Acne

Info.article-on.info asked:


leviate Your Acne Problem by: Charlene J. Nuble

Acne brings huge problems to teenagers. Teenagers who have acne feel isolated, ugly, and insecure. Who wouldn’t when everywhere you look, only clear skinned people are put on the pedestal.

You tried every acne product out in the market but nothing seems to work. At this point, you feel that your social life is doomed but fret not because acne won’t stay forever if you take the proper actions early.

First step to take is to understand what acne really is and from there you can take the necessary actions in curing or at least reducing your acne problem.

Acne is the term for plugged pores (whiteheads and blackheads), pimples, and deeper lumps (nodules) that happens in the face, neck, chest, back and upper arms. Acne is caused by build up of excess oil and dead skin in a pore. The causes of this are natural hormones, clogged skin and bacteria.

The onset of acne happens between the ages of twelve to seventeen. Almost all teenagers had acne. Many of them used non-prescription treatments to alleviate acne but more than 40% of teenagers in their mid-teens have severe acne cases. Normally, it goes away in the early twenties. Then again, there are many cases wherein acne starts or continues into adulthood.

It is interesting to note though that young men who are more likely to have severe acne, don’t consult dermatologists as much as young women do. But then again, young women are more likely to have irregular acne due to hormonal changes during menstrual cycle or due to the cosmetic products they use. This kind of acne may afflict women even into adulthood.

The ultimate question now is how do you reduce acne?

Knowing the facts that debunk the myths and misconceptions about acne may help you alleviate your acne problem.

Myth 1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene.

This may be true if you don’t wash your face at all. But if you resort to frequent and vigorous washing, it will definitely cause scarring which will worsen acne. The best approach is to gently wash face twice a day with mild soap and use appropriate acne treatment after.

Myth 2: Acne is caused by diet.

Scientific studies debunked this having found that there is no connection between food and acne.

Myth 3: Acne is caused by stress.

Stressors are not important factors in acne. Only severe stress that needs medication can cause acne as side effects.

Myth 4: Acne is just a cosmetic disease.

Acne does affect how people look but there’s no serious threat to physical health. However, acne can result to serious scarring which can affect how these people live their lives.

Myth 5: You just have to let acne run its course.

The truth is, acne can be cleared up using acne products available in the market today. If they don’t work for you, then try seeing a dermatologist.

According to Thiboutot (2000), cure of acne lies in knowing three things:

* That resolution to cure acne takes time;

* That what works for one may not work for another;

* and that a dermatologist’s help may be needed if all actions you take to cure your acne fail.

Remember that acne responds well to early treatment. So to prevent scarring have your acne treated as soon as acne starts showing up on your face.

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Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR’S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

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©Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about acne, please go to: http://acne.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/



PAUL

Mike Walden asked:


The “vitamins for acne industry” has reached such stellar heights in the United States today that I consider it to be my duty as a lifelong research worker to shed some light on the subject. It took me 7 long years to gather this knowledge.

To be honest about it, no vitamin for acne supplement can single handedly cure your acne irrespective of whether they consist of b5 overdose therapy, vitamin A or zinc or any that you may think of. The only sensible way out of this debacle is to go through this small treatise till you know how things stand. In the mean time, stay rest assured that downing a few vitamin pills every morning to get rid of your acne is as far fetched as getting an online ticket to the moon today and landing there next day. It is simply not that easy, my boy!

This need not necessarily mean that I am discouraging you to take this option to become free of acne. It is, nevertheless, true that some vitamins and minerals have properties that play crucial roles in the process of curing acne naturally. Also, if taken in the right proportion synergistically, vitamins can prove fairly effective in helping the system to clean itself of biological debris faster than prescription medications. They also help restore the long lost hormonal balance, bringing back the healing process of your skin much more rapidly than any other known resources.

Also, it is never safe to become your own doctor and start taking vitamin pills that you may think are suitable for you because such steps could lead you to some non-reversible side effects that are scarier than the acne. And the effects an overdose of wrong vitamins could be simply lethal. Go visit a qualified doctor, instead; let him examine your pathology and prescribe the right vitamin for you. All you have to do is to take those vitamins strictly as per his advice.

Despite the fact that this discourse is solely devoted to the issue of “vitamin for acne” I have a mind to discuss here the true relationship about the vitamin for acne supplement and the natural holistic method that cures acne naturally for good.

