Acne Treatments Questions and Answers

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Question:

I have moderate to more than modrate acne. I know that I have a sabaceous cyst. I get one about every month with my cycle, and my back breaks out as well. IT seems to be getting worse with age, rather than the other way around. I even get pimples inside my ears. THis is all very frustrating. I don't have health insurance that will cover a dermatologist, so what can I afford to do?

Answer:

Ask your family doctor to prescribe tetracycline,500 mg twice per day, an oral antibiotic which is very inexpensive. Then get a 10% benzoyl peroxide gel and use it once per day (you can buy this is drugstores or get ClearSkin 10% Gel at www.skinfo.com). This is the least expensive method I know of. You could also browse thru the acne medications available at www.skinfo.com (my web site) at www.skinfo.com/store.cfm. There is the "Complete Anti-Acne Kit" which could help quite a bit, yet the severity of what you describe may make an oral antibiotic necessary to get a really good response.

Amy Taub, M.D.
Lincolnshire, IL

Question:

I am just about to turm 31 and have recently been experiancing some skin problems around the corners of my nose and my chin (around my mouth). The skin is redish and irratated. It seems to be dry (flaky, I have to keep exfoliating the flaking skin off) but if I put heavy creams or lotions on it it causes it to break out in little bumps or black heads. It tends to feel tight and some times itchy. I can not cover it up with make up as it only makes it look worse. Any suggestions?

Answer:

You have what sounds like perioral dermatitis, a condition around the mouth that is like a cross between a rash and acne. It usually needs a topical or oral antibiotic to improve, although it is not contagious and we don't really know what causes it. A short (like 3-4 week) course of oral Tetracycline usually works well.

Amy Taub, M.D.
Lincolnshire, IL

Question:

I have moderate acne and I have been on Septra DS for ten months.It has worked very well but lately my face has been breaking out more and more. About the time it starting breaking out I started taking 1000mg of Flax Oil. Could the Flax Oil have something to do with my face breaking out? Or could it be my building a tolerance to the medication? Any information you could give me I would really appreciate it. Thank you

Answer:

It could be either. I don't know enough about flax seed oil. ALthough I am not a closed-minded doctor, I am skeptical of remedies such as flax seed oil for anything because even if it helps one thing, it could harm another and remains quite untested. I would recommend going off of the flax seed oil and giving it 6 weeks. Bacterial resistance does sometimes occur in treatment of acne. If it doesn't improve after discontinuing the oil, call your doctor and discuss the fact that the medication is not working as well as it used to.

Amy Taub, M.D.
Lincolnshire, IL

Question:

I have a severe problem of dry lips. The skin on both the upper and lower lips dries up and comes of from the same place over and over again(localised to lips only).I have had this problem for a very long time ..so its not due to the weather.I have tried all kinds of things.It is very very severe drying. What can you advice?

Answer:

Hi...not being a Doc, I can't diagnose your problem but...I looked through many websites and found this one that may help... "FAMILY MEDICINE® COLUMN By John C. Wolf, D.O. Associate Professor of Family Medicine® Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine "MOUTH BREATHING" CAN LEAD TO NIGHTTIME DRY LIPS AND DRY NOSE Question: Every night my lips get very dry, and so does my nose. I put Vicks on my lips, but it doesn't seem to do any good. I use saline nose drops that help for a few hours. If I awaken in the night I usually need to use both medicines again. What can I do for my dry sore lips and nose? Answer: As I'm sure you know, the skin of the lips is usually smooth and dry while the tissue inside the nose is usually moist. Neither area should be uncomfortable. I don't have enough information to know which one of the several conditions that can cause your symptoms you actually have, so I'll go over the most common maladies in hope that you can identify your problem. A deficiency of some of the B vitamins, particularly riboflavin (B2) and pyridoxine (B6), can cause the symptoms you describe, particularly the dry lips. In fact, the painful lips may be among the first signs of this problem. Fortunately, pyridoxine deficiency is quite rare, and the diagnosis is even rarer since there is no easy test to measure the level of it in the body. Riboflavin deficiency is more common, but it still is infrequent. A blood test is available to measure it. Vitamin supplements taken by mouth are all that is necessary to correct either problem, but be aware that taking too much B6 (over 600 mg per day) can cause serious health problems. Taking large amounts of vitamin A can cause sore lips. This "overdose" can occur from frequently eating liver or from taking large amounts of vitamin supplements in tablet form. If you are doing either of these, you should stop immediately and seek the advice of your physician. There are several drugs that can cause drying of the lips and nose. Antihistamines, antidepressants, cancer drugs, some acne drugs, and some stomach remedies are among the most commonly used ones. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are using a non-prescription or a prescription product in any of these categories. Often an alternative is available that causes less drying. An emotional habit of constantly wetting the lips, either by licking them or by frequently sipping a beverage, can cause dry lips. This paradoxical response occurs just as dry hands result from frequent hand washing. The liquid washes away some of the protective oils of the lips so that they dry out easily. Usually a protective film over the lips such as Chapstick or lipstick is quite helpful. The most likely cause for your nighttime dry lips and dry nose is mouth breathing. The mucosal lining of the nose is usually moist. This is helpful in moisturizing the air that is inhaled. In the winter the inside air is usually quite dry. This "desert dry" air can dry the nasal tissues excessively, thereby causing discomfort. Mouth breathing often occurs as a response to this drying in the nose and ultimately results in a similar drying of the lips and throat. By the time you awaken, you have developed a dry sore nose, throat and lips. The best solution for excessively dry air is the addition of moisture. Using a vaporizer or humidifier in the bedroom is the easiest solution. It is a simple and inexpensive treatment. Other conditions that cause swelling of the nasal tissues, such as the common conditions allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis, can also produce the same uncomfortable dry nose and lips. Try a vaporizer in your bedroom for a few days. If your symptoms persist, go to your family doctor. He or she can help you find a solution for these problems." Hope this helps you... Julie Adinolfe RN Askanurse

Question:

Hello I am a 23 year old White Female and i have facial hair it is not dark, but it is semi-think. Every thing I try makes my face break out. Vaniqa, shaving with an electic razor, and Nair. Please help me I would love to have lazer hair removal but i just can not afford it.

