 The
most important
thing to remember
about acne is:
It's not your
fault. Contrary to
popular belief,
acne is not caused
by anything you're
doing - what you
eat, how often you
wash your face or
work out - but by
a combination of
factors at work
far beneath the
surface of your
skin. The
regularity with
which you shed
skin cells can
change throughout
your life. Your
hormone balance
affects the rate
at which you
produce oil.
Research has also
shown that
genetics play a
big part in the
development and
persistence of
acne, so your
family history is
a valuable
prediction tool as
well.
You're
not alone: About
90% of all
teenagers develop
acne. Acne is
starting at even
younger ages today
as puberty begins
earlier. Acne may
also start as late
as the 20's or
30's, especially
in women whose
hormones are
constantly
fluctuating. It's
estimated that 1
in 4 adults
between the ages
of 25 and 44
experiences acne,
and nearly half of
all adult women
experience mild to
moderate acne.
There's
still no cure for
acne, with or
without a
prescription. The
secret to
controlling acne
is PREVENTION -
stopping the
formation of acne
before it becomes
a visible pimple.
To avoid the risk
of permanent
scars, it's
important to treat
acne as soon as
the first signs
appear. Even after
blemishes
disappear, you
usually must
continue to use an
effective acne
treatment to keep
new blemishes from
forming. Proactiv
Solution is safe
and effective for
everyone, and it
can help prevent
blemishes from
becoming a larger
problem.
 For
most forms of
acne, Drs. Rodan
and Fields prefer
topical
medications. They
may prescribe
antibiotics for
inflammatory
nodular and cystic
type acne, and
Accutane for more
severe cases. Oral
antibiotics and
Accutane don't
cure acne - like
topical
medications, they
gain control of
the problem.
Please
keep in mind that
Accutane is the
strongest oral
medication
available for acne
and often can make
a dramatic
difference. But it
may have severe
side effects,
including
depression, liver
damage and birth
defects if taken
during pregnancy.
Patients must be
under a
dermatologist's
supervision for
the 5-month course
of treatment.
Proactiv
Solution can heal
your existing
acne, and help
stop new blemishes
from forming. Its
mild formulations
gently exfoliate
your skin, remove
excess oil, and
deliver powerful
acne-attacking
medicine. Proactiv
Solution works
alone or; when
following your
doctor's advice,
in combination
with a
dermatologist's
prescription.
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