Acne for dummies 3

How This Book Is Organized
Acne For Dummies is organized into seven major parts — the
following sections give a quick rundown on what you’ll find in each
of them. You don’t have to read this book cover to cover (although
I wouldn’t mind if you did). You can just jump in anywhere you like
because each section is self-contained.
Part I: Facing Up to Acne
In Part I of this book, I give you the essentials of acne: its defini-
tion, its causes, its appearance, how it arises in your skin, and
whom it affects. I also provide you with some general information
about the scene of the crime — your skin — and how to determine
whether you should treat it on your own or call on a doctor.
Part II: Figuring Out Your Acne and
How to Tackle It on Your Own
Here you find that not all acne is alike; in fact, you discover all skin
isn’t alike. Acne has many faces and different features in both
sexes and in the various age groups. In Chapter 4, I talk about
teenage acne; Chapter 5 explores acne in adults; and in Chapter 6, I
discuss the factors that may or may not make your acne worse.
Finally, in Chapter 7, I provide you with a complete guide to over-
the-counter acne-fighting preparations.
Part III: Turning to the Pros
to Treat Your Type of Acne
Part III is loaded with an abundant supply of information tailored
to focus on the right professional treatment for all types of acne. I
start off by helping you find a dermatologist or other medical pro-
fessional to help you get your treatment underway. Then I discuss
the many choices you have among medications, lights, lasers, and
surgery, as well as alternative methods to treat acne. Discussions
of acne in teens, adults, folks with dark complexions, the elderly,
the very young, and the expectant mother — they’re all here.
Part IV: Dealing with Scars and
Associated Conditions
In this part, I get physical and emotional. I give you tips on how to
treat acne scars based on the kinds of scars you have and the kind
of skin you have. Because acne can be so emotionally devastating,
I also delve into the emotional hurdles that you or your friends and
family have to contend with and how to help avoid, manage, and
prevent them. I help you figure out when to seek professional help
and what treatments might be right for you.
I then complete the picture with skin conditions that look like
acne — the acne impersonators such as rosacea and pseudofolli-
culitis (shaving bumps). I also tell you what symptoms may sug-
gest an associated hormonal disorder.
Part VI: The Part of Tens
The parts of tens are a mainstay feature of For Dummies books. In
this grouping of top ten lists, I go over ten terrific Web sites where
you can find additional reliable information about acne and
rosacea. You can also find my top ten tips for keeping your skin
looking its best. And finally, I include my ten recommendations for
things to never, ever do to, for, or with your skin.
Part VII: Appendixes
The appendixes in this book are intended to be helpful for you as
you come across information that’s not familiar. I included a glos-
sary so that you can look up jargony words that are part of the
acne world. Here you’ll find terms your dermatologist uses, unfa-
miliar terms that are on the carton of your over-the-counter acne
medicines, and even some that are on the TV commercials we all
get to see while we’re watching The OC, Desperate Housewives, or
whatever programs geared toward teens or adult women might be
on. I define each word when I use it the first time, but you may find
it easier to check the glossary if you’re skipping through the book.
I also have an appendix that lists all the medications I cover
throughout this book and includes the various brand names that
acne and rosacea drugs can go under in different countries.
Where to Go from Here
Where you start in this book completely depends on you. If you
need to figure out what kind of acne you have, definitely go to Part II.
If you’re interested in how these pesky little zits form, Chapter 3 is a
must-read. If you only want to look at treatment options, skip to Part
III. If your acne has cleared up, but you want to manage and improve
the lingering scars, check out Chapter 17. As with any For Dummies
book, you can skip around and read what’s important to you at any
given time.