The Health Nut Blog

Finding a good acne treatment for severe acne can be difficult. Because of the nature of acne, severe acne treatment methods can be extremely harsh, or even toxic. However, if severe acne is left untreated, it may result in acne scarring.

One of the older acne treatments for cases that are severe is the drug Accutane, or its generic alternatives, which is fundamentally a derivative of Vitamin A. The prescription of Accutane is highly effective for getting your severe acne under control, and at times can pretty much bring your acne problem to an end. The downside of Accutane is it's toxicity, which results in a long list of unwanted side effects.

Fundamentally Accutane induces youe oil glands to cease to function while the treatment period is active, which basically can last 4 to 5 months. Because you are not secreting any oils, your skin becomes very dry, which many users report as feeling like a sunburn. People who use the drug Accutane complain that nosebleefs are very common side effect, in addition to hair loss. It has also a tendency to make users feel very depressed. Even though Accutane has the ability to get the problems associated with acne under control, the accompanying side effects make it an option that it should be only used in a frugal manner.

Another treatment that is also highly effective is that of antibiotics. There are an assortment of antibiotics that are used, yet similar to Accutane, some varieties have side effects that are not wanted. Minocycline, one of the oldest antibiotics used to treat acne, has a reputation as being the most toxic. Physicians continue to prescribe it because a persons body is slow to acquire immunity to it, ye doctors are ever increasungly utilizing additional more gentle, antibiotics in spite of the propensity for people who use it to build up an immunity.

A more direct treatment for severe acne is an intra-lesional corticosteroid injection, administered directly into cystic nodules. This injection is much like anti inflammatory cortisone shots that are used to help with knee and back problems. Using this direct injection causes the cyst to begin healing within a week. The only possible side effect of this acne treatment is temporary discoloration, but it can only be used to treat existing nodules.

Lasers have also become a popular acne treatment recently. Not only can lasers treat acne, they can also remove acne scarring. However, because these lasers are currently unregulated, anyone can purchase and legally use these lasers. The danger is that an inexperienced practitioner may overexpose a patient to the laser, causing permanent damage. There are two types of lasers, ablative and non-ablative. Ablative lasers are one of the most antiquated as well as being one of the strongest, and they primarily evaporate the skins ourer most layer, very similar to removing a tattoo. When this outer layer of skin grows back, acne scars and wrinkles are greatly reduced.

The extreme heat produced by ablative lasers cause your oil glands to shrink, which prevents breakouts. Because your skin is burned off, treatment from ablative lasers will make your face red and sore for several weeks. Non-ablative lasers are newer and gentler than older lasers. Non-ablative lasers also shrink the oil glands, but since they do not vaporize your skin, there is usually no soreness or visible side effects. Non-ablative lasers also promote collagen growth, so they also remove acne scarring. Because non-ablative lasers are less harsh, they will require more than one treatment session, while an ablative laser treatment consists of only one session.

Severe acne can be physically and psychologically damaging, but fortunately there are now more acne treatment options available than ever before. Regardless of what treatment you choose, you should be aware of the risks and potential side effects, since many of them can be painful or permanent.

Can acne be more serious than simply a cosmetic issue?

Many people ask this question. Perhaps you are wondering if acne has ever gotten so bad for someone that it turned into something worse. The answer is "yes". Though acne is a larger health issue for only some people, it is still worth noting the development of the skin irritation into something more troublesome.

In some cases, acne leads to the scarring of the skin or the outbreak of a serious infection. This form of acne is known as cystic acne. Much like its name applies, cystic acne results in a large bump or cyst. Once a cyst heals, it may leave an obvious scar. It should be noted, however, that cystic acne is rare. If you believe that your acne is turning into something more serious than the usual skin irritation, consult a doctor.         


To learn more go to Acne Scar Treatment and at Acne Scar Treatment also Cystic Acne Treatments

# posted by NeilG @ 8:27 PM