Acne (Pimples)

It commonly occurs during puberty, when the sebaceous glands activate, but it can occur at any age. It is not dangerous, but it can leave skin scars.

The glands produce oil and are stimulated by male hormones produced by the adrenal glands in both males and females. [3]

It often causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples, and usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders.

Effective treatments are available, but acne can persistent.

The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others seem to crop up.

Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress also scar the skin.

Acne Vulgaris:

The condition is extremely common. In Addition, It often causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples, also usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders.

Acne Rosacea:

This chronic inflammatory condition affects the central face also consists of flushing, erythema, papules, pustules and telangiectasia. [1]

Subtypes of acne within these two categories include:

Whiteheads:

• This can also form when a pore gets clog by sebum and dead skin cells.
• But unlike with blackheads, the top of the pore closes up.
• It looks like a small bump protruding from the skin.
• They are more difficult to treat because the pores are already close.
• Products containing salicylic acid can helpful.
• Topical retinoids give the best results.

Blackheads:

• Open plugged pores.
• It occur when a pore is clog by a combination of sebum and dead skin cells.
• The top of the pore stays open, despite the rest of it being clogged.
• This results in the characteristic black color seen on the surface.

Papules:

• Small red, tender bumps.
• And papules occur when the walls surrounding your pores break down from severe inflammation.
• This results in hard, clogged pores that are tender to the touch.
• The skin around these pores is usually pink.

Pustules:

• Such acne can also form when the walls around your pores break down.
• Unlike papules, pustules are fill with pus.
• These bumps come out from the skin and are usually red in color.
• They often have yellow or white heads on top.

Nodules:

• They are large, solid, painful pimples that are embed deep in the skin.
• Nodules occur when clogged, swollen pores endure further irritation and grow larger.
• Unlike pustules and papules, nodules are deeper underneath the skin.
• Because nodules are so deep within the skin, you can’t typically treat them at home.

Cysts:

• They are painful and fill with pus.
• It can cause scars.
• Cysts can develop when pores are clog by a combination of bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells.
• The clogs occur deep within the skin and are further below the surface than nodules.
• These large red or white bumps are often painful to the touch.
• Cysts are the largest form of acne, and their formation usually results from a severe infection.

Acne (Pimples) signs and symptoms vary depending on the severity of your condition:

• Whiteheads (closed plugged pores)
• Blackheads (open plugged pores)
• Small red, tender bumps (papules)
• Pimples (pustules), which are papules with pus at their tips
• Large, solid, also painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin (nodules)
• Painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin (cystic lesions)

Acne medications work by reducing oil production, speeding up skin cell turnover, fighting bacterial infection or reducing inflammation which helps prevent scarring.

With most prescription acne drugs, you may not see results for four to eight weeks, and your skin may get worse before it gets better.

It can take many months or years for your acne to clear up completely.

The treatment regimen your doctor recommends depends on your age, type and severity of your acne, also what you are willing to commit to.

For example, you may need to wash and apply medications to the affected skin twice a day for several weeks.

Therefore, Pregnant women will not able to use oral prescription medications for acne.

Topical medications:

The most common topical prescription medications for acne are as follows:

Retinoids and retinoid-like drugs:

• These come as creams, gels also lotions.
• Additionally, Retinoid drugs are derive from vitamin A and include tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, others), adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage).
• You apply this medication in the evening, beginning with three times a week, then daily as your skin becomes used to it.
• It works by preventing plugging of the hair follicles.

Antibiotics:

• These work by killing excess skin bacteria and reducing redness.
• For the first few months of treatment, you may use both a retinoid and an antibiotic, with the antibiotic applied in the morning and the retinoid in the evening.
• The antibiotic often combine with benzoyl peroxide to reduce the likelihood of developing antibiotic resistance.
• For instance, include clindamycin with benzoyl peroxide (Benzaclin, Duac, Acanya) and erythromycin with benzoyl peroxide (Benzamycin).
• Topical antibiotics alone aren’t recommended.

Salicylic acid and azelaic acid:

• Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in whole-grain cereals and animal products.
• Additionally, It has antibacterial properties.
• A 20 percent azelaic acid cream seems to be as effective as many conventional acne treatments when used twice a day for at least four weeks.
• It’s even more effective when used in combination with erythromycin.
• Prescription azelaic acid (Azelex, Finacea) is an option during pregnancy and while breast feeding.
• Side effects include skin discoloration and minor skin irritation.
• Salicylic acid may help prevent plugged hair follicles and is available as both wash-off and leave-on products.

Dapsone:

• Dapsone (Aczone) 5 percent gel twice daily is recommended for inflammatory acne, especially in adult females with acne.
• Side effects include redness also dryness.

Oral medications:

Antibiotics:

• For moderate to severe acne, you may need oral antibiotics to reduce bacteria and fight inflammation.
• Usually the first choice for treating acne is tetracycline such as minocycline or doxycycline or a macrolide.
• Oral antibiotics should use for the shortest time possible to prevent antibiotic resistance.
• Oral antibiotics best use with topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide.
• Antibiotics may cause side effects, such as an upset stomach and dizziness.
• These drugs also increase your skin’s sun sensitivity.

Combined oral contraceptives:

• Four combined oral contraceptives are approved by the FDA for acne therapy in women who also wish to use them for contraception.
• Additionally, They are products that combine estrogen and progestin (Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Yaz, others).
• The most common side effects of these drugs such as weight gain, breast tenderness and nausea.
• A serious potential complication is a slightly increased risk of blood clots.

Anti-androgen agents:

• The drug spironolactone (Aldactone) may particularly, for women and adolescent girls if oral antibiotics aren’t helping.
• It works by blocking the effect of androgen hormones specifically, on the sebaceous glands.
• Possible side effects for instance, breast tenderness also painful periods.

