Ask the Expert Archive Week 9
Acne Medicines
And in this week's Ask the Expert, we talk to dermatologist Dr. Nowell Solish about zit zappers, what works and what doesn't.
Acne is a very common problem. Almost every person will have an acne spot at one time in their life, and for most of us, many more. It's very common among teenagers and people in their early twenties and can last eight to twelve years. Commonly people think that foods can make them break out. Alot of people worry about chocolate bars, sweets or pop but it's not true. Many studies have shown a poor link or no link at all between food products and acne. Another thing to consider with acne is hormonal acne. It's vey common for young women, especially in their teens and twenties, to break out around their menstrual cycle and acne is partially caused by this hormone variation.
When you do have acne there are some things that you can do to help clear it up. You should cleanse your skin at least twice a day with a gentle cleanser. If your skin is more oily you can find a more harsh cleanser, something a little more drying. You can also find products over the counter in the drug store. These products are usually benzyl peroxides and are featured in many commercials. They do work a little bit in helping get rid of some of the acne. If this doesn't work and your acne is getting more severe, see your doctor or dermatologitst. There are many preparations available that can help clear up your acne. There are many creams like benzyl peroxide or Retin A's that will help remove the little bumps or blackheads that you have. There are also topical antibiotics that can be used to help prevent spots and to help visible spots to disappear quickly. You can take pills for your acne and they are very safe antibiotics. These are not the same antibiotics that are used for things like pneumonia or other infections and they often have to be taken long term. If you're acne is very severe you may need these antibiotics or you may need something called Accutane. Accutane is a vitamin A derivative drug that works very well in stopping acne in 70-80% of people. It can stop your acne forever. If you would like to send a question to Ask the Expert you can either email us at rx@tvo.org or fill out our form.
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