Acne vulgaris is a very common skin condition that affects almost everyone at one time or another in their lifetime. It is more common during the adolescent period and disappears as one approaches the early twenties.
There are several treatment options that are believed and widely employed to treat acne vulgaris. However, it should be noted that many of these treatments do not have any scientific basis. Even scientifically backed treatments for acne vulgaris do not show any form of positive results for the first few weeks. It generally takes about 3 months for results to be evident. For this reason, it advisable not to put expectations on pills and creams that claim instant results.
The exact mechanism by means of which treatments against acne vulgaris is not yet fully understood. However most treatments effective against acne tend to do one or more of the following:
–> Removal of blockage: Pimples develop when the sebaceous glands get blocked due to excessive sebum secretion. When the blockage is removed, the gland is drained of all the accumulation and pimples stop appearing. Treatments are also aimed at preventing the blockage from occuring in the first place.
–> Killing bacteria: A bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes grows in the accumulated sebum and causes inflammation. Many treatments are aimed at killing the bacteria.
–> Reducing the inflammation caused due to the bacteria.
–> Hormonal manipulation: Some treatments like hormonal treatment are aimed at restoring the normal hormonal levels in the body. These are effective to a large extent.
A combination of treatments is usually the most effective against acne. Treatments that are more effective also tend to have side effects and for this reason, step by step treatment along with close monitoring is usually suggested.
Some of the treatment options that are commonly employed to treat acne include:
–> Bactericidal and Antibiotic creams: These kill the bacteria and relieve inflammation. Creams used to treat acne have bactericides such benzoyl peroxide or antibiotics such as clindamycin.
–> Hormonal treatments: These are aimed at restoring the normal hormonal balance in the body especially during adolescence period.
–> Phototherapy: Phototherapy involves the use of light to treat acne vulgaris. Strong ultraviolet rays are highly effective in treating acne. Recent studies indicate that phototherapy is almost as effective as bactericidal and antibiotic creams.
–> Laser Treatment: Laser treatment is commonly employed to remove scars that have been left behind by pimples. However, it can also be employed to treat and prevent pimples directly. Cosmetic lasers are being increasingly employed to treat acne.
Several alternative treatments such as herbal extracts like Aloe Vera, tea tree oil, other Ayurvedic products and detoxification are also used to treat acne. While their effectiveness in treating acne is not fully backed scientifically, nevertheless a large number people find them effective in providing relief from pimples.