Kid’s Acne Problem and “Pizza Face” Teasing Led Him to Murder?
Maybe some of you remember this story from back in 2003 out of Colorado. A then 14 year old kid who had severe problems with acne killed two of his classmates with a 22 caliber pistol, in retaliation for teasing from one of the victims in particular about his severe acne problem.
The defense team for the kid who is now 17 years old and his name is Jason McLaughlin said that his shooting and murdering of the two classmates was particularly targeted at one of the kids who teased him relentlessly about his acne, and the other kid was just basically an innocent bystander.
The defense and Jason’s mother have contended that he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, and this only worsened his “victim” complex and lead to the shootings of his young classmates. I’m sure this young man was deeply disturbed to even contemplate actually taking a life over being teased about his skin, but this does go to show the societal impact of having acne, and the impact it has on one’s self esteem, especially when you are teased about it or gawked at if you have severe acne.
In this case it was probably just an added effect and precursor to teasing, but many times young teens are profoundly affected on a psychological and emotional level by merely having severe acne, let alone getting bullied over it.
This is why I think it is so important that parents of teens with severe acne realize how important it is to the kid to have clear skin and pursue some of the best acne treatment available today to ensure the kid’s mental health and happiness.
Their school career could be greatly influenced by it, unfortunately, and in this exaggerated case, two parents lost two treasured kids, albeit acne was not the primary culprit here. Jason McLaughlin will be going to prison for life and will most likely not even be eligible for parole for 40 years.
Related posts: Change in School’s Food Offerings Cut Down Teen Acne? Accutane Patient Kills Girlfriend, Asks If He Can Be Held Liable Frankie Muniz “Had” Acne Dermatologist Killed Over Acne Prescription? Halloween Sweets and Your Face
Spironolactone for Acne Treatment
The first time I saw the name “Spironolactone”, I definitely did not think of it as an acne treatment, let alone a medication, but it is indeed a medication that is used to treat acne, just like antibiotics, topical dermatological creams, and the ever so controversial isotretinoin (Accutane).
Spironolactone is actually a somewhat serious acne medication, as it is actually a synthetic steroid. Because of it’s androgen inhibiting abilities (this means it inhibits androgens, male hormones), it is really only used in adult women with acne, since excess androgen production is usually a prime cause for female acne, and many times it is used in conjunction with a birth control pill to treat female acne.
This acne medication is usually used once or twice a day, in the morning one pill is taken, and sometimes a second pill is taken in the evening, depending on the course of treatment decided on by the dermatologist and the severity of the patient’s acne.
Side effects of Spironolactone can range from irregular periods to fatigue and breast tenderness - mostly typical side effects of hormonal interference. Other maladies that are treated with this medication are high blood pressure and interfering puberty that is severe.
You may want to check out some of the best natural acne treatments first before taking on a treatment like this, since it does have some sort of unappealing side effects.
It usually takes at least two weeks to begin to really work, for whatever purpose it is intended, and some patients respond very well to acne therapy with Spironolactone combined with oral contraceptive therapy, since they complement one another and calm the hormones responsible for the acne.
Related posts: Possible New Promising Acne Drug? A New Acne Treatment on the Horizon? Murad Spot Acne Treatment Review When is the Next Big Acne Medication Coming Out? How Many Folks Ask Dermatologists About Natural Options?
Corticosteroid Injections for Cystic Acne
Some large, cystic acne postules simply cannot be treated by medication, and need to be physically interfered with so that they may drain properly or “dry up” and not cause severe scarring and pitting.
One of the methods for helping to get rid of a large acne cyst is a corticosteroid injection directly into the infected area, which almost instantly makes the large cyst go down by promoting fast healing and helping to completely get rid of the fluid and infected buildup.
Large cystic acne is the kind that you might get once in a while, or if you’re less lucky, you might get them all the time. They are large inflammations underneath the skin that cause a large bump in the infected area and are often painful. They need a special acne treatment to clear pores up usually.
They are only really visible because of their protrusion, but sometimes they also cause a redness in the swollen area which makes them a little more conspicuous.
The dermatologist may choose to perform a sort of “surgery” on the acne comedone also and will actually excise ( open up) and extract the infected cyst surgically in sanitary conditions, so that it does not get further infected. The yucky stuff is then extracted professionally, and you should end up with a fairly neat looking entrance wound which will heal a lot quicker than the cyst would have on its own.
Sometimes I will have a large cyst on my chin, and I do think about going and getting a corticosteroid injection, but then I think of the cost and usually don’t. Sometimes they just go away on their own inexplicably, and sometims they emerge into a zit that’s larger than life! BTW, the “technical name” for these acne cyst injections is “Interlesional Corticosteroid Injection”.
