Acne Treatments
Acne sufferers may feel that they are faced with a bewildering choice of acne treatments and acne treatment products. Should they put their faith in natural acne treatments or acne medication, In reality, there are only three or four important decisions that must me made by acne sufferers or should they throw caution to the wind and try one of the many acne alternative treatments? In reality, there are only three or four important decisions that must be made when choosing acne treatments. Many of the supposed treatment choices that acne sufferers agonise over are not really choices at all, once they are able to appreciate the important differences between the different types of acne treatment and the similarities between many acne treatment products. The aim of the acne treatment section of Acne Control is to demystify the myriad and often confusing ways in which different acne treatments are explained, or more often 'sold', to acne sufferers.
Acne Treatment Imperatives
Before contemplating the choice of acne treatments, acne sufferers must first ask themselves 'Is it safe and appropriate for me to diagnose and manage the condition myself?' Opinions vary on this issue, but in my view the only acne sufferers who have complete freedom to manage their condition are teenagers who have mild or moderately severe acne of the adolescent clinical type. Having said this, the overwhelming majority of all acne patients are teenagers with this type and severity of acne. All other cases of suspected acne or acne-like conditions should be seen by a doctor, since correct clinical diagnosis will ensure both that the cause of the acne is identified and that appropriate acne treatment is administered under medical direction.
Acne Treatment Choices
Having weeded out the acne sufferers who need to see a doctor, those that remain have the choice of a range of different acne treatment options, but only a few crucial decisions to make. The most important decision is probably whether to consult a doctor or to manage one's acne without medical involvement. There are advantages and disadvantages to each option, which are given detailed consideration in the sections on the acne treated by doctors and home acne treatment respectively. The choice between medical consultation and at home acne treatment is not an irrevocable one - if you decide to self-manage your acne treatment initially, you can always consult a doctor at a later date, if you develop anxieties about your acne, your condition deteriorates, or you lose confidence in home treatment. On the other hand, 'divorcing' your doctor is not a step to be taken lightly, but you have a right to seek a second opinion or to manage your acne treatment yourself, if you lose confidence in your doctor during the course of your treatment. It's also worth emphasising that medical and home treatments for acne may involve exactly the same acne treatment regime, using the same topical acne medication and the same acne skin care products. The difference lies in who is in control of managing your acne treatment, you or your doctor. If you take the route of consulting a doctor about your acne, you may not have all that much say in the other important acne treatment choices, which start with a choice between medically recognised acne treatments and acne alternative treatments, followed by a decision as to which specific acne treatment or acne treatment product to use.
