Say Goodbye to Acne

No matter what you call it, nearly everyone has had to deal with acne breakouts at least one time in their life. For some women, dealing with acne is a daily struggle; however, even if you only have to deal with the occasional eruption, acne can be a painful experience.

Many different factors are considered by researchers to be the cause of acne, but a specific cause is still unknown. Factors such as increased hormones, heredity and even the use of some medications have all been attributed to triggering breakouts. In the case of women, it is often the changing levels of hormones in the 2 to 7 days prior to the beginning of a menstrual period that will trigger or worsen an acne flare-up. This combined with skin irritation (caused by rubbing, squeezing or picking at blemishes), pressure from tight clothing (in the case of body acne), pollution, and hard scrubbing can cause acne to worsen.

While dermatologists generally treat moderate to severe cases of acne, it is possible to treat a mild acne flare-up at home. Over the counter treatments that contain such compounds as benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur are often used to treat acne, but each works a little differently. When using over the counter acne treatments, always be aware of possible side effects such as skin irritation, burning or redness, which may lessen with continued use of the product. If symptoms persist or worsen, consult your dermatologist. You may need to consult a dermatologist to see which treatment type is best for your skin type, acne type and cycle of breakouts. Your doctor may also recommend a prescription medication to help control breakouts. This group of treatments include antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin, adapalene and azelaic acid. With all treatments, either over the counter or prescription, products may have to be used for 8 weeks or more before results are visible.

For women, a dermatologist may be able to determine whether acne is related to environment (factors such as pollution and skin irritation) or normal hormonal fluctuation. Medications such as low-dose birth control pills, corticosteroid drugs, and antiandrogen drugs may help control hormone-related acne flare-ups. The use of these types of drugs must be considered carefully, as side effects may vary greatly from person to person and sometimes include irregular menstruation, tender breasts, headache and fatigue.

The first step in any acne treatment should be prevention. By adopting a daily cleansing routine, acne breakouts can be greatly reduced. All skin types can follow these simple steps to help stop acne before it starts:

Clean Skin Gently. Using a mild cleanser twice a day and after strenuous exercise to gently clean the skin can help to reduce the chance of an acne flare-up. Using strong detergents or rough scrubbing pads may seem like the correct way to get a thorough cleaning, but these types of cleansers may actually worsen a breakout. Clean the face from under the jaw line to the hairline; use astringent only if the skin is excessively oily, and only on oily patches.

Avoid Touching the Skin. Squeezing or picking at acne blemishes raises the risk of developing scars or skin discoloration.

Avoid Excessive Sun Exposure. Women have long believed that allowing acne to “get some sun” can help in the healing process by drying out excess oil near the lesion. These benefits are only temporary, and medications to help with acne breakouts often react badly to sun exposure, making the skin more likely to burn.

Choose Cosmetics Wisely. Cosmetics that are noncomedogenic may help in preventing acne flare-ups, and all cosmetic products (including moisturizers, eye shadows and blushes) should be oil-free to help stop acne before it starts.

Treating acne breakouts can range from quick fixes to long-term regimens for skin care set by a dermatologist. With good skin care, acne can be controlled or prevented. Finding the right acne treatment may take time, as women have varying skin types and sensitivities; but with proper skin care and proper treatment of acne, every woman can have beautiful, glowing skin

When an individual is looking for an acne remedy, it is fairly common to progress through the available home acne treatment before moving up to more specialized options. Even if the remedies are carried out at home, the acne sufferer should consult with a dermatologist for diagnosis and a recommended course of treatment before commencing. Not all blemishes are acne, and only the dermatologist can identify the cause and preferred treatment options for the condition. Under the doctor’s care, some or all of the home treatments for acne are certain to assist in improving the appearance of the skin and preventing return of the eruptions.

Salicylic acid cleanser

A salicylic acid cleanser is an important component in an acne remedy.  You can use this product as part of a program that includes cleansing of the skin.  Using salicylic acid as a cleansing agent.  You can find these products by checking the label.  Salicylic acid is chemically related to and reacts similarly to the effective compounds found in aspirin. The ingredient is found as part of the inner bark of the willow tree.  It is found in many skin care products.  It works by causing the skin cells to shed off more readily so that the pores don’t clog.  This allows the new cells to have room to grow.

Avoid scrubbing

Acne blemishes do not require rough scrubbing of the skin in order to reduce the size and number of imperfections.  In fact, scrubbing irritates the outer layer of the skin even further and may lead to open lesions which lead to infection. Contrary to popular belief, scrubbing does not break up the bacteria and sebum pockets in and around the follicle. The best acne treatment to reduce the size of the lesions and the frequency of them is to treat with topical creams and lotions containing vitamin A based products. Acne is not a disease caused by dirt

Use a mild soap

Cleansing of acne challenged skin is important even though just cleansing the skin won’t provide a complete acne remedy for the person fighting for clear skin. Try wetting your face with warm water and then using a mild soap to gently work up a lather.  A light circular motion with the tips of the fingers will provide cleansing plus a mild massage.  Stimulation of the blood flow to the area will help to fight the bacteria as well. Be sure to rinse all remnants of the soap from the skin in order to prevent drying.

Smooth on benzoyl peroxide lotion

The final step in the acne remedy during the home acne treatment is to smooth on benzoyl peroxide lotion.  The lotion is great for moisturizing the skin without that greasy feeling that is so unpleasant. The benzoyl peroxide lotion continues to fight the growth of bacteria on your skin throughout the entire day. The softening qualities of the lotion help to reduce that tight and painful feeling of the skin while fighting the bacteria that are a contributing factor to acne.

By: Ingrid Lihan

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