Vitamins for Acne: vis-a-vis their interrelationship with each other

Acne, as we know, is caused by a host of internal as well as external factors of which hormonal imbalance in the body and toxic build-up in the blood and lymph glands are of paramount importance. Since no vitamin supplement can tackle both the issues in its singular capacity, it, nevertheless, can help the body in releasing most of the toxicity and thus become internally cleaner. And the body sans all the biological debris can commence restoration of the skin more efficiently.

Yes it is true that there are some vitamins for acne that supply the nutrients that can regulate the hormones. In their absence, there is bound to be an imbalance in the hormone levels, and this naturally will lead to the formation of acne.

Studies have proved that most acne sufferers are deficient with those nutrients where the supplements can easily fill up the blanks. Of particular significance are some fatty acids in the form of vitamins that really work wonders in most people suffering from acne. Essential fatty acids can be included into the body through vitamins for acne supplements and also when you limit the intake of trans fatty acids like margarine, your condition can improve quite a bit.

The secondary causes that lead to acne can also be challenged by acne supplements. These supplements basically enable your body to fight the causes from the inside and they also strengthen your ability to fight the problem better.

Common Vitamin for Acne suggested

It has been seen that most people who have acne suffer from a deficiency in the vitamin A, zinc, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin C and B complex. And they can gain a lot from them.

This combination of vitamins is believed to have several beneficial properties that include stabilizing the hormones, fighting the free radicals, strengthening of the immune system, controlling the sebum production and improving the skin healing process. As an added bonus, they are said to have special properties in reducing stress, the major cause of hormonal imbalance.

MSM (natural sulfur) is yet another supplement vital for acne prone skin that provides the body with essential fatty acids like Omega 3, 6 and 9: all obtained from natural sources which contribute towards regulating hormone secretion and so can improve one`s acne condition overnight.

Nevertheless, people taking acne vitamins must follow three simple rules for better assimilation of the vitamins. These include (a) Taking the right amount of vitamins as prescribed by the doctor; (b) Taking the right combination of vitamins as prescribed by the doctor and (c) taking them exactly at the same hour as advised by the doctor. Only if this rule of three is strictly adhered to, one may expect the best results from vitamins for acne.

The final verdict in vitamin for acne

Yes, vitamin for acne supplements will let you cure the acne. While some of them provide the vital nutrients that let you speed up the recovery process, others are helpful when it comes to balancing the hormones: they also aid your body organs to remove the toxic materials. Other advantages of vitamin for acne are in collagen formation, skin repair, reducing stress and also in aiding the immune system to fight the problem.

But supplementation will not work alone. This is because acne is quite complicated and there are many internal factors that contribute towards the growth. And so, a complete strengthening and rebuilding is necessary. It needs to be also remembered that acne cannot be caused by a deficiency of vitamins, and thus supplementing them will not work to give you the cure.

Vitamin for acne work when you go for a more comprehensive program. Switch to holistic remedies because this approach can tackle the internal contributing factors. Holistic remedies, together with vitamins for acne are sure to give you an acne free life.



DELMAR

peterhutch asked:


Chicken pox is a highly infectious and very common childhood disease.  It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. It is usually a mild, self-limiting disease in healthy children but it can be severe if contracted by babies, immune-suppressed children or adults.

Children under 10 years old are the main target of chicken pox. Adults can catch chicken pox as well, but this is very rare. Once you have had chicken pox, you can not develop it again. However, if you have not had chicken pox by the time you were ten, then things do not look so good. Older children and adults that develop chicken pox risk more severe complications. Winter and spring are the most common seasons for chicken pox. There are also some people that are more vulnerable to chicken pox than others. For example kids that are immunosuppressed or newborns are especially vulnerable to chicken pox.

Chicken Pox- Symptoms

The symptoms of Chickenpox is worse in adults than children. Complications are most common among the older age group. Serious and widespread dissemination of the disease can occur in patients who are immunosuppressed e.g patients with leukemia, lymphoma, HIV and Transplant patients. The lungs and brain may get involved causing pneumonia or encephlitis.

Chicken pox is a disease that affects mainly children. It is contagious and can be spread even through air. The main way of chicken pox transmission is by direct contact with the person infected by chicken pox. Like many other disease, chicken pox also has symptoms. These signs will appear about three weeks after infection with the virus that causes chicken pox. The reason for this is because the chicken pox virus has an incubation period. The proper medical term fro chicken pox is actually varicella, because the name of the virus that causes this children’ s disease is called varicella zoster.

