Unfortunately, there are no quick cures for acne.

Over-the-counter pills for acne

The only over-the-counter pills (oral medication) available for treatment of acne is vitamins. While taking vitamins contributes to overall health and wellness, which in turn contributes to the health of your skin, vitamins alone will not be a very effective remedy for acne.

There is considerable controversy in any discussion about the effectiveness of vitamins for any condition. Supplements are one of the most misunderstood aspects of good nutrition. Before popping vitamins in an attempt to reduce the effects of acne, evaluate your overall diet and lifestyle. Eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and exercising regularly should always be the first priority over simply taking vitamin supplements and hoping they have a beneficial effect, on acne or any other health issue.

If you feel the need to supplement your diet in an attempt to treat acne, make sure your supplements include vitamin A and vitamin E. Vitamin C also contributes to skin health, but don't overdo it - your body does not store vitamin C and taking supplements will not have any effect.

Prescription pills for acne

If you want to step up your fight against acne with prescription medications, you will need to see a medical doctor. Your family doctor or internist will most likely refer you to a specialist, known as a dermatologist. Once again, keep in mind that even medical management of acne takes time. You may respond quickly, or you may not; if you don't, then the dermatologist will employ varying modalities to attempt to bring your acne under control.

A dermatologist's first step is usually to prescription antibiotics to fight the bacteria that causes acne and decrease inflammation. Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is frequently used for acne treatment. Unfortunately, the bacteria that causes acne has developed a resistance to the antibiotics and 50% of people do not find relief with this treatment. However, it is still effective in reducing inflammation.

The next course of action may be to try stronger antibiotic treatment with Clindamycin, Bactrim or Septra.

The average course of treatment with antibiotics is one to six months and may also include treatment with topical medications, such as Retin-A. You should follow the directions for taking antibiotics and not stop taking it just because you don't feel it's helping. Your doctor will make adjustments in your medications at each visit, trying to find the most effective dose and combination of prescription medication and topical treatment.

The next line of treatment is usually isotretinoin, or Accutane. Accutane has been very effective in treating acne and has provided dramatic improvement to the majority of patients treated with it. Approximately 60% of patients require only one course of treatment with Accutane, and 30% require a second course. You should follow the prescription directions carefully and be aware of side effects, which the doctor or the pharmacist will review with you.

There is no quick cure for acne

As you can see, there are pills for acne treatment, but they are not a quick cure. It can take months for a medical specialist to determine what prescription therapies are effective for you. During that time, you may see an immediate improvement in your acne or you may see little change for many months. Don't get discouraged - your dermatologist is trained to treat acne problems and is the best person to help you resolve your skin problems.

Most acne scars are not true scars and aren't permanent. Post-pimple marks are pink, red or brown spots that will fade with time and can be covered by makeup. Pink or red marks should fade in 3 to 4 months.

Dark brown marks can last 6 months to a year or longer. These are caused by the melanin pigment in the dermis found in cells called melanophages. These scavenger-like cells remain behind to clean up the pus and mess caused by papules and pustules. The challenge in treating these medically is penetration to the depth of the upper dermis, where melanophages reside. The darker your skin, the darker the spots will be. They can be treated painlessly with skin lighteners containing hydroquinone, which does not affect the normal skin color.

Superficial scarring, such as small, shallow depressions, can be improved with topical retinoids, available over-the-counter and in prescription medications. If caught early, these depressed, shallow scars may respond to microdermabrasion, which helps stimulate collagen production. There are over-the-counter microdermabrasion products, or you can have it done professionally. At minimum, 6 to 8 treatments performed on a weekly basis is necessary to see any results.

Treatment of more serious acne scars

Shallow, sunken depressions in the skin with fairly smooth edges, and sunken depressions with ragged, uneven edges are known as Dell scars. Several treatments with microdermabrasion can soften the ragged-edge scars a bit. Laser resurfacing with a CO2 laser or radiofrequency treatments have shown promising results for long-term improvement of these scars. Areas of sunken depression may be filled with materials such as bovine (cow) or human collagen. For deep depressions, there are permanent fillers which serve as something like Bondo does on dents in a car. If you decide on this option, discuss it with the doctor and make sure you understand the pros and cons - if the filler fails, it can leave an even bigger depression and larger scar than you had originally.

The scars usually found on the cheeks are called ice-pick scars, because of their appearance - they look like someone has taken an ice pick to the skin. They're small, deep holes with jagged edges and steep sides. These can evolve over time into depressed fibrotic scars, which also have sharp edges and steep sides, but are larger and firmer at their base than ice-pick scars. These scars are difficult to treat, unfortunately. They require surgery, either cutting out the hole and sewing the sides together, or transplanting skin from behind the ear to fill in the hole, then lasering the entire area so it blends in with the surrounding skin.

