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Suggest Treatment For Pimples With Pigmentation And Marks On Face
Question: I am a college student in XXXXXXX Idaho, USA.
For the past 2-3 months I have been dealing with zits on my face. Most of them are near the mouth region ( above the upper lip below the nose and sometimes on the sides too towards the cheeks)
I wash my face 2-3 times everyday with a mild face wash (phisoderm crem cleanser) and also with phisoderm gel acne cleanser (2% salicylic acid). I helps a little and some times the zits and blemished are gone for a day or two but a new one emerges. What are your recommendations to treat this issue? Thanks
For the past 2-3 months I have been dealing with zits on my face. Most of them are near the mouth region ( above the upper lip below the nose and sometimes on the sides too towards the cheeks)
I wash my face 2-3 times everyday with a mild face wash (phisoderm crem cleanser) and also with phisoderm gel acne cleanser (2% salicylic acid). I helps a little and some times the zits and blemished are gone for a day or two but a new one emerges. What are your recommendations to treat this issue? Thanks
Brief Answer:
kindly upload good resolution pictures of the affected area of zits.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the zits on your face since 3 months.
In view to help you best I request you to kindly upload few good resolution pictures of the affected area so that I can analyze the grade and extent of zits and therefore guide you best accordingly. For that you have a feature on the right side of the page. Or else you can send your pictures at:
YYYY@YYYY
With attention " Dr . Sanjay XXXXXXX Kanodia "
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
kindly upload good resolution pictures of the affected area of zits.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the zits on your face since 3 months.
In view to help you best I request you to kindly upload few good resolution pictures of the affected area so that I can analyze the grade and extent of zits and therefore guide you best accordingly. For that you have a feature on the right side of the page. Or else you can send your pictures at:
YYYY@YYYY
With attention " Dr . Sanjay XXXXXXX Kanodia "
Hope to hear soon from your side.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi, thanks for the prompt reply. I have attached 2 pictures below. There's a bit of flaking visible and I think that is due to the benzoyl peroxide spot treatment so I think that's normal. I hope it helps in figuring out a solution to this.
Thanks
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Acne vulgaris: various suggestions and guidance.
Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks a lot for your swift response along with pictures.
I have gone through the pictures sent by you and after thoroughly analyzing the pictures I can make out that you have pimples with pigmentation and marks.
I can understand your concern for pimples. It is really bothersome to have something unwanted present on our face.
Before I proceed to your issue let me explain you elaborately regarding pimples- Pimples or medically known as Acne vulgaris starts appearing at the age of 13-14 years and then reduces by the age of 25-30 years.
The main cause of pimple formation is basically due to hormones (chemicals which are influencing one or other body functions) in addition to the influence of certain other factors causing its aggravation. The hormone plays the most important role in high oil secretion and increase the size of oil glands. As the pores or ducts of the glands are blocked so it leads to formation of pimples.
There are certain other factors such as application of oily or creamy products, over exposure to sunlight, heat and humidity or due to pinching, popping and squeezing of the pimples also leads to formation of pimples. Once these are healing they leave the most problematic thing which are either marks or scars.
Therefore any of the above factors along with hormones can cause appearance of pimples before the age of 25-30 years. After the age of 25 years there is less upsurge in the hormones and these gets stabilized and therefore less appearance of pimples after 25 years. So probably you got some idea regarding your acne. I can see you are young man of 19 years, so in your case the most important factor is the hormonal changes which are quite common at this age.
There are certain best of suggestions which you can follow:
1. Do not pinch, pop or squeeze any area on face.
2. Do not apply any creamy or oily stuff or any other cosmetics over face.
3. Try to avoid any home remedies suggested by your friends or family members or otherwise self implicated therapies also. Most of he times any of the home remedies blocks more of the pores and results in more aggravation of pimples.
4. Do not take steam or steam bath or massage on your face as these also aggravates the pimples.
5. Try avoiding situations of direct continuous exposure to sunlight or heat and humidity for long hours.
6. Kindly do not use any antibiotic as self medication.
7. Do not apply any hair oil on scalp or apply in very less amount. Wash your scalp daily with some good shampoo and let there be no dandruff in your scalp (because dandruff itself causes blockage of pores of oil glands and then pimples).
