Clarification on Acne treatments/prevention.?

I'm 15 years old and have been living a healthy drug/alcohol free lifestyle. About a month ago I've been starting to experience outbreaks of acne. It started with just a few pimples, but then started to grow in size and numbers. For treatment I've been using a prescription medicine called, "Differin" or "adapaline gel." I wash my face with water about two times a day and depending on my exersize schedule I will take one to two showers daily.





I've been reading many questions on these forums about acne treatments/preventions and have spent several days reading multiple web-sites that are acne related. So far the re-occuring statements have come up, and I'm not really sure if they're true:





Drink lots of water


Wash face multiple times


Exersize can lead to outbreaks


Don't rub areas where pimples are, it leads to more outbreaks.


Acne is caused by dirt rubbing into pores and clogging them?





I need some clarification on good acne treatments/prevention.





Thanks!!!

Clarification on Acne treatments/prevention.?
Everybody has their favorite acne treatment, and I expect you will get some sales pitches here.





I found a website that has a simple explanation of the causes and treatment of acne. It is a government website, so it isn't selling anything, so it isn't biased. It has some diagrams that help to explain what acne is. Follow the link.





Now for your list. Drinking water does not help acne; we all drink water. Washing your face helps prevent clogging of pores. Exercise resulting in sweat and dirt on the skin can make acne worse, but not if you wash afterward. As a matter of fact, your pores open during exercise, and you can clean more thoroughly right afterward. Rubbing areas where pimples are does not necessarily cause more to happen, but if you wear a hat or something else that is against your skin a lot, you are likely to develop more pimples in that area. Acne is not caused by dirt getting into pores and clogging them, but by pores that are blocked by substances from your own body.





Most common acne medications in the US have either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in them. Salicylic acid can dissolve some of the substance that clogs pores, and benzoyl peroxide can kill germs. Both can dry your skin.





I hope this helps.
Reply:Let me give you a taste of my experience. I have tried everything out there for an "acne" cure, and I've tried differin just like you have, plus zillions of oral medications such as Minocycline, Tetracycline, Doxycycline, etc. It is just a hormonal thing and what is causing it is "overactive" oil glands. The only way possible to keep the sebaceous glands from overproducing oil and causing acne flareups would be to ask about being put on Accutane. Ask your dermatologist about this drug which he may or may not decide if you are a good candidate or not. I was, and I only had mild to moderate acne, with so many whiteheads that I have never been able to control until I took Accutane. Do NOT be scared to take this drug unless you are allergic to Isotretinoin. Go to Acne.org to The "Gallery" and check out Accutane before and after pics and throughout the process of people taking it. It will excite you to see just how dramatic the effects of Accutane have been for people. It is the only medication that has come close to a cure, and does cure many patients. Accutane is a very expensive drug which is usually taken for 4-6 months; I took it for a 6 months period and I have not had acne ever since. It can be very expensive so I do hope that you have insurance to cover most of its costs. I wish you well and that you find the reference helpful. Note: No matter how oily and acne-prone your skin is, Washing it twice a day is the maximum; washing more than this will strip the skin plus making it produce more oil! I wish you the best of luck!
Reply:Acne is mainly hormonal, that's why it usually starts around the teen years, when hormones really kick into high gear. But it can last well into your adult years as well. It's also partly genetic too. So it's not something you're doing wrong, it's not your fault. It's just nature.





Drinking water (it doesn't have to be lots, just the normal amount) won't make a huge impact on acne, but it will be less harmful than drinking alcohol or sodas, which all full of sugar that leads to redness, irritation, and inflamation.





Food doesn't cause breakouts either, but some foods can help control them. Vitamin A enriched sources, carrots, kale, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, etc... are great for acne prone skin because vitamin A will usually help improve how the pores remove dead skin cells and this reduces the chances of developing clogged pores. Fruits are also helpful, because their full of antioxidants, which protect the body from damaging effects.








Washing your face multiple times isn't neccessary. The recommend two times daily is fine. Acne isn't caused by a dirty face. Washing too much will just leave you with a really dry, flaky, irritated face.





Exercising is good for blood circulation in the skin. Sometimes sweatbands or extra sweaty clothes can clog pores. But exercising itself doesn't cause breakouts.





It's not a good idea to rub pimples or your face in general, because we have a lot of oil on our fingers, as well as germs, etc... And definitely don't pop or pick pimples, because it can lead to scarring and pigmentation problems.





Stress is a factor. It has the potential to produce certain chemicals in the body/brain, which can cause skin irritations. So it's best to try and keep that under control by relaxing.





Try using a gentle cleanser rather than something harsh with lots of chemicals. Also consider what shampoo you're using. It too could cause more harm than good. - http://www.dermadoctor.com/product.asp?W...





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