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Back-to-school can be a stressful time for teens, especially if they have an acne problem. This doesn’t just apply to girls - in the new Acne Report (a national survey of teens and moms conducted by Harris Interactive for the OXY® line of acne care products) 22 percent of teen boys reported that acne breakouts lower their self-confidence. What differs is the way they deal with it.

“While it may seem that teenage boys don’t care as much about how they look or what their skin is like, acne can actually have a lot of the same psychological and social effects on boys as it does on girls,” says dermatologist, David Bank, M.D., director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery, in Mount Kisco, New York. “Talking about your teen daughter’s acne is very main-stream and young girls have tons of magazines and beauty Web sites offering tips and options. There are less of these resources for boys and, ultimately, it is just harder for boys to ask for help.”

Dr. Bank offers tips to help parents talk with their sons about how to help treat and prevent acne breakouts: Read the rest of this entry »

Only in very rare cases can acne represent a serious general health risk. But, its effects can still be severe. The unsightly blemishes, the appearance of having unhealthy skin will almost inevitably lead to mild depression or worse.

One important method for keeping that outlook under control is to make reasonable efforts to combat the condition.

Not everyone can readily afford a professional dermatologist on an ongoing basis. But even one visit can provide tons of useful advice and a prescription for acne medication. That’s worth quite a lot. Even though there is a substantial amount of information available on the Internet today, it’s helpful to have someone experienced who can help interpret it.

The medicine itself is important, both to treat the disease and the psychological effects. As the patient lessens the number of lesions, and lengthens the period between outbreaks, the skin will clear. At the same time, even when acne is still present, knowing that one is doing everything possible to combat the condition promotes a better attitude. Read the rest of this entry »

In very mild forms of acne, little diagnosis is required. Most people who reach their teens will readily recognize the small blackheads or white pimples surrounded by a reddened area that constitute mild acne.

But more severe forms, where nodules or cysts form, where papule or pustules have spread around the face, shoulders and chest often call for a visit to the dermatologist. These skin professionals will obtain a complete history and carefully examine the affected areas. They’ll note the color, number and size of outbreaks.

Whiteheads and Cysts

The acne may consist of a field of small, white bumps called whiteheads. These will often disappear on their own. Blackheads form when the material reaches the surface, where it combines with air to form the characteristic dark color. These two are called, respectively, closed or open comedones. A good antibacterial cleanser and time may be all that’s needed.

In the more severe cases, where nodules or cysts form, the patient may have other symptoms we don’t commonly associate with acne, such as fever and aching joints, or even headaches and GI (gastrointestinal) distress. These indicate more serious types of acne, calling for more specialized treatments, such as prescription drugs or lasers.

When symptoms appeared, and in what order, is important. Typically, only the patient can provide that information. It’s useful to keep track by keeping a log. Note what type of lesion occurred before the appearance of any pustules and when. Read the rest of this entry »

Acne cures are few and far between. Most of the time trying to get rid of your acne is mostly a matter of taking care of your hormones and cleaning up your body. Really what else can there be? Here are five steps that should help you get rid of your acne.

I have started and that is a series of emailed articles to get rid of acne for good. Sign up for the emails and get rid of your acne soon.

1. Drink plenty of water- OK I start with water because water is the first and easiest way to improve most peoples health. As we know, our environment is full of toxins that we eat, breathe and drink and just like our dishes we can start to clean our bodies and skin from the inside out by drinking water to hydrate and clean the dermis of our skin. Read the rest of this entry »

I just ran across this list of active ingredients that are common to different acne treatments. Most of us are used to seeing Clearasil and Proactiv but to know what these products contain is at least as important as the ads that they have on TV

Used to treat mild, moderate and severe acne, the effectiveness of over-the-counter medications lies in the product�s active ingredients. The active ingredient benzoyl peroxide reduces acnes; whereas, salicylic acid helps correct abnormal skin shedding. To choose what to use look at what the ingredient is expected to fix. I have included common active ingredients used in over-the-counter acne medications sold in the United States. Check with your dermatologist or pharmacist before combining acne products.

Alcohol and acetone
Found together in some over-the-counter medications used to treat acne, acetone works as a degreasing agent and alcohol has mild antimicrobial properties. When used alone, acetone tends to have no effect.

Benzoyl peroxide
The mainstay of over-the-counter acne treatment, benzoyl peroxide works to clear up acne by reducing acne and removing dead cells from the skin to prevent comedones. Use of benzoyl peroxide should be continued after acne clears to prevent new lesions from forming. It was one of the first agents found to be effective in treating mild acne and has been used in acne treatment for decades. The principal side effect is excessive dryness of the skin, so be sure to follow directions and not use more than stated unless otherwise instructed by a physician. Care should also be taken when applying it to avoid the bleaching effect. Benzoyl peroxide has been known to bleach hair, sheets, towels and clothing. For this reason, an old shirt should be worn after applying benzoyl peroxide to acne on the back or chest. Benzoyl peroxide is available over-the-counter as a lotion or gel.

Herbal, organic and natural products
Over-the-counter products labeled �herbal,� “organic” or “natural” are marketed as acne treatments but their effectiveness has rarely been tested in clinical trials. The value of such treatments is generally unknown.

Resorcinol
A popular ingredient in over-the-counter acne medications, resorcinol controls small acne lesions and is frequently combined with sulfur in products at the drugstore.

Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is effective in treating non-inflammatory acne lesions, salicylic acid helps correct the abnormal shedding of skin cells and unclog pores to resolve and prevent lesions. Salicylic acid does not have any effect on sebum production or P. acnes. Like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid must be used continuously. Once stopped, pores clog and acne returns. Salicylic acid is found in many over-the-counter acne products, including lotions, creams and pads. It may be irritating to the skin.

Sulfur
Sulfur has been used for more than 50 years in combination with other agents, such as alcohol, salicylic acid and resorcinol and is found in many over-the-counter acne medications. While long used to treat acne, it is not known how sulfur works to clear acne. Due to its unpleasant odor, sulfur is not frequently used alone as an acne treatment.