.

Acne is also often referred to as acne lesions. Lesions are physical changes on the body tissue brought about by a disease or condition.

A papule is a tiny lesion, not more than 5 millimeters in width, that is slightly raised above the skin’s surface. To help you visualize how tiny papules are, they are not easily visible and feel like sandpaper. Pustules, on the other hand, are dome-shaped and contain pus. Pus is typically made up of white blood and dead skin cells plus bacteria.

Nodules are another form of acne. A nodule is dome-or irregularly shaped lesion. Unlike the earlier types of acne, inflammation is already evident in nodules. The inflammation in nodules reaches the deeper layers of the skin and may have already destroyed some tissues. This type of acne may leave some scarring.

Causes of Acne

Before puberty, the sebaceous glands were primarily dormant. During puberty, androgens (male hormones) stir the sebaceous glands into action to produce sebum, the natural body oil. Sebum is supposed to rise and flow to the skin surface. Acne occurs if excessive sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands. The excessive output of sebum results in clogged skin pores which in turn attract dirt, bacteria and foreign debris, and forms the basis of acne. Teenage Acne is almost invariably caused by the increase in hormones during puberty which stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil.

In each case of acne, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause; it is usually a combination of various factors that results in acne for most people. Aside from the excessive production of sebum and age (teenagers are more likely to have acne) the following are risk factors that aid in the occurrence of acne:

• Cosmetics, especially the oil-based ones, can plug additional skin pores.
• Emotional stress has been known to cause acne.
• Personal habits like pricking pimples , over cleansing and the use of Harsh soaps can make acne worse.

Disease and hormonal changes cause acne flare ups, for example pregnancies, or the period preceding menstruation.

• Gender and genetic differences is the reason why more boys than girls have acne, since the hormone Testosterone is converted to DHT, which stimulates excess oil product.
• Environmental conditions like pollution, temperature, etc, are risk Factors.
• Drugs like antibiotics, steroids or oral contraceptives have been known to Trigger the occurrence of acne.

Diet is not medically identified as a cause of acne

Preventing acne

Cleanliness can help reduce bacteria and foreign debris at the site of the pore, but cleanliness alone is not a factor. The following steps would help prevent acne, or at least reduce the severity of outbreaks.

Water therapy

Drinking a minimum of 2 liters daily would keep you hydrated enough to reduce clogged up skin pores. This amount of water daily would enable you to shed more dead cells

Healthy diet

Eating more fruits and vegetables keeps your whole body healthy, especially the skin. With a low-fat diet, there is less oil to clog the skin pores. Make sure you have of the foods identified as antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E as well as those rich in minerals, like zinc.

Choose the Right beauty products

Some beauty products have been proven to aggravate the skin, helping acne form. Some acne sufferers use cosmetics to cover up some blemishes without realizing that the present acne may still get worse because of the additional pores plugged by the cosmetics applied on the skin. You may try natural – instead of chemical-based products such as facial washes with tea tree oil, however about 4% of the population has a skin reaction to tea tree oil, so always test this natural medication on a small area of skin first.

Develop Good Habits

Develop habits that would not add to more plugged pores on the face and anywhere else. For examples, do not leave make up products on your skin when you sleep. Keep your hair away from face because hair contains oil. Never prick your pimples. Pimples on the road to being healed without scars will just become more infected.

At the same time, keep in mind that over-cleansing your skin may irritate it and consequently make the acne worse than it currently is.

Accutane by prescription

Accutane is one of the oldest, and among the most effective, prescription medications for the treatment of moderate to severe acne. It is used on cystic and other advanced forms and has been used safely by millions for that purpose. But it does have some potential side effects and risks.

Pregnant women are generally advised to avoid taking isotretinoin. Several studies have suggested that it can produce birth defects. It’s a synthetic molecule, a retinoid similar to Vitamin A, available in pill form. As such, it can be abused. Normal dosage is once or twice per day for 4-5 months.

