Acne - American Academy of Dermatology Promotes Alternatives to Antibiotics

While the spotlight has recently been on revolutionary acne treatments such as laser and light-based therapies, there have been huge advances in oral medications used to treat acne. Many dermatologists believe that oral medications still offer the best long term results for acne sufferers, but traditional antibiotics have many drawbacks in that they need to be taken on an empty stomach, they can cause yeast infections, and long term use can lead to bacterial resistance.

This article will outline a few of the alternative oral medications that were discussed at the American Academy of Dermatology´s Summer Academy Meeting in 2007.

- Extended-release minocycline to treat acne

Immediate-release minocycline has previously been used to treat acne, but the peak serum levels in the blood that it can cause often lead to side effects such as dizziness, headaches and nausea. Using extended-release minocycline reduces the peak serum levels, reducing these potential side effects. This oral medication is taken once per day and can be taken on a full or empty stomach making it a convenient alternative to medications that need to be taken a certain time before meals.

- Using a 'step down' approach with antibiotics and a topical retinoid

To combat the issue of bacterial resistance from long term antibiotic use, dermatologists are recommending a 'step down' approach to acne therapy. This means taking an oral antibiotic in conjunction with a topical retinoid for a short period of time to kick start the treatment, and then stopping the antibiotic and continuing using just the topical retinoid. This process has had excellent results, and clinical studies have shown that in most cases acne continues to improve after the antibiotic course has been discontinued.

- Using anti-inflammatory medications to treat acne

Dermatologists have discovered that anti-inflammatory oral medications can be very effective at decreasing the severity of acne. A new anti-inflammatory medication that has been FDA approved for the treatment of acne rosacea is controlled-release doxycycline, which works by reducing the swelling and redness associated with acne.

Anti-inflammatory drugs will not actually get rid of acne as the bacteria that causes the spot is not destroyed or removed. However, those people who find that antibiotic treatments can cause the onset of yeast infections, may prefer to use anti-inflammatory medications that can provide a significant improvement in the appearance of their acne.

- Early signs that incyclinide could help to treat acne

In the next few years it is expected that incyclinide could be added to the menu of oral medications used to treat acne and acne rosacea. A modified tetracycline, it is currently in its second phase of clinical trials and it looks likely that it will provide another effective alternative to antibiotic treatments.

- Consult a dermatologist to determine the best oral medication for you

With an ever expanding range of medications available to treat acne, it is crucial that you consult a dermatologist at the earliest opportunity to determine the most appropriate course of treatment for your particular condition. Oral medications used to treat acne do not work instantly, and it may be six to eight weeks before you start to see any improvement at all. With a little patience and careful adherence to your dermatologist's instructions, many cases of acne can be effectively treated with oral medications.

Lisa Janse is a professional writer specialising in health topics. You can read more practical and interesting facts about Acne Scars by visiting http://www.adultacnescars.com

What You Must Know About Acne Dermatology Treatment

If you are suffering or have suffered with acne at one point in your life, you are far from alone in your struggle. 80 percent of people in their teenage years and twenties have a daily fight with acne. Five percent of people deal with it their entire life. Many of these people seek help, through acne dermatology treatment.

Acne dermatology treatment usually involves finding a dermatologist, experienced with this ailment, and the ways to treat it. You see, with acne, there is no 'cure-all' treatment. All cases of acne are different, so the more people, and cases, a doctor has seen, the more they will know about how to deal with a variety of acne cases. By studying that particular person, an acne dermatology treatment plan will be devised to help them get through their acne outbreaks, and have fewer side effects, such as scarring.

Not all people are open to all treatment options, so doctors have had to learn a variety of to treat acne outbreaks. From acne natural treatment to laser acne treatments, a good dermatologist will know how to work with every case they come across.

As soon as the first outbreak of acne is reported, an acne dermatology treatment plan can be invented. Unlike other illnesses that can come and go and you're back to normal, like a cold, each acne outbreak can be doing more and more damage to the skin.

