How to Deal With Acne Stress

May 31, 2009

Acne Scars Treatment - Effective Tips To Prevent And Heal Acne Scars

Filed under: 1396 — Tags: , , — admin @ 9:00 pm
Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Acne scars are easily recognized by the red skin of an area formerly occupied by a pimple. The initial form, while not actually a scar, will lead to one in some cases. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure that it is a scar is if the red skin persists for longer than 6-12 months. It is often better, therefor, to treat all acne lesions as potential scars.

What Causes Acne Scars?

Acne scars are caused by an overabundance of the connective tissues your body uses to heal itself. These tissues work to provide a temporary framework for your skin cells to regrow on. But if there is too much of this connective tissue, it is not broken down when the healing is complete, but rather stays permanently. This causes a discolored or unpigmented section of skin to form.

Avoiding Acne Scars

Since the root cause of acne scarring is acne, preventing acne in the first place is the best way to avoid scars. But even if you already have acne, it is still possible to prevent acne scars from forming. The way this is done is by speeding the healing process as much as possible. The faster your acne lesion heals, the less time the connective tissue framework has to overgrow and leave scars.

Speeding the Healing Process

There are 2 main treatments dermatologists use to facilitate the rapid healing of acne lesions. The first is Tretinoin, an acid derivative of Vitamin A, also known as all-trans retinoic acid. This chemical speeds the skin’s healing, reducing inflammation and preventing acne scars from forming.

The second method involves the use of various Alpha- and Beta-Hydroxy acids, which perform much the same function as Tretoinin, speeding healing and reducing the chance of scarring.

Helping Yourself

Even if you don’t or can’t see a dermatologist, there are several different things you can do yourself that can help prevent acne scars from forming. The biggest thing is to treat your skin well. Avoid over-exposure to the sun, as sunburns can dramatically slow the healing process. Always wear sunscreen when going out in the sun. Don’t pop your pimples, and if there are scabs from lesions, do not pick at them. Picking at any wound as it heals causes more damage, extending healing times and increasing the likelihood of scar tissue forming.

Removing Existing Acne Scars

Even with the best of care, scarring still sometimes occurs. But even if a scar does form, there are several options available that can reduce or eliminate your visible scarring.

Dermal Fillers

Fillers such as collagen can be injected into the site of an acne scar, raising the skin surface to reduce the appearance of pockmarks. These are not permanent treatments, however, and will require re-injection every 3-6 months.

Laser Resurfacing

An extremely popular and fast treatment for acne scars, laser resurfacing works by burning a precisely measured upper layer of skin. New skin then grows over the wound, leaving mostly unscarred skin visible. But as with the initial acne healing process, care must be taken to insure that this new skin does not scar as well.

Punch Excision

This procedure is only effective on certain types of scars. A surgical punch is made to precisely the dimensions of the scar to be removed. The scar is then punched out, similar to a cookie cutter, and the wound sewn together. If there is any scarring left after the wound heals, it can be more easily treated with laser resurfacing than the original larger scar.



Acne Stress

Acne Scars – Physical and Emotional

Filed under: 1661 — Tags: , , — admin @ 9:59 am
Steve Taylor asked:


Acne skin disease, while not deadly, it can leave many emotional as well as physical scars both above and below the surface of the skin. Acne has negatively impacted the lives of millions of people around the world including Canada and the United States. It is believed that nearly eight out of very 10 teenagers both boys and girls will experience the ugly nature of pimples and zits at some point in their life.

The physical scars of acne are nothing more than uneven build-up of skin tissue surrounding the acne infected area. Generally this occurs when a person continues to pick at acne lesions and not allowing them to heel naturally or treat them with proper acne medicine. These scars can leave the skin dried out and looking like a dessert landscape. While the acne scars themselves pose no treat to the person’s health they are viewed by most people as being extremely unattractive and repulsive. The best treatment for scars, like a lot of other things in life is or course prevention, but not always possible. Most conventional treatments consist of demabrasion, chemical peel, laser and do it yourself home scar treatment kits. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. However for minor to moderate scarring home treatment kits offer an excellent value to consumers as they cost hundreds less than other therapies such as chemical peel and laser.

Know what about the scars we don’t see above the surface of the skin? These are what we call emotional scars. I can certainly guarantee that anyone who’s ever had any form of visible scars such as facial can relate to what I am talking about. For many teenagers emotional scarring starts in junior high school and continues well into their adulthood. Teens are often teased and taunted by their peers with name callings such as “scar face”, “ugly” and these are few of the nicer ones. This lack of acceptance and intolerance can and often does lead to very low self-esteem and feeling of worthlessness in individuals. These types of acne scars are the most difficult to treat. It can take months even years and in some cases life time to heal. The best therapy for these types of scars is offering understanding and emotion support to individuals in need; that individual could be your friend, your cousin, or your significant other.

Acne touches the lives of almost everyone around us; one day it could be you another it could be your son, daughter, or an acquaintance. Unfortunately, there is no cure for acne at the present but scientist and other medical professionals are working hard to find it soon. I am confident that one day we will cure acne but in the meantime we need to ensure that we protect our skin the best we can. Today, thanks to everything we have learned about pimples there are many acne treatments available; everything from high price laser therapies to more affordable of the counter treatments are available.