It works to reduce oil production, unclog pores and kill the bacteria that contribute to acne. It can also cause headache, excessive skin dryness, diarrhea and other problems. However, like all side effects, everyone is affected differently. That’s one of the major reasons it’s important to see a professional regularly during the course of treatment.

Oral Antibiotics by prescription

Acne is caused, in part, by a bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes). So, the disease can be combated, in part, by taking antibiotics. Like all powerful antibiotics some care is necessary when using these.

Tetracycline (or its derivatives, doxycycline and minocycline) is one of the most commonly used. Both forms have been in use for many years and can substantially reduce inflammatory acne. Normal dosage is 5-10 grams per day at first, though it’s reduced as treatment progresses. Treatments may take several months. It, too, though carries some risk. Some patients’ skin becomes sensitive to the sun during treatment.

Erythromycin is another common treatment for acne. It’s a broad spectrum antibiotic and can kill Propionibacterium acnes effectively. Like any powerful antibiotic, though, it can sometimes cause gastrointestinal irritation. That’s a major reason it’s a prescription drug.

Topical Treatments by prescription

Some topical antibiotics can attack the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria directly through the surface of the skin. They’re typically used to treat less severe cases of acne. They may even be used in cases of acne vulgaris, a mild form.

A number of retinoids are sometimes prescribed. They may be the same compound used in over the counter medications, but in dosages high enough to warrant or require a prescription. Adapalene is a gel or cream that is usually effective within two or three months. It can cause minor skin dryness and irritation. It helps unclog pores. Tretinoin is a natural retinoid that has similar effects.

Anyone who has tried over the counter medications or treatments and not received satisfactory results has many other options. Nearly all acne can be successfully treated. Get a professional diagnosis to explore your options.

Proactiv Solution, Clearasil, Murad, Neutrogena, grease-free diets, medical spa treatments, lemon juice, rice water facials — none of them worked. Not even remotely. She’d “spent thousands upon thousands of dollars, and tried everything,” says Prudencio, 21, a college student in Arlington, Va.

Then, at her “breaking point,” Prudencio decided to test out a newly approved treatment for persistent acne that dermatologists and patients alike describe as a breakthrough. In photopneumatic therapy, the skin is suctioned with a vacuum-like device, bringing the bad stuff to the surface, then beamed with intense pulsed light. The two-pronged process both stuns and deactivates hyperactive oil glands and kills the bacteria they nourish, quashing the source of breakouts in one 20-minute swoop.

While not a cure, pimples begin to dry out and gradually disappear following subsequent sessions. Red marks that linger after zits heal fade.

“My face was covered in pimples,” says Prudencio, who noticed some improvement after two treatment rounds. She’s undergone six to date. “Now, it’s 100 percent better.”

Several small studies reveal success stories like hers. The device has been shown to yield high rates of acne clear-up among patients for whom topical creams and oral antibiotics simply don’t work.

“It’s probably the most effective mechanical device on the market,” says Dale Isaacson, the dermatologist who treated Prudencio and has no financial ties to the company.

Side effects are reportedly mild. Patients say it’s pretty painless and, at most, causes short-lived redness or slight swelling. Isaacson advises darker-skinned patients to proceed with caution, however: The pulsed-light component of treatment can cause pigmentation changes.

The photopneumatic device, a machine called Isolaz, got U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance in 2006 to tackle mild-to-moderate acne. Because of its “off label” success against severe nodular cystic acne, the company is now seeking approval for that, too.

The payoff, however, comes at a price, and insurance generally won’t cover it. Patients should expect to fork over between $150 and $500 per session, depending on geographic location. And since there’s really no cure for acne — most treatments aim to suppress breakouts until the body can overcome its hormonal flux — “maintenance sessions” every couple months or so will probably be necessary, Isaacson says.

