Upping the Ante: Treating Acne with Oral Antibiotics
By C. L. Jackson
Oral antibiotics have been a mainstream acne medication for several years now, often with positive results. But if acne is a disease of the sebaceous glands, how do anti-bacterial drugs help? Many descriptions of the causes of acne place the blame squarely on oil production in the skin. While it is true that excess sebum can play a role in creating acne, this isn't the entire story. This article explores the relationship between acne and bacteria, and the role that antibiotics can play in effective acne treatment.
The human body is covered in sebaceous glands. In fact, sebaceous glands can be found anywhere there are hair follicles! These glands have an important role in the skin, through the production of sebum. In healthy skin, sebum is produced in the gland and travels up the hair follicle to the surface of the skin where it acts as a natural moisturizer and protects the skin from environmental damage. If the pore becomes blocked, however, either by dead skin cells or excess sebum, sebum production within the sebaceous gland continues, causing the blocked follicle to swell. In addition to sebum, the follicle also contains natural skin bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes. These bacteria reproduce, which some experts think attracts leukocytes (white blood cells) to the follicle, triggering a vigorous immune response. It is this immune response that often causes the inflammation associated with acne blemishes, and can even contribute to scars.
So there you have it. Acne is not the product of any single factor, but the result of several conditions all coexisting at the same time, and in the same place. So how can oral antibiotics prevent acne?
When taken to combat acne, oral antibiotics are meant to accomplish two things. They are supposed to reduce the bacteria count on the skin's surface and within the follicles, which then helps them accomplish their second function as inflammation control of already infected follicles. Because of the potential for side-effects and to avoid bacteria becoming resistant to treatment, antibiotics are often prescribed only after other more mild topical treatments have failed to produce results and clear up the skin.
Antibiotics may take care of the bacteria load, but treating acne is usually a multi-disciplinary process. Even without bacteria, the skin pores may still become clogged, and as soon as the antibacterial treatment is stopped the problem may start all over again. For this reason, it is still important to have good skin care habits to take care of the other sources of acne. A simple step recommended by most dermatologists is washing the face no more than twice a day with a gentle cleanser. This can help slough off old skin cells, preventing pores from getting clogged in the first place, in addition to removing excess oil from the skin.
If you're on oral antibiotics for your acne and want to address the other causes of acne blemishes, it is important to talk to your doctor or dermatologist. They will be able to help you create a multi-faceted plan to address the specific causes of your acne while taking into consideration your skin type and current medications. Certain products should not be taken together, so always follow a physician's guidance in this matter.
Author C. L. Jackson wishes the topic of acne was simply an academic interest... but unfortunately that's not the case! You'll find much more information on this topic at the author's website http://www.acne-infosource.info/acne-medication.php.
How To Lighten Acne Scars Using Homemade Oil Serums
Many people who have or who have previously had acne know what it's like having to start your day washing or preparing your face and having to stare at those annoying acne scars in the mirror every morning before your daily activities.
Do Acne Drugs Work for my skin?
Acne medication can light up the skin problems if consumed under the supervision of a medical practitioner. So, one should consult a doctor before making any online purchase of acne medication.
Best Acne Products for Teens
According to Benjamin Franklin, nothing is certain in life except death and taxes. The witty and insightful Founding Father could have also added acne to that list, since it is nearly ubiquitous in certain age groups.
Treating Acne with Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion results in a smoother skin texture, minimizes the appearance of large pores, and lightens dark spots that have become tainted from previous breakouts. Improvements can be seen after just one procedure, but treatments work best when done as a series, every 10 to 14 days.
Acne Scars - A Few Simple Remedies
For many acne sufferers, the scars left behind by acne are more devastating than acne itself. Often times acne breakouts go unaddressed for many reasons - some just ignore it, while others are worn out of trying endless remedies to no avail. To which category do you belong? Perhaps, you're staring at your acne marks scolding yourself for not treating the acne problem before it could leave those ugly marks. Yes, scars are a bane for the sufferer. But, there's no need to become despondent because
Acne treatment on black skin
The differences in our bodies would also find the types of remedies to use in treating pimples and spots. Acne is known to affect the hair follicles, also called sweat pores and the sebaceous glands.
Acne Treatment: Process And Benifits
If your skin is prone to acne, you module jazz to grow a plan that treats the rife blemishes as easily disarray that occurs due to hyperactivity of the oil glands. Tho' it is prevalent during the teen punctuation when hormonal changes acquire property, it affects fill of all age groups. Some fill sees their healthy experience with relentless outbreaks of acne.
Six Excellent Tips For Acne that Actually Work
Acne is a difficult skin condition to live with for both young and old alike. Learn her six different steps that you can take to improve your skin condition.
Going for Acne Laser Treatment?
If some one has acne, they have a lot of spots on their face, neck and body. Acne is very common among teenagers. It is the most unfortunate situation for the youth to have stubborn case of acne on their face. For, that is the stage of life, when they like to be not only healthy but much more attractive and presentable!
Going for Acne Laser Treatment?
If some one has acne, they have a lot of spots on their face, neck and body. Acne is very common among teenagers. It is the most unfortunate situation for the youth to have stubborn case of acne on their face. For, that is the stage of life, when they like to be not only healthy but much more attractive and presentable!
Acne Treatment: The Acne Fact Sheet
An article outlining treatment for acne flare-ups as well as skin care tips to reduce the chance of break-outs.
How To Prevent Acne The Easy Way
Has your acne got you in the dumps? If you have an acne problem, it is very likely that you will succumb to depression and let it drag you down. More so, if you realize that there were steps you could have taken to prevent acne from becoming a problem in the first place. You know what they say about prevention.
Rosacea and the Problems it Can Cause
Not many people have heard of Rosacea, but it is an inflammatory skin condition which affects the face. It is thought that the condition affects up to 14 million American people, yet some of them do not even realize what they have.
A Cure for Acne Sufferers
There are millions of people around the world who suffer with acne (Zits); fortunately treatments are improving all the time. A great deal of effort is going into research for a cure; in fact many new remedies are proving very effective.
Acne Medicine & Skin Care Products without Nasty Side Effects
Searching For An Acne Skin Care Product Without Nasty Side Effects?
Back to the Basics: Crucial Tips for Preventing Back Acne
Acne is a widespread problem affecting millions of people world-wide.
Adult Acne Treatment ? To Treat A Condition That No-One Talk
Acne is the most common skin complaint in the world. And it is not restricted to teenagers. Adult acne is a common but rarely discussed complaint that is thought to affect around 25% of adult men and up to 50% of adult women at some time in their adult lives.
Dealing With Embarrassing Acne Lesions
One of the worst things for an acne sufferer is the embarrassment of the lesions that are appearing on the face. As well as this people who are suffering from severe acne feel that they are isolated and know one understands the trauma that they are experiencing.
Are You Using The Right Moisturiser For Your Acne?
Regardless of your skin type you need to be ensuring that you are applying a moisturiser to your skin. And to the disbelief of many people this also applies if you have very oily skin. The human body produces natural oils that are designed to help protect the surface of the skin and to keep it supple. Now if the glands are just producing too much oil then a person will have very oily skin and this can be seen by the appearance of a shiny face.
Aloe Vera Juice, Skincare, Plants
Aloe-vera relates to the Aloes kind of northern Africa. This plant lives around the exotic regions of Asian countries and African countries.
Reasons Why Soy May Help Acne
When we talk about dermatology, there is still a question about the influence of foods on acne prone skin. Perhaps, many a friend has advised you to keep away from oily snacks, junk food, etc., or to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, to lead an acne free life. Natural remedies are immense, but let's focus on how soy can help combat acne.