Some of the chicken pox symptoms are quite characteristic. However, many of the other symptoms of this skin problem are similar to many other skin conditions. It is important to examine the chickenpox symptoms below to ensure that the problem is actually chicken pox and not some other illness. When in doubt, contact a physician or skin doctor to properly diagnose the condition.

Causes of Chickenpox

Chickenpox occurs mostly during the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring. It generally affects children aged from 2 to 8 and can take the form of epidemics.

The symptoms of chickenpox are: fever, itchy, red bumps that transform into round blisters with a red base. These blisters will form a crust and will eventually dry. For at least 5 days the infected person should not get into close contact with people that have not suffered from chickenpox and children should not go to school because they can infect others. Pregnant women who have made chickenpox before are safe and so is their baby. If she has not made chickenpox and got in contact with an infected person, the doctor can administer antibodies of chickenpox within 4 days of a possible contamination. After the dry scabs form the rate of contamination will decrease.



HARRISON

Groshan Fabiola asked:


Varicella zoster is a virus that is part of the herpes family. This virus is responsible for some disease, the most known of all being chicken pox. This condition is more common in children, but adults can develop chicken pox as well. Chicken pox only strikes once in a persons life and it is best that this happens when you are a child. This condition is also highly contagious.

The incubation period of chicken pox is about two weeks. In this time your child will have no chicken pox symptoms. After the two weeks have passed, the first chicken pox signs will actually be symptoms very similar to those of the flu. A mild fever, some coughing and loss of appetite are the first chicken pox symptoms. Unfortunately, many of us do not realize that there are actually telling us that our child suffers from chicken pox. Precisely in this period, children are the most contagious. After a couple of days, chicken pox rash starts to appear on your child’ s body. The first areas that are usually affected by chicken pox are the back and the chest. The chicken pox rash is at first just some tiny red and itchy spots, that will turn into blisters in a couple of day’ s time. The blisters are filled with fluid and they will speared very quickly on the rest of your child’ s body. There are chicken pox cases, where the child has only a few such blisters, but usually he/ she will have at least three hundred

chicken pox blisters. These then turn into crusts and then scab just a few days later.

Chicken pox treatment is mainly aimed at relieving the symptoms that your child has. Itching, which is one of the chicken pox trade marks can be relieved with antihistamines or with oatmeal or baking soda baths. If fever is also a chicken pox symptom that you child is has, then ipubrofen must be given to the chicken pox patient. Do not give your child aspirin, because it can increase the risk of developing Reye’ s syndrome. Antiviral drugs may also be prescribed in chicken pox cases.

Another great thing is that now a chicken pox vaccine is available. This vaccine will not prevent your child from developing chicken pox, however it will make the chicken pox case a lot milder and it will also help prevent some of the chicken pox complications.

For more information about chicken pox vaccine or even about adult chicken pox please review this page http://www.chicken-pox-center.com/



MOHAMMAD

peterhutch asked:


Skin rashes are a common skin discomfort which causes small red spots, redness and itchiness. It can happen anywhere is your skin – your face, your hands, your legs, your body. ****** rashes, by virtue of their visibility, can cause significant distress to the patient and this should never be underestimated. Skin rashes come in all forms and sizes. Some are raised bumps; others are flat red blotches. Some are itchy blisters; other are patches of rough skin. Most rashes are harmless and clear up on their own within a few days.

Take a bath in cool water, without soap, every couple of hours. Don’t use ointments and creams that can block the sweat gland pores.

Dandruff or Seborrheic Dermatitus - are common rashes associated with age, stress, fatigue, weather extremes, oily skin, infrequent shampooing and alcohol-based lotions.

Apis is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of person affected with skin rashes where an allergic response from the body to an allergen was the cause of the rash, resulting in a condition like hives, this treatment must also be followed where the rash is pinkish in color and is accompanied by a swelling in the affected area usually appearing with burning and or stinging pain and discomfort. Further more the application of external cold compresses can alleviate the swelling and the discomfort in the affected regions of the body. The appearance of any of these symptoms in the body of the affected person requires the utilization of Apis as a homeopathic remedy.

Light therapy or UVB Phototherapy involves the use of light about 3 to 5 times in a given week to treat the condition. Though there is some sunburn, but it is not serious. Ultraviolet B light waves that are between 290-320 nm are passed to achieve the results. Light therapy is usually not the only line of treatment – it is mixed up with topical applications for best results. However there is a school of thought that says that light treatments can lead to skin cancer.

