It’s a fact. Many of us are bothered by acne.
Our hot humid climate does not help one bit. This, coupled with our natural tendencies for oil glands to go into overdrive has left notable battle scars.
How many of us have been bothered by these thru our teens? And worse still, had to put up with it when we entered the workforce, and contend with being treated as ‘kiddos’ by our bosses?
Who amongst us had struggled, tried numerous over the counter cleansers, toners and cosmetic products but to no avail, or worse still, triggering more outbreaks?
This should never be a battle fought alone. This is a battle best fought with the help of your Doctor and his array of treatments.
So what causes acne?
Well, to put it simply, it’s the blockage of our pores.
And if we dont manage it carefully, it leads to acne scarring.
Most acne medications are drying to the skin. This is a necessary evil. The flipside of course is the triggering of eczema.
Never attempt to wage this battle alone. Enlist the help of your friendly doctor to guide you thru the various treatment regimes.
Acne can be classified into mild, moderate and severe.
So the question is- how do we treat acne?
I believe in the combination of good basic cleansing and toning, topicals+/- medication, +/- laser treatment, to obtain optimum results. Acne should be actively managed to prevent permanent scarring.
For an example of the Spectra Carbon Laser, which works on the principle of targeting angry active acne…
Spectra carbon laser reduces oil gland activity, reduces bacterial inflammation, and promotes exfoliation, hence unclogging your pores.
As a general rule of thumb, Carbon laser, which serves to kill the P acne bacteria, shrink pores, and reduce sebum pdt, is a good treatment to have. In addition, I would recommend the following…
- Mild (comedonal acne or mild inflammatory acne): topicals retinoids,
- Moderate: oral antibiotics & topicals, if inflamed, to use antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide.
- Severe (nodular): oral isotretinoin (but this is to be used under a doctor’s prescription)
For you folks with depressed scars, laser resurfacing would be an option, +/- subcision, +/- RF microneedling to lift the scar.
Your friendly physician should be able to navigate you thru the sea of information and choose one which suits you best.
Hope this post has been helpful!