Overview
Medically reviewed by Dr. Rabeya Afroz Shomi
What is the treatment?
Acne and pimples are caused by hair follicles in the skin that either gets blocked or plugged. Your dead skin cells, excess oil and dust can all clog your pores and can create these types of skin abrasions or boils called as pimples or acne. Thanks to the time we live in, our skin is getting more prone to outside interferences like dirt and pollution and as a result pimples and acne are getting common by the day. It especially occurs if you have an oily skin type and is mostly high when you are entering your adolescent age. This doesn’t mean that acne and pimples can affect only youngsters. It can affect people from all walks of life. Hence the basic treatment plan depends on your individual skin type and the severity of the pimples. If you have mild symptoms such as white heads and black heads, then treating them should be easy. Over the counter, skin care products can be beneficial to you. However, if your condition is severe, then you will have to consult a dermatologist for getting rid of the acnes. These treatments can include facial masks to medications and in some severe cases even laser treatments. Your dermatologist can guide you on this.
How is the treatment done?
Most of the acne treatment depends on certain life style changes. Some of them can include washing your face regularly, avoiding skin scrubs and keeping a clean environment. The actual treatment can include topical medications like lotion and gels for your skin to keep the conditions under check. Most of them are over the counter medications and can be used as per your skin types. Prescription medications are needed in some cases where the problem doesn’t go away and is in need of stronger doses of drugs. These can be of the antibiotic varieties and can be taken as pills and tablets. If the condition is severe then you might have to go in for standardized treatment plans. These can include drainage of the puss, where the dermatologist will manually remove the cysts that have formed. Once it is removed an injection might be given to prevent the spread of skin scarring. Laser therapy is also one of the options available where the doctors would treat the acnes and pimples using laser therapies. They also drastically reduce the growth of bacteria in your skin and can prevent them further damage. There are also many chemical peel treatments that can be performed to reduce the occurrence of pimples. These depend on your skin types and your dermatologist can determine as to how frequently you need this treatment.
Who is eligible for the treatment? (When is the treatment done?)
Almost anyone who is suffering from pimples and acne can undergo the treatment. You have to consult with your dermatologist to know your skin type and the type of treatment to undergo. Even pregnant women can undergo the treatment, but there are special drugs available especially for them. Most of the treatment can be done at the dermatologist’s office and be done in sessions depending on your skin conditions.
Who is not eligible for the treatment?
Everyone is an eligible candidate for acne treatment. Pregnant women can avoid them but there are special medications available even to treat them. Most of the medications will involve antibiotics and hence if you are a safe candidate for using antibiotic medications, then you are eligible for the treatment.
Are there any side effects?
The side effects depend on the type of treatments being performed on your skin. Skin dryness and irritation can occur immediately after the laser treatments, but they generally heal by themselves. The antibiotics can sometimes upset your stomach or you can have symptoms of nausea. Pregnant women should be especially careful when taking the drugs and medications as some of the drugs can harm the fetus. Talk to your doctor about it.
What are the post-treatment guidelines?
If you have undergone a laser treatment for removing acne, do follow the instructions laid down by the doctor. Avoid stepping out in the sun for some time and do not apply soap to the treated area. You would be able to perform all your normal activities immediately. You can start using the medications recommended post the recovery period to avoid further complications.
How long does it take to recover?
Recovery is very minimal and does not take much time. In the case of chemical peels, the entire process gets over in an hour or two or they segregated between sessions. You can get back to your normal activities soon after the treatments have been done.
Are the results of the treatment permanent?
This once again depends on the type of skin you have. For some individuals, the results are more permanent while for others they have come for multiple sessions to get their skin treated. Laser treatment can be a more permanent solution but they generally take care of that particular spot and there is no guarantee that the acnes can occur in a different spot again. Chemical peels can show immediate results but they can gradually fade over time. It depends on how well you take care of your skin.
What are the alternatives to the treatment?
The alternative treatments can include the usage of tea tree oil and products that are made from organic nature like aloe Vera, argan oil etc. Zinc supplements can also be used regularly to combat the acne problems. Before you undergo the alternative treatments do consult with your doctor. It is better to know your skin type and your allergic levels before opting for such treatments.