Prevention of Acne

Medications used to prevent Acne:

Some of the different medications in the possible prevention of Acne include:

• Oral contraceptives
• Estrostep FE
• Ortho Tri-Cyclen
• Alesse

Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Medical news about treatments for Acne

These medical news articles may be relevant to Acne treatment:

• Compound related to anti-anxiety drugs may provide an effective treatment for psoriasis
• FDA fails to approve testosterone patch for women
• PCOS may be improved by the diet drug Xenical
• Roaccutane a possible link to teens suicide death
• Study of acne treatment causing depression
• More treatment news »

Curable Types of Acne

Possibly curable or rare types of Acne include:

• Medication induced acne
• Halogen acne
• Pregnancy induced
• Chloracne
• more curable types...»

Rare Types of Acne:

Some rare types of Acne include:

• Amphetamines induced acne
• Halogen acne
• Pregnancy induced
• Chloracne
• more rare types...»

Treatments for Acne

Treatments to consider for Acne may include:

• Simple treatments and preventive measures:
  • Wash skin - gently
  • Avoid rubbing or scratching
  • Shave carefully
  • Sun exposure - some level of sun exposure has been mentioned as beneficial to acne
  • Avoid sunburn
• more treatments...»

Prevention of Acne:

Health Topics Questions and Answers About Acne: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Clean Skin Gently

Most doctors recommend that people with acne gently wash their skin with a mild cleanser, once in the morning and once in the evening and after heavy exercise. Some people with acne may try to stop outbreaks and oil production by scrubbing their skin and using strong detergent soaps and rough scrub pads. However, scrubbing will not improve acne; in fact, it can make the problem worse. Patients should ask their doctor or another health professional for advice on the best type of cleanser to use. Patients should wash their face from under the jaw to the hairline. It is important that patients thoroughly rinse their skin after washing it. Astringents are not recommended unless the skin is very oily, and then they should be used only on oily spots. Doctors also recommend that patients regularly shampoo their hair. Those with oily hair may want to shampoo it every day.

Avoid Frequent Handling of the Skin

People who squeeze, pinch, or pick their blemishes risk developing scars or dark blotches. People should avoid rubbing and touching their skin lesions.

Shave Carefully

Men who shave and who have acne can test both electric and safety razors to see which is more comfortable. Men who use a safety razor should use a sharp blade and soften their beard thoroughly with soap and water before applying shaving cream. Nicking blemishes can be avoided by shaving lightly and only when necessary.

Avoid a Sunburn or Suntan

Many of the medicines used to treat acne can make a person more prone to sunburn. A sunburn that reddens the skin or suntan that darkens the skin may make blemishes less visible and make the skin feel drier. However, these benefits are only temporary, and there are known risks of excessive sun exposure, such as more rapid skin aging and a risk of developing skin cancer.

Choose Cosmetics Carefully

People being treated for acne often need to change some of the cosmetics they use. All cosmetics, such as foundation, blush, eye shadow, and moisturizers, should be oil free. Patients may find it difficult to apply foundation evenly during the first few weeks of treatment because the skin may be red or scaly, particularly with the use of topical tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide. Oily hair products may eventually spread over the forehead, causing closed comedones. Products that are labeled as noncomedogenic (do not promote the formation of closed pores) should be used; in some people, however, even these products may cause acne. (Source: excerpt from Health Topics Questions and Answers About Acne: NIDDK)

Questions and Answers About Acne: NIAMS (Excerpt)

Clean Skin Gently

Most doctors recommend that people with acne gently wash their skin with a mild cleanser, once in the morning and once in the evening and after heavy exercise. Some people with acne may try to stop outbreaks and oil production by scrubbing their skin and using strong detergent soaps and rough scrub pads. However, scrubbing will not improve acne; in fact, it can make the problem worse. Patients should ask their doctor or another health professional for advice on the best type of cleanser to use. Patients should wash their face from under the jaw to the hairline. It is important that patients thoroughly rinse their skin after washing it. Astringents are not recommended unless the skin is very oily, and then they should be used only on oily spots. Doctors also recommend that patients regularly shampoo their hair. Those with oily hair may want to shampoo it every day.

Avoid Frequent Handling of the Skin

People who squeeze, pinch, or pick their blemishes risk developing scars or dark blotches. People should avoid rubbing and touching their skin lesions.

Shave Carefully

Men who shave and who have acne can test both electric and safety razors to see which is more comfortable. Men who use a safety razor should use a sharp blade and soften their beard thoroughly with soap and water before applying shaving cream. Nicking blemishes can be avoided by shaving lightly and only when necessary.

Avoid a Sunburn or Suntan

Many of the medicines used to treat acne can make a person more prone to sunburn. A sunburn that reddens the skin or suntan that darkens the skin may make blemishes less visible and make the skin feel drier. However, these benefits are only temporary, and there are known risks of excessive sun exposure, such as more rapid skin aging and a risk of developing skin cancer.

Choose Cosmetics Carefully

People being treated for acne often need to change some of the cosmetics they use. All cosmetics, such as foundation, blush, eye shadow, and moisturizers, should be oil free. Patients may find it difficult to apply foundation evenly during the first few weeks of treatment because the skin may be red or scaly, particularly with the use of topical tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide. Oily hair products may eventually spread over the forehead, causing closed comedones. Products that are labeled as noncomedogenic (do not promote the formation of closed pores) should be used; in some people, however, even these products may cause acne. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Acne: NIAMS)

Acne: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Because acne forms under the skin, washing away surface oils doesn't do much to prevent or cure it. It is a myth that women get acne because they don't wash enough. Gentle washing is important. But, too much washing can irritate the whiteheads and blackheads, causing them to be more infected and making more pimples. Pressure on the skin can make acne worse, by helping block the pores, so chin straps and headbands should be avoided. Hair spray can also block pores. Another myth is that certain foods cause acne. Greasy foods do not cause oily skin. Some medications can cause acne, although this is rare. (Source: excerpt from Acne: NWHIC)

Prevention Claims: Acne

Information on prevention of Acne comes from many sources. There are some sources that claim preventive benefits for many different diseases for various products. We may present such information in the hope that it may be useful, however, in some cases claims of Acne prevention may be dubious, invalid, or not recognized in mainstream medicine. Please discuss any treatment, discontinuation of treatment, or change of treatment plans with your doctor or professional medical specialist.