Can Neosporin and Rite Aid clear acne?

Neosporin and Rite Aid are antibiotic creams that are used to prevent infection and relieve pain when one suffers burn or cut.

These antibiotic treatments are indeed very effective against bacterial skin infection such as staphylococcus or streptococcus skin infections when one suffers open wound injury where such bacteria can easily get into one's skin when it is exposed to the surrounding. Note that in acne , P.acnes bacteria are responsible for causing acne and not the above mentioned bacteria. Do bear in mind too, these ointments can also clog your pores and will further worsen your acne conditions if you really have acne!

Some of you might hear that some acne sufferers had successfully treat acne with Neosporin. Have you ever ponder for a moment that what they actually have is not acne blemishes but some red rashes that mimics acne?

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Acne causes stress, a myth?

We know that acne cause emotional stress. But how about the reverse ? Up until recently, it is generally believed that there is no link between stress and acne. But a recent study by researchers at Wake Forest proves that not only stress cause acne but also why stress cause acne.

Since sebum level production which is generally associated with acne tends to change with a variation in the weather, the study was conducted in Singapore. The study tracked the stress level of 94 high school students with mild or moderate acne for several months. It was found that in periods of high emotional stress, such as before exams, the students were 23% more likely to experience acne breakouts. However, the sebum production did not vary much whether they were experiencing high or low stress. This indicates that the level of the sebum did not contribute to the increase of acne. So the studies concluded that it is due to inflammation. Other studies have shown that stress can prove inflammation and acne is an inflammatory disease.

The result of these studies do seems to ring a certain truth to this myth.

Yet other school of thought believes that during the times when one experience high stress level, his body will release an ernomous amount of glucocorticoids which is a form of natural steroid. As glucocorticoids has some androgenic properties, it causes the sebaceous glands to excrete more sebum and worsen one's acne condition.

If you notice that you DO get an increase in acne breakout during your high stress level time, it is wise to calm and relax yourself a bit by going for exercises such as qi qong and meditation such as yoga . Oh of course get yourself plenty of sleep even though I know that it is pretty tough to do.

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Is There Any Area On Our Skin That Won't Get Acne?

For acne sufferers who practically get acne on lots of areas on their bodies, they might come out with this question. They might be wondering if there is an area on their skin that won't get acne.

Typically, acne sufferers will experience acne on the face especially on the T-zone area and upper back. As these areas have the highest density of sebaceous glands, the tendency of getting blocked pores and later on develops into acne lesion is very high.

Others may also get acne on their chest, upper arms, shoulders, and to a lesser extent on the legs and even buttock. These second group of skin surface also have sebaceous glands even though their quantity are less than those of the above mentioned area.

Now, the good news is you won't get acne on your hands, feet, lip and elbows as these areas do not have any sebaceous glands. No sebaceous glands means that no pores clogging. Clogging of pores, coupled with the presence of P. acnes bacteria and high shedding of dead skin cells causes acne to form. Keep in mind that clogged sebaceous glands and not sweat glands that leads to acne.

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How Soon Is The Result After Taking An Oral Antibiotic?

The most commonly prescribed type of oral treatment in treating acne is by taking antibiotics. Antibiotics have been proven effective and safe in treating acne. Oral antibiotics reduces the P.acnes bacteria that cause the formation of inflammatory acne by as high as 90% or more. Systemic antibiotics also stop certain pro-inflammatory chemicals action and reduce inflammation in moderate to severe acne.

Some improvement in the acne condition can be seen in four to six weeks after starting the oral antibiotics medication. During the early stage of taking oral antibiotics, the acne sufferers have to take the medications regularly. Irregular taking of oral antibiotics will cause the treatment to fail. The dosage of antibiotics will be reduced as times goes by when the inflammatory acne becoming less and less. Inflammatory acne usually take three to six months to clear.

As the safety of systemic antibiotics in acne treatment is well established, there is no worry to be concerned in taking the medications for such a long time. Once your acne stop, your doctor will stop the treatment and put you on a maintenance topical medication. Some doctors also recommend that you take a topical medication together with a oral antibiotic.

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