There are many forums dealing with acne problems that you can
enter on the Internet. But it is wise to be specific in what you
are trying to find online before going into a forum.
For example, are you checking out the different kinds of treatment
available? Would you like to compare symptoms with other patients?
Are you trying to find data on the various tests done for acne or
the causes and/or risk factors behind the problem? The topics can
be endless.
If you suffer from acne and have found a specific treatment or
medication to have worked for you, you might want to post the
results on a message board. Or maybe someone has the right answer
to one of your many questions. It is just a matter of finding the
right thread of conversation to join or read.
But remember, this is the Internet and anyone who has anything to
say can post anything they want. There are a lot of smart alecks
out there. So it is prudent to take any advice found on a thread
with a grain of salt.
When selecting an acne treatment plan to follow from a thread, it
is vital that you determine your goals for your therapy. Among
others, you should aim to have your face rid of acne with scarring
eliminated. Also, you should aim to learn to manage the
psychological impact of being an acne patient.
You must consider the following factors as well before following
an acne treatment plan:
1. What is your skin type? This ranges from oily to dry.
2. Think about using a solution or gel for use on very oily
skin.
3. Select lotions or creams for very dry skin.
4. Should an additional topical be applied to a patient?s
skin, one should be applied in the morning and another at night.
5. Should multiple agents be applied, these should come from
different classes.
6. Treatment should be adapted for the idiosyncracies of each
patient to improve adherence.
There is no available cure for acne. All you can hope for is to
keep it under control through the different treatments and
treatment combinations that are now available. Anyone who tells
you otherwise is out to fool you.
For some people, keeping their acne under control and preventing
breakouts will be a given throughout their life. For others, acne
is only prevalent during their teen and young adult lives. It can
be influenced by genetics, the environment, diet, lifestyle, and
the products that you use on your face.
However, bear in mind that no matter what kind of advice you
receive from an acne forum, and regardless of how bad your acne
problem actually is, there is no substitute for examination and
prescription by a dermatologist. Only a certified dermatologist
can actually say which treatment is advisable for you and what the
duration of treatment should be. Following a stranger?s advice on
an acne forum to the letter without a doctor?s assistance is
foolish, to say the least.