Severe cystic acne scarring can result in sinus tracts, leaving spaghetti-like tunnels under the skin that connect one sebaceous gland to another. These pull down and tether the skin. Extensive surgery to remove these tracts may lead to further scarring and increase the likelihood that new cysts will form in these damaged areas. If you have this type of scarring, seek out an accomplished specialist with references for performing surgery on these types of scars.

You can see from the above that scarring can be difficult to remove, which is why the primary goal of most dermatologists is to prevent scarring. If your acne is progressing to the severe stage and home remedies and over-the-counter treatments aren't working for you, see a dermatologist immediately.

Papules: Papules are small, pink, domed bumps. They are tender to the touch. Even though we know we can cover these with makeup, we also know they can progress into something more, and they are not a welcome sight!

Pustules: These are small, round, pus-filled lesions. They are swollen and appear red at the base, with a yellowish or whitish center. At this point, you're probably cursing at the mirror.

Nodules and Cysts: These are large, deep and painful bumps filled initially with blood and then with pus. Nodules can linger under the skin's surface for weeks, or even months. They can be so painful, you don't even want to touch them. Persistent nodules can harden into deep cysts, and both cysts and nodules can leave deep scars.

Most people don't think they have acne until they see papules or pustules. However, blackheads and whiteheads are classified as acne and are part of the spectrum. Dermatologists have a grading system that helps determine the course of action to be applied to each type of acne they see. The dermatologist's priority is to prevent permanent scarring, so the moderate-to-severe category of acne is managed more aggressively than mild cases. The second priority is to clear your acne, so you look and feel better about yourself and your appearance. In mild cases, permanent scars are not a concern, so there is more room to try different topical products to clear the acne outbreaks you may be experiencing.

Because of fluctuations in hormones, as well as other factors, the grading of your acne can change as you age. A mild case of acne in a pre-teen boy may, if left untreated, progress to severe acne over the next few years as he ages and hormones change. A woman who had few problems with acne as a teenager may suddenly start experiencing outbreaks in her 30s.

Acne, unfortunately, doesn't occur only on your face. Acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous glands, which have their greatest density on the face, ears, neck, chest, back, scalp and shoulders. There are fewer of these glands in the lower arms and legs, and none on the palms and soles of the feet. In severe cases of acne, you may experience outbreaks inside the ear canal! There is also a serious and rare form of inflammatory acne, known as acne conglobata, which develops primarily on the face, back and chest. This may involve severe bacterial infection and draining sinus tracts under the skin, which always leads to scarring; if you have symptoms of acne conglobata, you should contact a dermatologist immediately.

The identification of the different types of pimples and the grading system will help you determine a treatment plan, whether you apply home remedies for acne, or whether you decide to see a dermatologist for medical treatment.

The texture, pore size and oiliness/dryness of your skin is largely determined by genes, and regulated by hormones. There's nothing you can do about your body's natural inclination to be oily or dry; all you can do is recognize the skin type you possess and do whatever is necessary to regulate nature.

Your skin also changes as you age. While you might have oily skin as a teenager, you may have dry skin as an adult. As these changes take place, you need to recognize them and alter your skin care regimen accordingly. The routine that serves well during teen years may actually be damaging in someone past their 30s.

What if my skin is mostly dry?

You can still have dry skin, even if it's covered with acne. It's a common notion that the best form of treatment is to strip all oil from the skin, or that acne is caused by an excess of oil. That is not the case, however. Acne has its causes in several factors and stripping the skin of what is perceived as excessive oil causing acne can produce nothing more than skin that is parched, irritated and more susceptible to infection. Don't indiscriminately strip your skin of excess oil until you understand the types of acne, which type you are and what treatment plan is best.

If your skin is mostly dry, humectant agents, or moisturizers, can help relieve dryness. A humidifier in the bedroom at night can also help, especially if you live where the weather is very dry, or you have an air conditioning or forced air heating system that zaps the moisture out of your skin. Some medications also dry out the skin; if you just started taking a new medication and notice a change in your skin, ask the prescribing physician if the medication is known to have dry skin as a side effect.

What if my skin is mostly oily?

Most of us have probably experienced those teenager years when we were quite certain we could've provided all the oil necessary for the french fryer at the local hangout. Women are especially susceptible, due the skin's sensitivity to changes in hormones. Oil production constantly changes; again, it isn't the root cause of acne. You can have oily skin and terrible acne, or oily skin and acne.

