Category: Acne

Eruption of acne is always an embarrassing situation. But acne types like cysts and nodules are more worrisome as these are large acne lesions about 5mm or more in diameter. They are deep within the skin and are thus sometimes cannot be cured with topical treatment. In certain cases, cysts and nodules can take long time to healweeks or even months. And if you leave them untreated, can ultimately cause a scar.
Moreover, if you have a big event around the corner like engagement or wedding or any other special occasion, but unluckily a monstrous cyst or nodule erupted on your face, Acne cortisone injection may be a way to quickly reduce swelling and heal the lesion. A cortisone injection can also help reduce scarring.
Now lets see what exactly cortisone is? It is a natural chemical which is released in our bodies in response to inflammation. But sometimes, the cortisone produced by our body is somewhat short acting however, and often does not produce the quick healing that is desired. In such scenario, cortisone is sometimes injected directly into an area of inflammation. Cortisone is a corticosteroid, a steroid hormone which is produced in the adrenal gland. Cortisone is often referred to as a “steroid”, but should not be confused with “anabolic steroids” which are drugs used for increased strength and muscle size and come with a plethora of harmful side effects.
Acne cortisone injection is quit effective in treating the large acne lesions and it can considerably lessen the inflammation and fasten the healing process. Particularly with cystic acne lesions, healing generally starts immediately. If we talk about the side effects of cortisone shot, then most notably a cortisone injection can create atrophy of the fatty tissue adjoining the injected area. The injection area can end up looking sunken or depressed. This atrophy is not permanent, but can take many months to come back to normal.
Sometimes, a cortisone shot can also be a bit painful, but your doctor can use a local anesthetic to numb the area before the shot if desired. As cortisone is naturally released in the body, thus the risk of allergy and any severe side effects are minor. Other side effects are also rare but may include temporary pain, and hypopigmentation (white spot) at the site of injection in dark skinned individuals.
And also remember that this treatment is not as extraordinary as a magic wand, but may be the next best thing to quickly reduce inflammation and heal the breakout in just a few days. This is generally done in the dermatologists office. It is not essential you only use acne cortisone injection for special occasions; you can opt for it as per your convenience and need. If you desire to magically make them disappear, feel free to make an appointment with our dermatologist or doctor at Brentwood Dermatology for injections on an as-needed basis.

Normal manifestations of common acne are blackheads, which like most acne, arise in the face and in people of all ages. Also known as open comedones, blackheads are wide-open pores not yet inflamed that have been clogged by sebum and keratin. Air is able to reach the keratin plug due to the open nature of blackhead openings and oxidizes the material, making it turn its blackish color. Whiteheads, on the other hand, occur in follicles that have a smaller opening. As the aperture is tiny, the clogged material within the follicle is not affected by air and is not turned black.

As there is no inflammation like in other types of pimples, blackheads are much smaller manifestations of acne. Blackheads can appear anywhere on the skin where there are pores or follicles. They are most commonly found on the face and arms. It is possible, if left untreated, that blackheads progress into the more severe cystic acne as well as acne scars.

How Do Blackheads and Other Phases of Acne Form?

Blackheads form through a similar process as other pimples. The sebaceous gland secretes sebum, an oil, that travels through the sebaceous canal to the skin’s surface. However, sometimes this oil hardens or mixes with debris and/or skin cells and clogs the pore.

A blackhead officially becomes a blackhead when the plugged substance oxidizes, giving it its trademark black color. If this sebaceous canal is injured through sebum output or if inflammation arises, it is considered an acne lesion, or if very severe, an acne cyst.

Acne is first and foremost caused by injuries to the cells lining sebum canals. Teen acne arises due to puberty and adult acne typically due to stress; during these times, hormone levels cause sebum release to multiply. This increase in production also intensifies the rate at which sebum must be secreted, forcing it through the ducts that become damaged in return.

The type of sebum that the body produces also affects the healthy state of the follicle. When the body lacks essential fatty acids, the sebaceous glands produce a harder, more abrasive oil that also injures cell lining.

Lastly, the sebum that is trapped beneath a clog is forced to amass within the follicle, forcing it to distend and become further inflamed.

The body responds as it does to all other bodily injuries and sends lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils to the site of the damage for healing. These immune system cells, in the process of recognizing and engulfing antigens, cause the inflammation we call acne. Cystic acne can form with or without infection. Should bacteria become involved, abscesses and scars follow.

