Treating Your Acne With Accutane

For some people Accutane is their last hope of combating what may seem as a serious problem in their lives. They have reached a point where they have tried pretty much everything that is out there besides this medication. If you are one of these people please take a moment to read through this information before you decide that this is what you want because although the success rate is very high there do come some risks of using Accutane.

Accutane is the brand name for a isotretinoin. It isn't for wimps. It's controversial. It's effective for some in the treatment of acne, but you pretty much have to be desperate to try it. There can be side effects. Serious side effects. If you're a parent, and your child's dermatologist is telling you that accutane is the next step in a series of treatments that haven't worked, think very carefully before you try it, and consider alternative approaches offered by non-traditional practitioners such as naturopaths. They can offer a regimen of high doses of vitamins, herbs, gentle topical treatments and changes in diets that can eliminate acne for some without harmful side effects.

It's not very expensive to try, and certainly worth a try if it means sparing your child the risks associated with accutane.

What are the side effects? The biggie, the really scary one is that there is a high risk of severe birth defects if you become pregnant while taking accutane. Some teens are sexually active; some aren't. Some are responsible about birth control; some aren't. If you have a daughter who is not sexually active, she'll have to take birth control pills along with accutane. What could this medication be doing to someone who takes it if it causes birth defects? Is it worth taking the risk?

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Other side effects can include dry and itchy skin, chapped lips, muscle and joint pain, irritated eyelids, decreased night vision, nosebleeds, skin rashes, intestinal discomfort, urinary symptoms, headaches, increased susceptibility to sunburn, and depression-even thoughts of suicide.

Now, some people with very bad acne have suicidal thoughts too because it is such a difficult experience for a young person to be disfigured by acne.Another potential side effect is liver damage. This is serious enough so that if you take accutane, you have to get regular blood tests to monitor the level of fat in your blood to make sure your liver isn't failing.

Another thing. It might not work. And for some people, it'll work only while you're taking it and as soon as you stop taking it, back comes the acne. But you're only supposed to take accutane for a limited time. So, for many it's taking a serious risk for a solution that's only temporary.

There are people who have had great success with accutane. Otherwise dermatologists wouldn't be subscribing it. It's just a good idea to make sure all less invasive options have been exhausted before stepping into a treatment that has potential to do so much harm.On a final note, talk to your Doctor to be sure that all other methods of controlling your acne has been exhausted before you jump into taking this medication.

Acne's Early Warning Signs and Signals

At the first sign of acne you should be ready to spring into action. What are acne's first signs?

The symptoms to watch for are small, tender, red spots that later turn into pimples containing puss like degraded fatty acids. These first signs of ance usually disappear over a few days or weeks, depending on the severity.

Because severe acne can cause scars it's important to act quickly when you spot skin blemishes. Your first action should be:

- Avoid working in with oil, grease and other chemicals.
- Do your best to control stress or emotional tension.
- Refrain from squeezing or picking at the pimples.

Next you must get to work on an acne prevention plan:

- Wash your face regularly with a mild cleanser.
-Wash your skin whenever you feel perspiration.
-Use a light touch when washing as hard scrubbing may aggravate your acne.
- Shampoo your hair regularly and wear a style that prevents your hair from constantly touching your face.
- Shield your skin from excessive cold, heat and sunlight.
Extended exposure to sunlight may burn your skin and can even lead to skin cancer.
- Avoid oily creams and foundations. They clog pores and may cause pimples. Use water-based moisturizers.
- Adopt a sensible, varied diet. Drink lots of water and exercise regularly.

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Should you rush to a dermatologist at the first sign of a skin blemish? Probably not. Mild acne can be treated with over-the-counter medications. It's wise to ask your pharmacist for advice on an acne remedy. They stay up to date on the most effective treatments and can give valuable advice.

Try the pills, lotions or creams recommend by your pharmacist for six to eight weeks. It takes time to get acne under control. If you acne gets worse instead of better in that time your best bet is to visit a dermatologist.

Treating acne is like going to war. Be ready to fight back at the first sign of an acne attack.I hope you have found this article useful if you are a sufferer of Acne!

Welcome To More On Acne

Hi to everyone who has visited my new Blog! I am pretty new to blogging, in fact I never even knew what a blog was until recently, I am learning the ropes however and hope to provide anyone who visits with a lot of information on acne related issues and information.Thanks for visiting and I welcome any comments or suggestions from all!

Terry