Living in a hot, humid climate will stimulate oil gland production, Exercise, stress and hormones such as testosterone and DHEA-S will also increase oil flow. Loose,k oil-free powders and medicated clay-based masks will help. Remember that excessive stripping of lubrication may actually increase production of oil, as your glands respond to perceived dryness.

Combination Skin and the T Zone

In reality, almost everyone has combination skin. The greatest density of oil glands is in what is known as the "T zone," so called because it comprises a "T" shape of the forehead, down the nose, and ending at the chin. Even if you have oily skin in the T zone, you are likely to have dry skin elsewhere.

Once you've made yourself aware of the different types of skin, it makes it easier to work out a plan to get rid of your acne.

Can vitamins actually treat acne?

The application of vitamins in treatment of acne have to do with the benefits on the body as a whole and the skin's function as an organ. With the understanding that skin is the largest organ you possess, the value of vitamins to treat acne becomes more clear.

Skin benefits from a balanced diet and exercise, just like any other organ in the body does. Healthy skin will be less likely to produce the conditions that lead to outbreaks of acne; therefore, the best use of vitamins to treat acne is in the form of a healthier diet.

What vitamins are best?

First, make sure you're getting the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of all vitamins and minerals. The reason they're recommended is because that's what our bodies need to function well. These vitamins and minerals aid in effective metabolism, fat conversion, converting carbohydrates into energy and reconstructing body tissues.

More isn't always better. Water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C and B12 are not stored and will just be excreted from the body. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, E and K, are stored in the body and can be toxic in large doses, causing liver or kidney damage.

If you want to boost your body's ability to function, anti-oxidants are an important component. Your body uses oxygen; as a result, cells form by-products known as free radicals. These can damage cells and contribute to the aging process. Anti-oxidants neutralize free radicals and slow down the process.

Supplement with diet and exercise

Rather than trying to regulate skin health by buying vitamin supplements, work on a program of improving overall diet and exercise. Anytime you improve your overall health, you will improve the health of your skin - and reduce the chances of acne outbreaks.

It goes without saying that you should cut back on or eliminate greasy and fatty foods if you're experiencing acne problems with acne or other health issues. Load up on anti-oxidant foods that are good for you - and good for your skin.

Vitamin A - beta carotene: Broccoli, cantaloupe, egg yolk, fortified grains, fortified milk, low-fat dairy products, mangoes, peaches, squash of any kind, tomatoes and yams are rich in vitamin A and beta carotene.

Vitamin C: Bell peppers, broccoli, cantaloupe, citrus fruits and juices, collard greens, kale, kiwi, papaya, raw cabbage and strawberries will give your vitamin C levels a boost without having to chew on any tablets.

Vitamin E: Your body will be better served by eating foods rich in Vitamin E, rather than applying it to your face. Not to keep singing the same song, but broccoli is in this category, as well, along with apricots, fish, fish oils, fortified cereals, nuts, seeds, shrimp, vegetable oils and whole grains.

In short, an improvement in your overall health, including healthy eating habits and regular exercise, is the most effective way to use vitamins to treat acne.

Skin has an almost magical ability to repair itself, which we seem to take for granted. It constantly replenishes itself. It covers an amazing 20 square feet and is 15% of our total body weight. In the three layers of one square inch of skin, you'll find 19 yards of blood vessels, 65 hairs, 78 yards of nerves, 100 sebaceous glands, 650 sweat glands, 1300 nerve endings, 20,000 sensory cells, 129,040 pores and 9.5 million pores.

Your skin's top layer - the epidermis

This microscopically thin layer of your skin is a mere 7 to 10 cells thick; in a young adult, it completely renews itself every 28 days. Almost 95% of this layer is composed of new cells called keratinocytes. The rest (5%) is made up of cells that product melanin, which gives your skin color, and Langerhan cells, which work with the immune system to help fight infections. The renewal rate of the epidermis diminishes with age. As a result, the pores pack up with dead skin cells, which makes them look larger. This slowing down with age is also the reason for the epidermis being less resiliant and bright as we get older.

Your skin's middle layer - the dermis

Most of the skin's volume is found in the middle layer. The dermis is composed of collagen and elastin fibers; nerve endings that sense temperature and pressure; blood vessels that supply nutrients to keep everything replenished and renewed; sweat glands, which function to cool you down; muscles that contract and cause you to "shiver" and make your hand "stand up;" hair follicles, and oil glands. However pesky you may find them when you're having an outbreak of acne, you can't live without oil glands. They produce the sebum that keeps your skin soft, pliable and waterproof.