Treating from the Inside: Acne and Blackhead Removal

Prevention of blackheads requires addressing the cause versus only the symptoms: first, one must get sebum and its production under control and then reduce keratin and bacteria found in the skin.

Although exfoliation to clear away excess pore-clogging skin is suitable for blackhead treatment, it may irritate the skin and other lesions, causing inflammation and more acne problems. To protect against such irritation, one must find a solution appropriate for treatment of all acne lesions: blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules.

Most blackhead-specific as well as some acne treatments only focus on the un-clogging of pores. By using harsh chemicals, such as benzoyl peroxide, these systems dry out the skin and further harm it by producing damaging free radicals.

Resolve acne worries by treating from the inside with a facial acne treatment that gets overactive sebaceous glands under control, naturally. Most prescribed products that inhibit sebum production are very harsh in their effects, including extreme drying of the skin, chapped lips, nose bleeds, irritation of the eyes and eyelids and severe birth defects.

An inhibitor of testosterone, the hormone most linked to sebum activity, licorice root is a natural solution. By getting sebum under control, you stop the primary cause of acne lesions – injury to the cells lining the sebum canals.

By consuming one’s daily intake of essential fatty acids, one can maintain healthy sebum that is less likely to irritate or plug skin follicles.

Utilize the tricks of acne home remedies to stop the foremost causes of acne. Focus on the causes and not the symptoms.

Acne is a common skin disease and the severity of it can vary from person to person. One of the hardest types to treat is nodular acne. All layers of the skin are impacted by the painful outbreaks associated with the disease. Healing this type of outbreak requires special methods to soothe the lowest skin layers.

Regardless of any types of acne, it is usually due to hormonal imbalance, clogged pores and inflammation in our body. These symptoms are a call to action. Balance must be reimplemented in the body. To resolve this painful issue, we must attack it at the source of the problem.

Androgens are a major factor in the development of nodular acne. Whenever there is a huge presence of hormones like androgens in our body, it will cause our sebum glands or oil glands to be overly active. All this grease has to go somewhere, and unfortunately it commonly causes skin problems.

Inflammation triggers are another source of problems. Pro inflammatory hormones like Prostaglandin E2 causes vulnerability to inflammation on cellular level, which can lead to more acne.

Mainstream treatments fail to address the full range of causes of the disease and fail because of it. To resolve all problems causing nodular acne, a whole body approach nodular acne treatment is needed.

Although oily skin is often a symptom associated with acne, it is not the cause of the condition by itself. What actually cause your acne are the pro inflammatory hormones found in your body. Reducing the concentration of these hormones can be achieved through careful choice of food. To quench the fires of acne related swelling and irritation, GLA can be consumed. It can be found in evening primrose oil or other nutrient capsules.

High intake of starchy or sweet foods can lead to the skin pumping out more oil. Be sure to control your intake of breads, sweets, noodles and rice to prevent triggering this process.

Simply using a lotion is not enough to eliminate acne, and at best only temporarily halts the problem. Proper treatment comes from seeing the forest, and not just the trees. Eliminating each of the sources of acne, one by one, can turn things around. Nothing else can completely cure it. By following this holistic path, you will be able to heal yourself and enjoy all the benefits of healthy skin.

Scar tissues caused by pimples that turn out to be swollen and infected or that do not mend adequately. Acne scars may happen more with some people because of their skin color as well as hereditary factors.

Can you get rid of acne scars?
Thankfully there are treatments for acne scar elimination that are totally natural and cost very little. These herbal treatments can be very useful in dealing with acne scars and acne prevention:

Baking Soda: you can create a mixture of 1 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) with 2 teaspoons of water to give the skin a micro-dermabrasion treatment just by gently rubbing the face with this paste until the acne skin condition clears or to remove scars and dark skin spots. This treatment will get rid of dead skin tissue and even out skin color.

Cocoa Butter: made from cacao beans, cacao butter can keep your skin properly moisturized and create radiant healthy looking skin. Furthermore, it promotes regeneration of skin cells which will speed up healing of acne skin condition.

