Say Goodbye to Acne

Acne and blemishes affect a person’s quality of life more than we would like to admit. Parents hope and pray that their teens won’t be plagued by these problems, adolescents who have problem skin can’t help being stressed about it, and the scars from difficult cases can last a lifetime. No one likes acne.

So what can be done about acne and blemishes? Blemishes may be upsetting for a young lass on the morning of her prom when she wakes up with a zit on her otherwise perfect face. But these can be treated topically with ease and covered up before she slips on her stunning gown. Most of the products sold over the counter in drug stores work better in clearing up blemishes than with more severe forms of acne. (Americans spend well over $100 million on over-the-counter acne treatments each year.) It’s really the heavy-duty acne that causes the heartbreak.

Acne includes pimples, blocked pores (blackheads and whiteheads) and cysts and nodules that are deeper in the skin. While it occurs mostly in teenagers, adults can be plagued by it too, even into their 40s. Interestingly, young men tend to have more severe cases of acne than do young women, but it’s the women who seek help from the dermatologist to clear things up. Often for females the acne is hormonally related. Sometimes just taking birth control pills can help clear it up. Of course, the long term effects of taking birth control pills are really unknown, so it’s a good idea to check think carefully about the possible side effects before you use birth control to clear up acne and blemishes.

Some people think that acne and blemishes are caused by poor hygiene, but this is not the case. And often, washing more frequently just exacerbates the problem, causing your oil producing glands to work harder, producing even more oil than your skin can handle. Also, if you wash too vigorously, thinking this will help, it will do the opposite. It will irritate your skin, compounding the problem.

Some people say that acne is caused by diet. Mainstream medicine says this is hogwash for the most part. But M.D.s, dermatologists included, have minimal training in nutrition for maintaining health. They’re trained in treating disease. People who have studied lternative healing modalities say that diet can be a big factor in whether you get blemishes and acne, and it can be a big factor in clearing up the skin. The link between diet and skin problems is something that will be further explored as time goes on, and more information is likely to be available on just how much our diet plays a role in our skin’s health.

By: Keith Londrie

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Have you ever seen celebrities strutting the red carpet with a face blemished with acne? I would say not a chance. If there is something that celebrities are concerned about, that is their face. They spend thousands of dollars caring for their skin. After all it is their biggest investment.

Having beautiful radiant skin means less make-up. This also means the director does not have to worry angling the camera so as not to make La Lohans zit too obvious. Celebrities with zits mean more oops snapshots from paparazzi for their collection of celebrities at their worst album.

Caring for the skin does not necessarily mean spending half your salary for facial care products. Skin care and acne treatment simply need discipline. This includes a daily home routine in cleansing the skin, applying toner, treating acne and blemishes and moisturizing, strictly in that order. This ritual is a tried and tested process in caring for the skin. In fact, if you buy skin care products they always come with a brochure to guide people on how to properly maintain the habit.

Acne treatment products depend on the severity of acne in the facial skin. This could range from mild, moderate to severe. The most common ingredient found among acne treatment products are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid is a mild acid that works to treat acne by breaking down the scale that causes clogging of the hair follicles. This is a proven safe and effective way of getting rid of mild acne. Salicylic acid encourages exfoliation of excess dead skin cells. It also increases cell turnover and helps reestablish the normal skin cell replacement cycle. Likewise, this does not have any effect on the production of sebum or the presence of p. acne bacteria which is the pimple causing bacteria. Just do not overdo and overuse this since it might sting and you are your skin. Remember that this is an exfoliating agent which might cause your skin to peel and flake.

Benzoyl peroxide on the other hand, works by introducing oxygen into the pore thereby killing the p.acne pimple causing bacteria. The p.acne bacteria cannot live in an aerobic or oxygen rich environment. Normally, you can start with a 2.5% strength gel or solution. Although there are higher percentages available, it might cause skin irritation. Hence, using facial products with benzoyl peroxide decreases the chances of getting zits and pimples.

Another myth about acne treatment is frequent face washing. No person should ever do this. Over washing of the face causes your skin to dry. When this happens the sebaceous glands will work double time in order to replace the loss of natural oil in the skin which means your skin will be oily again. If possible choose a mild cleanser for the face. This prevents the unending cycle of excessive production of sebum.

Contrary to popular belief, adulthood does not guarantee acne free skin. Skin acne is also common among adults who have fluctuating hormones which activates the production of much oil and will eventually clog skin pores thus encouraging the growth of pimples and zits. This is the simplest explanation for hormonal acne.

By: Matthew Stanton

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