ACNE THE COMMON PROBLEM

Acne Vulgaris

Acne usually begins in the teenage years and disappears after eight to10 years. In some cases, it can persist until the 30s and even 40s.

Acne is caused by inflammation of the hair follicles. It most commonly affects the face, back and chest Features include blackheads, whiteheads, pimples (zits) and cysts. In severe cases, acne may lead to permanent scarring.

Cysts are lumps under the skin that have pus and other tissue in them, but do not come to a head like pimples do. They can cause scarring, blotchy, uneven skin colour and pitting.

Unfortunately, acne hits people at a time when they most want to look their best. Acne can make teenagers feel embarrassed and bad about themselves.

If your acne is severe, causing scarring or severe distress, then you may need a referral to a HOMOEOPATH for treatment. After a course of treatment most people are cured of their acne.

While there are various surgical and laser treaments that can help acne scarring, the best treatment for acne scarring is prevention. Seek professional homoeopath advice for acne early.

If you are concerned about skin problems or skin care, you should talk to your doctor for information about possible treatments.

Acne - hormones and genetics

At the start of puberty, androgen hormones are released into the body. Both boys and girls have androgens, but boys have more of them. Androgens cause the oil glands in the skin of the face, neck, back, shoulders and chest to enlarge and to produce more oil (sebum).

Bacteria that normally live on the skin surface digest the oil and by-products from this digestion irritate the skin, block the pores and produce blackheads, pimples and cysts.

Girls tend to reach puberty earlier than boys and develop acne at a younger age. Acne can become worse or ‘break out’ at certain times of a girl’s menstrual cycle, usually just before a period.

Psychological 

“Increased acne severity is associated with increased stress levels”.-The national institute of health

Infectious 

Staphylococcus aureus and propionibacterium acnes are common cause for acne

Self-help strategies for acne

Suggestions to manage acne include:

• Cleansing – using cleansers specifically developed for acne-prone skin can help. Try washing the affected areas twice per day. Don’t overdo it. Too much cleansing can cause other skin problems, such as dryness or skin irritations. Try to keep hair clean and off the face and neck, as oil from the hair can make acne worse.

• Make up – choose water-based, oil-free products where possible to avoid worsening acne by clogging the pores with oils or powder. Make up should be thoroughly removed before going to bed.

• Don’t squeeze – picking and squeezing pimples can make them worse and lead to scarring.

• Diet – there is some weak evidence that a low-Glycemic Index diet may help some people with  acne. Many people think that lollies or chocolate cause pimples. Research has not shown any  strong link with these foods, but if you notice that eating certain foods causes pimples for you,  try avoiding them.

Treatment for acne – non-prescription

A cleanser for acne-prone skin may be all that is needed for mild acne. Don’t rely on advertisements or the advice of friends.

Treatment for acne – professional  HOMOEOPATH

If your acne is not improving with over-the-counter treatments or if you have more severe forms of acne, you will need to see your doctor. Your family doctor can assess your acne, determine if you are developing any scarring and prescribe treatments specific for your type of acne.

Medication can lead to significant improvements in how the skin looks and can reduce the number of new pimples.

Medical treatments are oral and as homoepaths say its better to treat internally than using external application.

• In homoepathy its treated according to individual, cause, aggravating factor, nature of acne etc

• permanent cure without any side effect or hormonal effects.

Where to get help

• a well qualified govt. registered homoepath 

Things to remember

• Acne is a medical problem that causes outbreaks of blackheads, pimples and cysts.

• The triggers for acne include some of the hormones associated with puberty and the menstrual cycle.

• Self-help strategies include cleansing the affected areas, using water-based make up and resisting the urge to squeeze or pick at spots.

• see your homoeopath for early and better treatment.

“Homoeopathy is the best system for any skin disease.”