W hen dealing with the phenomen of pimples it is usually youth pimples that comes to mind. Youth pimples stands out from pimples in grown ups in that the latter variant is more likely to be accompanied by seborrheic (greasy) skin. On the other hand is it less often that the problem first arise after the individual is grown up. Adults is considered to respond better to treatment with antibiotics (teracyclines/penicillin) than what youths does. In both cases the inflammations certainly decrease, but they usually come back fast in youths after finished course of treatment. A state of numerous pimples is called acne. The emergance of acne has its reasons in the production of tallow in the skin on one hand, but also due to the fact that the openings of the surface of the skin of the sebaceous glands is stopped up, usually by horn cells (skin cells). The preliminary stage of a pimple is the comedone. (a so-called blackhead. Divided into "whiteheads" and "blackheads" it is usually said that the white ones is the most dangerous.) Far from all comedons is possible to see with the naked eye. In addition to the large comedons is there small rascals, as well, which is called micro comedons.

I n the old days it was common to treat acne with sulphur preparations. This leads in the short term to a desiccation of the skin, after which the proportions of the inflammations seems to decrease. However, the obstruction of the sebaucous glands is increased so that more micro comedons occur. In the long term the acne returns with a vengeance.That is why sulphur preparations is preferably used in combination with other preparations nowadays.

T he most common preparations on the market contains benzoyl peroxid or salicyl acid. Benzoyl peroxid works in a germicidal and deobstructing way, but stimulates renewal of cells in the horn layer of the skin. Salicyl acid is deobstructing and germicidal. However, it is uncertain whether it is effective in the frequently used concentrations.

A -vitamine acid preparats that is common at drug stores, like Aberela, is available on prescription only (Sweden). Otherwise is a-vitamine acid the presumably most effective common prescription ingredient in salves and suchlike things. The one who searches can find salves and creams with a-vitamine acid or a derivative from a-vitamine in the free supplies of the shops. The concentrations may then be significantly higher than the for the drug store salve usual 0,05 per cent. The risk with a-vitamine acid is that skin irritation may occur, especially in connection with sun-bathing. Very often the skin needs to get used to the salve through an initially escalated treatment. A-vitamine acid must not be used in connection with pregnancy!

E very once in a while you hear that so-called tea tree oil is supposed to be just as effective against acne as benzoyl peroxid. Perhaps, and especially when the skin is washed in an aromatherapy. To let concentrated tea tree oil sink into the skin without accompanying washing irritates it with likely undesired effects such as increased secretion of tallow etc. as a result. In an aromatherapy can concentrated oil be effective, especially together with a-vitamine acid preparats.

S alves with a-vitamine and salves with benzoyl peroxid should not be applied to the skin together. The benzoyl peroxid oxidates the a-vitamine and makes it ineffective. Benz oylperoxid should be used separately on the whole. Yet does it work perfectly well to alternate between benzoyl peroxid and a-vitamine acid, for example, between night and day or the like.

S un-bathing and ultra-violet radiation have a favourable effect on acne, at least temporally. All preparats should be washed off where the skin is exposed to radiation.

T he current recommendations advice the affected to avoid foods that seem to make the acne worse. In spite of the fact that no scientific examinations have been made to support the importance of food is it, however,unquestionable that food do play an important role. Milk products and iodic foods constitutes classic risk factors. Fat foods and choclet may be of subordinated importance by themselves. However, the risks are accentuated by other risk food that is consumed together with these. Deep cleansing of the skin affects the condition in a positive way by decreasing the amount of stagnant material in the skin, in which infection can occur. Note that only "silent" comedons may be driven out with mechanical influence. Inflamed pimples should not be touched as the bacterial material can spread between sebaucous glands and depth-wise, as well. A visit at a cosmetologist can be a good idea for a proper treatment , even if those surely will charge a criminal amount of money for the service.

I n more serious cases of acne can a-vitamine be used as well as antibiotics for internal treatment. This should take place under the supervision of a responsible skin doctor. A-vitamine is toxic in large quantities. Especially noticeable is its foetus-damaging effects, in particular if any lack of essential nutriments seems to exist.

   Kåre Andersson