Isotretinoin:

• Isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret) is a powerful drug for people whose severe acne doesn’t respond to other treatments.
• Furthermore, Oral isotretinoin is very effective.
• Potential side effects include ulcerative colitis, an increased risk of depression and suicide, also severe birth defects.

Therapies:

These therapies may suggest in select cases, either alone or in combination with medications.

Lasers and photodynamic therapy:

• A variety of light-based therapies have tried with some success.
• But further study need to determine the ideal method, light source and dose.

Chemical peel:

• This procedure uses repeated applications of a chemical solution, such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid or retinoic acid.
• Any improvement in acne is not long lasting, so repeat treatments are usually needed.

Extraction of whiteheads and blackheads:

• Your doctor may use special tools to gently remove whiteheads also blackheads that haven’t cleared up with topical medications.
• Hence, This technique may cause scarring.

Steroid injection:

• Nodular and cystic lesions can treat by injecting a steroid drug directly into them.
• This therapy has resulted in rapid improvement also decreased pain.
• Furthermore, Side effects may include thinning in the treated area.

• Wash twice a day also after sweating
• Use your fingertips to apply a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser
• Be gentle with your skin
• Scrubbing your skin can make acne worse
• Rinse with lukewarm water
• Shampoo regularly
• Let your skin heal naturally
• Keep your hands off your face
• Stay out of the sun also tanning beds
• Consult a dermatologist

Homeopathic Treatment of Acne

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis.

Which includes

• The medical history of the patient,
• Physical and mental constitution,
• Family history,
• Presenting symptoms,
• Underlying pathology,
• Possible causative factors etc.

A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions.

What Homoeopathic doctors do?

A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’?

The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness also looked for. Now a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition.

The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can greatly improve with homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic Medicines:

The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications also taken into account for selecting a remedy, potency and repetition of dose by Homeopathic doctor.

So, here we describe homeopathic medicine only for reference and education purpose. Do not take medicines without consulting registered homeopathic doctor (BHMS or M.D. Homeopath).

Psorinum – for all types of acne:

• Psorinum is indicated for Acne (Pimples) of all types – acne simplex, acne pustular and acne indurata.
• It is equally effective for acne in oily skin where the overactive sebaceous glands secrete excess sebum leaving the skin constantly greasy.
• Here, psorinum helps decrease oil secretion and treat acne.
• It is used in cases of conditions that worsen from eating sweets, chocolates, meat, and fatty food.
• It also treats intolerably itchy acne and that which worsens during the winter.

Hepar Sulph & Calcarea Sulphurica – for acne that is pustular:

• Pustular acne refers to acne that contains pus.
• The pus may sometimes be stained with blood.
• Where either pus or blood stained pus oozes out of pimples, Hepar Sulph will be effective.
• The pimples may be extremely painful here.
• Acne (Pimples) in youth is also best treated with Hepar Sulph.
• Calcarea Sulphurica is most helpful where pustular acne oozes yellow colored pus.

Kali Bromatum – for face, chest & shoulders:

• Kali Bromatum works wonders in treating acne located on the face, chest, and shoulders.
• Marked itching may attend the acne.
• The Acne (Pimples) may simplex, pustular or indurated.
• This medicine is also prescribed where acne leaves ugly scars.
• Bluish-red pimples are a sure shot sign that kali bromatum will work.

Antimonium Crudum & Natrum Muriaticum – for acne on cheeks:

• In case of heat in the cheeks along with acne, antimonium crudum aids fast recovery.
• The Acne (Pimples) may papular or pustular.
• Yellow scabs may cover the acne.
• A burning sensation is another complaint.
• Natrum Mur will show best results in itchy acne on oily cheeks.
• Prickling pain in the Acne (Pimples) is also cure by this remedy.
• Natrum Mur is also prescribe for Acne (Pimples) in girls who are anemic.

Sulphur – for itchy acne:

• Sulphur is advised for people with dirty, unhealthy looking skin covered in acne that itch a lot.
• Scratching worsens the itching.
• The itching gets aggravated during the night.
• Warmth, too, worsens the itching.
• Burning sensation may also be observed.
• Sulphur is also a good choice for acne that has been treated with external applications or ointments in the past.

Silicea – for acne on forehead:

• For Acne (Pimples) on forehead, silicea brings about quick recovery.
• It works even better for pustular acne.
• Itching may attend the acne.
• Excessive sweat may be noticed along with acne on the face, especially the forehead.
• It is also a wonderful medicine for cystic acne.

Berberis Aquifolium – to erase acne scars:

• Berberis Aquifolium is one of the majorly indicated medicines for acne that result in the formation of scars.
• Moving further, This medicine helps clear off acne scars wonderfully well.

Bovista Lycoperdon – for acne made worse with makeup:

• Bovista Lycoperdon is the most significant remedy that offers help in treating acne that arise or worsen with the use of cosmetic products.
• This acne is mainly papular.
• Particularly, Swelling of cheeks may be noted along with the acne.
• Pain and itching may attend.

Nux Vomica – for acne attended with gastric complaints:

• Nux Vomica works well for acne when it is attended with gastric complaints.
• The gastric complaint is mainly due to chronic constipation or indigestion.
• Moving AheadThe acne may itchy and accompany by a burning sensation.

Pulsatilla Nigricans – for acne in women:

• Pulsatilla Nigricans is a very well indicated remedy for acne in women, especially when attended with menstrual irregularities of any kind.
• Acne (Pimples)occurring in young girls at puberty is another characteristic indication.
• Acne worsened with consumption of fatty foods will also heal effectively with pulsatilla nigricans.