Systemic lupus may include periods in which few, if any, symptoms are evident (remission) and other times when the disease becomes more active (flare). Most often when people mention “lupus,” they are referring to the systemic form of the disease. Systemic lupus is usually more severe than discoid lupus, and can affect almost any organ or system of the body. For some people, only the skin and joints will be involved. In others, the joints, lungs, kidneys, blood or other organs and/or tissues may be affected.

Acts as a foundation to protect your skin all day from the adverse effects

of weather, cosmetics or pollution.

Use as a treatment to alleviate dryness or cracking of the skin on elbows,

knees, forearms or hands.

Another skin care solution is the Microdermabrasion Complex, which also gives that exfoliating effect, except this time it is used to specifically treat stubborn scars. It uses micro-spheres to smoothen out skin, and because these are very tiny beads, they do not irritate the skin. What these micro-spheres do is gradually remove jagged bumps on the skin, much like sanding wood for a smoother surface but with no harshness.

Do not let the skin become too dry which may make itching worse. See the topic Dry Skin and Itching in Related Information for additional home treatment



LEONEL

Lauren Millie asked:


Before considering your acne treatment, it is important to know a few quick facts about acne vulgaris and acne treatment



No direct link has been established between acne and diet (pizza, nuts, sweets, chocolate )



There is no link between acne and diet. In particular, no cause and effect has been established between acne and chocolate, dairy products (milk products), shellfish, sweets, or fatty foods (french fries, pizza, etc.). Healthy diet is good for your overall health but it will not be enough to get rid of acne.





Acne cannot be cured (There is NO acne cure); it can be effectively treated (see acne treatment) and controlled (but there is no permanent acne cure)



There is a widespread belief that acne is curable and that a course of antibiotics is all that is required to treat acne. People will often make statements such as my acne treatment did not work because when I stopped the tablets the acne came back again, and after my acne treatment the acne only improved but did not completely disappear. It must be made clear that continued acne treatment is required and that there is no cure for acne (although isotretinoin may cause long-term remission of the disease).



Acne is NOT a result of poor hygiene



Dirt and surface skin oils do not cause acne. However, accumulation of daily dirt on the skin and excessive skin oils should be removed by gently washing your face twice a day with a mild soap, pat dry and use an appropriate acne treatment.



Constant washing does not improve acne



Constant washing does not improve acne. Excessive scrubbing dries and irritates skin further and can actually make your acne worse.



Getting a tan does not clear acne



Although there has been little scientific evidence that sunlight has any reliable beneficial effect on acne, and even less evidence for the benefits of solariums; nevertheless, there has been a resurgence of interest in effects of sunlight on acne. Before recommending such acne treatment one should carefully evaluate any positive effect of using sunlight in acne treatment against the possible long-term carcinogenetic effects of ultraviolet light on the skin. In addition, some studies have shown that acne treatment using sunlight can even worsen acne.



Not only teenagers can have acne, adults get acne too (adult acne)



Even though, acne vulgaris is mainly a skin disease of teenagers; the prevalence of acne in teenage boys and girls is so high that acne is considered almost universal in this age group; nevertheless, adults suffer from acne, too.



Acne should be treated and controlled, do not just “let acne run its course”



Even though, in most cases acne will “run its course”; nevertheless, untreated acne can leave you forever with unaesthetic acne scars, reminding you about your teenage acne skin problems for the rest of your life. There are multiple acne treatments available; therefore, acne should be treated and controlled, avoiding any potential unaesthetic acne scars in the future.



Stress does not cause acne, but it can exacerbate the existing condition



A study of 215 graduating medical students showed that 67% believed that stress plays a role in acne exacerbations. Anxiety was considered an acne-exacerbating factor by 74% of students and their relatives. There is also evidence that stress may exacerbate acne during examinations. It has also been noted that treatment with biofeedback mechanisms is useful in some acne sufferers.



Exercise does not increase risk of acne



According to Stanford University School of Medicine (Stanford.edu) research and contrary to popular beliefs, exercise and sweating during exercise do not increase acne in athletes.



There are misconceptions regarding variably of too little or too much sexual activity and acne.





There are myths regarding too little or too much sexual activity and acne.



First *** and acne myth that too much *** or ************ may worsen acne.

Second *** and acne myth that somehow when females begin having a regular *** life their acne will be improved.





