Archive for October 16th, 2009

How to Tackle Acne Successfully

Friday, October 16th, 2009
nunuram asked:


 

We all keep hearing about “acne” especially from women but do not really know about it. Let us find out what this condition actually is. Acne is a disease of the skin that affects  the hair and oil glands. It manifests itself in the form of pimples, black and white heads, reddishness of the skin and  even cysts. Acne on the face adversely affects your looks whereas acne on the body makes  you very uncomfortable. Some people tend not to give importance to acne or its cure/treatment and consider it only as a minor problem. But ask anybody suffering from acne and see how strongly he/she disagrees with this view. Therefore, the importance of ‘Acne skin care’ cannot be belittled in any way. Those already suffering from acne should never try to touch them or squeeze them; it can lead to permanent scars. 

Acne problems mostly occur during teenage and early adulthood. At this time the skin glands are most active and they produce more sebum or oil which is the root cause of this problem. This is also the time when a person is particularly conscious about his/her looks and hence the concern especially about ****** acne. Hence, preventive measures of skin care should really be taken without waiting for the problem to start, i.e. before the acne actually appears. You have to be pro-active and the following care of your skin may be helpful:

‘Acne skin care’ starts with the most elementary thing - cleanliness. So the morning shower is the best and easiest way of keeping the skin clean. Night showers will also help. They not only help in keeping your skin clean but also provide relaxation to your body thereby enabling good sleep in the night. If you are living in a hot /humid/ dusty place, a night shower becomes essential. In fact, a shower is recommended after any activity that causes high levels of sweat formation. It is the natural and most effective ‘acne skin care’ technique.

Acne skin care also involves wearing clean clothes. Tight clothes can cause sweat to accumulate quickly; so soft, sweat absorbing and comfortable clothes are recommended. Cotton clothes are ideal in this regard. You must also always use clean pillows. And also ensure regular cleaning of your make-up brush and any equipment that you use on your body.

You should use a cleanser that must be water-soluble, and without oil and soap for keeping your whole face, front of your neck and arms clean. Above all, it must be mild. The most important part of any acne skin care routine is of course cleaning and cleansing. Cleaners are necessary for removing dirt, pollutants, grease and excess oil from your skin. You should remove your make up with a make up remover, and this should invariably be done before you go to bed .

 There are many acne skin care products available which can be classified into 3 broad categories – 

* General acne skin care products which are essentially preventive, 

* Specialized acne skin care products available over-the-counter, 

* Acne skin care products for which prescription is required.   

 Now let us examine them.

The general acne preventive skin care products include cleansers, make-up removers and similar other products that help prevent acne. Actually speaking, these acne skin care products should be part of your daily routine. These acne skin care products act against the causes of acne viz. limiting the production of sebum/oil, preventing clogging of skin pores, cleaning the skin surface, etc. Actually, these products prevent the oil from getting trapped in pores and hence restrict the growth of acne causing bacteria. The general acne skin care products include exfoliation products also like skin peels which help in removing dead skin cells, again reducing the possibility of pore-clogging and bacteria development.

Then there are specialized acne skin care products that are available over-the-counter but without the requirement of a prescription. 

For example, vanishing creams which extract the extra oil from the skin. These acne skin care products are mostly based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid; both are enemies of bacteria (and hence acne). Start with a product that has lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. 5%) and observe how your skin responds to it. Alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are also well-known as acne skin care products. You may have to try out several products. This is a trial and error method. Each individual’s skin is different. The same product may be very effective for one person but totally ineffective or even harmful for another. So it may take some effort and time before you are able to zero-in on the acne skin care product that is effective for you. 

Then there are the acne skin care products prescribed by a dermatologist. These include ointments that can be applied on the affected area or oral antibiotics or just any topical treatment. Dermatologist could also suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of the pustules. But never ever try to squeeze or do this by yourself, it can lead to permanent scars on your skin. Your doctor could also prescribe a hormone-based treatment since hormonal changes are also known to cause acne. If your problem is due to hormones, then this treatment will be very effective.

