Antiacne

Recently Answered

• QHow does sulfur help treat acne?

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  A YouBeauty answered

  Sulfur is often overlooked in skin care, but is starting to appear in more products, and helps treat acne. Its antibacterial properties target acne while it draws accumulated sebum out of clogged pores.

• QIs there a difference between adapalene gel and adapalene lotion?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Yes. Adapalene gel and adapalene lotion are both topical acne treatments that contain the same retinoid-type active ingredient. Each uses a different substance to carry the medication. One is a gel, one is a lotion, and there is a third which is a cream. The difference is that only the gel is available in two concentrations of adapalene (0.1 percent and 0.3 percent). The lotion and the cream are available in one concentration (0.1 percent). The adapalene 0.1 percent cream and gel are sold under the brand name Differin and the generic name. The 0.3 percent gel and the 0.1 percent lotion are sold under the brand name Differin only. Whether you are prescribed the cream or the gel, you will apply it in the same way. You will be warned about the same possible side effects.
   
• QWhat should I know before using Accutane?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Accutane is the pill form of isotretinoin. If you're a girl and think you might need Accutane, it's worth trying the birth control pill route first, since Accutane makes periods irregular and also cause severe birth defects if you get pregnant while taking it (or shortly thereafter). Guys, you're not off the hook, as the medication can also cause liver damage, making annual blood tests necessary. Before trying Accutane, both girls and guys should have maxed out on whatever topicals and oral antibiotics they have used (meaning using all medications faithfully and washing your face twice a day). If that has not cleared up your face in six to eight weeks, then it may be worth pursuing Accutane. The FDA warns consumers not to buy the product online and there are concerns about its side effects, no matter what the source.
• QHow is adult acne treated?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  There are a number of possible treatments for adult acne from topical treatments to oral antibiotics. To come up with the best plan for you, speak frankly with your dermatologist about your acne. If your current course of treatment isn't working, you should feel free to talk to your dermatologist about what other treatments might be right for you. It may take weeks before you see results from your treatment, so it's important to be patient.
  
  While adult acne can be an unexpected and unpleasant experience, the numerous available treatments mean that you and your dermatologist have an excellent chance of restoring both your healthy skin and your healthy outlook for the future.
• QWhat kind of acne can adults get?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Many adult women think of acne as something they bid farewell to with adolescence. But actually, a significant number of women over the age of 25 experience adult acne. Because you have acne as an adult, it can be frustrating and embarrassing, but rest assured that adult acne is quite common. Adult acne can be divided into two general types: persistent and late-onset acne.

  • Persistent acne is acne that continues from adolescence into adulthood. People tend to have lesions most days and may experience flare-ups before their menstrual cycles.
  • Late-onset acne appears for the first time in adulthood and falls into two categories. Chin acne is concentrated in the mouth area and tends to flare premenstrually. Sporadic acne tends to appear and die down suddenly, with no apparent reason.

  The physical appearance of adult acne can vary widely. Sometimes acne is confined to comedones -- commonly known as whiteheads and blackheads -- that exist on the surface of the skin. But it can also include deeper lesions called nodules and cysts that lie farther underneath the skin. Such deeper lesions tend to be more painful and are sometimes filled with pus.
  
  Women feel awkward having acne as adults. Because the flare-ups characteristic of adult acne are often unpredictable, women may feel like they are unable to control the condition.
• QWhat are side effects of Accutane?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Accutane often causes side effects such as dry eyes, lips, nose, mouth and skin; itching, nosebleeds, muscle aches, sun sensitivity and poor vision at night. In rare cases, the drug may also increase risk of depression and suicide. Discuss these risks with your healthcare professional, and if you feel unusually sad or overwhelmed while taking Accutane, seek medical attention immediately.

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• QWhat are the side effects of benzoyl peroxide use?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Benzoyl peroxide will dry out your skin so be sure to follow it with a good moisturizer. Beyond the drying, it could cause burning, itching, rashes or swelling.

   

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• QHow does a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment work?

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  A Dr. Ellen S. Marmur, MD , Dermatology, answered

  It's inevitable: we're all going to wake up with a pimple (or a few) occasionally. It's smart to be prepared with a good acne-fighting solution. Combined with a salicylic acid exfoliant (whether it be a cleanser, a liquid, or a lotion), benzoyl peroxide makes up the second part of a one-two punch against pimples. A topical benzoyl peroxide treatment (usually in the form of a gel or liquid) will kill the bacteria that are causing the breakout, help unclog the offending pore, and reduce inflammation, whereas salicylic acid only unplugs the pore. Over-the-counter strengths of benzoyl peroxide usually range from 2.5% to 10%. Higher concentrations are available by prescription but risk irritating and drying the skin. Benzoyl peroxide can help to prevent acne flare-ups before they come to a head, so to speak, so the best time to apply it is in the early stage, when the bump is little and hasn't yet erupted. If you always break out in a particular area, you can apply the product there regularly. In fact, a 2004 study published in The Lancet found that topical benzoyl peroxide treatments are as effective as taking prescription oral antibiotics for some cases of acne.

• QWhat is adapalene and benzoyl peroxide?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Adapalene-benzoyl peroxide gel (Epiduo) is a combination topical acne treatment that combines a synthetic retinoid (adapalene) with a keratolytic and antibacterial agent (benzoyl peroxide). It is not known exactly how adapalene and benzoyl peroxide work to treat acne, aside from aiding cell turnover and killing bacteria. Adapalene-benzoyl peroxide gel is available as a prescription and should be used as directed by your doctor.
  
  
• QWhat should I know about adapalene and benzoyl peroxide before using it?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Before using adapalene-benzoyl peroxide, you should know that it can increase the skin's sensitivity to environmental exposure and to harsh skin products. You should be careful to protect your skin from ultra-violet radiation while using adapalene-benzoyl peroxide. Wear sunscreen consistently. Also, you should not use adapalene-benzoyl peroxide with glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy, hot wax and other irritating agents. Adapalene-benzoyl peroxide may irritate your skin or worsen your acne during the first few weeks of treatment.