Frequently Asked Questions
Top Q&A's About Acne
1. What is acne?
Acne vulgaris (commonly called Acne) is a genetic skin disease caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). If both parents had acne, three out of four children may have acne. Severe acne is inflammatory, but acne can also manifest in non-inflammatory forms. Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots, or zits. The typical acne lesions are comedones and inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules. Some of the large nodules are called "cysts" and the term nodulocystic has been used to describe severe cases of inflammatory acne.
2. What effect does diet have on acne?
In the past, dermatologists used to prescribe special diets with no chocolate, soda drinks or fried foods. This didn’t help much. However, a high glycemic diet (high sugar and refined carbohydrates) can be a stress on the endocrine system which may aggravate acne. A low glycemic diet which is low in refined carbohydrates is preferred.
3. If acne is a bacterial problem, why haven’t the antibiotics my doctor prescribed work?
Acne is a disease that is multifactorial. It starts out with a family predisposition for the cells to impact in the pore. Oil is produced causing more irritation in the pore, which causes the cells to stick and form the acne impactions. The bacteria in the pore are called Propionibacterium acnes. They live off of the oil and produce irritating fatty acids. This can aggravate the acne problem; however, other component of the naturally occurring oil in skin, called sebum, also aggravates the impaction. The simple use of antibiotics just takes care of one factor reducing the bacteria. It doesn’t solve the problem of increased oil or the other irritating components of the sebum. The chronic long term use of antibiotics only improves the acne complexion up to about 40-50% in some individuals. It is best to use a topical skincare program, like Vivant®’s Clear Complexion System, which releases out the acne impactions as this is the core of the problem.
4. Why do I have more acne on my back and chest than on my face?
Sometimes with severe acne the problem will go down the shoulders and onto the back. Acne on the back and chest is more difficult to treat because the pores are deeper. The skincare program needs to be aggressive and needs to cause some peeling. We suggest Vivant®’s Lactobase A®. This formulation combines lactic acid and vitamin A conditioning lotion.
5. I have been using Retin-A® for a while now, but my skin doesn’t seem to be getting better. It appears to be actually getting worse. Why is that?
When Dr. Fulton co-developed Retin-A® in 1969, it was quite an irritating formula. The more the skin peeled, the better the acne responded. However, this initial peeling phase is often misinterpreted to be a flare-up. Actually all of the acne impactions are being released. Once all the pores are clear, the acne is improved. The key is to use the gel and keep the skin visibly peeling in order to get a rapid clear-up. If there is no peeling whatsoever, your particular formulation is not working effectively on your skin. You should see at least a little peel once a week to know you are at the right therapeutic level. Also, you should see your skincare specialist during this early phase to help extract out all the acne impactions that are coming to the surface. This will help you get a more rapid result and resolution. Vivant®’s Clear Complexion System is recommended as it is not as irritating as Retin A®.
Also, if someone is considering Retin-A®, they should use the Retin-A® gel, not the cream. The Retin-A® cream contains isopropyl myristate, which is an acne aggravator and sometimes they will get worse because of the formulation in the cream.
6. My acne was clear when I was on birth control pills, but now that I am off of the pill, it has flared up again. Why is that?
Birth control pills simulate a pregnancy. During the first several months of pregnancy or of taking birth control pills, acne may flare up. During the 5th and 6th months the acne will improve because the estrogens have become dominant. However, 90 days after the birth control pills are stopped; the acne may flare up again similar to following a pregnancy. The acne may be the same as it was before the birth control pills or even worse. The difficulty with birth control pills and acne is that they are only a temporary solution that doesn’t stop the acne long-term. With that in mind, it is good to use the Vivant® Skincare Program along with birth control pills, and speed up the Vivant® Skincare Program when the pills are stopped to make sure there are no flare-ups of the acne.
7. What is acne rosacea?
Acne rosacea is a combination of acne with a skin rash. It is a unique condition causing a defect in the skin’s barrier, so the skin is easily irritated. The rosacea client must start on a mild skincare program progressing slowly to more potent formulations until the skin is clear.
8. What is a good regimen for acne rosacea?
Cleanse with Vivant®’s mild Green Tea Cleanser or for severely irritated, sensitive skin cleanse with Cleansing Milk and repair with Vivant®’s special Rejuv Rx® which contains Oligopeptides that suppress the body’s production of inflammatory prostaglandins. Within two weeks of using Rejuv Rx® the redness is suppressed and the skin’s barrier is repaired. At night use the mild Green Tea Cleanser again and, then, the vitamin A conditioning lotion, Derm-A-Gel®. Lastly, don’t forget to protect daily with Day Treatment Lotion containing sunscreen and anti-inflammatory zinc peptides.
9. After my acne cleared, I developed brown spots where the pimples once where. What should I do to get rid of the pigmentation?
You developed reactive hyperpigmentation after the acne was gone. Sometimes, the brown spots are more noticeable than the acne. If you clear up the acne with Vivant®’s skincare systems, the brown color will eventually fade. This fading can be accelerated with Vivant®’s Even Color Skincare System.
10. What exactly is Accutane® for? What are the side effects? Is there anything else that I can add to my regime to help?
Start first with a topical skincare program. This will reduce the inflammation of acne and sometimes Accutane® is not needed. Accutane® can be added later if needed to control the cysts. However, Accutane® has side effects such as dry skin, lips, and eyes. It can also aggravate headaches, hair loss, and cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Unless your acne is severe and cystic, you should avoid Accutane®. Most of the time the acne can be controlled with Vivant®’s Clear Complexion System with the help of your skincare specialist.