If you’re reading this, you’ve joined a large number of people worldwide who need effective solutions to acne.
It’s understandable. Acne is one of those problems that you hoped would go away after college but seem to keep going forever. The scarring, embarrassment, and low self-esteem it can cause are good enough reasons to want it gone.
Fortunately, there are solutions to curbing the spread of acne on your skin. Find out what they are in this article.
What Is Acne?
Acne is a condition wherein the skin develops bumps and lesions due to sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells clogging the pores. These obstructions promote the growth of bacteria, resulting in whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and cysts.
The condition can form on any surface of the body. But it’s usually found on the face, chest, shoulders, and back, where the skin sweats the most.
Over the years, dermatologists have been prescribing treatments to clear up acne. The most common ones are:
- Over-the-counter medicated creams and cleansers with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide
- Retinoids such as retinol
- Topical antibiotics
- Oral antibiotics like clindamycin and erythromycin
- Oral contraceptives for regulating hormones
- Corticosteroid injections for severe lesions
Most of these work well for some but not for others. So, if you heard a friend using a specific treatment and getting great results, you can’t expect the same for yourself. Acne is a condition dictated by various factors, so you’ll need a solution that specifically meets your needs.
What Are The Latest Ways To Treat It?
People today have greater options for finding tailored treatments thanks to advancements in dermatology. Here are some of the latest ones:
1. Blue Light Therapy
Bacterial growth is the root cause of acne. When the pimples are inflamed and infected, they may get painful and be more challenging to manage. A non-invasive treatment like blue light therapy may provide relief.
It works by eliminating bacteria to prevent future breakouts. You can do some further reading to learn more.
2. Matrix-Tunable Radiofrequency Technology
For many people living with acne, scarring is an issue they want to deal with effectively. After all, some scars can get pretty difficult to hide even with high-quality makeup.
This treatment exposes the scars to radiofrequency emission for a few minutes. The result is improved tissue growth that causes scars to fade.
In many patients, improvement became noticeable two to three days after treatment. The skin even achieved a pinkish tone.
Also, since the treatment is non-invasive, patients don’t have to wait too long to recover from the treatment.
3. Radiofrequency Microneedling
This treatment uses a device with tiny needles to subject skin to controlled micro-injuries. The aim is to hasten the skin’s healing process. Also called collagen induction therapy, this procedure triggers the release of elastin and collagen and encourages capillary growth, making acne scars, hyperpigmentation, large pores, and signs of aging fade.
4. Smart Facial Cleansing Device
Breakouts happen because of pore obstructions. So, when you forget to wash your face or sleep with makeup on, you can expect growth to increase the next day.
And even if you do wash your face, you’ll still end up with the same result if your hands are dirty or you use an unsanitary cloth to dry your face.
Smart facial cleansing devices aim to address obstructions directly. They give your pores a deep cleanse, gently removing oil, dirt, and dead skin cells. Some require you to apply them with gentle circular strokes. This encourages proper blood flow, which makes the skin brighter and may even contour the face better.
Using such a device at least twice a week may help acne-prone skin. Its portability makes it easy to bring anywhere. Plus, some devices have a serum-infusing feature to let you apply the serum of your choice for better healing.
5. Encapsulation And Molecule Stabilizing Technology
Most topical treatments need an effective vehicle to properly penetrate the skin and deliver medication. This is why gels, foams, and serums are applied to the skin through microencapsulation in some clinics today. This process enhances the stability of active ingredients, ensuring the best possible absorption for treatment. The latest iterations of this technology allow the medication to diffuse through the epidermis without many side effects.
Today, the combination therapy of 0.1% tretinoin and 3% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) entrapped in silica-based microcapsules ensures that the treatment won’t degrade before reaching the targeted area.
Conclusion
With all these options available, which one should you choose? The answer lies in your specific needs. As mentioned before, acne is the result of a variety of factors. Determining which ones define your acne situation should be the first to find the right treatment. For that, consult a dermatologist. Manageable acne is always possible if you look to the right sources of aid.