No Hype Info on adult acne home treatment, the cold hard facts of pimples, zits, blemishes, and what works to treat them:
Taking care of adult acne –
Adult acne can arise in those who have either had problems with acne when they were teenagers or for the first time. Adult acne can be as embarrassing to the sufferer as it is to a teenager. Adult acne is slightly more common in women than men and occurs in the 30s and 40s. The same mechanisms responsible for teen acne are active in adult acne as well. Adult acne home treatment is aimed at controlling the infection by the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes.
Adult acne home treatments include a variety of interventions. They include non-drug measures as well as medical ones such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. The same basic principles that guide home treatment of teen acne apply to adult acne home treatment as well. The face should be washed with soap and water twice a day. Washcloths should be changed often to prevent bacterial growth. Drugs that are used in treatment of adult acne, especially tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide, are active chemicals which cause skin irritation when applied to the skin. The damage caused to the skin by these chemicals can be minimized by first testing them in a small area on the inside of the elbow before using them on the face.
Retinoids are derivatives of Retinoic acid. They are often the first line of treatment in adult acne. Retinoids act by decreasing the follicular plugging that is the primary defect in the causation of acne. Retinoids loosen the follicular keratin plugs and open up the duct pores to release the accumulated sebum. They are very effective and even enhance the action of other anti-acne drugs such as benzoyl peroxide when used in conjunction with them. The retinoids used in the treatment of adult acne are Tretinoin, Tazarotene and Isotretinoin. Other drugs like azelaic acid and adapalene also have retinoid like effects. Retinoids should never be given to women who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant. Accutane, a newly introduced drug called Isotretinoin, is very effective in the treatment of adult acne, especially the severe forms, after treatment with other anti-acne drugs have failed. The effects of Accutane may not be immediately apparent and it may take up to 6 weeks for the treatment to take effect and 15-20 weeks for maximum improvement.
Antibiotics used in the treatment of adult acne are divided into topical and systemic. Antibiotics used in adult acne act by killing the bacterium responsible for acne, Propionibacterium acnes. Topical antibiotics are applied directly over the lesion, whereas the systemic antibiotics are taken as tablets or capsules by mouth. Topical antibiotics are used for mild acne. Clindamycin creams and lotions may be used as the initial treatment or after treatment with tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide. Oral antibiotics are required for moderate to severe types of acne such as pustular and cystic acne. Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Doxycycline and Minocycline are the most common antibiotics used in the home treatment of adult acne. The tetracyclines and related drugs should never be used during pregnancy, whereas Erythromycin is safer.
Here is some additional reading about adult acne treatments: