Acne Remedies Mint

Acne vulgaris (acne) is a common skin condition that occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog the pores. These clogs cause blemishes in the skin that are often red and swollen. When you have just a few red spots, known as pimples, you have a mild form of acne. Severe acne can mean hundreds of pimples that can cover the face, neck, chest, and back. While mild acne is merely annoying, severe acne can lead to emotional and physical scars.

Acne most often affects teens; more than 85% develop at least a mild form of this condition. 1 Most people outgrow acne by their early 20s, though some—mostly women—can have acne into their 40s or 50s.

What causes acne vulgaris?
Clogged pores cause acne to develop, most often during the teen years. During hormone levels rise and skin glands make more oil (sebum). The job is to keep your skin moist. Acne gets its when the oil mixes with dead skin cells. This mixture blocks skin pores and becomes infected with bacteria that seeps into nearby tissues. The result is swelling, redness, and pus—acne.

See an illustration of how pimples form.

Contrary to popular myth, eating greasy food or chocolate does not cause acne. 2

What are the symptoms of acne?
Symptoms of acne include whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples, which can occur on the face, neck, shoulders, back, or chest. Cystic lesions are pimples that are large and deep. These lesions can become painfully infected and can lead to scarring.

How is acne treated?
Treatment for acne takes time. You may not see progress for up to 8 weeks. Sometimes acne will get worse before it gets better—even with treatment. The good news is that treatments often work very well. Gentle cleansing with soap or nonprescription products, such as benzoyl peroxide lotions, often controls mild acne cases and prevents new outbreaks. If these treatments do not work, your doctor may prescribe creams or lotions. These treatments can contain antibiotics or other kinds of medication.

Doctors may prescribe topical benzoyl peroxide lotions, which you apply to your skin for moderate to severe acne. Oral antibiotics are also used to treat acne. Sometimes you use the lotions along with antibiotics. This combination often works better than either medication alone. It also decreases your risk of developing antibiotic resistance.

If you have acne nodules—solid, inflamed, painful lumps—your doctor might first prescribe a topical retinoid, a cream or lotion that contains a form of vitamin A. Treatment can also include an antibiotic that you put on your skin and/or an antibiotic you take by mouth.

If you have severe acne with deep nodules and cysts, your doctor may suggest an oral retinoid, such as isotretinoin (Accutane) if other treatments work. Though this medication works very well, doctors suggest it only as a last Isotretinoin can cause some rare but serious side effects. Depression, high cholesterol levels, and defects are a few of the possible side effects. Just one dose of isotretinoin can cause severe defects if a woman is pregnant when she takes this medication. 3

Light wave therapy, which uses a high-intensity blue light, has U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for acne treatment. This therapy is rarely used, but in some cases may help with mild to moderate acne that improved with other treatments. 4

What can be done about acne scars?
Treatments can help acne scars look better and feel smoother. These treatments range from injecting collagen, to removing damaged layers of skin, to cutting out the scar and repairing the hole. The best treatment for you depends upon how severe the scarring is. You may have more than one treatment at the same time for best results.