1. Witch Hazel Astringent

This astringent comes from the plant with the same name. It is widely spread from Nova Scotia in Canada down to Texas and Florida. Simply steam the twigs of this plant and voila! The extract you get from it serves as your astringent. Remember to cool it though. What´s good about this is that it occurs naturally and even the process it has undergone is all natural. You can be assured it is less harsh compared with commercially-produced astringents.

2. Commercially Produced Astringents

There is no doubt that astringents we can buy over-the-counter are also effective. There are lots of variants to choose from with additional ingredients that promote better skin. The only downside is it can be a little harsh because of the chemicals added to produce this formula. Use them with extra care as they can dry the skin.

3. All-Natural Treatments

Kitchen and acne are two enemies we may not be aware of. Scout your kitchen for stuff like oranges and lemons, fresh garlic and raw potatoes.

Oranges and lemons just need to be squeezed on cotton balls. Apply the extract on affected areas and wash it after about 20 minutes.

Fresh garlic is used much easier. Just remove its peeling and rub it on your face.

As for raw potatoes, peel them and rub its flat surface on your face.

The natural extracts from these fruits and vegetables can help minimize the redness at the same time can clean the skin.

4. Oral Antibiotics

For severe cases, antibiotics are prescribed. These medications are orally taken to reduce the amount of bacteria inside and around skin follicles. They also decrease the exasperating chemicals that the white blood cells produce. Lastly, antibiotics diminish the concentration of the free fatty acids found in sebum, also creating an anti-inflammatory action. Consult your dermatologist for the right antibiotic and dosage.

Tetracycline is still the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for acne treatment. Most of this antibiotic should be taken on an empty stomach. Also, this shouldn´t be used by pregnant women and children under 9. Usually, the starting dose is initially 500 milligrams twice daily and is continuously taken until prescribed, or until a considerable dropping off of lesions is visible.

Erythromycin comes close second and can be prescribed to pregnant women. However, it can cause nausea and even upset stomach. Compared to tetracycline, which can only kill bacteria, Erythromycin has both anti-inflammatory and bacteria-killing properties. Also, this antibiotic needs to be taken in a food-filled tummy. You may discuss other possible antibiotics with your doctors regarding the effects and side-effects of each.

5. Topical Treatments

Externally applied creams are also proven effective for acne treatment. However, it results to drying and flaking but it is said to be the most effective treatment for severe acne. Benzoyl peroxide is one very common and effective topical acne treatment.

read the useful articles: Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment – the Whats, Whys, and Direction for Use and Acne Light Treatment – Light Therapy in Treating Acne

If over-the-counter products have been ineffective however, it is time for you to make an appointment with your family physician or dermatologist. Your doctor can prescribe topical treatments that are stronger and more effective than the ones available without a prescription.

Your specialist may begin with simple external applications such as benzoil peroxide. Formulations containing benzoil peroxide work by killing bacteria that are trapped in your pores by excess oil. Unfortunately, superficial skin medications do not address deep infections that cannot be reached from the skin’s surface.

Deeper body surface infections may respond to management with an antibiotic. Two of the most common antibiotics used for curing body surface infections are tetracycline and erythromycin. These medications eliminate the bacteria causing infection in the deepest layers of the skin.

Your physician may prescribe a chemical peel as well as medication. A chemical such as glycolic acid is used to cause the uppermost layer of your skin to peel off. Other, less extreme ways of removing the top layer of your skin comprise scrubbing your face with slightly abrasive pads or employing skin washes that contain beads or microscopic particles.

It has long been recognized that exposure to sunshine can be used as a body surface treatment. Special lighting is now available that can reduce the number of inflamed skin lesions by about 70% or so within about a month. One advantage of this technique is that it has no known side effects, although it is not as efficacious if the infection is severe.

Birth control pills are sometimes prescribed to manage body surface breakout, but the pill has arguably serious side effects. The Diane-35, which was specifically developed to treat severe cases of zits (and not for birth control), has been linked to a small but elevated risk of blood clots compared to other birth control pills. You should also know that if you are taking tetracycline, it negates the contraceptive effectiveness of the pill.

