Dealing with Acne – Pimples and Blackheads

The various forms of acne usually appear in pre-teens and teens as they go through puberty. It doesn't end when puberty is over, however. There are people, including me at the age of 50, who still get blackheads and pimples on occasion. It seems the war against the "zit" never ends.

What is Acne?

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, characterized by blackheads, pimples and cyst-like nodules and it usually appears on the face, neck, back and chest. It's a condition that crosses all racial and ethnic boundaries. Not everyone suffers from acne and it isn't because they're lucky.

What you eat or drink will, more than anything else, will determine the degree of acne you'll suffer from. People with oily skin will also suffer more than those who don't have oily skin. These factors are exacerbated during puberty when your hormones are raging and your body is changing. It can also affect women more during menstruation.

Prevention and Treatment

There are some things you can do to prevent it from occurring somewhat. There are some unorthodox methods of treating it along with medical treatment. The old saying that "an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure" holds true.

You can reduce the likelihood of pimples by avoiding food with a high glycemic load (bananas, potatoes, and cow's milk to name a few). Cutting down on sugars and greasy food may be good advice but as far as acne is concerned, it's an "old wives tale". The most likely culprit is going to be "junk food" of any kind. Avoid it like the plague.

While you're told that "popping a zit" is the worst thing you can do, it's obvious that it's going to pop on its own if you leave it alone long enough. That isn't what specifically causes an acne scar, although it could be a contributing factor. Acne scars are caused when the wounds try to heal themselves, resulting in too much collagen in specific spots.

If there are only one or two pimples to deal with every month, it's nothing to be concerned about. If, however, your face is starting to look like the surface of the moon and you're attracting too much negative attention because of it, it's time to see a doctor. In my experience, most over-the-counter products do little more than cost you money in this situation. You're much better off washing your hands before touching your face for any reason at all. In fact, you should wash your face several times a day with ordinary soap and water if you have oily skin (especially around the nose). On the other hand, creams containing benzoyl peroxide seem to be as effective as antibiotics when they're used correctly for mild cases of acne, although some side effects may actually worsen the condition.

Doctors well-versed in acne treatment may prescribe antibiotics. One of the oldest is tetracycline, which is also used in the treatment of other conditions like nonspecific urethritis. Doctors may also prescribe anti-inflammatories such as nicotinamide (vitamin B3), naproxen and ibuprofen.

No Quick Fix

If you're experiencing a bout of acne pimples right now, you need to know there is no solution that works overnight. Your body, whether it's the skin or it's internal, has to adjust to what's going in or onto it. How long it takes depends on too many factors to attempt a guess.

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