Canada Acne Guides

  What Could Trigger Acne? Acne is a near universal phenomenon that affects almost everyone at least once in their lifetime, and for some people, it is a chronic problem. Although the exact mechanism leading to acne formation is complicated, we understand many of the key factors that act as triggers that cause acne. As with many skin problems, not all of the factors are within one's control, but many are, and some lifestyle adjustments can help reduce the chance of acne breakouts occurring and may reduce its severity. ACNE AND OIL The skin is equipped with thousands of oil glands which produce oil called sebum. Sebum serves as a natural moisturizer that protects the skin from drying out, and is an important function of the skin. Unfortunately, excess oiliness can cause the pores to become clogged easier, creating an environment where bacteria can become trapped inside the pores and proliferate. Thus, the area called the T-Zone (the nose, forehead and mid-cheek area), the back, and ...

  Summer Tips: Controlling Acne Breakouts Summer can be problematic for those that suffer from acne. Acne is negatively affected by the increased temperature, sweat, and increased oil production that is common in midsummer. On the other hand, there are also positives factors that help to improve acne too. POSITIVES: Sunlight will not improve acne, but a minor tan might help reduce the appearance of acne. In the summer, acne may not be as obvious. It is important to note, however, that excessive sun exposure is both bad for your skin, and a factor that can aggravate existing acne. Stress is lower for most people during the summer. Although excessive sunlight is harmful, they play an essential role in reducing stress. Stress can contribute to a host of problems, including skin problems like acne. The air is generally more humid during the summer months, which can help relieve dry skin. Although acne is often associated with oil, dry skin can aggravate acne as well. NEGATIVES: Many pe...

  Managing Acne-prone Oily Skin in the Summer For those with oily skin, the summer can be a mixed blessing. Many people complain that their skin becomes oilier than usual during the summer months, often resulting in more frequent acne breakouts. It is thought that the combination of higher temperatures and increased humidity play a role in speeding up sebum (oil) production. While a lot of the factors affecting oil production cannot be controlled, with a few adjustments, most cases of oily skin can be managed. The hands are naturally oily, and also have a lot of dirt and grime from coming into contact with a lot of objects. Consciously avoid touching the face as much as possible, as it can aggravate oiliness in the face. Hair is another common aggravator. The scalp releases a lot of grease which sticks to the hair. People with long hair often have difficulty controlling oiliness as the hair comes into contact with the central face, an area called the T Zone which naturally produces...

  Prevention of Acne Scars is the best treatment Prevention is often the best treatment, and this is especially true when it comes to scarring of any kind. Part of what makes scar treatment problematic is that scarring is not caused by a disease. Diseases can be treated by correcting the problem, whether it is a pathogen or a problem with the way that the body is functioning. Scarring is a natural healing process, and occurs in response to any injury to the skin in an attempt to quickly close any wounds to protect the body from outside pathogens. The evolutionary process has selected in favor of scarring, a cosmetically and functionally imperfect, but fast defense mechanism in order to survive injuries that inevitably occur. One way of looking at it, scarring is not a flaw, but part of the design. Skin diseases like acne can damage the skin's layers enough to cause scars called acne scarring. The difficulty with scarring is that they are notoriously difficult to correct once formed...

  Acne Treatment: Birth Control Pills By Dr. Richard Thomas Birth control and acne is an important subject to think about. We know that testosterone receptors, the enzymes that make testosterone active in the tissue, is a critical part of acne, and we know that certain birth control pills are helpful in blocking these androgen receptors. There is lots of controversy about Yaz and Yazmin, which are these birth control pills that have progesterone, which block testosterone receptors. The controversy revolves around a class action lawsuit in the United States regarding possible increased risk of blood clotting. We know that the birth control pill has a small risk of inducing DVT (deep venous thrombosis) clotting on the calves. Why is this important? These clots can spread into the lungs, which could be fatal. It's important to emphasize that the risk is very low. There are genetic factors that run in families, which can show a risk in clotting. We know, for example that those who have...

  How Accutane works in Acne Treatment By Dr. Richard Thomas Maybe we don't know the whole answer to how Accutane fully works. It does appear to have an effect on the oil gland-it forces the body to produce a kind of oil which doesn't permit clogging of the pores which producing whiteheads and blackheads. It has anti-inflammatory effects, and probably has many other effects that we don't clearly understand yet. What causes acne is still not fully recognized and our understanding is still evolving. For example: Blackheads and whiteheads were traditionally thought to be without any inflammation and marked the very beginning of acne. The inflammation comes at the later stages of pimples. It's not been shown that there is inflammation very early on, and perhaps inflammation actually marks the beginning of the acne process. The toll-like receptors in those that are genetically susceptible may start the inflammatory process. To say that we know exactly how acne works is an ex...

