Brooke's Ultimate Blog

Acne Scars Treatments

2008-07-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Skin grafting may be necessary under certain acne scars conditions, for example, sometimes dermabrasion unroofs massive and extensive tunnels (also called sinus tracts) caused by inflammatory reaction to sebum and bacteria in sebaceous follicles. Skin grafting may be needed to close the defect of the unroofed sinus tracts.

Skin Surgery. Some ice-pick scars may be removed by excision of each individual acne scar. In this procedure each acne scar is excised down to the layer of subcutaneous fat, the resulting hole in the skin may be repaired with stitches or with a small skin graft. Subcision is a technique in which a surgical probe is used to lift the scar tissue away from unscarred skin, thus elevating a depressed acne scar.

Laser Treatment. used to recontour acne scars tissue and reduce the redness of skin around healed acne lesions. Tissue may actually be removed with more powerful instruments such as the carbon dioxide laser. In some cases, a single treatment is all that will be necessary to obtain permanent results.

Treatment of keloids. Surgical removal is rarely used to treat keloids acne scars. A person whose skin has a tendency to form keloids from acne scars damage may also form keloids in response to skin surgery. Sometimes keloids are treated by injecting steroid drugs into the skin around the keloid. Topical retinoic acid may be applied directly on the keloid. In some cases the best treatment for keloids in a highly susceptible person is no treatment at all.

In summary, acne scars are caused by the body’s inflammatory response to acne lesions. The best way to prevent scars is to treat acne early, and as long as necessary.

Acne Scars: How To Prevent Them

2008-07-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Prevention of Acne Scars

The occurrence of scarring is different in different people. It is difficult to predict who will get acne scars, or how extensive or deep acne scars will be, and how long acne scars will persist. It is also difficult to predict how successfully acne scars can be prevented by effective acne treatment.

However, the only sure method of preventing or limiting the extent of scars is to treat acne early in its course, and as long as necessary. The more that inflammation can be prevented, the more likely it is that scars can be prevented. Any person with acne who has a known tendency to scar should be under the care of a dermatologist.

Types of Acne Scars

There are two common types of acne scars, defined by tissue response to inflammation: scars caused by increased tissue formation, and scars caused by loss of tissue.

Acne Scars Problem

2008-07-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

Acne Scars can be a double punishment

First you had to deal with the pimples, now you have scars as a reminder.
To understand acne scars, you need to understand acne.

Acne refers to injuries or pimples caused when the hair follicles on the skin become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. A plugged follicle is the ideal place for bacteria to grow and create the red bumps and pus-filled red bumps known as pimples. Hormonal changes during the teen years often cause increased oil production that contributes to the problem.

Acne comes in different forms:

• Mild acne, which refers to the whiteheads or blackheads that most of us get at various times
• Moderately severe acne, which includes red inflamed pimples called papules and red pimples with white centers called pustules
• Severe acne, which causes nodules — painful, pus-filled cysts or lumps — to appear under the skin

South American Surf

2008-07-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

In south America there are a lot of beaches that are good for surfing, and when I say South America, I’m talking about several countries, like Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Perú, and some other places that have top class waves.

But today I want to focus specially in Chilean beaches.

Waters of Chile can be extremely cold, but the north coast is a lot warmer, particularly near Arica near the Peruvian border the waves are strong and well formed, tubes can be found further south, near Iquique and La Serena, and good waves can be found all over this beautiful country, although a wetsuit is essential.

Further south we can find a place called Pichilemu, one of the best surf points in Chile. It’s located about 78 miles southeast from San Fernando. This place has a rock bottom, so the waves are always good!, and became a true surfers paradise. Pichilemu has been divided by difficulty zones, (from easy to hard) La Puntilla, El Infiernillo y Punta Lobos, those are the three zones in Pichilemu.

There are some other locations that are very good too, there is Pichidangui, Reñaca, Maitencillo and Ritoque, Totoralillo, Portofino, Puertecillo, all of this places are very common and well known.

Reñaca beach

But there are some other places, secret places, that don’t get much attention, but not for long, this places are becoming popular because of their waves, this beaches are:

Secreto: The name (Secret) is because not many know how to get there or where it is, the locals say that the first time you go, you have to go blinded so you don’t remember the way.

Punta Choros: Northwest from La Serena, about 2 hour drive, near Caleta Punta Choros, you’ll find “Isla Choros” (Choros Island), ideal for beginners.

Salinas de Pullay: Half hour drive from Papudo, amateur, but very good waves.

And finally we have Pucatrihue, 42 miles from Osorno, there you’ll find intense rights and lefts, cold water, rainy days and a fishing community called “Huilliches” that years ago, gave its life to surf.

Without a question, a must do trip.

Acne Treatments

2008-07-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

Acne therapy can be difficult, but there are easy ways to treat it.

There are all kinds of different acne treatments, but the ones with natural ingredients always give a better outcome.

They work by reducing oil skin production, stopping bacterial infection, reducing inflammation or doing all four.

A lot of acne treatments will take five to nine weeks to show results. During that time your acne may worsen.

Medical prescriptions are always recommended by your doctor or dermatologist. These recommendations are usually known as acne topical medications or oral medication which should not be used throughout pregnancy.

Acne is caused by the effects of hormones on the pilosebaceous unit, consisting of a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and a hair. The follicle becomes obstructed and an overgrowth of normal skin bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes, causes destruction of the lining of the follicle. This process allows follicular material to enter the dermis, causing an inflammatory response.

Acne Treatments are:

The retinoids are medications that are derivatives of Vitamin A. They are the most popular treatment for comedonal acne, or whiteheads and blackheads.

Antibiotics: This acne therapy is used for calm to severe acne. They fight off bacteria and fight inflammation. The use of antibiotics may be used for months with a combination of different products to see results.

Topical treatments: They are acne known for drying up oil, killing bacteria and promoting dead skin cells. All of they are usually over the counter and easygoing, they all have benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid or lactic acid as their active ingredient. These products are excellent for delicate acne. However, your acne may not respond to these products. If that is the case If, you may want to see a doctor or dermatologist to get a stronger prescription lotion. Popular topical prescription treatments are Tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, Renova) and adapalene (Differin) taken from vitamin A. They work by triggering cell turnover and prevent plugging of the hair follicles.

Laser and light therapy: Synthetic procedure that doesn't harm the skin and is known to attack the oil (sebaceous) glands - no more oil! Light therapy focuses on the bacterium that causes acne inflammation. These acne cures also improve skin texture and diminish the appearance of scars. Good choice to rid you of your acne and acne scars, but one thing, is and expensive acne treatment.

Oral contraceptives: Shown only immediate improvement with women, Oral contraceptives with the combination of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol (Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen). Nonetheless, oral contraceptives may present side effects that you'll want to chat over with your physician.

Isotretinoin: Powerful acne, acne cysts and acne that doesn't respond to treatments. The acne medication is exclusively used for severe shapes and forms of acne. This very effective acne remedy must be monitored by a dermatologist due to the chance of obtaining severe side effects.

Cosmetic procedures: If the acne treatments above don't work than Chemical peels and microdermabrasion may be helpful for your acne and acne scars. This treatment is usually used for diminishing sun damage and minor facial scars. However, it's most effective when using with other acne treatments.

Skin surgery: Small procedure becoming popular in the acne treatment community. What this treatment does is cuts out individual acne scars, then stitches or a skin graft repairs the hole left at the scar site, the problem is that surgery won’t prevent new acne to appear.

These are all the treatments used to eliminate acne. Even though they are many, I highly recommend, natural treatments to eliminate or diminish your acne and acne scars.

The decision Is Yours.