Treating And Preventing Acne
By Elizabeth McGee, Thu Dec 8th
Acne is a common skin condition that almost everyone experiencesat some point in their lives. While it is most common in teens and young adults, over 80%experience at least some mild form of acne. Most people outgrowtheir acne by their 20's, however, some people, especially womencan experience outbreaks in their 40's. Acne typically occurs on the face but is known to also occur onthe neck, chest, shoulders or back. It shows up in the form ofpimples, generally known as whiteheads or blackheads. Large,deep pimples are known as cystic lesions. These are painfullesions in the pores which can lead to scarring.
Elevated hormone levels, typically caused during puberty,simulate sebaceous glands which produces sebum (or oil). Sebumcombines with dead skin cells forming a plug in the skin'spores. Whiteheads and blackheads are clogged pores. Cysticlesions on the other hand, are when bacteria grows under theclogged pores with the mixture of sebum and cells. This mixturecan spread causing inflammation, redness and pus. Acne Treatments While there is no cure for acne, there are anumber of treatments used to reduce or eliminate outbreaks andhopefully prevent scarring. - Benzoyl peroxide lotions oftencontrol mild acne and help in preventing new outbreaks. If thesetreatments do not work, a doctor can prescribe topicalantibiotics to help kill the bacteria. - Moderate to severe acne can often be controlled by combiningtopical benzoyl peroxide along with oral antibiotics. Thecombination has an increased effectiveness while decreasing therisk of developing bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. - Acne with large painful cystic lesions might require aprescription treatment of topical
retinoid (vitamin A). - Recently, light wave therapy which has been federallyapproved, uses a narrow-band, high intensity blue light to treatmild to moderate acne. It is primarily used for conditions thathave not responded to other treatments. - Acne Prevention It's difficult, at best, to prevent acne butthere are several things you can do at home to keep it fromgetting worse. - Gently wash your face every day. Take care not to scrub toohard or use scrubbing materials. Harsh scrubs can scratch yourpores making acne worse. Also do not wash too often. Once ortwice a day is generally sufficient. -Avoid excessive sweating. Sweating can be hard to avoid,however wash soon after participating in activities that causeyou to sweat. - Wash your hair often if you hair is oily. Also try to keep itoff your face as much as possible. - Avoid hair care products such as gels, mousses, cream rinsesor hair products that contain lots of oils. These can actuallymake your acne worse. - Use cosmetic products labeled noncomedogenic or oil-free. alsoavoid shimmering facial colors. These can contain a flakymineral called mica that can cause skin irritations and clogyour pores. - Use Sunscreens. Always use a sunscreen. The sun is never goodfor your skin. - Natural remedies are often great places to start followed by agood, healthy diet. Your skin is your body's largest organ. Ifwhat you eat is good for your body, it will be good for yourskin. If acne persists and you are plagued by painful cystic lesions,it's best to consult your physician. About the author:Elizabeth is a enthusiast who reviews quality fine products and researches serious skincare practices. Visit Elizabeth athttp://www.fine-skin-care-products.com |