Finding a cure for the breakout is the objective, but the approach should be chosen based on the severity of your skin breakout and the risks linked with potential treatments. Whether the treatments you choose are topical or internal, your doctor can explain what you need to take into consideration prior to making a decision. Body surface medications may be more effective than topical treatments, but they have potentially more serious side effects. You need professional advice and realistic expectations for any method of curing acne you try.

Drainage and Surgical Excision

Some large cysts do not respond to medication and may require drainage and extraction. Drainage and extraction, or acne surgery as it is also called, should not be performed by patients. Dermatologists are trained in the proper technique and perform acne surgery under sterile conditions. Patient attempts to drain and extract comedones by squeezing or picking, can lead to infection, worsening of the acne and scarring.

Severe acne requires an aggressive treatment regimen and should be treated by a dermatologist.

Acne Injections

When an acne cyst becomes severely inflamed, there is a good chance it will rupture and scarring may result. To treat these severely inflamed cysts and prevent scarring, dermatologists may inject such cysts with a much-diluted corticosteroid. This lessens the inflammation
and promotes healing. An interlesional corticosteroid injection works by “melting” the cyst over a period of 3 to 5 days. As painful as this may sound I never found it to be bad at all, the needle is this and it is really good to get rid of the lumpy red zits.

Accutane

Accutane is a potent drug reserved for treating severe cystic acne and acne that has proven itself resistant to other medications. Accutane is a synthetic (man-made) retinoid (form of vitamin A) that comes in pill form. It is usually taken once or twice a day for 16 to 20 weeks.

Today, it is the most effective acne treatment available because it is the only acne treatment that works on all four factors that predispose a person to acne – excess oil production, clogged skin pores, P. acnes and inflammation. The remissions achieved with Accutane usually last for many months to many years. For many patients, only one course of Accutane therapy is needed.

While Accutane is the most effective acne treatment available, it cannot be prescribed to everyone due to a number of potential side effects, some serious. One of the most serious side effects is the potential to cause severe birth defects in a developing fetus. For this reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that women not be (or become) pregnant while taking Accutane. FDA regulations require women of childbearing age to take 2 pregnancy tests prior to beginning Accutane therapy and use 2 forms of birth control for 1 month before therapy begins, while taking the drug and for 1 full month after therapy. It is also important that women not breast feed during this time. Women who wish to become pregnant after taking Accutane should talk to their dermatologist and gynecologist about when it is safe to get pregnant after receiving Accutane therapy.

Other possible severe side effects that may occur while taking Accutane include:

* Severe pain in the chest or abdomen
* Trouble swallowing or painful swallowing
* Severe headache, blurred vision or dizziness
* Bone and joint pain
* Nausea or vomiting
* Diarrhea or rectal bleeding
* Depresion
* Dryness of the skin, eyes and nose
* Thinning hair

If any side effect occurs, the patient’s dermatologist or other healthcare practitioner should be contacted immediately because some of these side effects can lead to serious health problems.

While taking Accutane, patients are regularly monitored for side effects through follow-up visits. For most people, these side effects are tolerable and not a reason to discontinue therapy before remission is achieved. However, it is important to keep appointments for follow-up visits because monitoring can reveal conditions that a patient might not notice. For example, a patient may not realize a rapid increase in bad cholesterol that is detected through a blood test.

The decision to use Accutane should be made jointly by patient and dermatologist. When used with all due caution under close medical supervision, Accutane can resolve severe acne that has not responded to other therapy. It has proven especially effective in resolving cystic acne, a severe form of acne that usually does not respond to other therapies.

For a substantial number of patients, one course of Accutane therapy is all they will ever need. A small number of patients require more than one course of Accutane therapy to control severe acne.

It is important to take Accutane as prescribed even if the skin clears before all of the pills have been taken to prevent relapse. At the end of an effective course of Accutane therapy, all or most of the acne lesion will have cleared. Patients may notice residual erythematous (reddish) macules (flat spots) where acne lesions were present. These macules are not scars, and they will fade in 6 to 8 weeks.

