Annoyed that your acne or pimples just won’t go away? You’re not alone. This is one of 

 Hormones – the real culprits?

Though acne can affect a person anytime, it is more prominent during certain phases in life (around puberty, menopause) when the hormones are not in balance. Women with hormonal imbalance problems can also have acne which are resistant to all kinds of treatment.

Sometimes, acne can also be aggravated by use of steroids (creams or tablets) oral contraceptives or certain antibiotics. Any kind of physical or mental stress might cause a flare-up.

All said and done, there is also a genetic angle to it. We also see that children of parents who have very severe type of acne have a predisposition for it. In such cases it is advisable to start treatment as prescribed by the dermatologist at the onset because of the increased tendency for scarring and the other side effects.

Consultation with a good dermatologist is necessary

Especially so if you have lots of red or pus-filled acne that do not subside or go through cycles of flare-up. This will not only help you with the problem but also prevent scars.

You can keep acne at bay

If you have severe acne, follow a basic skin care regime. Use a cleanser, toner and a sunscreen with SPF 15 to protect your skin. Use a cleanser with salicylic, glycolic or azelaic acid which help to keep oil under control once or twice a day. Also, use toner once or twice a day. Avoid scrubs if you have lot of active acne on the face because it helps the acne spread further.

Never pop or break them because it causes more infection and leaves you with scars.

Take care of your diet though there is no evidence of direct correlation between acne and food. A healthy, balanced diet will help you to have healthy skin. Have good intake of water and avoid oily food.

Try to reduce stress levels because it always flares up acne. 

Beware of home remedies

Most dermatologists advise against home remedies to cure acne because contrary to belief, they are mostly very impure and cause a lot of irritation, dryness and allergy. At most, Multani mitti (Fuller’s Earth) or sandalwood pack from a reputed brand may be used once or twice a month.

What about the scars?

No creams or tablets will help acne scars. They can be treated with cosmetic procedures. Glycolic peels combined with microdermabrasion gradually reduce their appearance and make them appear smoother. Another option is dermarollers which are more effective than glycolic peels. However, the most effective procedure in reducing acne scars is fractional lasers.

There is no need to lose all hope if you have acne. Just have a healthy lifestyle, take good care of your skin and follow your dermatologist’s advice well. The world will be yours!

Wedding season is here again. And there is one thing that’s more important than any other on D-day – looking gorgeous. And how you look finally comes down to your skin because it decides the type of makeup you will wear that day. If you want to look like a princess on your wedding day you need to start preparing well in advance. The longer you have, the better prepared you can be. Before we suggest you visit a dermatologist, here are some handy tips that you can try out at home:

1)  Determine your skin type – Firstly, you need to figure out whether you have oily skin, dry skin or a combination skin type. Your skin regimen and the type of cosmetics you buy will be determined by your skin type.

2) Always wear sunscreen – There’s a notion that you only have to wear sunscreen when it’s sunny outside. That’s a very common misconception. Even if the sun is not visible, the ultra-violet rays can still hurt your skin. 

Click here to read more about sunscreen

3) Night vigil – Before you go to sleep follow a good cleanser, toner, moisturizer routine. This helps your skin breathe.

4) Daily and party wear makeup – Buy a set of simple daily and party wear makeup. You shouldn’t try any new brands and stick to ones that you’ve used before. You don’t want to try anything new with your wedding day around the corner.

5) Diet: There are various food items that can help your skin glow. Add one helping of fruits (guava, orange, lime or papaya), lots of greens (lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach) to your diet. Don’t forget to drink lots of water. Also avoid oily food and refined sugars.

Click here to read about the various food items that can make your skin glow.

Visiting a dermatologist:  

There’s only so much you can do at home. If you’ve acne-ridden or tanned/pigmented skin or feel the need to enhance certain facial features, you will have to visit a good dermatologist. Here’s what he/she would recommend:

Acne:

• Moderate to severe acne cases will be given oral antibiotics and certain topical applications like benzoyl peroxide.
• Glycolic /salicylic peels every two weeks for four to six weeks are very effective in removing the superficial dead cells.
• If you have acne scars and have three to four months to go for the wedding, Microdermabrasion and Derma rollers can work wonders.

Tan/pigmentation:

• Glycolic peels/stronger skin lightening peels like trichloroacetic acid for four to six weeks every two weeks.
• Sunblock /pigmentation reducing cream
• Oral antioxidants
• For arms and back: Glycolic peels and microdermabrasion: Three to four sessions every ten days.

Enhancement:

If you’ve always wanted a better sculpted face, this is the best time to consult a dermatologist for it. However, you should do it at least three to four months before the marriage. Here are some of the possibilities for enhancement:

Lips: Hyaluronic gel fillers for fuller lips

Eyebrow shaping and softening of square jaw:  Botox is the most common form of treatment facial lines.

Cheek enhancement: Fillers for high cheek bones

Click here to read more about botox

Whatever your skin concern, there are solutions available. So, relax and just follow the steps above – the glow on your skin on your D-day is surely going to get people to ask you, ‘Is it love?’

Treatment for acne scars starts with a proper assessment.  The acne scars could be either brown to black flat spots/marks or pits/depressed scars. The kind of treatment depends on the varying proportion of these two post acne problems.

Treatment for post acne marks

AT HOME

1. Creams containing azaelic acid, kojic acid, arbutin or glycolic acid can be used daily at home.
2. Face wash containing glycolic acid (an exfoliant) is a good option.

IN-OFFICE

1.  Glycolic peels: Excellent for lightening the marks and scars. This procedure exfoliates the dead cells and lightens the pigmentation in the deeper layers of the skin.
2. Microdermabrasion: Aluminum oxide crystals are used to exfoliate dead cells and lighten the scars.

Treatment for acne scars or pits

MILD TO MODERATE SCARS:

1. Glycolic peels combined with microdermabrasion gives an improvement.
2. Dermaroller: This is an advanced scar treatment procedure which gives higher level of scar reduction than peels and microdermabrasion. The doctor uses a hand held device which has multiple fine needles. After numbing the skin, the device is moved on the concerned area in a specific mode. This induces new collagen in the skin and in turn helps fill up the scars. It requires three to six sessions with each session three to four weeks apart.
3. Laser: The commonly used lasers are fractional erbium glass for moderate scars. For severe scars, fractional CO2 (carbon dioxide) can be used after adequate consultation. Lasers help to cause injury as part of treatment and this help newer, better skin to regenerate and induce collagen to fill up the scars. The number of sessions varies depending on the severity of the scars.

SEVERE ACNE SCARS:

1. Dermaroller and lasers would be treatment of choice.
2. Subcision: It is a mild surgical procedure to lift up the scars. It gives good results but may require few repeat sessions.
3. Fillers: Hyaluronic acid gels are used to fill up scars temporarily. However, scars need to be judiciously selected for this procedure. It is best done after subcision.

Don’t let acne scars ruin your lives by causing self-doubt and low confidence. You don’t have to live your life in hiding. Consult your dermatologist to bring back radiant, spotless skin.