Acne is a very common problem and over 90% of all teenagers suffer from this skin condition at one point or another during puberty. Acne, which used to be known as Acne vulgaris, is usually maninly a problem during puberty but can persist into adulthood.
Acne is not a new ailment and several pharaohs did for instance suffer from this skin problem. In ancient Rome they used sulphur in mineral water to treat acne and the use of suplhur as a treatment against acne survive well into the 19th century. In the 1930s doctors experimented with laxatives and radiation, although benzoyl peroxide was used as early as the 1920s. When antibiotics became readily available in the 1950s patients and doctors soon noticed their effect on infected pimples. Eventually, antibiotic creams were developed to fight acne. In the 1980s oral isotretinoin turned out to be an effective aid in the struggle against acne, but the compound turned out to be highly unsuitable for pregnant women since it lead to miscarriages and birth defects.
Females suffering from acne can sometimes be helped by hormonal acne treatment. The estrogen / progestogen found in normal hormonal contraceptives have some effect, but serious ailments may require an antiandrogen combined with oestrogen. In cases where one or a few pimples grow especially big and do not respond to other acne medication, a physician can chose to inject cortisone directly into it. A shot of cortisone can quickcly reduce inflammation and redness however it can have sideeffects especially if used over a longer time period.
Camedones or blackheads as they are more commonly referred to today are a type of acne vulgaris where oil accumulate in the pores (sebaceous galnds). A common myth is that blackheads are caused by poor hygiene but this myth is not true. If you clean your face to much it can cause dryness that promts the skin to produce more oils and thereby worsening the problem.
Blackheads are not dangerous but can look unpleasant and many people therefore want to know how to remove blackheads while avoiding to cause damage to the surrounding skin. Strips or tape is a common readily available solutions to blackheads, they are addhessive strips places on the blackheads. The blackheads will be removed when the tape are removed as they stick to the tape. If you have a lot of problems with blackheads salicylic acid may be a more practical solution than strips since strips only offer temporary relief.
Tags: acne, acne cure, acne vulgaris, blackheads, skin, skin condition, skin health, treat acne