After therapy, patients should continue to follow the Skin Care Guidelines for People with Acne.

Antibiotic pills
Oral antibiotics have been a mainstay of therapy for severe acne for many years. Like topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics work to reduce the P. acnes population (a contributing factor in acne), which, in turn, decreases inflammation. Treatment with oral antibiotics usually begins with a high dosage, which is reduced as the acne resolves. Over time, the P. acnes bacteria can become resistant to the antibiotic being used to treat it. When this happens, another antibiotic can be prescribed. Numerous studies support the effectiveness of the following broad-spectrum oral antibiotics that are used to treat acne in the United States: doxycline, erythromycin, minocycline and tetracycline. For information about each of these oral antibiotics, see Prescription Acne Medications.

Birth Control pills
Birth Control pills have been shown to effectively clear acne in women by suppressing the overactive sebaceous glands. Oral contraceptives can be used as long-term acne therapy; however, this medication should not be prescribed to women who smoke, have a blood-clotting disorder, are older than 35 or have a history of migraine headaches without the advice of a gynecologist.

Spironolactone, a synthetic steroid, may be used in combination with birth control pills to treat acne in adult females. Spironolactone inhibits androgen production. Side effects include irregular menstruation, breast tenderness, headache and fatigue

Are these tips all you need to prevent acne? If not you should be interested in a proven method to rid you of your acne. Then read my review of the book Acne No More. Another great product I have reviewed is Acnezine.

Medical treatment for acne vulgaris can take several forms. The first stage is to try applying certain topical treatments. You can try each of these in turn for a month to six weeks. If the acne improves, continue. If not, move on to the next option.

1. Benzoyl Peroxide

This can dry up acne vulgaris for many people. Products containing benzoyl peroxide include Brevoxyl and Benzac.

2. Salicylic Acid

This is another option which many people find helps their acne. Products containing salicylic acid include Propa pH and Stridex.

Aspirin is a derivative of salicylic acid and that is why some people treat pimples at home with soluble aspirin dissolved in a few drops of water to make a paste. However, it is more convenient to buy a commercial acne treatment. It looks pretty weird walking around with white aspirin paste on your face!

If neither benzoyl peroxide nor salicylic acid works for you, you will need to have a prescription medication.

3. Topical Antibiotics

The first step for a medical practitioner is often to prescribe antibiotic creams, gels or lotions which are applied directly to the pimples. These are for external use only.

4. Oral Antibiotics

In some cases you may be prescribed a course of oral antibiotics that you take internally. This treatment often helps acne scars to heal so it is more likely to be used where the acne is deep or is producing scarring.

If you take oral antibiotics, be sure to follow up with a course of probiotics afterward. You can buy probiotics from any health food store. This repopulates the healthy bacteria in the stomach. These can be killed off by antibiotics and the result can be an overgrowth of candida, leading to yeast infections.

If you think that you already have an overgrowth of candida, it is better not to take antibiotics for your acne but treat the candidiasis first. You may find that acne improves or even disappears when the yeast is under control. Candidiasis is not so likely to be a problem for teenagers, but is sometimes involved in adult acne.

5. Prescription Retinoids

Retinoids are related to vitamin A and they have many applications in medicine, one of which is treating acne. As with antibiotics, you can get topical retinoids in the form of creams or gels which are applied directly to pimples (e.g. Retin-A, Differin, Tazorac). Retinoids can irritate the skin so in some cases the acne gets worse before it gets better.

There are also oral retinoids that you take internally, such as Accutane. These usually take several months to have an effect. Oral retinoids should only be taken under medical supervision. There can be side effects and overdose is dangerous. Women taking retinoids must not get pregnant because they can cause birth defects, so oral retinoids are more likely to be prescribed for men as a medical treatment for acne vulgaris.