  Over-the-counter Acne Cleansers as a Treatment Option for Mild and Moderate Acne Acne cleansers are one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to treat mild to moderate acne breakouts. Many acne cleansers are available over the counter without a trip to your dermatologist, and can be picked up at the local pharmacy conveniently. While over the counter products have a lower concentration of active ingredients which do the job of actually clearing the acne and preventing new ones from forming, they should suffice in controlling most minor cases of acne. These are specialized cleansers that are designed to clean oily skin, removing excess oil, dirt, sweat, and cosmetic residues from the skin. Many cleansers also contain active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide which helps reduce acne causing bacteria from the skin's surface. DON'T OVER-CLEANSE Use acne cleansers as recommended. Resist the temptation to cleanse more than advised on the product label in an attempt to cl...

  Concerns about Acne Acne is a very common problem that affects most of us at one point or another. Very few skin conditions are as widely misunderstood as acne, despite its prevalence. While most misunderstandings are harmless, some are not. Here are the frank and honest answers to many of the questions that are asked by teens. CAN MY DERMATOLOGIST REALLY MAKE MY ACNE DISAPPEAR? Dermatologists are doctors, and not magicians, so they likely won't be able to make your acne disappear immediately. Having an unrealistic expectation will only set you up for disappointment. However, dermatologists are experts about skin conditions, and acne is the most common reason that people visit their dermatologist, so they can offer a lot of advice and expertise. Some people have the impression that their acne can't be cured. This is incorrect. Almost all instances of acne, even severe acne can be controlled with some patience and a solid treatment plan. Visit a dermatologist, discuss a treatm...

  Cover-up cosmetics for acne Covering up cosmetics is not a topic that is discussed very often by the dermatological community, but one that is of great interest to the general public. From a dermatologist's point of view, long-term management of acne is the goal, and only the consistent use of appropriate acne treatments can provide long-term improvement in individuals that are predisposed towards developing acne. Patients, however, will often need short-term solutions, and this is where cover up cosmetics can come in handy. Acne cleansers are effective at clearing acne, but require time and patience as they do not clear existing acne. They aim to reduce the production of new pimples. Acne medications will not clear acne immediately, and are unlikely to help clear acne in a week. If you have an important occasion where you need to look your best, acne medication will be unlikely to help you. This does not mean that you should discontinue use. Cover-up cosmetics can effectively co...

  Selecting Appropriate Treatments for Acne By Dr. Richard Thomas In terms of "can it be treated?" absolutely, acne can be treated. It's important to select the right treatment according to the type of acne. A person who comes with lots of whiteheads needs a very different kind of treatment to somebody who is full of pustules, red bumps, and cysts. The location of the acne, whether it's on the face or the trunk, can also influence the treatment. A woman who has pre-menstrual flare will require a different approach. We really have to tailor the treatment according to the presentation of the acne. Sometimes acne can be very stubborn-this is true-but I think that we have to offer a treatment, and after 3 months if it's not doing the job, we need to look at changing it. There's no point in taking a treatment that isn't working. Does acne go away naturally? Sometimes, but not always. In the majority of teenagers, yes, it will burn out in the late teens or early...

  Common Acne Mistakes: A Comprehensive Overview By Dr. Richard Thomas NEGLECTING EARLY TREATMENT One of the things that is frustrating for me is when a patient with moderate acne and scarring, or their parents hesitate about whether they should treat it or not. Sometimes, individuals fail to understand that treatment is a very time-sensitive issue. If you leave acne going on and on untreated, it causes scarring. Although there are many treatments for scars, I believe that it's better to stop it earlier on. It's better to stop it earlier because for many individuals, acne and scarring can reduce their social performance, emotional development, and their overall interaction with others. We get embarrassed by the fact that we have acne on our face. While it's always important to use the minimum amount of medication that is required to control the problem, it's also important to recognize that problems like acne should be treated, and they should be treated early. I think ...

  Accutane Benefits and Side Effects By Dr. Richard Thomas Isotretinoin, the proper drug name as opposed to the more well known brand name, Accutane, is a retinoid. It's a Vitamin A that has been used since 1982. It's an amazingly effective drug, but also one that is also very controversial. It's had a very turbulent history, but that said, I can't imagine practicing dermatology without Accutane. Accutane is approved to people with severe nodular-cystic acne, or for those cases where the acne may be milder, but it's very impactful on the patient's lives. The trend has been to use this drug earlier rather than later as a high percentage of patients can suffer from scarring if left untreated. The sooner we treat serious acne, the better. PREGNANCY The controversial aspects of this drug are: First that it's teratogenic-it causes horrible fetal abnormalities, so women can't get pregnant while on this medication. It does leave the system quickly however-a mon...

