>Acne
Causes People with serious cases of acne tend to have a genetic predisposition or sensitivity to the conditions that cause the outbreak of acne. Acne is caused when hormones trigger your sebaceous glands. These are the glands that produce oil. When they enlarge they produce excess oil which results in acne. This can be triggered by any number of things including:Stress Hormonal Imbalances (usually occuring during adolescense but also occuring during post menopause) Medications(oral contraceptives, topical steroids, etc.) Oils (in skin creams and cosmetics which block pores)

 Your skin is constantly renewing itself. Skin cells die and the dead cells come to the surface and shed. When the cells stick together they can block the skin's hair follicles. When this happens a comedome is formed. Depending on what transpires defines the type of blemish that develops.Blackheads are formed when from open comedones White heads (pimples) are formed from closed comedonesPustulates are when pimples come to a head Deep Cysts can contain blood and can potential cause scaring Rosacea is indicated by enlarged blood vessels around the nose

 General Care
Be gentle to your skin. Avoid scratching, picking Treatments
Benzonyl Peroxide
Benzonyl Peroxide is an oitment that has been used for years. It comes in a number of different concentrations:
Retin-A
Tretinoin (Retin-A)
Retinoic acid (Retin-A)
Vitamin A acid (Retin-A)
Retin-A is a topical treatment that was originally developed by Dr. Kligman to treat acne. It has since been found to be useful in a number of other skin treatments. The active ingredient is vitamin A, hence the name Retin-A.It promotes peeling of affected skin areas and unclogs pores. Tretinoin controls acne but does not cure it.Topical tretinoin is believed to decrease microcomedone formation by decreasing the cohesiveness of follicular epithelial cells. Also believed to increase mitotic activity and increase turnover of follicular epithelial cells as well as decrease keratin synthesis. Some systemic absorption occurs (approximately 5% is recovered in the urine).
The mechanism of action for PO use in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is not known. Absorption is enhanced when the drug is taken with food. Time to peak levels: 1-2 hr. Is over 95% bound to plasma proteins (mainly to albumin). Terminal elimination t1/2: 0.5-2 hr in APL clients. Metabolized by the liver, with about two-thirds excreted in the urine and one-third in the feces.
Special Concerns: Use with caution during lactation. Safety and effectiveness have not been determined in children. Excessive sunlight and weather extremes (e.g., wind and cold) may be irritating. Use Avita and Renova with caution with concomitant topical medications, medicated or abrasive soaps, shampoos, cleansers, cosmetics with a strong drying effect, permanent wave solutions, electrolysis, hair depilatories or waxes, and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime. Safety and efficacy of Renova have not been determined in children less than 18 years of age, in individuals over the age of 50 years, or in individuals with moderately or heavily pigmented skin. Use of the PO form has resulted in retonic acid-APL syndrome, especially during the first month of treatment. The safety and efficacy of oral tretinoin at doses less than 45 mg/m2/day have not been evaluated in children.
Side Effects: Following topical use. Dermatologic: Red, edematous, crusted, or blistered skin; hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, increased susceptibility to sunlight, erythema, pruritus, burning, dryness. Excessive application will cause redness, peeling, or discomfort with no increase in results.
Following oral use. Retinoic acid-APL syndrome: Fever, dyspnea, weight gain, radiographic pulmonary infiltrate, pleural or pericardial effusions. Occasional impaired myocardial contractility and episodic hypotension; possibility of concomitant leukocytosis. Progressive hypoxemia with possible fatal outcome. Respiratory symptoms, including upper respiratory tract disorders, respiratory insufficiency, pneumonia, rales, expiratory wheezing, lower respiratory tract disorders, bronchial asthma, pulmonary or larynx edema unspecified pulmonary disease. Pseudotumor cerebri (especially in children): Papilledema, headache, N&V, visual disturbances. Typical retinoid toxicity (similar to ingestion of high doses of vitamin A): Headache, fever, dryness of skin and mucous membranes, bone pain, N&V, rash, mucositis, pruritus, increased sweating, visual disturbances, ocular disorders, alopecia, skin changes, changed visual acuity, bone inflammation, visual field defects. Body as a whole: Malaise, shivering, hemorrhage, DIC infections, peripheral edema, pain, chest discomfort, edema, weight increase, anorexia, weight decrease, myalgia, flank pain, cellulitis, facial edema, fluid imbalance, pallor, lymph disorders, acidosis, hypothermia, ascites. GI: GI hemorrhage abdominal pain, various GI disorders, diarrhea, constipation, dyspepsia, abdominal distension, hepatosplenomegaly, hepatitis, ulcer, unspecified liver disorders. CV: Arrhythmias, flushing, hypotension, hypertension, phlebitis, cardiac failure, cardiac arrest, stroke MI, enlarged heart, heart murmur, ischemia, myocarditis, pericarditis, pulmonary hypertension, secondary cardiomyopathy. CNS: Dizziness, paresthesias, anxiety, insomnia, depression, confusion, cerebral hemorrhage, intracranial hypertension agitation, hallucinations, abnormal gait, agnosia, aphasia, asterixis, cerebellar edema, cerebellar disorders, convulsions, coma CNS depression, dysarthria, encephalopathy, facial paralysis, hemiplegia, hyporeflexia, hypotaxia, no light reflex, neurologic reaction, spinal cord disorder, tremor, leg weakness, unconsciousness, dementia, forgetfulness, somnolence, slow speech. GU: Renal insufficiency, dysuria, acute renal failure, micturition frequency, renal tubular necrosis, enlarged prostate. Otic: Earache, feeling of fullness in the ears, hearing loss, unspecified auricular disorders, irreversible hearing loss. Other: Erythema nodosum, basophilia, hyperhistaminemia, Sweet's syndrome, organomegaly, hypercalcemia, pancreatitis, myositis.
Drug Interactions: Concomitant use with sulfur, resorcinol, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid may cause significant skin irritation.