Although acne is linked to androgen metabolism at the level of the sebaceous glands; nevertheless, there is no evidence supporting neither of these rather strange extrapolations.











RICARDO

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


For both adolescents and adults, acne can be an aggravating problem. There are many variations of acne and differing degrees of severity. The physical, emotional and psychological effects can be devastating, affecting an individual ’s confidence, self-image and self-esteem for many years. Although several of the milder types of acne respond well to over-the-counter treatment products, more severe forms require medical attention. Acne care is vitally important regardless of the type, but it is just as vital to know when a case of acne requires a dermatologist to treat it.

Three Reasons To Consult A Physician

The decision to see a physician or dermatologist about your acne should take into account several things:

1. Is your acne causing you emotional difficulties?

2. How severe your outbreaks are.

3. If your skin seems to be scarring when the lesions heal.

There are several more reasons why it may be wise to seek professional help with your acne but these three comprise most of them. Severe acne may leave permanent scars; seeking medical help early on may help to reduce the effects of scarring. The best way to prevent scarring is, of course, to prevent acne from occurring in the first place. The right skin care regimen and possible dietary changes, are needed to control acne breakouts.

Recent studies have shown that food sensitivities may contribute to the formation of acne, such as allergies to wheat, dairy and certain fruits. One such study has shown that women consuming three or more glasses of milk per day were 22% more likely to have acne breakouts than women consuming only one glass of milk per day. This may be due to the hormones present in fresh dairy products, but some dermatologists are recommending that their patients with cystic acne avoid mild products and use alternative sources of calcium intake. The type of acne and skin type plays an important role in how acne is best treated.

If you have cystic acne, also known as nodulocystic acne, it must be treated by a physician. Do not try to treat it yourself because it can cause very painful lesions and scarring of the face, neck, back and shoulders. Cystic acne resembles small bumps or tumors, blackheads may not be present with it, sometimes the lesions fill with a combination of blood and pus, cystic pimples may involve more than one pore, and they are very deep within the skin layers. This type of acne should be treated by a dermatologist as quickly as possible, in addition, some dietary changes may be needed to decrease the outbreaks of this type of acne.

Emotional distress, such as severe anxiety, depression or social reclusiveness, are also good reasons to seek professional assistance. Severe acne sufferers feel helpless to control the situation particulary for adultsdue to the notion that acne should clear up once a person becomes an adult. Acne scarring has long term effects, often affecting a person’s choice of occupation, social interactions and dress. A medical professional can help to restore a person’s self confidence as well as helping clear up the acne.

For men, sever acne can shaving difficult. Shaving irritates pimples and lesions, may irritate existing scars and lead to further outbreaks of acne. A good razor, shaving creams and other products help to reduce the irritation and inflammation of acne, but a medical professional can also prescribe creams and medications to eliminate it.

It may be a good idea to visit a dermatologist at the outset of acne, even if you aren’t sure that it is a severe form of acne. Medical advice can help in the choice of skin care products, provide assistance regarding acne care and daily routines even if prescription medications aren’t required. In severe cases of acne, a physician is indispensable to help reduce the effects, treat the cause and prevent future outbreaks.



ED

Groshan Fabiola asked:


My baby has a red, spotty rash all over her chest. Could it be chicken pox?

It is very possible. The chicken pox usually shows up on the body under the form of a simple rash (tiny red itching spots). These spots gradually turn into clear, fluid-filled blisters on a pink base, which after bursting will become dry brown crusts. One disadvantage would be the fact that this kind of blisters keep on appearing on the body for up to 7 more days. She might also be tired and slightly feverish.

A highly contagious disease, chicken pox is usually spread through air, when inhaling the air near a pacient with this disease that has just coughed or sneezed, pr by touch , again by coming in direct contact with a diseased person. Infants usually get their antibodies from their mothers while steal being in the womb, so it is very improbable for them to catch the disease in their first year of life. And even if they do in most cases it just a mild form they would be suffering from.

