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Take a Break from Breakouts
Acne is not a disease, but rather a condition that can be controlled with the correct methodology. 90% of persons in Western society will experience some degree of acne during their life. Acne and acne-like conditions can present a very complex problem to treat. Medically, acne severity is graded into four categories with the simplest being only the presence of multiple blackheads or whiteheads. Ideally, we hope to catch acne at its earliest stage and control it to prevent the presence of severe acne and lifetime scarring.
Acne is not a disease, but rather a condition that can be controlled with the correct methodology. 90% of persons in Western society will experience some degree of acne during their life. Acne and acne-like conditions can present a very complex problem to treat. Medically, acne severity is graded into four categories with the simplest being only the presence of multiple blackheads or whiteheads. Ideally, we hope to catch acne at its earliest stage and control it to prevent the presence of severe acne and lifetime scarring.
Acne occurs within the sebaceous follicle, the tube-like structure from which hair arises. Sebaceous glands are deep beneath the skin surface and empty into the hair follicle. The wax-like sebum deep in the follicle must make its way to the skin surface. Daily cleansing of the skin with a powerful, but gentle, surfactant cleanser such as the Theraderm Cleansing Wash helps to clean and remove excess sebaceous material from the follicle. This one simple thing can and will prevent 90% of breakouts from occurring.
Along with the visual symptoms of acne, retention keratosis is also present. This refers to the delayed shedding of skin cells that line the follicle surface. Since they aren’t exfoliated quickly, these cells clog the pore and need to be removed. Chemical peels can be very effective in removing these skin cells and helping with the appearance of acne symptoms.
Once your acne is being treated, it is important to maintain a healthy skin appearance. Daily use of acne products such as Reversion Clear Skin System will help keep acne symptoms from occurring. It’s also important to be careful of what products are applied to skin. Many moisturizers and makeup products contain heavy oils which can make acne symptoms worse. Make sure you use moisturizers with no oil content at all times. Mineral powder makeup is oil-free, safe to use and covers red “hot spots” well. These makeup products are good to use on acne-prone skin, but be sure to use one that is also talc-free.
Although acne can often be a difficult thing to overcome, there are many treatment options available. Consult your medical or skin care provider to discuss what options are best for your skin.