  What Causes Acne Flare-ups? By Dr. Richard Thomas There are many causes for why somebody would suddenly flare, such as a girl coming off of a birth control pill. Stressful events might be a trigger. It's very difficult to measure "does stress really make acne flare?" but anecdotally we hear that all the time so it may well be that this is a real factor. Foods are another common but very controversial factor. Many studies over many years suggested that food has nothing to do with acne, but more recently we have an understanding that for some people, it might. We have evidence, for example, that skimmed milk may be an aggravating factor for people who have severe acne. We also know that individuals who eat lots of fish-it may have a protective effect for those with moderate to severe acne. There is some evidence that acne may be flared by high glycemic foods, and refined sugar. The Western diet may be a factor in producing acne in the first place. We do know that rural no...

  Oral Antibiotics in Acne Treatment By Dr. Richard Thomas Patients are often surprised that the antibiotics that we use are really not used as antibiotics--in that acne is not an infection. You can't pass on acne from one person to another. So, yes, the antibiotics that we use may indeed suppress and they do reduce the bacterial called P. Acnes. It doesn't seem to be the main part of how they work. The antibiotics that we use are also anti-inflammatories. They reduce the ability of the white cells to get into the skin. They reduce the inflammatory part of acne. It's important to know that they work in two ways: The anti-inflammatory and maybe some of it is antibacterial. They act slowly. The response to these is not as if you had a sore throat from strep, and you take an antibiotic for a week, you kill off the bacteria and that's it. In acne, they work very slowly-you expect maybe a 50% improvement in the number of inflammatories: less pimples pustules. 50% in 12 weeks...

  Acne - Treatment Challenges By Dr. Richard Thomas THE PROGRESS IS SLOW The fact that it is slow to respond, even when we use isotretinoin-accutane it takes months and months for you to see full benefit from this. The benefit, even when the maximum treatment is used is maybe 25% per month. So there is this in-built frustration that things are not moving quickly enough and it's a pain to have to keep on using therapy. SKIN IRRITATION The big issue also with topical therapy is that it is potentially irritating. Benzoyl peroxide and Vitamin A products dry the skin, make the skin red, and can irritate the skin so the inclination is not to want to put it all over. Frequently we have patients coming in just putting the drugs, the topical on the spots only. It doesn't work. You have to think of these topicals as preventative-it has to be all over the skin. Then if that causes drying, you tend to back off, and get very frustrated by it. We know that acne has a huge impact on the self-...

  Acne Overview - Causes and Treatment By Dr. Richard Thomas. ACNE - WHAT IS IT? Acne is something that we can all recognize. We see acne in two populations: Teenage individuals with acne, and more and more commonly the young woman who has never had acne as a teen who now presents with acne. It's (Acne) on the face, and the trunk. We think of it as two components when we look at it. One is no inflammation-blackheads and whiteheads. The other where there is inflammation-pimples, zits, nodules, cysts. The problem with acne is that it can cause scarring on the skin. ACNE - WHAT CAUSES IT? There does seem to be a genetic component to acne, especially in those that have severe acne. It's an issue of the oil glands being super sensitive to the hormones and the testosterone that drives the oil glands to produce the kind of oil that allows clogging of the pores, and allows bacteria-P.Acnes to grow in high numbers which then causes an inflammatory reaction. The precise cause-we don'...

  Oil Free Cosmetics Foundations and cover-ups are one of the most commonly used “band-aid” solutions to acne. Although they aren’t a long-term solution, they are effective, and in the short-term (a party on the weekend), the only effective cover as all acne treatments require weeks or months even to see improvement. Unfortunately, the cosmetics used to cover the acne can sometimes aggravate existing acne if you aren’t careful. OIL-FREE Many cosmetics are formulated with oily ingredients, often for consistency so that the product remains on the skin for longer and provides better coverage. Unfortunately it can also clog the pores, and aggravate acne, especially if you naturally have oily skin. Oil free products or non-comedogenic products are less likely to trigger acne in the same way. While using oil-free products do not guarantee that acne will not occur (every skin is individual and there are many other factors involved), it is less likely that the skin will react negatively to...

