Tag Archives: acne scars

Acne is a skin condition that affects not only the teenagers, but can persist into adulthood. In fact, many men and women in their mid-years still find themselves affected by acne. Oftentimes, acne still persists in their case because of hormonal imbalances – a condition which is termed as hormonal acne.

Hormonal acne usually is found in the jaw area, the chin, the lower face and the neck – areas which are prone to irritation and more sensitive. Hormonal acne can range from mild to severe. For some, hormonal acne shows itself in the form of small papules and pustules during certain periods in your menstrual period, while in others, it can be deeper nodules that grow randomly and result in permanent scars. Hormone-related acne is also usually aggravated by stress.

What causes hormonal acne? As is suggested of its name, this type of acne happens because of the imbalance of hormones in the body. This can be caused by interplay of a few factors such as imbalance in the production of sex hormones like progesterone and testosterone, imbalance of the production of the hormone insulin, as well as chemical substances that the body produces during illness and stress. Excess production of these hormones and chemicals stimulate production of excess oils in the skin, resulting to oily skin, dilated pores and sometimes, excessive body hair.

Hormonal acne is oftentimes controlled by birth control pills through a treatment method called hormonal acne therapy. However, because of potential unwanted side effects, intake of birth control pills for the purpose of clear, acne-free skin oftentimes is considered a last resort for severe cases of acne. For mild to moderate cases, dermatologists usually recommend the use of topical treatments and cleansers, such as formulations containing glycolic acid, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. If over the counter products do not work, doctors can prescribe topical retinoids which are effective in preventing inflammation and opening pores to prevent clogging.

When topical creams and acne cleansers don’t work, skin care experts may also recommend the use of antibiotics such as Tetracycline and oral medications like Accutane, which are effective in fighting acne-causing bacteria. It is only when these oral antibiotics don’t work that dermatologists would recommend the use of hormonal pills.

You see, there are a wide variety of options that can be done to treat adult hormonal acne. Adult acne usually responds well to at least one of these treatment methods. It is best to consult with your dermatologist which is most appropriate for your skin condition.

Your Acne Scar Treatment Options:

While acne itself proves to be a problem – there is an even much bigger problem after the acne breakouts stop: acne scars. Luckily today, we now have a variety of acne scar treatment options that can help restore the skin. Depending on the nature of your acne scars, you can choose from any of the following scar removal options:

Skin Lightening Topical Skin Care Products
There are thousands of topical skin care products that can be used to get rid of scars. They usually contain ingredients with skin lightening or bleaching properties such as salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and hydroquinone. These topical over the counter products usually only work on superficial scars and early acne scars.

Using tretinoin creams and formulations containing alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxyacids, has also been found to speed up the remodeling process of the skin and prevent scarring after acne. Moreover, acne cleansers today usually contain ingredients that can help even out the skin tone and lighten scars in the process.

Antioxidant Formations
Apart from bleaching creams and tretinoin, antioxidants can also help restore the skin after scarring. Topical creams containing vitamin C and vitamin E has been found to help in skin rejuvenation

Skin Peeling
Chemical peels and dermabrasion are also effective means for removing scar. These methods essentially remove the outer layer of the skin or disturb it to encourage the growth of a new, scar-free, lightened layer of skin.

Laser Acne Scar Treatment
Those who would like to permanently get rid of acne scars can go for laser treatment. Laser acne scar treatment involves the use of laser to take the redness and pigmentation out of acne scars. With lasers, the skin can be remodeled to look smoother and more even in color and tone. Positive results are usually seen after four treatments spaced several weeks apart. Laser treatment is usually done in conjunction with topical creams for faster effect.

Acne Scar Prevention
Of course, the best way to prevent acne scars is to prevent acne lesions from occurring in the first place. It is best to take care of the skin well and keep it clean and protected from UV. You must also maintain a healthy diet and stress-free lifestyle to keep acne breakouts at bay. Should pimples and acne occur, you must not pick at scabs as it can disrupt the natural healing and remodeling process of the skin.

It is also best to see a dermatologist to find the best treatment method that can effectively get rid of your acne scars.