Related posts: Cystic Acne Cystic Acne : What It Is Chemical Peel and Microderm Combo Cystic Acne Requires More Serious Treatments Why Acne Scars Happen
Caucasians Have More Acne than Other Races?
It appears that this division is a warranted one. While acne occurs in all ethnic groups, it appears that it is much more prevalent in one specific ethnic segment. Caucasian people (those of “white” descent) have much more occurrence of the acne skin condition than those of say, African American or Asian descent. Why would this be?
Unfortunately there is no concrete explanation for the frequency of acne in caucasians, but it is likely just a genetic specific that is passed on through generations, or perhaps a tendency that the caucasian community has, such as dietary or lifestyle wise, that may contribute more to acne.
Or perhaps it is the chemical makeup of caucasian skin, and this is just a genetic weakness, so to speak. Whatever the cause, the treatments for acne remain the same across all ethinic and racial groups. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide still remain the most popular and widely used OTC acne treatment products for all races, and it works the same on all ethnicities.
Or, some of the best natural acne treatments that are available today are appropriate for all types of ethnic skin as well, as they are all geared toward “TLC” care for acne prone skin, which can many times be delicate and needs to be handled a bit differently than other skin types.
There may be some small variations in skin care, since tendencies tend to differ slightly in oiliness, skin tone and texture between different ethnicities. Those tendencies would be accounted for in the skin care routines in small adjustments, say like a more moisturizing cleanser, or a heavier moisturizer, or lighter one, based on the dryness or oiliness of the person’s skin.
Related posts: No related posts
“Smokers Skin”
You know, my mother, who is now 54 years old, stopped smoking about one and a half years ago. I’m really proud of her, because she had smoked about a half pack a day since she was 16 years old, so this was no easy feat. She actually will still have a cigarette here and there today, but many times will go days without even having one cigarette.
The first thing I noticed about my mom was how healthy her skin looked after she had quit smoking. She actually had a better color, more tone and instead of her skin taking on almost a “grayish” hue, her skin looked rosy, like it was glowing. Amazingly enough, she looked like she was at least 5 years younger in a matter of about one month after she quite smoking.
Her wrinkles were less apparent, and she didn’t even have any blotchiness going on. This brings me to the topic. Smokers skin. We all know what we’re talking about here. How you can almost always tell by looking at a person’s face, their skin, that they have been smoking for quite a few years. Many times a smoker’s skin looks somewhat sallow.
This is due to the lack of oxygen circulating in their blood and being conveyed to their skin, making their skin take on an unnatural color and palor. Not only that, but smoking has been shown to actually destroy the mechanisms that create collagen, a necessary component to having youthful looking, regenerated skin. Collagen is also imperative in the repair of acne scarring.
Also, it is due to increased toxins and free radicals, the destroyers of healthy regenerative skin cells, floating around in their blood streams, being delivered to the outer layers of skin, and wreaking havoc on the healthy glow that skin should have when it is healthy.
How might smoking affect those with acne? Well, those with acne, or even with a past problem with acne (acne scarring), will be greatly set back by smoking, since it hinders the skin’s ability to heal itself.
This means you may scar more easily, and that the smoking itself may even lead to more acne breakouts, since smoking is a stimulant that makes some nervous, and can contribute to the stress and anxiety that can many times trigger acne breakouts in both men and women.
In short, if you are a smoker, and you have either acne or aging skin, it would be in your skin’s best interst to QUIT. Your skin will look better for much longer, and no one can tell you’re a smoker in twenty years just by looking at your skin!
Related posts: Should You Go on the Pill Just to Help Treat Your Acne? On the Pill for Acne? Be Sure to Disclose if You Smoke…
Blackheads on Your Nose : What Can You Do?
I think everyone - even people with the most beautiful, pristine skin in the world, have blackheads on or around their nose. Heck, my boyfriend and I both have tiny blackheads on our noses which just tend to look like bigger pores. Is there anything that you can do to get rid of these nose blackheads, or are they just there for good?
Well, you can go get a professional, comprehensive “corrective” facial and request to have all of the blackheads on your nose extracted. There is no guarantee that even a versed aesthetist will be able to extract your blackheads on your nose though, especially since some blackheads are especially stubborn and will not come out.
You can also try to perform the delicate blackhead extractions yourself, but this may not be a good idea, since you can actually end up with infected or inflamed pores (or both) and also since you may end up with a permanently open, red looking pore if you don’t do it just right. You may end with more acne scarring, and that’s definitely not what anyone wants.
I know this from experience. I used one of those Biore pore strips on a particular blackhead on my nose, and now am still suffering from an open pore that just looks like a small red scar. I removed the blackhead with a Biore pores strip about two years ago, and you can still see the red dot. It doesn’t look good, and I’m sorry I did it!