Apricot juice: squeezing liquid from apricots and applying it to pimples will bring about healing by eliminating bacteria that cause inflammation and acne scars. As a result of its healing properties, apricot liquid is an incredible home remedy that is certainly effective in the reduction and eventually removal of acne scar problems.
Apple Cider White vinegar: using a mixture that is one part apple cider vinegar and two parts water to clean acne areas will help to prevent future outbreaks and to remove acne scars. Apply this mixture with a cotton swab daily. Apple cider vinegar has Malic Acid which helps skin cells to rejuvenate and it can also exfoliate your skin

Camellia Seed Oil: This natural moisturizer will keep skin plump to make acne scars less visible. Complete removal of acne scars can take nearly a year, so it certainly is not really a quick fix. You might want to keep in mind that camellia oil can actually cause acne outbreaks when applied by some people who regularly suffer the pain of acne. For that reason, it is recommended that you check with a dermatologist before taking on do-it-yourself solutions. However, taking care of zits the right way will get rid of the acne scar issues.

Garlic: Simply apply crushed garlic to the acne scar or spot and even put it on affected regions. It works best when left on for about 20 minutes and then washed off with warm water. Your scars may start to disappear within a week if you do this treatment diligently every day.

Tea tree oil: This natural plant oil is amazingly effective in completely removing acne scar and also in preventing acne outbreaks. Tea tree oil has anti-biotic properties which will help in fighting bacteria that are the main cause of infection in the pores during an acne outbreak.

How do hormones trigger acne breakouts in women?
Many people have heard about women and their hormones, leading them to believe that this is what makes women emotional and sometimes moody. Some have heard of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome, otherwise known as PMS, and its effects on females’ moods and acne outbreaks. But few people understand the science behind a woman’s hormones, and furthermore, how those hormones affect the skin.
Hormones:
Hormones are chemical messengers that travel from glands to cells in other parts of the body, triggering biological reactions and functions. They are key in adolescence, when a young person is going through puberty.
Androgens, for example, are the hormones in the body that promote male characteristics. They trigger hair growth, libido, kidney functions, and sebum (oil) secretion among other things.
Hormonal Acne:
While acne typically first appears during adolescence, hormonal acne usually begins in the early-to-mid twenties and can persist well into adulthood. When certain oil producing hormones are triggered, acne breakouts are the result. Typically, female skin tends to break out before or during the menstrual cycle. This is due to changes in hormonal levels. Adult hormonal acne causes much anguish for many women, leading them to try acne scars cream. Knowing the root cause of acne sheds light on possible internal treatments.
The Biochemical Cause of Acne:
The answer to how hormones affect acne breakouts in women is the hormone androgen. Nearly half of all women experience acne flare-ups and increased facial oiliness during the week preceding menstruation. As androgens are released prior to the menstrual cycle, sebaceous glands are stimulated and sebum is produced. If this sebum becomes trapped in the pores, pimples may result.
From the beginning of the menstrual cycle, estrogen levels in the female body steadily increase. Approximately 36 hours before ovulation, these levels will peak. Androgen levels rise, and it is actually converted into estrogen by the ovaries. This is why many women witness acne breakouts right before their menstrual cycles. The body needs the extra estrogen for ovulation to occur, and surprisingly it is the male hormone, androgen, that makes this extra hormonal kick possible.
Whenever hormones in the body fluctuate, such as prior to menstruation, menopause, or during pregnancy, we see acne breakouts caused by increased androgen levels. Stress also may trigger acne in women. Researchers have found a relationship between increased stress levels and higher levels of acne in women with fast-paced careers. In response to stress, the body produces more androgens, and the oil glands are stimulated, causing acne.
Some women get acne when they stop taking birth control pills. The pills may have been keeping their acne at bay. Birth control pills have progesterone and estrogen. On the pill, the body does not make as much androgen to be converted into estrogen, because it is getting estrogen from the medication. Once the pill is stopped, androgen levels are back, triggering the sebaceous glands to produce more oils again.
Treating Hormonal Acne
There are several treatment options available for women with hormonal acne, including topical retinoids, topical antimicrobials (such as benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics), and oral antibiotics that are prescribed when the inflammation is more severe. Anti-androgen medication is also available.
Oral contraceptive pills are also successful for treating hormonal acne. They contain estrogen, which regulates the menstrual cycle and decreases the androgen activity responsible for acne, leading to decreased breakouts.
Reducing Blemishes: