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Acne Treatment Options

Trina — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:19:54 +0800

Acne Treatment Options

Although there is no cure, there are plenty of acne treatment options available today that effectively control breakout activity. Acne treatments are divided into three categories: topical, systemic, and procedural. The course of treatment is determined by the type and severity of acne.

Knowing your grade of acne will help you choose the most effective treatment plan. Grade I and Grade II (mild to moderate acne) can often be treated with over-the-counter products. A dermatologist must treat Grade III and Grade IV (moderately severe to severe, or cystic acne).

It's common to try several treatments before finding the one that works for you. Try not to get discouraged. And remember, with any acne treatment or therapy, consistency is key to a successful outcome.

Seeing a Dermatologist
A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the science of the skin, its treatment, and diseases. Your dermatologist is a great asset in the fight against acne. He can offer many acne treatment options, as well as advice and support.

Your dermatologist will work with you to develop an acne treatment plan that may include topical and systemic medications. If you suffer from severe acne, nodulocystic or cystic acne, you must see a dermatologist. Acne of this severity does not respond to over-the-counter acne treatment. Also, see your doctor if your mild acne isn't responding to treatment, or if you just need guidance in treating your acne.

Seeing an Esthetician
An esthetician, or skin care therapist, specializes in the treatment and beautification of the skin. Estheticians are not medical doctors; rather they perform cosmetic treatments of the skin such as facials and waxing. Estheticians are required to complete 300 to 600 hours of education, depending on the state.

If you have mild acne, you may want to see an esthetician. They can recommend skin care products for acne-prone skin, and offer advice on daily skin care. Estheticians can also perform deep cleansing treatments to help ward off comedones. Estheticians work at day spas or skin spas. Many dermatological offices and medi-spas also employ estheticians to offer supportive therapy under the supervision of the doctor.

Topical Acne Treatment Options
Topical treatments are products such as creams, ointments, or lotions that are applied to the skin. They are used in the treatment of mild to severe acne, depending on the strength. Topical treatments are available both over the counter or by a prescription. Mild to moderate acne generally responds to over-the-counter treatments while more severe acne will need a prescription medication.

Topical treatments available over-the-counter include:

* Salicylic acid
* Benzoyl peroxide
* Sulfur
* Resorcinol

Topical treatments available by prescription include:

* Azelaic acid
* Topical retinoids - adapalene, tazarotene, tretinoin
* Topical antibiotics - clindamycin, erythromycin, sulfacetamide

Systemic Acne Treatment Options
Systemic treatments work internally. They may be taken orally, as in pill form, or be injected into the skin. Severe acne and cystic acne must be treated systemically. Systemic treatments may also be used in cases of moderate acne when topical treatments are not enough. Systemic acne treatments are available by prescription only, and are often used in conjunction with topical treatments.

Systemic acne treatment medications include:

* Oral antibiotics - erythromycin, tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline
* Hormonal treatments - birth control pills, spironolactone
* Isotretinoin - sold under the brand names Amnesteem, Claravis, [Sotret (and formerly sold as Accutane)

Procedural Acne Treatment Options
Procedural treatments are therapies performed by a dermatologist, health care practitioner, or esthetician. They are used in the treatment of mild to severe acne, depending on the treatment. Procedural therapies are meant to be supportive and used in conjunction with topical and/or systemic treatments.

