Acne Vulgaris – pimples and “zits” – almost everyone has experienced this skin disease in one form or another. The exact cause of acne is complex and only partially understood. But one could oversimplify and say that acne is caused by sticky skin cells in the opening of the hair follicles. The material produced by sebaceous glands is part of the reason that the cells are sticky. The cells form “plugs” in the opening of the hair follicle, and this is called a comedone (a “white-head” or “black-head”). Some of the comedones “explode” and turn into big red “papules” and “pustules”.
The treatments for acne can be divided into “home therapy” and “office treatments”.
HOME THERAPY
This is the regimen that Dr. Minars has prescribed for you. It may consist of creams, washes, pills or all three. There is no shortage of effective acne treatments. The most common cause of treatment failure is patient non-compliance. People give up or forget to take their medications. It’s a lot of work (often a cream and pill in the morning and again at night). And it requires patience (acne will often not budge until the third month of treatment).
OFFICE TREATMENTS Peels(soften the “plugs”)
There are two types of peels. 1) Chemical peels – such as salicylic acid peels; and 2) Physical peels – such as microdermabrasion. Both have the same goal – exfoliating skin: especially those sticky skin cells that block the hair follicles and cause your acne. The choice between salicylic acid and microdermabrasion depends on your skin type and in some people they can even be used together, for a greater effect... page 1 | page 2 |
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Laser Treatment | Acne Scars
