INTENSIVE SKIN REGIMEN
Utmost skin care is essential to support drug treatment and reduce chances of side effects on treatment. It will also prevent acne to reoccur.
- Avoid adding too much skin products to your skin. Allergic reactions on skin products can worsen the acne and may require more treatment.9
- Always moisturize the skin. Applying moisturizers keeps the skin moist and lessens the side effects of most anti-acne drugs. Make sure that the components of the moisturizers will also not cause allergy.10,11
- Do not wash the affected area with soap. Most of the soaps have an alkaline or basic pH that alters the normal pH of the skin. Alteration of the skin pH makes it favorable for P. acnes to overgrow and cause acne. Cleanse the affected area with water or with lipid-free cleansers that will help maintain the slightly acidic pH of the skin.2,12
- Protection from the sun is also required. Sunscreen with an SPF of 15-30 should be applied on sun-exposed areas, most especially on the face and limbs. The best option for acne-prone skin is water-based, light liquid-based sunscreen or moisturizing sunscreen. The brandname and the scent of the sunscreen doesn’t vary the protective effect.2,13
- Intake of antioxidants (eg. coenzyme Q) and Vitamins A, C, and D can protect the skin from acne.14
- Some oral contraceptives can cause acne. In case the acne worsens, intake of OC’s should be stopped. Combined pills with anti-androgen are available.15
- Avoid picking, squeezing, rubbing or applying pressure (wearing tight clothes, sports gear, or harsh scrubbing) of the affected area because they can worsen the problem and even lead to scarring. 16
FOCUSED THERAPY
Drug intervention varies by age of onset . Some drugs are not favorable for younger age groups and severe forms of acne also require stronger treatments.17 Existing treatments of acne are very effective but dermatologic consult is advised to determine the underlying cause and severity of the acne problem.18
- In cases of mild to moderate acne, topical therapy is the main drug treatment. Over-the-counter topical acne treatments may include products with lactic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or resorcinol. Prescribed topical acne treatments may include topical medications with stronger action, antibiotics, female oral contraceptives and products with isotretinoin, such as Retin-A, Differin, and Accutane.16 Significantly,researches had shown that these isotretinion drugs can also reduce anxiety and depression in 85% of persons with acne problems.18 Latest topical therapies that combine different drugs proved to be more effective than monotherapy (one-drug treatment). Combination drugs, such as Clindamycin Phosphate 1.2% + Tretinoin 0.025% gel and Adapalene (0.1%) + Benzoyl Peroxide (2.5%) gel, simplify the treatment routines and eventually, cut costs in the long-run.19
- In cases of severe acne problems, Options other than topical treatments and antibiotics are also available. Anti-androgen treatments like cyproterone acetate and spirinolactone are available in cases when hormonal imbalance is the major cause. Light and laser treatments may also help replace or supplement long-term antibiotic management in individuals with frequently recurring bouts of acne. This short-term methods done by the dermatologist can cut the economic cost and prevent acne scars.18
CONCLUSION
There are many options on how to treat acne, but all of them can be categorized into three: (1) Proper Knowledge (2) Intensive Skin Regimen and (3) Focused Therapy according to the underlying cause. These three categories done hand-in-hand must be done to treat acne.2,13 Moreover, with all these three general ways, what still matters in the end is the willingness and dedication on following and practicing them.
REFERENCES
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