* Comedo extractions - Often performed by estheticians during a facial, comedo extractions involve gently coaxing plugs of sebum and cellular debris from the pore. By removing blackheads, milia, and soft closed comedones the overall number of breakouts can be reduced. Estheticians are not permitted to extract cysts or serious lesions. These may only be extracted by a dermatologist through surgical methods.
* Light chemical peels - Despite the name, light chemical peels do not "peel" the skin. Instead, they deeply exfoliate the skin using an alpha-hydroxy, beta-hydroxy, or glycolic acid. Light chemical peels improve acne by removing dead skin cells and helping to clear pores of debris. Estheticians may incorporate chemical peels into a facial for those with mild to moderate acne. Those with more serious acne should have their dermatologist perform the chemical peel.
* Microdermabrasion - This treatment may be performed at a skin spa or your dermatologist's office. A machine is used to rapidly discharge super-fine crystals over the skin's surface, blasting away dead skin cells. It is not painful. A microdermabrasion treatment deeply exfoliates the skin, loosening debris from within the pore. It is best for those who have non-inflamed acne, with many blackheads and/or whiteheads.
* Phototherapy - Phototherapy is the term used to describe any treatment utilizing laser or light. They work by killing P. acnes, reducing inflammation, or shrinking the sebaceous glands, depending on what therapy is used. There are many different light and laser treatments available including blue light, red light, and photodynamic therapy. Phototherapy can be used to treat all stages of acne, from mild to very severe. Your dermatologist can help you decide which treatment, if any, would be most effective for you.
* Corticosteroid injections - Cysts are serious lesions that damage skin tissue. Dermatologists can inject a cyst with corticosteroid, reducing inflammation and the chance of scarring. Corticosteroid injections speed healing of the lesion to just a few short days.

Acne Skin Care DON'Ts

Trina — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:08:49 +0800

Good skin care is a critical part of your acne treatment routine. You know what to do to care for your skin, but do you know what you should not do?

Don't pop pimples.

Sure, you may be able to extract some gunk from the pimple, but a whole lot more is happening under the skin's surface. When a pimple is squeezed, the follicle wall is put under intense pressure. If the wall bursts, infected material spills from the pore and into the dermis. More inflammation is created, and other pimples may soon follow. You also run the risk of scarring. So don't pop, squeeze, or otherwise pick at your blemishes.

Don't scrub at the face.

Blemishes can't be scrubbed away. In fact, too much scrubbing can cause irritation and worsen your acne. Remember, your skin is a sensitive organ and should be treated gently. This means no gritty scrubs, abrasive cleansing pads, or fiercely rubbing at your skin with a washcloth.

Don't use too many treatment products at once, or apply them too often.

Even though it is tempting, slathering on topical medications on numerous times every day won't clear acne faster. But it will leave your skin super dry and irritated, as will using multiple acne treatments at once (for example, salicylic acid lotion, on top of benzoyl peroxide cream, on top of Retin A gel).

Don't layer products on your skin. Instead, space applications throughout the day (salicylic acid cleanser in the morning, benzoyl peroxide lotion at night.) If you notice any irritation, scale back use to every other day or drop the second product altogether.

If you are using prescription acne medications, never use an additional acne product without first getting your doctor's okay.

Don't ignore acne.

There are treatment options that can help. If acne is mild, you can first try an over-the-counter treatment. If, after several weeks of treatment you're not seeing results, make an appointment with a doctor. Your dermatologist has plenty of prescription medications just for clearing acne.

Today's teens don't have to endure pimples and breakouts. And if you're an adult suffering from acne for the first time, your doctor will know how to treat that too. So don't wait to see if acne will go away on it's own. You may be surprised at the treatment options available.

Is Mary Kay good product to use?

Trina — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:23:08 +0800

Hi gals, just wanna have some comments on Mary Kay products. Recently my friend ask me to join their team, now still consider....
If you have try this products, pls give some comments and advice ya! thanks

How to Apply Makeup in 10 Easy Steps

Trina — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:55:54 +0800

How to Apply Makeup in 10 Easy Steps

Put your best face forward armed with beauty secrets from cosmetics industry pros. These 10 simple makeup tips are sure to speed up your daily routine with head-turning gorgeous results.

Instructions

Step 1

Apply a concealer that is one shade lighter than your foundation. Dot it on over any blemishes or under-eye circles and blend with your fingertips or a makeup sponge. If your concealer tends to cake, apply eye cream first.