For the Acne treatment part - I can see both small and large pimples. IN your kind of cases if I were your treating doctor then would prescribed you a combination of Clindamycin with adapalene along with the most important and latest therapy of isotretinoin by mouth for the long term remission. Isotretinoin is though a wonder drug but always to be used under dermatological guidance.
For the marks -Skin lightening creams are quite helpful. I general prescribe Kojic acid cream or Azelaic acid cream at night time only over the affected area. Apply it in such a thin layer that it should not be visible by naked eye. Do not try to rub it. It is generally diluted with some bland cream to reduce the irritation. So these creams are to be used under dermatological guidance only.
Both acne and its marks need proper management as guided above. The acne and marks treatment application can be used on alternate day basis according to dermatological guidance. I suggest you to meet a proper dermatologist and discuss all the points as suggested above.
Hope these informations will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to help.
Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology)
Acne vulgaris: various suggestions and guidance.
Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks a lot for your swift response along with pictures.
I have gone through the pictures sent by you and after thoroughly analyzing the pictures I can make out that you have pimples with pigmentation and marks.
I can understand your concern for pimples. It is really bothersome to have something unwanted present on our face.
Before I proceed to your issue let me explain you elaborately regarding pimples- Pimples or medically known as Acne vulgaris starts appearing at the age of 13-14 years and then reduces by the age of 25-30 years.
The main cause of pimple formation is basically due to hormones (chemicals which are influencing one or other body functions) in addition to the influence of certain other factors causing its aggravation. The hormone plays the most important role in high oil secretion and increase the size of oil glands. As the pores or ducts of the glands are blocked so it leads to formation of pimples.
There are certain other factors such as application of oily or creamy products, over exposure to sunlight, heat and humidity or due to pinching, popping and squeezing of the pimples also leads to formation of pimples. Once these are healing they leave the most problematic thing which are either marks or scars.
Therefore any of the above factors along with hormones can cause appearance of pimples before the age of 25-30 years. After the age of 25 years there is less upsurge in the hormones and these gets stabilized and therefore less appearance of pimples after 25 years. So probably you got some idea regarding your acne. I can see you are young man of 19 years, so in your case the most important factor is the hormonal changes which are quite common at this age.
There are certain best of suggestions which you can follow:
1. Do not pinch, pop or squeeze any area on face.
2. Do not apply any creamy or oily stuff or any other cosmetics over face.
3. Try to avoid any home remedies suggested by your friends or family members or otherwise self implicated therapies also. Most of he times any of the home remedies blocks more of the pores and results in more aggravation of pimples.
4. Do not take steam or steam bath or massage on your face as these also aggravates the pimples.
5. Try avoiding situations of direct continuous exposure to sunlight or heat and humidity for long hours.
6. Kindly do not use any antibiotic as self medication.
7. Do not apply any hair oil on scalp or apply in very less amount. Wash your scalp daily with some good shampoo and let there be no dandruff in your scalp (because dandruff itself causes blockage of pores of oil glands and then pimples).
For the Acne treatment part - I can see both small and large pimples. IN your kind of cases if I were your treating doctor then would prescribed you a combination of Clindamycin with adapalene along with the most important and latest therapy of isotretinoin by mouth for the long term remission. Isotretinoin is though a wonder drug but always to be used under dermatological guidance.
For the marks -Skin lightening creams are quite helpful. I general prescribe Kojic acid cream or Azelaic acid cream at night time only over the affected area. Apply it in such a thin layer that it should not be visible by naked eye. Do not try to rub it. It is generally diluted with some bland cream to reduce the irritation. So these creams are to be used under dermatological guidance only.
Both acne and its marks need proper management as guided above. The acne and marks treatment application can be used on alternate day basis according to dermatological guidance. I suggest you to meet a proper dermatologist and discuss all the points as suggested above.
Hope these informations will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to help.
Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi,
thanks for the detailed reply doctor.
I have a few queries as follows:
1) should I continue with the salicylic acid face wash?
2) what dosage of isotretinoin should I take?
thanks for the detailed reply doctor.
