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Back acne
Cystic acne
Treating body acne
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Acne in adults
Myths of acne kits
Acne curing diet
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Signs of adult acne
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I
have always been camera-shy, which went hand-in-hand with my biggest fear
that I would wake up on the morning of a big event with a huge zit
dominating my face. No one wants their acne immortalized in photos! I made
it through my graduation photos okay, and I had clear enough skin for the
big grad party, but there have been several occasions since then when I
was not so lucky. There are many different types of acne, and while none
of them are particularly pleasant, some can actually be quite easy to
cover with makeup. Whiteheads and blackheads are two types of
non-inflammatory acne that generally aren't noticeable from a few feet
away. Even pustules, which are larger and more inflamed, can be hidden
with skillful makeup application. But what if the inflammation goes
deeper? Is there anything that can be done for papules or cysts to make
them less noticeable? Cortisone is a steroid hormone that, along with
adrenaline, is released from the adrenal glands when the body experiences
stress. Cortisone has many functions, including maintaining steady blood
pressure, but one of the most important roles of cortisone is its ability
to decrease inflammation through suppression of the immune system. For
this reason, cortisone is used in the treatment of shoulder bursitis,
arthritis, lupus, severe asthma, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and
several sports injuries involving ligaments and tendons. When used as a
medication for the human body, synthetic cortisone can come in a few
different mediums, but the primary form is as an injection, either locally
or systemically. It is as a dilute intraregional injection that cortisone
is used in acne medication.
Acne becomes red and irritated when bacteria within a clogged pore
begin to reproduce. This irritates the cells around the pore, and triggers
an immune reaction. Cortisone can help an acne lesion by stifling this
immune reaction. Once injected into a papule or cyst, there is an
immediate reduction in redness and inflammation. As the inflammation
decreases, the pain disappears, and the pimple itself flattens out so that
it is more easily camouflaged by makeup. All this generally happens within
24 hours of the injection. As a further bonus, cortisone is thought to
help pimples heal more quickly by preventing the buildup of scar tissue
underneath the blemish.
So long as cortisone is injected in a very dilute form, there are
minimal side-effects. One of the more serious consequences of injecting
too much cortisone into the lesion is skin atrophy. This is where the skin
actually shrinks, leaving a superficial indentation where the blemish had
been. It often heals itself, but if the atrophy seems permanent, there are
procedures that can be done to elevate the atrophied area so that it is
even with the surrounding skin. Another side-effect is a lightening of
skin color at the site of the injection. There are limited suggestions for
how to counter this particular side-effect, but a dermatologist would be
able to give you more information.
If faced with a growing acne lesion a few days before an important
event, it sounds like a cortisone injection could be an ideal way to
minimize the pimple quickly and effectively. Another plus is that the
procedure is reportedly fairly quick, and can sometimes even be performed
last-minute, without a pre-booked appointment. If you think this might be
a route you'll consider in the future, it might be worth talking to your
dermatologist now, before you're in a rush and stressed about acne ruining
your big day. In the meantime, keep that skin care regimen going, and
maybe cortisone won't even be necessary!
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