Three Acne Treatments You Might Find Useful, and Three Myths

Did you know that there are about 17 million people in the U.S. dealing with acne? About 8 to 10 million of these individuals are teens and preteens — the rest are adults. Although many people think of acne as a “teenage skin ailment,” it can and does impact people of all ages.

What is acne? There are various types of acne, and various reasons that acne forms. Acne happens when skin pores on your face become clogged with dead skin cells, bacteria, and the natural oil your pores produce. Many other things can impact how frequently and persistently acne develops, such as the skincare products you use, genetics, hormones, and stress levels.

If you’re someone who has suffered from persistent acne, you’ve probably tried all the common remedies and over-the-counter formulas. One issue with many medications is that they’re effective only until bacteria build a resistance, at which point the medication becomes largely useless. Since everyone’s skin is different, there’s no “right” answer to what will work. What could potentially work for your skin?

Three Things That WON’T Work

• Scrubbing really hard: if you’re scrubbing and still getting persistent acne, stop. Too much scrubbing can actually irritate your skin and help encourage inflammation.
• Squeezing: although it’s sometimes impossible to resist, dermatologists recommend not popping your pimples. It can lead to further inflammation and spread the bacteria to nearby tissue.
• Stop eating junk food: there is no link between eating a chocolate bar, and developing a pimple. However, some studies have indicated that there is a link between milk consumption and acne development.

Three New Technologies That Could Work

• Ultrasonic facials: for this type of facial, a device can be used to send high frequency sound waves deep into the skin. This can help to activate skin cells and encourage them to repair, while also boosting collagen levels. You can receive this treatment in a spa, or do it yourself at home.
• Blue light therapy for acne: light therapy for acne has been recommended by many doctors for patients who are seeking alternative remedies. These devices emit a narrow-band of light found within the blue wavelength range. What happens? The light helps oxygen radicals develop, which can kill acne bacteria without damaging your skin.
• Red light therapy products: a similar technology to blue light technology, it is typically used to reduce wrinkles but has also shown promise in reducing cytokines in the skin’s oil glands. It is not, however, used to target acne-causing bacteria.

Would you use light therapy for acne treatment? Let us know in the comments. More.