A Brief History of Acne

and Acne Treatments

Acne is a very common problem and over 90% of all teenagers suffer from this skin condition at one point or another

History of Acne

during puberty.

Acne, which used to be known as Acne vulgaris, normally decreases dramatically after puberty but in some the condition will persist into adulthood.

Acne is a problem that has been around since ancient times and there are reports about ancient rules suffering from acne and skin conditions.

In ancient Rome they used sulphur in mineral water to treat acne and the use of suplhur as a treatment against acne survive well into the 19^thcentury.

Benzoyl peroxide was used as earlu as the 1920s but during the 1930s they tried a lot of other alternatives including radiation treatment and laxatives against acne.

When antibiotics became readily available in the 1950s patients and doctors soon noticed their effect on infected pimples. In time creams containing antibiotics were developed to treat acne.

During the 1980s, oral isotretinoin showed to be very effective against acne but the drug had serious side effects in pregnant women causing birth defects and miscarriages.

Women who suffers from acne can sometimes be treated by a hormonal acne treatment.

The estrogen / progestogen found in normal hormonal contraceptives have some effect, but serious ailments may require an antiandrogen combined with oestrogen.

In rare cases when one or several pimples grow unusually lagre and don’t react to other acne medication, a physician can chose to inject cortisone directly into it.

Even a small shot of cortisone tend to reduce redness and inflammation right away, but cortisone does come with serious side effects, especially if used for any longer period of time.

Camedones or blackheads as they are more commonly referred to today are a type of acne vulgaris where oil accumulate in the pores (sebaceous glands).

Many people believe that blackheads are the result of poor hygiene, but this is certainly not the case. Excessive cleaning can actually worsen the problem by causing dry skin, this prompting the body to produce even more oils.

Blackheads are usually unpleasant to look at but they are not dangerous, that said you might still want to know how to remove blackheads while avoiding to cause damage to the surrounding skin.

A common over the counter remedy is the adhesive strip that is placed on top of the blackheads. The blackheads stick to the tape and is removed when the tape is removed.

For individuals with a lot of blackhead related problems the strips can be impractical due to their temporary relief and in this cases salicylic acid might be a better solution.

Know What Type Of Acne Scar

You Have for Best Acne Treatment

Knowing what type of acne scars you have and getting to know all the best options available on the market, (and there are increasingly more options to choose from), will help you to get rid of acne scars effectively and efficiently.

Some options are more expensive than others such as laser surgery and dermabrasion, but other more natural or less intrusive methods are also available. It is a matter of doing research, and trying different products and methods to find out what works best for you as an individual.

Different Types of Acne Scars:

Macules

Macules aren’t real scars. They are reddish in color and are not raised or pitted. Rather they are the end stage of inflamed acne lesions that have left their mark for a longer period. Macules might last up to 6 months after the lesion has disappeared, but will eventually fade and disappear. 

Post-Inflammatory Pigmentation is another discoloration of skin that healed acne lesions might leave behind. More common in darker-skinned people, these marks may last for up to 18 months, especially if paired with too much sun exposure.

Ice Pick Scars

Ice Pick Scars are acne scars that look sharp, deep pitted and narrow. Imagine the indentation left behind by an ice pick and that is what it looks like. These types of scars are deep, reaching the subcutaneous layer of the skin making them difficult to erase with just skin resurfacing treatments.

Box Car Scars

Box Car Scars are circular indentations that look as if they have been sunk into the skin vertically. Larger and sometimes more obvious, they will also need more advance surgical procedures to remove.

Rolling Scars

Rolling Scars as its name suggests are wave-like raised irregularities on the skin’s surface, due to its tethering of skin to the subcutaneous tissue below. Rolling scars can be a small or can "roll" along the skin in a line.

Hypertrophic Scars

Hypertrophic Scars are raised scars that reveal themselves with a pinkish or reddish tone. They look tender to the touch and often leave the impression that the skin has been bruised.

As mentioned above there are many available procedures on the market to treat acne and acne scars. Keep in mind though that there are no guarantees, and what works for one person may not work for you.

Talk to your dermatologist. He or she will have all the latest information on hand and together with understanding you and your particular problem, a long term plan for acne scar removal and an acne solution plan can be drawn up to suit you.