Acne Stress http://acnestress.com

May 29, 2009

Best Acne Scar Removal Treatment and Acne Scar Skin Care

Filed under: Medicine — Tags: , , — admin @ 8:19 pm
Tamsin Gray asked:


Suffering from acne is a bad enough experience but for many, they have to live with the acne scars left behind as well. The information here will be helpful for those seeking acne scar removal solutions.

Which is the best acne scar removal treatment? It is enough distress having had acne without having to go through life with acne scars that can have far more adverse effects on a person’s life.

It is a good idea to treat acne as early as possible instead of accepting it as part of growing up as delay in treatment can result in deep disfigurement and psychological damage.

Although it is usually teenagers who suffer from acne, many adults suffer from it too. And it is usually these adults whose skins have lost their elasticity and suppleness, and greatly reduced the natural ability to heal that acne scars remain.

The result is having acne scars that remain permanently on the skin. With society constantly emphasizing on good looks, this can cause extreme loss in self esteem and confidence.

Therefore, a multitude of acne scar skin care and beauty products are being constantly marketed in the billion-dollar beauty industry. Results may not be what is expected since with beauty treatments, many elements affect the outcome.

Promises of regaining your original flawless skin condition are to be taken with a great deal of salt. If you see a skin clinic that says it can restore your scarred face to its former glory, you should stay away from that clinic.

This is simply because it is impossible to have skin that is as good as before it was scarred. The best doctors can only do so much and let time do the rest of the healing. This is especially true for those with severe marks and scars.

What affects acne scar removal success?

There are many different types of acne scar removal treatments available today and you should do a thorough consultation, preferably with more than one doctor to ensure that you make the right decisions.

Different people will have different success rates after going through same procedures. Some people have more deep-seated scars, others have scars which are more difficult to deal with. The more fortunate ones may see great success after scar removal.

The patient’s health status is an important factor. Some people are just born with less healing abilities or poorer skin resulting in less chances of success. There is the belief that acne is hereditary, so if you are predisposed to having bad skin then there is little you can do about it.

You can try changing diets and lifestyle but if you are predisposed to having acne, or your skin has poor healing ability then it may not help. Again, if your skin responds to better diet and exercise, with proper acne scar skin care, you stand a chance to get rid of acne scars.

If all else fails, you should try and accept your condition and not let it ruin your life. Self confidence can be cultivated and joining a support group can be beneficial in many ways.



Acne Stress http://acnestress.com

Acne Scar Removal Cream - Acne Scars Treatment

Filed under: Alternative Medicine — Tags: , , — admin @ 12:06 pm
Juliet Cohen asked:


Acne, the thorn in adolescents’ side leaves behind many consequences. One of the most terrible outcomes of this traumatic skin disorder is acne scar which would always affright you with the unpleasant memories of adolescent acne. Those unsightly blotches often devastate the self-esteem of acne sufferers which many teenagers and adults find hard to rebuild for years. In America 85% of teenagers get affected by acne and 25% of them experience permanent scar. Fortunately nowadays many treatment procedures including acne scar removal creams are available in the global market which helps to wipe off this physical and mental stigma once and for all. We get scar mainly due to the damage of our skin tissue. They are the perceptible upshots of injury and tissue repair after a ravage of acne. In case of acne our skin pores get clogged up with sebum (body oil), dead skin cells, and Propionibacterium acnes bacteria. If left untreated these infected blocked pores sometimes turn into severe form of acne lesions which calls for our natural immune system to intervene with its repair kits. The whole restoration process results in acne scars which tear up our face and other body parts with pocked dents or keloid like growths.

Many acne sufferers who have developed acne scars in the later stage want to avoid the hassles and expenditure of high-cost surgical and other physical techniques. For them acne scar removal creams could prove to be a windfall from medical science. These creams usually contain 4% niacinamide as key ingredient. Niacinamide is the active form of vitamin B3 or niacin. This is found to be quite effective in reducing acne scars caused by hyperpigmentation. This chemical enhances production of skin’s natural moisturizing agents thereby helping to diminish fine lines, red blotches, and irritation caused by the acne scars. The anti-inflammatory property of this medication destroys the bacterial proliferation at the acne sites healing them at a faster rate.

Bioskincare cream compiled with exclusive natural and vital ingredients works like wonder for awful disfigurements. This natural solution induces the production of glycosaminoglycans which enhances the capability of skin to hold back moisture content within itself. This helps to get rid of filthy scars as early as possible reviving a healthy, fresh, and toned skin. Acne scar removal creams are undoubtedly helpful to cure your bad marks, but it would take a long time to achieve the optimum result. It is also true that a cream might not be effective for everyone. It is therefore up to you to find out the right medication for your skin type. It is preferable to consult your doctor before you go for any acne scar removal medication.