Step 2

Choose foundation that matches your skin tone exactly. Apply it in dots over the central part of your face, then blend it out with a makeup sponge or your fingertips until it covers your entire face.

Step 3

Use a loose or pressed powder to keep foundation and concealer on longer. Use pressed powder to touch up when you're away from home.

Step 4

Do your eyebrows next. Use powdered eyebrow shadow on brows instead of pencil, which can often look unnatural. Apply it with a hard, slanted brush.

Step 5

Choose three colors of eye shadow: light, medium and dark. Use the dark only to line your upper eyelid, in a fairly thin line along the upper lashes. Use the medium shade for the crease and the lightest shade for the area under the eyebrow. There are many variations on eye shadow application techniques.

Step 6

Apply eyeliner. Use a cake eyeliner with a damp, thin liner brush, or an eyeliner pencil, and line the lower lid below the lashes. Line only the outer two-thirds of the lower lid, or all the way across if you're trying to achieve a darker look. Line all the way across the upper lid (just above the lash line and as close to the lashes as possible), or start the line where your lashes begin.

Step 7

Apply mascara to upper and lower lashes, in two thin coats to avoid clumpiness. Choose brown mascara if your coloring is fair; black or brown-black works well for darker coloring. Or try a colored mascara such as navy or plum for fun, but don't go too bright if you want to be taken seriously.

Step 8

Smile to find the apples of your cheeks, and apply blush to the apples or below, whichever you prefer. If you have to blend in blush, it's too bright.

Step 9

Choose a lipstick color that's suited to your skin tone and that's perfect for your day look. You can mix colors and textures to suit your moods and your outfits.

Step 10

Line lips after applying lipstick, not before. That way you won't end up with a dark circle of lip liner after your lipstick has worn off. Avoid combining very dark lip liner and pale lipstick.

The Idea Behind Anti Aging Skin Care

Trina — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:27:11 +0800

The Idea Behind Anti Aging Skin Care

As we get older, it is inevitable that we are going to experience the signs of aging: fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, sagging skin, etc. Because it is virtually impossible to turn back the hands of time, it is crucial that we learn to take care of our skin early on. However, the way skin care works in your teens, 20s and 30s is very different from skin care in your 40s, 50s and beyond. For this reason alone, it is important to understand the concept of anti aging skin care.

The concept of anti aging skin care deals with the idea that aging skin presents its own set of challenges. The anti aging industry has made billions of dollars each year by formulating and distributing various new products that work to keep aging skin more youthful, supple, and resilient. If you're in the market for anti aging skin care products, it's important that you do you research about what type of items are available and which would be best for your needs.

Many of today's anti aging skin care products come in the form of serums, creams, and lotions. New versions are debuted all the time--each with its own claim to fame about the benefits it can provide your complexion. The most popular anti aging skin care items are those that eliminate and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face. These are the two most common signs of aging and the most annoying to deal with. Using special ingredients and formulations, these products work to plump out the skin and increase the production of collagen, which results in youthful skin that is softer, suppler, and--most important--free of fine lines and wrinkles.

Those who suffer from the signs of aging often due so because of sun damage from years of excessive sun exposure without the aid of sunscreen or sun block. Not only can being out in the sun unprotected put you at risk for serious conditions like skin cancer, it can also make you prone to premature aging. If you don't practice good sun care early on in your teen and young adult years, you run the risk of getting sun damage, which will result in the presence of early fine lines and wrinkles well before your time.

Quality anti aging skin care products can be found just about anywhere these days: fine department stores, grocery stores, and online. You can also seek the assistance of a dermatologist, who can help you figure out what products would benefit your skin the most and what steps you can follow to take better care of your complexion. Because each person reacts differently, it is important to test the product out on a patch of skin first. Doing this will reduce the chances of developing a negative skin reaction. If the anti aging skin care product you've purchased makes your skin worse, stop using it right away and return the product for a full refund.