In the case of healthy babies chicken pox is more of a nuisance than a real threat. It is a completely other business if the child has a weak or weakened immune system. Chronic illness, leukemia or taking high dose oral steroids medication for asthma can lead to such a thing. Complication and infection can cause serious trouble for the pacient such as pneumonia or encephalitis, a serious brain disease. The best thing in this cases would be to call a doctor or a pediatrician as soon as symptoms of this viral disease appear in the young pacients. For more protection it is best to administer an injection of varicella zoster immune globulin or the varicella vaccine immediately after the exposure to the threat

For adults getting the disease is actually more dangerous than in the case of children because of the risk to develop complications such as bacterial pneumonia. To fight chicken pox doctors have researched and found a vaccine in 1995 witch they recommend to shot any child 12 months or older who hasn’t already had the disease. Having very few side effects, it is able to protect more than 95% from getting a serious case of chicken pox. The only downside is that it fails to completely immunize some 10 to 30 percent of the children, still this kids only get a very mild case of the disease.

Part of the treatment for chicken pox is giving the pacient bath every 3 to 4 hours to relieve the itching, adding some dry oat meal to the water. For the fever it is recommended to use acetaminophen not being indicated for pacients under 20. Best thing to do would be to follow the doctors advice.

For more information about symptoms of chicken pox or even about chicken pox virus please review this page http://www.chicken-pox-center.com/



COLIN

Mike Walden asked:


Apart from the irritation and trauma that a sufferer has to face because of acne, there is yet another element which causes him as much, if not more, agony. This pertains to the scars that acne often brings in its wake. Trying to prevent these and then trying to eliminate them once they have appeared, is a cause of great concern to the concerned individual. The reason for so much concern is that while acne is thought to be a temporary condition, the lesions and scars which form are perceived to be of a more permanent nature.

There are, no doubt, treatments available these days which are quite effective, but some types of acne cause deep scarring which aren`t possible to cure. This is why, to avoid the psychological trauma and the expenses of trying to treat the lesions and living with the disfigurement, it is so important to avert acne scarring.

What I will try to do here is to talk about the various types of acne scars and to give you advice on how to treat them. But primarily, I will guide you on how to prevent these scars in the first place by eradicating the root cause of your acne.

The Causes and Types of Acne Scars and their diagnosis

Studies indicate that acne scars mostly come about as a result of severe acne which causes nodules and cysts to form in the deeper layers of the dermis. Other causes include damage caused to the skin by picking or popping acne, infection, cystic acne which works its way deep into the dermis and overgrown skin tissues.

It has also been found that some people, irrespective of the type of acne they contract, are more prone to the process of scarring. And acne scars sometimes occur because the body`s wound healing process sometimes goes askew, whether it be an improper deposit of collagen or the formation of new capillaries or a warped response to the inflammation or anabolic and catabolic phases: all these are meant to be part of the body`s natural healing phase.

Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that, if you do not wish to be permanently scarred by acne, treat the damage as soon as you can.

In essence, acne scars are of two types. Scars which have formed due to an increase in skin tissue formation and those which have formed because of a loss of skin tissue.

Scars which form because of an increase in skin tissue:

Where there are increased skin tissues, the most commonly found acne scars are Keloids scars. These scars are more likely to be found on people with dark skins and appear when an excess of collagen is formed by cells as part of the healing process. These scars are usually smooth and are shaped irregularly.

Scars which form because of the loss of skin tissues:

Acne spots: the skin surrounding these scars generally turn brown or red. In most cases they gradually fade away by themselves or after the application of some topical scar treatment. A similar fading away can be noticed in the case of post inflammatory hyper pigmentation but the use of MSM has often hastened the process.

Ice-pick lesions: as the name suggests, these acne scars look like ice which has been riddled with an ice pick. Most commonly they appear on the cheeks and the scars can sometimes be deep and sometimes superficial. These scars are more difficult to get rid of than acne spots.

Depressed fibrotic scarring: these scars mostly form as a result of deep nodules and are white and rigid. They are characterized by steep sides and sharp margins.

Atrophic scar macules: scars of this variety are generally soft, small and white and are distensible.

Other types of scars include rolling acne scars which come about because the surface of the skin gets stuck to the subcutaneous layer. Also, there are boxcar scars which are characterized by vertical edges and round indentations.

Treatment of Acne Scars

Just as the discoloration that accompanies an acne attack fades away slowly, so do most acne scars. However, some scars prove more difficult to smoothen away and require some manner of treatment whether it be topical treatment or surgical cosmetic intervention.

Different scars require to be tackled differently. And there are even scars which require to be treated using a combination of more than one elimination method. A large number of treatments exist for smoothening over scars and these include: pulsed laser technology, dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, punch techniques, collagen injections and creams.

