Acne Explained: Treatment Options

Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or with stopping or starting oral contraceptives can cause acne in some people. Acne cannot be 'caught' or transmitted from one person to another. Touching a pimple and then touching someone else on the skin will not increase their chances of forming a pimple. Acne is not hereditary. Some traits do 'run in the family'. Studies show that the likelihood of acne is greater in people whose parents or siblings have also had acne. For women, acne outbreaks can't be blamed on getting a period.

Many females notice their acne worsens just before their period. This is due to changes in female sex hormones which can contribute to the blockage and inflammation of the pore. Blackheads are just dirt. You can wash acne away.

Too much scrubbing of your skin can further irritate the skin and trigger inflammation. You can't wash acne away! Acne is caused by poor hygiene. Acne happens when the oil glands pores in the skin become blocked. Hormones make the oil glands produce more oil sebum and if the pores are blocked, a build-up occurs and you've got acne. It is not caused by poor hygiene, however keeping your skin clean will help acne. Eating too much junk food or drinking too much soft drink can cause acne.

Adult Acne Causes

Although a balanced diet high in fruit and vegetables will provide the vitamins and minerals necessary for good health, having a balanced diet will not in itself clear your skin and 'cure' your acne. Acne is caused by allergies. There is no evidence that acne has any connection with any allergic reactions you may have. Some prescribed medications won't make acne worse.

Some prescribed medications may aggravate or trigger acne. A doctor or pharmacist can advice you on this. Eating chocolate causes acne. No - chocolate doesn't cause acne! Although diet is important, in many cases having a good diet alone will not 'cure' acne. Sunlight, sun-baking or solariums will improve acne. Sun exposure can cause inflamed spots to turn dark brown. It will also cause premature wrinkles, other signs of aged skin, skin growths and skin cancers.

Although some people with acne notice a small improvement in their acne during summer, the benefits of extra exposure to sunlight are at best small, while the risks are large. Types of treatments Treating acne starts with good skin care.

Both types reduce the acne-causing bacteria in the skin and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Oral antibiotics are generally used when acne is moderate to severe. They can be used on their own or with a topical treatment. Isotretinoin tablets are the most effective treatment for severe acne as they address all known causes of severe cystic acne. They work by unblocking and preventing further blockage of pores, reducing sebum or oil production and soothing the redness and inflammation of acne.

It's important to apply topical retinoids sparingly and avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and UV. Topical retinoids aren't suitable for use during pregnancy, as there's a risk they might cause birth defects.

A 6-week course is usually required, but you may be advised to continue using the medication less frequently after this. Topical antibiotics help kill the bacteria on the skin that can infect plugged hair follicles. They're available as a lotion or gel that's applied once or twice a day. A 6- to 8-week course is usually recommended.

After this, treatment is usually stopped, as there's a risk that the bacteria on your face could become resistant to the antibiotics. Azelaic acid is often used as an alternative treatment for acne if the side effects of benzoyl peroxide or topical retinoids are particularly irritating or painful. Azelaic acid works by getting rid of dead skin and killing bacteria. The medication doesn't make your skin sensitive to sunlight, so you don't have to avoid exposure to the sun. Antibiotic tablets oral antibiotics are usually used in combination with a topical treatment to treat more severe acne.

In most cases, a class of antibiotics called tetracyclines is prescribed, unless you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women are usually advised to take an antibiotic called erythromycin , which is known to be safer to use. Depending on how well you react to the treatment, a course of oral antibiotics can last 4 to 6 months. Tetracyclines can make your skin sensitive to sunlight and UV light, and can also make the oral contraceptive pill less effective during the first few weeks of treatment.

You'll need to use an alternative method of contraception, such as condoms , during this time. If you don't already use it, your GP may recommend the combined oral contraceptive pill , even if you're not sexually active. This combined pill can often help improve acne in women, but may take up to a year before the full benefits are seen. It helps to reduce the production of sebum. You'll probably have to use co-cyprindiol for 2 to 6 months before you notice a significant improvement in your acne.

For example, out of a group of 10, women who haven't taken co-cyprindiol, you would expect 16 of them to develop breast cancer by the time they were