Dear Doctor
Acne! Please help! I don’t know what to do… Any product would help!
Dear Patient
Forehead Inflammatory Acne Treatment
1. Forehead inflammatory acne skin care
a. Keep your hair off your forehead.
b. Use non-greasy products on your hair.
c. If you also have a greasy scalp, shampoo your hair often. The frequency depends on the oiliness and can be as often as on alternate days.
d. If you wear hats and caps ensure that they have a soft, cotton lining to reduce the risk of developing mechanical acne on your forehead.
e. Shower immediately after engaging in sporting activities in which you perspire to reduce the risk of the pores clogging.
2. Use an antiseptic wash twice a day
Use an antiseptic wash like Clean and Clear Acne Cleanser which contains 10% benzoyl peroxide to wash your face twice a day.
Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) treats acne by preventing the dead skin cells from clogging skin pores and killing the acne causing bacteria P. acnes.
I can’t tell if the white hair I see on the photo is age related or due to other causes but its good for you to know that BPO can bleach the hair.
Other side effects of BPO include dryness, burning, itching, redness and peeling of the skin. It makes the skin more sensitive to sunlight and thus you should use apply a non-comedogenic sunscreen (means it won’t clog skin pores and cause breakout) every day. A good example is EltaMD SPF 46 Sunscreen.
2. Apply an acne treatment moisturizer in the morning
Apply an oil-free moisturizer that contains ingredients like salicylic acid to your face after washing it in the morning. A good example is Clean and Clear Oil-free Moisturizer
3. Apply a retinoid at night
Get a prescription of a retinoid like tretinoin (Retin-A) or adapalene (Differin)that you can apply to your face at night after cleansing.
Retinoids increase the turnover of skin cells and unclog skin pores. They also reduce sebum production. Common side effects include irritation and stinging. They are not to be used during pregnancy as they increase the risk of birth defects. They can also cause a flare-up of the acne after using them for around 2-3 weeks once they unclog the pores and drain their contents.
4. Take tetracyclines by mouth
Get a prescription for a 2 to 6 month course of tetracycline antibiotics like doxycycline or minocycline since they reduce inflammation and the population of the bacteria P. acnes.
These tetracycline antibiotics should be taken before meals and they should not be combined with drinking milk.
If you are not immediately able to get these prescription medications I would suggest that you try using the Proactive Solution Acne Treatment Kit. The products in this kit contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and sulfur which are used to clear acne.
Adopt an Acne Free Lifestyle
Adopting an acne free lifestyle is very important because it can prevent the recurrence of pimples and the formation of new acne marks. To do this you can do the following:
*Join a smoking cessation program if you smoke cigarettes
*Eat vitamin A rich foods like dark green leafy vegetables
*Avoid sugary foods like cakes and eat low glycemic index foods like whole grain bread. To learn more read How to Treat Acne at Home.
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