By Peter T. Pacik, M.D., F.A.C.S.
 Custom acne medication skin care product supplements for facial and body acne
Acne is a common skin problem of people in their teens and twenties. It develops in the oil-producing structures of the skin called pilosebaceous follicles, which are present in large quantities on the face, chest, shoulders and upper back. There is no single perfect acne medication. What type of acne medication to use for treatment depends on the type of acne and its severity. SkinCare-MD specializes in skin care products that can help treat acne and problem skin.
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Acne medication
About ninety percent of all teenagers and young adults in their 20´s and 30´s develop acne. Acne is starting at even younger ages today as puberty begins earlier. It normally goes away on its own sometime in the early twenties. However, acne can persist into the late twenties or thirties or even beyond. Some people get acne for the first time as adults.
To avoid the risk of permanent scars, it's important to treat acne with the appropriate acne medication as soon as the first signs appear. Acne lesions are most common on the face, but they can also occur on the neck, chest, back, shoulders, scalp, and upper arms and legs.
Acne has a strong genetic component, exacerbated by hormonal changes; stress associated with school, jobs and starting families and sometimes-poor skin care regimens.
Causes of acne
Acne develops in the oil-producing structures of the skin called pilosebaceous follicles. Each follicle consists of a hair follicle and a sebeceous gland. The glands secrete an oily mixture called sebum, which normally passes through the hair follicle to the skin surface. Acne occurs when dead skin cells, bacteria, hormones and extra oil block the normal route of sebum to the skin surface. The obstruction leads to swelling and the development of blackheads, whiteheads, or tender red lumps.
Effects of acne
Acne affects young men and women about equally, but there are differences. Young men are more likely than young women to have more severe, longer lasting forms of acne. Despite this fact, young men are less likely than young women to visit a dermatologist for treatment and acne medication advice. In contrast, young women are more likely to have intermittent acne due to hormonal changes associated with their menstrual cycle and acne caused by cosmetics. These kinds of acne may afflict young women well into adulthood.
Choosing an acne treatment or acne medication
Many young people are able to manage their acne with over-the-counter (nonprescription) acne medication. Proper care of the skin by avoiding rough cleansing practices and use of the right skin products can help make a significant difference.
For some, however, acne is more serious. In fact, by their mid-teens, more than 40% of adolescents have acne severe enough to require some treatment by a physician.
Acne also has significant economic impact. Americans spend well over a hundred million dollars a year for nonprescription acne medication, not even taking into account special soaps and cleansers. But there are also the costs of prescription therapies, visits to physicians and time lost from school or work.
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