How Supplied: Cream: 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%; Gel: 0.01%, 0.025%, 0.1%; Liquid: 0.05%; Capsules: 10 mg


Dosage
•Cream, Gel, or Liquid Acne vulgaris.
Apply lightly over the affected areas once daily at bedtime. Beneficial effects many not be seen for 2-6 weeks.
•Cream, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1% Palliation for skin conditions.
Apply a pea-sized amount once daily at bedtime, using only enough to lightly cover the entire affected area. Up to 6 months of therapy may be needed before effects are seen.
•Capsules APL.
Adults: 45 mg/m2/day given as two evenly divided doses. Given until complete remission is obtained. Discontinue 30 days after achieving complete remission or after 90 days of treatment, whichever comes first.

I. Definition:

Tretinoin skin preparations are a family of drugs all similar to Vitamin A. In general, tretinoin gels are stronger than tretinoin creams because the medicine penetrates better when in a gel form. Tretinoin is used to treat acne and aged, sun damaged skin. Tretinoin works best when used in combination with alpha hydroxyacid preparations. If used over a period of years, tretinoin will continue to reverse aging of the skin and can continue improving the skin’s appearance even ten years after starting treatment.

A study in the Archives of Dermatology, May 1996, shows that 0.1% tretinoin significantly improves the appearance of early stretch marks. Tretinoin works best on stretch marks that are new or enlarging.

II. Action:

Unplugs acne follicles and brings acne pimples (comedones) to the surface. This is why tretinoin makes acne look worse in the first few weeks of treatment.
Will reverse some of the changes of photoaging. Causes lightening of brown sun spots and leads to the disappearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Caution: Retin-A does not be used simultaneously with Benzoyl Peroxide
Oral Antibiotics
Oral antibiotics are available by prescription only. One of the most popular antibiotics used for treating acne is tetracycline. While tetracycline is effective, it increases your skins sensitivity to the sun. If you are using tetracycline you need to be very careful about exposing your skin to the sun. Extra care should be taken by wearing sunscreens whenever you are outdoors. Topical Antibiotics
While some topical antibiotics can be bought over the counter, the most effective ones are available by prescription only. AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)AHA works as an exfoliant. It comes in solutions concentrated from 5-70%.

  
Hair Tips, Hairstyles, Hair Color, Hair Care, Hair Techniques Chocolate Can Cause Acne [False]
There is actually no evidence that chocolate causes the skin to break out. This myth is used by most mothers to stop their kids eating chocolate. Unfortunately it is not correct. Dairy products are actually closer linked to breakouts on the chin and jaw and citrus to breakouts on the cheeks.		 Hair Tips, Hairstyles, Hair Color, Hair Care, Hair Techniques Wear sunscreen all year
Although the Suns UVB rays (that cause sun burn) are not as strong in the winter, the UVA rays(those the ones that cause skin aging and cancer) are just as strong all year round. You should always protect your skin with SPD30 sunblock whenever you are going to spend any time outdoors.
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