Treatment of Acne Scarring

Filed under: 1595 — Tags: , , — admin @ 7:49 am
Jojo Michelle asked:


Despite the advent of isotretinoin more than 20 years ago, many patients still present with acne scarring. Because of recent technologic advances and the development of creative techniques by today’s cosmetic surgeons, there has never been more hope or options for these patients. This article is designed to inform primary care clinicians about the advances that have been made in the treatment of acne scarring, so that they can better advice patients and provide appropriate referrals. It will begin by reviewing the types of acne scarring patients may have and highlighting important considerations, such as the patient’s skin type.

The article will then summarize the different procedures that can be offered to patients: dermabrasion; microdermabrasion; laser resurfacing; chemical peeling; subcision; soft tissue augmentation; suture-assisted resurfacing; and punch elevation, punch excision, and punch grafting. These techniques require advanced dermatologic surgical skill and full knowledge of their risks and benefits, of which types of acne scars respond best to which modality, and of how different skin types may respond.

SCARRING

Acne is the most common cause of facial scar in the world.1 Patients with acne scars are often frustrated by their attempts to mask their appearance. Makeup may collect around the rim of widened “saucerlike” indentations and actually make the scars more noticeable. The technique of scar correction will be dictated by the type(s) of scarring present and the patient profile.

The three main types of acne scars are:

-Indented, relatively deep “ice-pick” scars.

-”Broad-based,” atrophic, distended scars.

-Thickened, elevated, or “cord-like” hypertrophic scars.

A patient may have multiple types of acne scars that require various treatment modalities.

Before a cosmetic procedure, the clinician and patient must consider:

- How much recovery time the patient can afford with regard to work and home responsibilities.

-The patient’s ability to comply with postoperative instructions.

- Whether the patient can avoid sun exposure in order to minimize the risk of post-inflammatory pigment alterations.

The number of scars is also important. For example, a few atrophic scars may be treated with a local

injectable filler substance, whereas a large area of scarring may require a more invasive resurfacing procedure. Additional considerations include the patient’s budget, expectations, and Fitzpatrick skin type. Patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV, V, and VI (typically,

Asians, Hispanics, and blacks, respectively) may not be good candidates for certain resurfacing procedures, given the risk of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.

It cannot be overstated that the patient and clinician must have realistic expectations when considering scar correction techniques. Because of acne scarring, a patient may have been suffering for many years and may often feel tormented, self-conscious, or depressed, or may even be more seriously disturbed.

These powerful emotions can result in low self-esteem and unrealistic hopes for the procedure. Any corrective procedure helps acne scarring, but it does not give the patient perfectly smooth skin.



Acne Information - Learn About Acne Scars Treatment

Filed under: 1685 — Tags: , , — admin @ 5:04 am
Alien asked:


A detailed and comprehensive discussion of acne scars starts with causes of scarring, prevention of scarring, types of scars, and treatments for scars.

Before talking about scars, a word about spots that may look like scars but are not scars in the sense that a permanent change has occurred. Even though they are not true scars and disappear in time, they are visible and can cause embarrassment.

Also they are connected directly with the hair follicles. Exfoliation is the natural bodily process in which the dead skin cells peel off and newer cells come up to the skin surface. Due to the presence of an excess amount of body oil the dead cells around the hair follicle lining get stuck inside the follicle or skin pore, thereby blocking it up totally or partially. Some bacterial microorganism within the hair follicles starts proliferating within this affected follicle. They feed on the sebum and metabolize it. The metabolized sebum is a kind of substance which generates irritation within the follicles yet remains unable to penetrate through the blocked pore. As an outcome of this, they find their way in deeper skin layer called dermis. But for dermis these are entirely foreign substances. The natural bodily process gets active in order to expel this inflamed debris. Our skin responds back with profound inflammation. This inflammation generates a wound or lesion within the affected region which we see as scars even after the acne is gone.

Types of Scars:

Essentially there are a couple of different types of acne scars. The simplest scar is nothing more than a spot of skin bearing a brown, pink or purple colour, testimony to the fact that a pimple had been there. The other scar type is known as an ice pick scar.

Keloid Scars: These scars are due to aggressive healing process. These scars extend beyond the original injury. Its possible treatments includes surgical removal, injections with steroids, cryotherpy, creams and gels.

Contracture Scars: In this skin is burned which causes tightening of skin due to which it hurts. This scar may go deeper and deeper in muscles and nerves.

Hypertrophic Scars: Red and raised scars, little bit similar to keloids.

Acne Scars: It occurs due to disorder of hair sebaceous & follicles glands. When you have some red spots which is also to be known as pimples then you have a mild form of acne scars.

Dermabrasion is another successful acne scar removal technique used extensively by dermatologists all over the world. It is also called “lunch time peel”. In this method, a very superficial layer of the skin is removed with the help of a rotating wire brush or a spinning diamond instrument. Apart from fixing the damaged tissue and evening the skin texture, this technique is also useful in removing pigments generated by acne. Nevertheless, the remedial process might take around 10 days to 3 weeks—a fairly longer time as compared with laser resurfacing.

One thing you shouldn’t do to deal with acne scars is load up your face with masks or fancy lotions — these won’t help and may irritate your skin further, making the scars red and even more noticeable.

If you have a red or brownish mark on your face that you got from a bad zit, have no fear — it will eventually fade, just like the scars you had on your knees after you fell off your bike when you were a kid.



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