Answer:

There aren't any quick fixes to this problem. Ideally, if the hair is darker than the skin you would have laser. In many places the prices for laser hair removal have dropped due to increased competition. Have you considered electrolysis? This might be effective but will also probably leave you with breakouts. I would consider seeing your doctor or an endocrinologist. Sometimes facial hair is either due to a hormonal imbalance, or, even if the hormone blood tests are normal, hair follicles that are overly sensitive to hormonal stimulation. In this case, a combination of treatment with birth control pills and a medication called spironolactone (which decreases androgenic-male type hormones) can not only decrease hair growth but also reduce acne.

Amy Taub, M.D.
Lincolnshire, IL

Question:

I have very sensitive skin. In fact, I don't wear makeup because I can't find any that doesn't make my face itch or burn. What I am looking for is a moisturizer that will help reduce my dry skin and my fine wrinkles, that doesn't make me break out in acne or rashes. I have tried Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle, Anti-Blemish, but my face turns red and burns, and breaks out in painful bumps...please help!

Answer:

You might have rosacea, which, if treated could help to decrease your sensitivity and burning sensations (usual treatments are antibiotic creams and/or oral anitbiotics. For comprehensive info on rosacea, see www.skinfo.com and click on "skintopics"- under this there is a discussion of rosacea, its causes and treatments). The two least bothersome and irritating creams for sensitive skin that I have encountered and that are also moisturizing and wrinkle-fighting are called Kinerase Cream (a plant extract) and Biohydrating Cream (made from polyhydroxy acids which are gentle to sensitive skin, unlike the stinging that often accompanies alphahydroxy acids, yet with all of the benefits). Both can be found and purchased at www.skinfo.com under "skinstore", look under moisturizers or anti-aging categories.

Amy Taub, M.D.
Lincolnshire, IL

Question:

Hi! I just got ortho tri-cyclen for my acne, but I was told by my gyno to take the first white pill the first sunday after my period begins, why do I have to do it that way? Will it make any difference is I start taking it say.. tomorrow? Please help me 'cause I really don't understand why! Also, There are white, blue & green pills in the package, what's the difference and what are each of them for? Thank you a ton!! =)

Answer:

Hi...I don't know why he said to start it on the first Sunday...maybe because it's easy to remember every month. This is what medline says about the different colors... "It is very important that you keep the tablets in their original container and take the tablets in the same order that they appear in the container. The containers help you keep track of which tablets to take next. Different colored tablets in the same package contain different amounts of hormones or are placebos (tablets that do not contain hormones). The effectiveness of the medicine is reduced if the tablets are taken out of order ." Here's the website for Ortho tricyclen for you to read...http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/estrogensandprogestinsoralcont202228.html Hope this helps.. Julie Adinolfe RN

Question:

I've been taking Accutane for acne 20 mg (.5mg/kg) once a day for 5 weeks . I have since developed an infection around a wisdom tooth, and it looks like it needs to be removed. Should I stop the Accutane, and, if so, how long should I wait before oral surgery?

Answer 1:

Good question. Accutane must be stopped several months prior to cosmetic laser surgery due to its affects on sebaceous gland function and skin keratinization. It is also well known to affect many other areas of your body, including inhibiting contraceptive drugs. Oral skin has both areas of keratinization and without and there are no sebaceous glands in the oral cavity so the chance of problems are most likely small but may slow the healing of the gum tissue. I would suggest you also contact the prescribing doctor.

Answer 2:

It should not prohibit you from have the tooth removed.

Question:

I AM AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN WITH VERY DARK SKIN. I HAVE A LOT OF ACNE SPOTS ON MY SKIN. I WAS THINKING ABOUT TO BUY SKIN BLEACHING PRODUCTS TO HELP MY SKIN BO BE LIGHTER. PLEASE GIVE SOME IDEAS ON WHAT TO DO. THANKS

Answer:

Stick with a hydroquinone containing product. There are numerous over the counter brands which contain 2% hydroquinone. Ask the pharmacist for suggestions of brand names and use it twice a day. You can buy a product called Lightening Gel which contains 2% hydroquinone as well as polyhydroxy acid at www.skinfo.com (click on Lightening under Skin Store). It can take weeks to months to achieve improvement so give it some time!

Amy Taub, M.D.
Lincolnshire, IL

Question:

plz help, i got numerous breakouts, i tried almost everyhting but my acne still not clearing specially when my period is getting near..can you recommend something to get rid of my acne ..plz i really appreciate it..

Answer:

There are innumerable treatments for acne. I like the Complete Acne Treatment Kit at www.skinfo.com, especially since I hand picked the ingredients and products. You need to give any new regimen at least one month to work. If this doesn't work you may need an oral antibiotic to clear things up. For a complete description of the causes and treatments of acne, see www.skinfo.com and click on topics and from there acne. Good luck!

Amy Taub, M.D.
Lincolnshire, IL

Question:

How long does adult onset acne typically last?

Answer:

Unfortunately, it is usually a chronic condition, meaning it can last for many years. However, I have yet to meet a woman in her 60's that has active acne, small comfort that that is, unless she has acne rosacea.

Amy Taub, M.D.
Lincolnshire, IL

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