| Retinoids appear to offer
the closest thing to a cure for acne. Retinoids work directly
with the DNA in the body’s cells. Retinoids keep
skin cells from carrying-out the process of what is called
transcription. Since the cell uses transcription to make
proteins, retinoids can limit the production of a particular
protein.
When an acne patient ingests retinoids, he or she can
not make sebum. When the sebaceous glands of the skin
can not make sebum, the skin offers a less inviting
environment to bacteria. The decrease in the amount
of bacteria on the skin aids the control of acne symptoms.
Some view the taking of retinoids as a “cure
for acne,” because it manages to depress so many
of the factors that can cause acne. Still, the use of
retinoids is not a “sure cure for acne.”
Results vary from person to person when using retinoids.
Patients with certain medical conditions should not
use retinoids. A patient with diabetes, asthma or heart
disease should not use retinoids for the treatment of
acne. Some acne patients also develop an allergy to
retinoids. For these people, obviously the use of retinoids
is not a tangible option.
Patients who are thinking about using retinoids should
understand exactly what will enter their bloodstream.
For example, retinoids have added amounts of a synthetic
vitamin (a chemical with the structure of Vitamin A).
For that reason, a person who is using retinoids should
not ingest any type of supplement or vitamin and should
pay close attention if administering any natural acne
remedies at the same time.
The benefits of retinoids, like the benefits delivered
by any drug, depend on the proper use of that drug.
No acne patient can hope to cure his or her acne, if
the patient does not follow the directions on the drug
label. The drug label also indicates when the drug becomes
outdated. Paying attention to the labels is imparative
when using any drug.
With any topical treatment for acne, the patient must
be sure that his or her hands remain clean and germ-free
while applying that treatment. With any oral treatment
for acne, the patient must pay attention to the conditions
under which the product should be ingested (for example
with or without food). This is the case for any acne
medicines.
Lastly, any acne product must be given an unchallenged
opportunity to heal the patient’s skin. For that
reason, acne treatment products should not be "combined"
and should compete with the alterations of a cosmetic
procedure.
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