Your skin's bottom layer - the subcutaneous layer

In this layer there are lots of fat cells. These provide insulation and protection for your fragile organs. Rooted in these fat cells are most of your hair follicles. The hair follicle and attached sebaceous, or oil, gland share space in what is known as the pilosebaceous gland. The pore is the passage from the base of the hair follicle to the surface of the skin (the epidermis). Sebum is an oily substance composed of free fatty acids, cholesterol, triglycerides and wax. It is released from the gland, into the pore and travels to the skin's surface to keep it pliable and protected. Without sebum, your skin would be dry and itchy.

Understanding this vital organ

It's important to understand how your skin works and what can go wrong with it, just as it's important to understand how any other organ in your body works. We tend to take our skin for granted, not realizing that it is an organ performing functions just as vital to our health as our hearts, lungs and other organs. Knowing how skin works is the first step to understanding the causes of acne and how to reduce or prevent outbreaks of acne.

To clear up blemishes on your face and make them stay away is a dream that many people wish would come true. Of course that is a major wish from the masses that is easier said than done. Many people have invested their money on lots of different products hoping it is going to be the solution to their acne problems.

Are you one of those people? Are 'clear up blemishes' and 'get rid of acne' normal search terms in your google search engine? I think clearing up blemishes is something that is more of a process that should be acted upon on a day to day basis. Its not something you should think about only when you can visibly see acne on your face in the mirror. You should use an effective acne skin care regimen everyday that has the ingredients you need to stop acne breakouts. You should use a great product that doesnt just only wash your face. It should clean, exfoliate, tone, moisturize, etc..

When you have acne prone skin you need to take special consideration in figuring out exactly what you need to use in preventing acne breakouts. You need to know if your face is oily, dry, or a combination of both. Select products that are more suited for your type of face. Stay consistent with your daily acne skin care regimen and you should see positive results depending on the product you are using.

Great Tips to Clear Up Blemishes and Stop Acne Breakouts:

Use mild soap. - Stay away from harsh cleansers that are made of strong chemicals. These can dissolve your skin's natural proteins and oils, thus doing more harm than good. Cleansing products should be as chemical-free as possible. Do not use deodorant soaps on your face! They are made of strong chemicals and also leave a detergent film behind. This protective layer will actually irritate your skin and clog your pores. Be gentle. - Some people think they ought to scrub their skin raw, but this is one of the things to avoid. You should instead be careful not to damage or tear your skin. Exfoliating your skin is good because it will help remove dead skin cells, but be careful so you will not hurt yourself. Use an alcohol- free toner on your face. - It should make your face feel smooth and refreshed. Astringents and toners with glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids work the best for toning the face. These acids actually can reduce the pore size, and help avoid ingrown hairs. They are aggressive and have quick results. Keep skin hydrated and moist - Moisturize your face with mild, non-comedogenic moisturizers to keep it hydrated. Moisturizing is a necessity. Again, the product with the least amount of chemical additives is the best. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing. Keep Your Hands Away From Your Face! - Its hard to do, but try not to touch your face.Your hands can pickup other bacteria that can cause acne flare ups. Avoid the temptation to pick, and squeeze your acne. - This will send the infection deeper into the skin and can cause severe scarring.

Use the above tips to clear up blemishes and stop acne breakouts. If your acne gets too severe then you should seek the help of a dermatologist.

Related Acne Skin Care Articles

I can remember back when I was in the seventh grade and I got my first zit. At first I thought it was cool because I was clearly growing up. About five or six pimples later, I realized why everyone hated acne. What was the deal? Was I going to get these irksome little bumps for the rest of my life, or would they be gone by the time I hit 20? Well, this was impossible to know at the time, but it really varies from person to person.
While some individuals are tortured by unbearable waves of acne as teens, others don't even get a single zit until their early 30s. Acne is sneaky in that way. You never truly know if you're off the hook or not. For those who suffer from blemishes after the teen years are over, there is an adult acne treatment to help you with this dilemma.

Have you ever tried an adult acne treatment? If you're well over the age of 20 and still suffer from cumbersome breakouts, then maybe it is time to take action. You don't want to face your colleagues on a daily basis with a maze of pimples on your face.
Check out the local drug store. You will notice that the world of acne medications is not just catering to teens any longer. You can find an adult acne treatment that is right for you. After all, our skin certainly changes with age. As we get older, that youthful glow may seem to fade, and the hormones calm down
a little. You now need an adult acne treatment to fight those pesky pimples without over-drying your skin.

