appearance of only one or two pimples to full blown severe acne which can cover the entire face.Acne can have a debilitating impact on self-esteem and self-confidence since people feel that they are negatively judged by the affected appearance of their face. The over-the- counter treatments for acne are legion, and it is one of the reasons why many people are simply inclined to treat acne with an over-the-counter medication since they mistakenly associate an abundance of acne treatment products with their supposed efficacy. For acne treatment, there are a few things to keep in mind that can make the duration and impact of acne less severe.
The word “acne” is actually a misspelling of the Greek word "acme" from which it is derived. “Acme” means the highest point and is thus an appropriate term for a skin condition that creates white peaks in the form of pimples. The skin condition is actually an inflammation and not an infection and results from clogged skin pores. The body naturally produces and oily substance called sebum, and this production is ramped up when the hormone production goes up. This is why typically teenagers suffer from acne. Women just before their periods are also prone to develop acne, and women approaching menopause, when their hormone production is fluctuating, also typically develop acne. Many people feel that acne can be the marker of disease, but in reality it is a natural response to conditions within the body. However, there are things people can do to lessen the impact of acne and even clear it up.
If someone feels that acne is a problem for them at whatever stage of their life, they should seek out a dermatologist. The primary mistake many people make is in waiting too long to seek out expert help. A dermatologist is a trained professional who will know exactly what is going on with the skin, and they will know which treatment course is best for the condition at hand. In waiting too long, many people make a condition worse and more difficult to treat than if they had seen a doctor as soon as they suspected a problem.
As far as the treatments that are available on the market are concerned, without knowing the reasons for the condition, some treatments can actually make acne worse. What people do not realize is that the skin reacts much more slowly to treatments than other parts of the body. Even when hydrating the body, the skin is the last organ in the body to get the water that it needs. Thus, treatments are going to take up to a month before someone notices an effect, and the condition may actually get worse before it gets better. Because of this too, many people feel inclined to take a grab bag approach to their self-treatment and try more than one product. The danger here is that these products can negatively interact with one another and cause a negative skin reaction.
The worse thing about acne for many people is not the actual condition, which is relatively painless, but the anxiety and the social stigma they feel from the "ugliness" of their condition. Seeing a dermatologist does wonders for putting the condition in its proper perspective and alleviating a patient's anxiety about their condition with good, solid advice and treatments.
About the Author
Megan Hobbs writes for several health sites .
