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Getting acne....Q&A............(part 3 of 5)

I’ve started getting acne spots. How long do they last? This depends on what type of spots they are and, even then, it can be very difficult to predict what will happen. Some spots will appear and then disappear during the course of a day but others will evolve more gradually through the various stages. Comedones can be very persistent if they don’t get inflamed. Mildly inflamed spots will last 5–10 days before settling down, but can leave a flat red mark (macule) for several weeks. Nodules and cysts may last for weeks or months unless you get some treatment. What is the difference between a whitehead and a yellow- head spot? These two common terms describe quite different types of spot. A whitehead is a closed comedone where the pore is blocked and not open to the air. There is no inflammation (redness). A yellow- head suggests a spot with pus in it. The medical term is a ‘pustule’. Whiteheads may become yellowheads if the blocked pore becomes infected. My daughter is only 9 but she seems

Reviewing the Topical Tools for treating acne

Opening Up the Tool Chest
Topical acne therapy aims to counter several of the major factors that cause acne:
  • Blocked hair follicles
  • Growth of the acne causing bacteria, P. acnes
  • Inflammation
Oral therapy is required to tackle the other important acne causing factors, such as:
  • Increased hormone production
  • Excess sebum (oil) production

Topical treatment is sufficient for most people who have acne, but oral reinforcements are generally a must if you have more extensive, deep, or scarring acne with nodules and cysts. Chapter 10 is where you can find information about the oral weapons. The following sections offer a wide range of topical treatments for your acne. Keep in mind that one size doesn’t fit all and fitting the proper medication to your skin sometimes takes trying different ones for a while.

REMEMBER
Most dermatologists agree that the combination therapy — the use of topical retinoids and topical or oral antibiotics or antibacterials such as benzoyl peroxide — reduces both inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions more rapidly and to a greater degree than can be effected with any of these agents alone.

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