As a child, my wife was one of the few who weren't afflicted by acne. Now in her thirties, she ccasionally has a random breakout. While this drives her insane, she was constantly searching for an adult acne treatment. She discovered a product that works well
for her skin type and obliterates any breakouts before they rear their ugly heads. This was accomplished through a simple visit to the dermatologist. After better understanding her skin type, she found an adult acne treatment that works well for her. If you are
an adult who suffers from severe acne or just an occasional breakout, you can check out what adult acne treatments are available at you local grocer and drug stores. A great way to sift through the infinite
remedies on the market today is via the Internet. Jump online and check out the plethora of acne fighters and find one that's right for you. Although you may suffer from acne as an adult, you can fight the burden with an adult acne treatment.

Find More Adult Acne Treatment Articles

I can remember back when I was in the seventh grade and I got my first zit. At first I thought it was cool because I was clearly growing up. About five or six pimples later, I realized why everyone hated acne. What was the deal? Was I going to get these irksome little bumps for the rest of my life, or would they be gone by the time I hit 20? Well, this was impossible to know at the time, but it really varies from person to person.
While some individuals are tortured by unbearable waves of acne as teens, others don't even get a single zit until their early 30s. Acne is sneaky in that way. You never truly know if you're off the hook or not. For those who suffer from blemishes after the teen years are over, there is an adult acne treatment to help you with this dilemma.

Have you ever tried an adult acne treatment? If you're well over the age of 20 and still suffer from cumbersome breakouts, then maybe it is time to take action. You don't want to face your colleagues on a daily basis with a maze of pimples on your face.
Check out the local drug store. You will notice that the world of acne medications is not just catering to teens any longer. You can find an adult acne treatment that is right for you. After all, our skin certainly changes with age. As we get older, that youthful glow may seem to fade, and the hormones calm down
a little. You now need an adult acne treatment to fight those pesky pimples without over-drying your skin.

As a child, my wife was one of the few who weren't afflicted by acne. Now in her thirties, she ccasionally has a random breakout. While this drives her insane, she was constantly searching for an adult acne treatment. She discovered a product that works well
for her skin type and obliterates any breakouts before they rear their ugly heads. This was accomplished through a simple visit to the dermatologist. After better understanding her skin type, she found an adult acne treatment that works well for her. If you are
an adult who suffers from severe acne or just an occasional breakout, you can check out what adult acne treatments are available at you local grocer and drug stores. A great way to sift through the infinite
remedies on the market today is via the Internet. Jump online and check out the plethora of acne fighters and find one that's right for you. Although you may suffer from acne as an adult, you can fight the burden with an adult acne treatment.

Cleansing Skin Care Advice You Can Use. Acne skin care and adult acne are two of the major skin care issues that affect many women.

Always start a good cleansing skin care program with the essential clogged pore fighter - EXFOLIATION! Store shelves are lined with countless exfoliation options. Beautiful skin treatment programs use natural skin care products.

Culprit - Clogged Pores. As soon as oil and dead skin cells start building up in a pore, bacteria have a feeding frenzy that helps them multiple and will eventually cause a pimple. KEY ACTION - You can prevent clogged pores by keeping dead skin cell build-up to a minimum and avoiding face and hair care products that contain pore-clogging ingredients like mineral oil, lanolin, and shea butter.

Most store options include manual scrubs, glycolic, salicylic acid, and gentle enzyme-based products. Simply put, exfoliation works by removing dead skin cells that contribute to blemish formation. It generally takes several weeks to see any results but exfoliation is extremely helpful.

The next acne skin care product that is a clogged pore fighter is called retinoids. While retinoids may go by many names, they are all derivatives of vitamin A, which affects the way the skin turns over and prevents dead cells from sticking together and clogging the pores. While most retinoids are over-the-counter, there is also a prescription version that is called Ziana that combines retinoids with an antibiotic to specifically target bacteria. Retinoids are great for patients with adult acne because it helps with anti aging.

Retinoids work to prevent clogged pores by speeding up the skin's natural rate of exfoliation. Retinoids help decrease the stickiness associated with the dead cells and lessening the chances the pores will become clogged. Results may be seen in 2-3 months but acne may worsen before it gets better.

There are side-effects with retinoids, the most common of which is dryness and irritation, which tend to decrease with continued use. Start using retinoid creams every other night and gradually work up to every night - this might help keep side effects to a minimum. Good News! The cost may be covered by insurance.

A cleansing skin care program for oily skin, which ultimately drives adult acne, needs special effort. Experts are generally convinced that hormones are the major cause for oily skin and that is primarily because acne coincides with puberty. But the fact is that genetics, the other facial skin care products you use, and even your medications (especially oral contraceptives) can rev-up the oil glands. When excess oil and dead skin cells clog up the pores, bacteria can multiple and lead to breakouts.

Related Acne Skin Care Articles