Another thing you can do to at least lessen the appearance of blackheads on the nose, and help to loosen them so they are more easily extracted, as well as prevent further blackheads, is to use a home microdermabrasion kit, or to go get professional microdermabasion done.
Using a toner, or an astringent, after you wash you face at night may help, since it seals the pores up, leading to clear pores as well as sealing off any dirt or sebum from blocking the pore, lessening the likelihood of more blackheads from forming.
Be careful with astringents though, and I would say only use them at night, because they can cause excessive drying since they are mostly alcohol based when used too often or too agressively.
Related posts: Blackhead Extractions At Home Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Line Review Neutrogena Blackhead Line Neutrogena Warming Blackhead Cleanser Hardens Up Phew, It’s Just a Comedone
Acne Scarring Question
I got this email question from a reader who has acne scarring and would like to know more about the Zenmed scarring treatment kit.
Question :
Hi -
It’s been some months since I last emailed you inquiring about the Zenmed Scar Treatment System, asking about the product’s benefits and success in minimizing pock marks and pitting from acne scarring. At that time I believe you were just starting out using it. I was wondering what your comments and findings are now. I’m contemplating purchasing the product(s), but I just wanted to check in with you & see how you faired with it. Any comments or observations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!
Answer :
Sorry for the delay in responding. I really like the microdermabrasion complex kit, it has really smoothed out the rough areas. I’ve made sure to consistently use the products, and I even sneek in another use or two more than the recommendations, because I’m pretty anxious to get results fast, as always. I definitely think it was a worthwhile investment, and as long as you regularly use it on a schedule, I don’t see how you would not see visible results.
Related posts: Question on Acne Scarring Home Microdermabrasion : Reader Question Teen Acne Question Vicodin Breakout Question from Reader Question About Acne Scarring
Acuzine Now Acnezine?
That’s right, one of the most popular herbal supplements for acne healing and treatment, formerly called “Acuzine” is now called Acnezine. This may have caused some confusion amongst those who may have heard of the Acuzine product, but then could only find information online about a new product called “Acnezine“, so I figured I’d clarify for those people!
It’s the same formula, just a different name! Acnezine is an all natural acne healing supplement that works by showering your skin with antioxidant power from the inside, and also helps to minimize the agents that cause acne internally.
For a full review of this product see Acnezine Review
Related posts: Acnezine Email Received Acnezine Review Acnezine Question Acnezine Reader Question Nutritional Supplements for Acne
Lemon Water : I Think It’s Helping My Skin
OK, this may be the last post on lemon water I do, since I know I’ve posted about the possible health and skin benefits of drinking freshed squeezed lemon slices in your water that you drink.
I’ve been drinking lemon in my water now for about 2 weeks, and I can definitely say I’ve noticed a benefit in the improved tone and texture of my skin.
I’m not so sure it would actually keep acne at bay, but I do think it does something for the surface of your skin and its resillience.
There has been some literature on the general benefits of drinking lemon water. Lemons and limes both contain properties that actually make your body less “acidic”, even though that seems like a contradiction, since the actual pH of a lemon or lime when tested is on the acidic side, but in fact in your body it has the opposite effect, one called “alkalinizing”, which means it takes the acidity away.
This may have skin benefits too since low acid diets tend to lead to clearer skin and actually may also have a little bit of a good effect on hormone and chemical balance, all of which effects your skin.
You should be careful though, not to drink too much lemon juice in your water, as the acidity can actually wear away the enamel on your teeth, so use it cautiously, and be sure to brush your teeth regularly to avoid the acid sitting on your teeth too long.
Related posts: Water, with Lemon Please.. Lemon and Lime Juice for Your Skin Sugar and Lemon Facial Scrub Cheap Acne Remedies : Part II And.. More on Natural Astringents!
Exfoliation : Safe for Every Day?
Although it is typically called “safe” to gently exfoliate every day by dermatologists, I’m not so sure it’s a great idea to exfoliate every single day if you suffer from acne. If you happen to be a person who does not have acne, or only has very mild acne, then you may be safer doing this.
Exfoliation, especially the more vigorous kind, can actually aggravate acne and cause it to break open or become infected. It also can lead to further drying by scraping away the protective outer layer of skin that’s meant to keep moisture in.
So, although you may get the go ahead from professional dermatologists, keep in mind that you do not want to be overzealous in your exfoliation process. Use a gentle cloth or product that exfoliates rather than something that feels like sandpaper and leaves your face red and raw.
Also, you would probably want to only exfoliate about twice a week, or even once a week, just to keep your skin protected. It’s great for new cell turnover, but it does leave your skin a little more vulnerable to the elements if too much scrubbing takes place.
Related posts: Careful Not to Over Do It Exfoliating! Clear Pores vs. Exfoliation (and the competition) Dietary Supplements : Definition Mystic Tan Safe for Acne? Aveeno Calming Lotion for - Rosacea?