The best way to deal with these outbreaks is to make sure they are doing as little damage as possible. If you have had a bad outbreak, you know what happens to your skin. It gets red and blotchy, irritated, and may become painful to touch. After the outbreak subsides, it's still irritated. Your regular color doesn't come back. Instead there are pink or red marks. These are acne scars.

Successful acne dermatology treatment starts dealing with these scars from day one. Whether through topical antibiotics or oral antibiotics, the fight is on against the bacteria that is causing the outbreaks and scarring.

For some, while the medications may lessen the impact of the scarring, they can't get rid of it completely. For them, an acne dermatology treatment plan will include restoration of skin. This could mean laser acne treatments or surgery

Laser acne treatments are generally noninvasive and quick solutions to the problem. Through a series of very short, outpatient, visits to the dermatologist, a laser is used to burn off the scarred layers of skin. Once that skin is gone, the new, clear skin underneath is free to come to the surface, restoring a clear complexion.

The other, more invasive, option is reconstructive surgery. If not all the scarring will go away, and a clear complexion is the priority, some people will hire a plastic surgeon to restore their skin to the way it used to be.

No matter the options you choose in your acne dermatology treatment plan, the key is to act on your outbreaks and be consistent in your treatment, to lessen the possible long-lasting effects.

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The Do Or Die Of Dermatology

Those of you who do not have bad skin, stop reading this. Well, keep reading if you want to, but for those of you who suffer from bad skin, please, read on. Dermatology sounds like a term intended solely for professionals with a degree. While that can most often be the case, anyone who has an interest in maintaining their skin, especially troublesome skin, should take it upon themselves to learn more about their unending life condition.

The study of dermatology concerns the knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment of skin disorders. "Disorders" seems to infer a rare or uncommon diagnosis; but plenty of long-time suffers know better. And while the study of dermatology might not be all that applicable to the average person without a degree, the average person can still play a large part in their own cure by being preventive about it. Treatment of your own skin is a matter best left to a trained professional; but no excuses stand for a lack of knowledge and from leading a preventative lifestyle. The so-called "Do or Die" of dermatology stems from a do or die attitude.

These are the several well-rounded tips that can be applied to a variety of different skin types. True, skin types vary from dry to oily, but these tips should be swallowed as general principle, and to at least be taken into consideration.

When it comes to washing your face, splash with cold water first. This will close any vulnerable pores; as the friction caused by rubbing your face can let in surface oils. Then use lukewarm water to rub away dirt, oil, and sweat. And last, splash with more cold water, to close up those pores. This practice of cold water versus warm can be applied to other aspects such as bathing or showering. Regulate between the temperatures in accordance to your own skin type. Dry skin can be prevented with cooler water, and vice versa. This tip is essential to balanced skin.

With that, it can be said that bad skin gets triggered in two different, and preventable, ways. Stress. Not psychological stress, which has not been proven, but physical stress. Heat and sweat will cause pores to dilate and clog in less natural ways than, say, secreted oils. Aside from the sweat, dilated pores allow outside germs and toxins to easily seep inside. This will either add to the bacteria, or will in effect clog a pore. Clogged pores make up the second trigger to irritated skin. It is not enough to simply wash skin, but effort must be made in exfoliating it as well. The irony stems from the fact that clogged pores tend to derive out of rough skin; but rough skin generally comes from over-exfoliation. Again, balance it out according to your own skin type.

Inevitably, the matter of food comes into play. The fact stands that no studies have accurately proven that a person's diet will cause an outbreak of bad skin; but what people tend to overlook are their own traits as individuals. Allergies. Allergic reactions can spur a variety of consequences. Keep track of what gets eaten, and how it may or may not correlate to the way your skin looks the following morning. So while studies of chocolate have not proven it to cause breakouts, close scrutiny of your own bodily reaction may prove otherwise.

So it pays to be your own dermatologist. But like any other disorder, problems with the skin can worsen if left untreated and undiagnosed. Part of knowing your own skin is knowing when you need help.

Gregory Josten,
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