Collagen injection involves injecting collagen or fat under the skin. This treatment is generally administered in the case of soft scars, whether deep or shallow. However, the effects of collagen are not long lasting and injections have to be repeated every 6 months. Also, it should be noted that collagen has some adverse side effects and allergic reactions could also develop.

Microdermabrasion is where tiny particles are passed through a vacuum tool with the purpose of scraping the external top layer of the skin. This process, which is only effective with mild scarring, acts as a stimulant and enhances the growth of new cells.

Laser resurfacing is a treatment involving the flattening and resurfacing of the skin layer by the use of laser thus making the scars more even with the surface of the skin. This, to an extent, camouflages the scars. However, this method often causes undesirable side effects such as infection, a reddening of the skin and can sometimes even aggravate the scars. Studies have indicated that laser treatment works better on newly formed scars rather than on old ones.

Punch grafting means slicing open the acne scar right up to the fat layer and stitching it up by means of a small skin graft.

We give you the recommended treatments for the various types of scars acne brings in its wake. Post hyper pigmentation marks are best tackled with MSM or Alpha lipoic acid acne cream. Dermabrasion or laser resurfacing is the suggested treatment for ice pick scars. Flat or thin scars should be dealt with by administering Collagen injections, which should not be used for ice pick scars. Keloids acne scars can be brought under control with steroid injections, silicone gel dressing, crytotherapy or pulsed laser treatment combined with carbon dioxide laser vaporization (where the keloid scar is not too red or too thick).

Prevention of Scars after Acne

Ideally, acne scar treatments should be tried as a last resort because they are highly expensive and have too many side effects. The best approach would be to first try and get rid of the acne. This will work only if you identify the imbalance in your system which is causing the acne. Try to cure it by using natural methods and avoid taking topical acne treatments, medication that is available over the counter or steroids.

Once you have corrected the internal symptoms that caused the acne, you will notice the acne disappearing gradually without leaving any scars.

Moreover, you will be saved the expenses and harassment of taking treatments that cannot cure the acne permanently.

We already know that acne and its resultant scarring are not a skin problem but are caused by internal imbalances. Once that is fixed there will be no acne and consequently no acne scarring.

If you succeed in nipping the acne forming process from its roots then you will not have any acne scars to deal with either. In this way you will be permanently free from acne and acne scars and enjoy a flawless complexion forever.



DION

bob asked:


Saying that skin rashes can be pretty irritating would be considered an understatement. Skin rashes, when they appear, affect not just a person’s comfort, but also his or her self-esteem.

Skin rashes have different causes. One of the most common causes of rashes is an allergic reaction. This is actually called contact dermatitis. Although people have very specific allergies, there are certain plants that irritates just about everyone’s skin, like poison ivy or poison oak and others. These rashes are often caused by essential oils on a plant’s leaves or stem.

Getting rashes from contact with a substance can be cured by various creams or lotions. Usually, the rashes go away after a while. However, you can also get rashes from allergic reactions to food, drink or medication. If you develop rashes all over your body after eating, drinking, or taking in new medication, you need to consult a physician right away! Speedy development of rashes could be a serious sign of a severe allergic reaction, especially if you feel any constricting or swelling.

Your lifestyle may also cause skin rashes. If you do not wash skin regularly, you could get some bacteria or fungi that would irritate your skin. In order to prevent rashes, you should make sure that you wear clean clothes and sleep in clean sheets. Change sheets at least once a week.

In washing clothes make sure that you do so properly and wash out all the detergent. Detergent can irritate skin and cause skin rashes. You should also wear lose clothing to prevent sweat from accumulating, as this too can irritate skin and cause rashes.

Some types of skin rashes go away after a few days or weeks. If you find that you have rashes that do not go after a couple of weeks, you might have a skin condition and you should consult with a dermatologist.

Skin rashes have different causes and treatments. Going to a dermatologist would help you identify the cause of your skin rashes and the proper treatment for them. Remember that skin rashes can be aggravated if they receive the wrong treatment. You should also avoid scratching your rashes, even if they’re itchy. Doing so could actually spread the rash and make it even itchier. In other cases, the rash would come with inflammation and scratching it could break your skin.

There are also certain products that would provide you with temporary and quick relief from the symptoms of skin rashes. With these topical creams, you might also have an easier time identifying the cause of your rashes and whether you ought to be worried. These creams are often meant to neutralize allergens or kill fungi and bacteria that irritate the skin. If you find that a cream isn’t working, then you should consult with a physician. For more information on Skin Rashes and other Skin Types visit Skin Rashes



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