What makes acne worse?

It's easy to say that people should not be upset if they get a few spots. Acne is not a serious medical problem. There's some discomfort and, occasionally, minor pain, but this is not a disorder or disease that ranks as a major sickness. Yet our society has become so judgmental that people affected by outbreaks of pimples and zits find themselves victimized, their self-esteem shredded by those around them. Most going through puberty have mild acne at some point. It's an almost unavoidable problem as growing bodies establish the proper balance of hormones. Whether out of fear that acne is contagious (it's not) or simple cruelty, the bullies come out in force to undermine the confidence of the weakest and least able to defend themselves.

Given the psychological damage caused to so many, it should be obvious that everyone affected should always use the best medication. Except that the most effective, Accutane, has some unfortunate side effects. So it should not be used until all the other remedies have been tried and failed. That means people should do whatever they can to avoid making their acne worse.

The first and most obvious thing is to leave the pimples and zits alone. There's a terrible temptation when this eruption comes up filled with pus. It's so easy to squeeze and get that mess of infection out of the way. You can talk to yourself and say how much better your skin will be without all that poison inside. Once the spot is popped, the temptation continues. Why not pick at what is left of the pimple? It's often unsightly. A quick excavation with fingernails can smooth the skin and make the remains of the spot less obvious. Unfortunately, breaking the skin prematurely is likely to spread the infection and, more importantly, cause scarring. If possible, you must resist these temptations and let the body deal with the situation at its own speed.

Now we come to one of the ironies. Getting acne is probably going to expose you to stress. As a teenager, you're likely to become a target for abuse. Yet there's a well-established link between stress and acne. Medical research shows that people in stressful situations are significantly more likely to experience eruptions of acne, or to find their acne grows worse. The precise reason for this link is not understand but its reality is not contested. Thus, no matter what the provocation you receive from those around you, staying calm is going to prevent your acne from worsening.

Then there are drug side effects and interactions. Acne is caused by an excess of androgens in the body, most commonly progesterone. Some women use an oral contraceptive with too much progesterone. If you are taking an oral contraceptive, check with your physician to ensure your medication is not causing the acne. Similarly, some of the medications taken to control seizures and steroid creams used to treat eczema can make your acne worse. So try these strategies to get your acne problem under control before resorting to Accutane. It may be the best medication to treat acne, but it should come last.

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