Acne Cures and Myths

Acne Cures and Myths
By Kerwin Chang
Unfortunately, few find it, but this is only because they haven't found the right cure for them. Each of us is different, and our bodies function and respond to treatment differently. What works for some, may not work for others. However, there are a few proven treatments that do provide an cure for a large majority of sufferers.

The best over the counter cure seems to be ProActiv. This is a skin care system that contains benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient. It is an expensive treatment, but that is because it has proven to be so effective as an cure. ProActiv is a non-prescription topical treatment, with prescription strength benzoyl peroxide.

Accutane, which is a prescription medication, has also proven to be quite effective as an cure. However, it is also expensive, and as an oral medication, there is the possibility of serious side effects. Due to the possible side effects, many choose not to take this powerful drug, even though it works well for the majority of people who use this treatment.

Another cure seems to be retin-a. Retin-a is used to treat acne, scars, wrinkles, skin discoloration, and other skin disorders. It is highly effective, with few side effects. Retin-a is used as a topical treatment, and is available by prescription. However, there are other over the counter medications that contain small amounts of retin-a.

The important thing to remember is that cures do not work overnight. Furthermore, you may need to continue treatment even after the has cleared up, or start the treatment again should you have another outbreak in the future. Discuss the need to continue treatment with your dermatologist.

The three cures discussed above are expensive. However, they are expensive because they work. This doesn't mean that all expensive treatments work, it simply means that these three, which have been proven to work for the majority of people who have tried these treatments, are well worth the cost.

Acne

Myths

Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene. If you believe this myth, and wash your skin hard and frequently, you can actually make your worse. Acne is not caused by dirt or surface skin oils. Although excess oils, dead skin and a day's accumulation of dust on the skin looks unsightly, they should not be removed by hand scrubbing. Vigorous washing and scrubbing will actually irritate the skin and make worse. The best approach to hygiene and acne: Gently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap, pat dry--and use an appropriate treatment for the acne.

Myth #2: Acne is caused by diet. Extensive scientific studies have not found a connection between diet and acne. In other words, food does not cause acne. Not chocolate. Not french fries. Not pizza. Nonetheless, some people insist that certain foods affect their acne. In that case, avoid those foods. Besides, eating a balanced diet always makes sense. However, according to the scientific evidence, if is being treated properly, there's no need to worry about food affecting the acne.

Myth #3: Acne is caused by stress. The ordinary stress of day-to-day living is not an important factor in acne. Severe stress that needs medical attention is sometimes treated with drugs that can cause as a side effect. If you think you may have related to a drug prescribed for stress or depression, you should consult your physician.

Myth #4: Acne is just a cosmetic disease. Yes, does affect the way people look and is not otherwise a serious threat to a person’s physical health. However, can result in permanent physical scars--plus, itself as well as its scars can affect the way people feel about themselves to the point of affecting their lives.

Myth #5: You just have to let run its course. The truth is, can be cleared up. If the products you have tried haven’t worked, consider seeing a dermatologist. With the products available today, there is no reason why someone has to endure or get scars.
Kerwin Chang writes for http://www.acnestuff.net where you can find out more about acne and other skin care topics.

Thanks are extended to Kerwin Chang for the use of this article.