Acne

Who does acne effect the most?

Acne, is it mostly a problem for teenagers? Not really, there are some older persons with adult acne, and I'm sure it is a very big problem and hard to deal with. However, as adults we tend to think that they are more mature and should be able to deal with the psychological aspect of their problems.

Teenagers are a completely different group. Most went from pre-teen just a couple of months ago. They had no blemishes, almost perfect skin. Then all of a sudden puberty hits. At this time they usually become very interested in the opposite sex and are wanting to look their best. But along with puberty and a desire to look good, comes acne and all of its associated problems.

It’s also at this time in life when they become aware of their peers and the pressure they can be put under.

Children, and that includes teenagers in this instance, can be very cruel. They tend to talk about the poor kid who suffers from acne. The worse the problem, the worse the peer pressure can be. They can pick up such names as "scar face," "pizza face" and others. None of this helps the teen’s self-esteem. They become more self conscious. In many cases’ depression and/or rebellion can set in. This can be a time when a great kid can become involved with gangs, because they will accept them without ridicule.

If the parents can afford it there will be many visits to the family Doctor and probably ending with treatment with the dermatologists.

The treatments that the teens must go through will range from simple scrubbing the face good with soap and water, to Benzol Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, high dosage Vitamin A, to Accutane, there will be treatment with antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline. If the condition becomes bad enough and it can be afforded there are laser treatment, dermabrasion and chemical peels.

The laser, dermabrasion and chemical peels are usually reserved for those that end up with a large amount of acne scaring.

There is another condition that can be even worse than acne scaring. That’s what is known as Acne Rosacea. Rosacea is a skin disorder that causes your face to become red, dry and itchy. When you combine this with acne, especially with scaring acne you have a real problem. Many of the normal treatments used to treat acne are drying agents. These treatments can make the Rosacea worse. Persons with acne Rosacea are usually going to have to be under the treatment of a dermatologist for a long time. It is a very hard condition to treat.

Teens who develop acne should seek professional help, probably a dermatologist. You can try the soaps and other over the counter acne treatment. Some may work for you and some may not.

When it comes to acne treatments and medicines, different things work well for different individuals. Not everyone's complexion is going to be restored with Proactive Solution, and not everyone will reap the benefits of a Neutrogena acne face wash. Differin Gel may not work on your sensitive skin.

Go online and see what the latest treatments are. They are making new advances in all fields of medicines, including the treatment of acne.