ACNE TREATMENT FAQ

Help! My mom is giving me this really harsh ointment that is making my face peel!: A lot of the peroxides and lactic acids can do that. Noxema and Oxyclene are two products that I can think of that will actually produce more redness and irritation while drying out your face so badly that your skin will begin to peel. I think there is something to be said there about making sure that while you are trying to get rid of acne that you are not overdoing it at the cost of your skins health. Make sure that whatever you are using is in conjunction with what your doctor has prescribed. If you don’t have a dermatologist I would suggest finding one. Sometimes “Dr. Mom” is not the best option.

I am a woman in my 20’s and considering taking Accutane. Are the side effects as bad as I’ve heard?: To put it bluntly yes, yes they are. Accutane is a very powerful prescription drug that is tightly controlled and monitored by the FDA and for good reason as the side effects can be particularly nasty, especially to women and women that are pregnant. Side effects include red eyes, chapped lips, skin infection, joint pain, bone pain, rashes, nosebleeds, dry mouth, dry skin, lethargy, head pain, stomach cramps and hair loss.

Other side effects also include depression, aggressive behavior, cataracts, pink eye, ringing of the ears, blindness, heart attacks, stroke, hearing problems, hepatitis, bloody urine, tendon inflammation, muscle stiffness, seizures, weight loss, life threatening allergic reactions, suicidal thoughts, and excessive sweating. Some of these are common, some are not, but irregardless anyone and everyone that is considering taking Accutane should be prepared to experience some of these side effects. It is up to you to speak with your doctor about how to prepare for these side effects and to remain under close observation while taking it.

My grandmother keeps telling me how sulphur was used in China to help treat acne. Is that true?: Your grandmother would do very well on Jeopardy. Yes, it’s true: sulphur is the worlds oldest acne recipe and was used in ancient times to cure acne in Rome, China and Greece. Because sulphur is used as a mild antiseptic and exfoliant, it is perfect for topical use. It is good at penetrating sebaceous pores and aids in removing toxic compounds and bacteria.

The bacteria in acne is usually retarded by the skin’s naturally occurring acidity which may make some soaps and detergents which have alkaline cleansers in them detrimental to the tissue. Sulphur skin cleansers balance the pH levels in the skin and help eradicate acne while preventing breakouts by maintaining a certain level of acidity. Sulphur can be found in many over the counter washes, shampoos, washes, gels, crams and lotions.