  Skin Camouflage Skin camouflage isn’t talked about much in the medical community, but it is an important tool for people with acne. While concealing creams will not improve acne, it covers it up very well, and it does so immediately. This is a major advantage as acne medications can take weeks or even months before its full effect can be seen, which is unhelpful if you have an event coming up on the weekend. While camouflaging will not remove acne, it is a very practical and effective short-term fix. Below are tips and advice about using camouflage cosmetics for covering acne. CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAMOUFLAGE Use oil-free cosmetics to minimize the chance of irritation Water based creams or alcohol based liquids tend to be less likely to aggravate acne Sheer or transparent foundations may help acne Choose products that are labelled non-comedogenic Choose the right colors (shown below) CHOOSING APPROPRIATE COLORS Choose green creams to cover redness of the skin Choose yellow creams to...

  Skin Foundations Foundations are often used to cover up major and minor blemishes in the skin. Acne is a common reason for applying foundations, and evens the color to the surrounding skin. There are four general types of foundations: WATER-BASED Water based foundations are useful for those with normal skin. Compared to oil-based foundations, they are less sticky. These products still contain oil as the emulsion is based on water and oil, but they will have substantially less oil than the oil based products. OIL-BASED Oil-based foundations are made of water-oil emulsions. With these foundations, the water evaporates quickly after being applied leaving the color and the oil on the skin. It may not be a good match for those with extremely oily skin. These are best for those with dry skin. OIL-FREE Oil free foundations contain no oil. It can help those with oily skin or very oily skin from being exposed to oil contained in cosmetics. WATER-FREE These foundations are waterproof. They...

  Skin Foundations For Different Skin Types NORMAL SKIN Normal skin is very flexible and can accept all kinds of foundations. It is important to remember that depending on the area of the skin, it may be more or less oily. Semi-matte foundations for light coverage of minor acne Moderate coverage for deeper red scars DRY SKIN Although an uncommon skin type for acne problems, acne can still occur. A slightly oilier foundation is recommended for general use. To cover acne, however, we recommend a lighter product. Soufflé foundations may be better to moisturize the skin for general use For covering acne spots, a regular foundations is recommended OILY SKIN Oily skin and acne is a common and troublesome combination. The difficulty is that foundations and cover-ups that are oil based can actually aggravate acne. There are available options, however. Choose oil-free foundations if possible as they are the least likely to aggravate acne Matte or semi-matte foundations are also a good choic...

Moisturizers and Acne Acne is a condition that is traditionally associated with oily skin, but it can occur concurrently with dry skin or eczema. Even for those without particularly dry skin, winter months can easily drain the skin of moisture and cause dryness and irritation. This is especially the case for the dry and windy prairie areas. Moisturizers are an important part of overall skincare, but absolutely critical for those with dry skin problems. Unfortunately, the greasier moisturizers which provide the best protection against dryness can also trigger acne flares by clogging the pores. WHEN SHOULD I MOISTURIZE? Most people assume that the choice of moisturizer product is the most important part of treating dry skin. While this is important, when you use it is often far more relevant. Moisturizers help the skin retain moisture better by adding a protective film to reduce water loss via evaporation. They also have other properties that help, but this is one of the key functions of...

  Sunscreens and Acne Acne patients need the same basic skincare tools like sunscreens, moisturizers, and cleansers as everyone else. Sunscreens, in particular, are important in protecting the skin from both immediate and long-term sun damage. However, like many other cosmetic products, sunscreens can contain ingredients which can induce acne to flare. This is a complex problem that can differ from individual to individual. Here are some answers to common questions regarding sunscreens and acne. DOES THE SUN HELP ACNE? No. Although this is a common myth, there is no evidence to suggest that sunlight helps heal acne. On the contrary, it can sometimes be a trigger that causes acne to flare and worsen. Sunburns or tans may reduce the overall appearance of acne by changing the color of the surrounding skin, but there are far better and safer solutions. SHOULD I AVOID USING SUNSCREEN ON THE FACE IF I HAVE ACNE? Sunscreens should be used regularly, acne or not. They serve an important ro...

  Mild Cleansers Mild cleansers are a new class of cleansers that are designed for people with sensitive skin. It also helps reduce irritation if you have damaged or already irritated skin. For those with acne, and sensitive skin, a proper cleansing routine can be difficult to come by as over-cleansing will quickly lead to irritation. KEY FACTORS TO LOOK FOR Non-irritating Non-greasy (often labelled non-comedogenic) No fragrance Greasiness is a problem with many cosmetics, and can induce acne if it helps to clog the pores. Non-comedogenic cleansers are less likely to cause acne, and are designed for people with an acne problem. Fragrance is also a common irritant for many, especially for those with sensitive skin, and should be avoided as much as possible. WATER SOLUBLE CLEANSERS Water soluble cleansers can be an effective replacement for the common bar soap, which can often be irritating for the skin. Below are some products in this category: Cetaphil® cleanser Spectrojel® Dormer®...