I have a few queries as follows:
1) should I continue with the salicylic acid face wash?
2) what dosage of isotretinoin should I take?
Brief Answer:
Acne: face wash according to the skin type. Isotretinoin as per guidance.
Detailed Answer:
Dear young fellow,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks for your further follow up.
I am happy to know that you understood teh simple facts regarding your condition.
Regarding your further queries:
1- For using salycylic acid- Salycylic acid face wash is basically used to reduce the oil secretion by oil glands. In case if you feel oily face then you can very well use the same. Even if you feel slight dryness then can dilute it with equal amount of water and then can gently use on face. But in case if you feel dryness then should not use this face wash. Use the face wash for two times only and not for multiple times. Do not rub the face wash directly and just gently use it on wet face.
2- For the dose of isotretinoin- it is basically to be decided according to multiple factors including your weight, physical appearance of pimples and blood reports with certain tests. In my patients I go for a set of blood tests as baseline report for routine blood functions and liver functions. So I suggest you to meet a dermatologist and can discuss all these points. I very humbly request and suggest you to not to take this drug as self medication.
I again suggest you to follow the various suggestions given in the previous mail to get least of the eruptions.
Hope these informations will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to help.
Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology)
Acne: face wash according to the skin type. Isotretinoin as per guidance.
Detailed Answer:
Dear young fellow,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks for your further follow up.
I am happy to know that you understood teh simple facts regarding your condition.
Regarding your further queries:
1- For using salycylic acid- Salycylic acid face wash is basically used to reduce the oil secretion by oil glands. In case if you feel oily face then you can very well use the same. Even if you feel slight dryness then can dilute it with equal amount of water and then can gently use on face. But in case if you feel dryness then should not use this face wash. Use the face wash for two times only and not for multiple times. Do not rub the face wash directly and just gently use it on wet face.
2- For the dose of isotretinoin- it is basically to be decided according to multiple factors including your weight, physical appearance of pimples and blood reports with certain tests. In my patients I go for a set of blood tests as baseline report for routine blood functions and liver functions. So I suggest you to meet a dermatologist and can discuss all these points. I very humbly request and suggest you to not to take this drug as self medication.
I again suggest you to follow the various suggestions given in the previous mail to get least of the eruptions.
Hope these informations will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to help.
Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Alright, thanks a lot for the insight.
Do you recommend considering "ClearZine" as a possible treatment?
Do you recommend considering "ClearZine" as a possible treatment?
Brief Answer:
There is no effect of these multivitamins
Detailed Answer:
Hello young fellow,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks a lot for your further follow up.
Regarding the use of "ClearZine" : It is basically a multivitamin and mineral capsule which contains vitamin B complex and certain minerals such as zinc and selenium.
In the treatment of acne, multivitamins do not have any direct role in prevention of acne. As I told you before that acne is basically a hormone induced condition so multivitamins have no impact in prevention of upsurge of hormones. So directly speaking there is no effect of these multivitamins.
Indirectly speaking multivitamins can help in repair process so can help in early healing of the acne lesions. You can take the tablet as a vitamin supplement but in my view there will not be very appreciable difference.
Rather I suggest you to take a lot of fruits and green vegetables in your daily schedule.
Hope these informations will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to help.
Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology)
There is no effect of these multivitamins
Detailed Answer:
Hello young fellow,
Welcome again to the forum and thanks a lot for your further follow up.
Regarding the use of "ClearZine" : It is basically a multivitamin and mineral capsule which contains vitamin B complex and certain minerals such as zinc and selenium.
In the treatment of acne, multivitamins do not have any direct role in prevention of acne. As I told you before that acne is basically a hormone induced condition so multivitamins have no impact in prevention of upsurge of hormones. So directly speaking there is no effect of these multivitamins.
Indirectly speaking multivitamins can help in repair process so can help in early healing of the acne lesions. You can take the tablet as a vitamin supplement but in my view there will not be very appreciable difference.
Rather I suggest you to take a lot of fruits and green vegetables in your daily schedule.
Hope these informations will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to help.
Regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD (Dermatology)
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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