All these methods will help you in controlling the problem of acne. But there is another simpler method.Chronic Acne Sufferer Finds A Scientifically Proven Way To Permanently Clear Skin In Just Three Days, And Finally Reveals The Unbelievably Easy, Step-By-Step Actions You Could Already Be Taking To Look Better, Feel Better, And Have A Renewed Sense of Self-Esteem!For details, please go to:  http://nunus-behealthy.ucoz.com

 





TERRY

Teen and Adolescence Acne

Friday, October 16th, 2009
Kerwin Chang asked:


At least 90% of adolescents have acne — it affects teens of every size and shape, in every country from America to Zimbabwe. A recent study by the American Medical Association revealed (not surprisingly) that acne is one of today’s teenagers’ biggest worries. “Acne can, without question, affect self-esteem,” says Diane Berson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. “Some kids have it so severely that they don’t even want to go out of their house. They make excuses for not going to social functions.”1

It seems unfair, doesn’t it? Just when you’re beginning to grow up and get some ideas about exactly who’s behind the face in your mirror, you’re staring at a minefield of bumps and blemishes. It can be downright depressing — but since everyone has acne, you’re supposed to **** it up and suffer through it… right? Wrong! Today we know more about fighting acne than ever before. And the best way to stop acne is to find out why it starts when it does — during adolescence. Get rid of your acne with Proactiv® Solution - GO NOW!

Why does acne strike teens? At the onset of puberty, the body begins to produce hormones called androgens. These “male” hormones are a natural part of development for both boys and girls, but boys tend to produce more of them — and therefore tend to have more severe breakouts. Why? Our faces and bodies are covered with tiny hairs, each one fitting snugly into a hair follicle, sometimes called a pore. Deep within each follicle, oil glands are hard at work producing sebum, which travels up the hair and out onto the surface of your skin. Sebum’s job is to form a protective layer between your skin and the world, keeping it soft and smooth.

But when androgens enter the picture, your oil glands go into overdrive. They produce extra oil, which can clump together with the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin. When this sticky mixture finds its way into your pores, it acts just like a cork in a bottle — trapping oil and bacteria inside. Unfortunately, your oil glands just don’t know when to stop; they keep producing oil, and the follicle becomes swollen. Your body’s natural defense system, white blood cells, rush to the area to clean up the mess. The result? Red, painful bumps. Yucky black spots. Zits. Blackheads. Pimples. Acne. It has nothing to do with what you eat, or how often you wash your face.

How can I strike back against teen acne? The best way to zap zits is to prevent them from showing up in the first place! Following are a few simple practices than can help you minimize your breakouts.

A Tip on Avoiding Teen Acne - Keep it clean. Since teenagers produce more oil, it’s important to wash twice a day with warm water and a mild cleanser. Since your skin does need some sebum in order to stay healthy, don’t be tempted to overwash; your glands could pay you back by producing more oil.

Teen Acne Advice - Skip harsh scrubs. It’s okay to exfoliate, but be sure to use a gentle formula with small, smooth grains. Avoid products with almond or apricot shell fragments; they can irritate or even tear your skin and further aggravate your acne.

Avoiding Teen Acne - Say no to alcohol. If you use a toner, avoid products with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or common rubbing alcohol. Alcohol strips the top layer of your skin, causing your glands to produce more oil. The result? Dry, flaky skin — and possibly more blemishes.

Ways to Avoid Teen Acne - Don’t squeeze or pick. Squeezing or picking your blemishes with fingernails, pins or anything else can force bacteria deeper into the skin. This can cause greater inflammation and infection, increasing the chances that your pimple will leave a permanent scar. Remember, a zit that’s bugging you today will go away if treated properly; if you pick at it, it may stick around forever.

Being Smart about Teen Acne - Hands off! The bacteria that causes acne, Propionibacterium acnes, hangs out on your skin all the time; it doesn’t lead to acne until it gets trapped inside the hair follicle. Touching your face, including rubbing or even resting your chin in your hands, can drive bacteria into your pores — where it can begin its dirtywork.

Dealing with Teen Acne - Choose products wisely. If you wear make-up, be sure it’s oil-free and non-comedogenic — that means it won’t clog your pores and make your breakouts worse. The same goes for your sunscreen and even your hair products; sticky sprays, gels and pomades can aggravate acne, too.

Getting Ahead of Teen Acne - Be smart about sun. If you think tanning helps your acne, you’re right — and wrong. Small amounts of sun exposure may improve acne for a few days. But suntans (and burns) also make you shed your dead skin cells faster, so in the long run, you’ll end up with more clogged pores. And that means more acne. Another thing you should know: some kinds of acne medication make skin more sensitive to the sun. So if you’re headed outside in sunny weather, be sure to slather up with sunscreen. Look for sun protection products that are oil-free and have a “sun protection factor” (or SPF) of at least 15 for both UVA and UVB rays.

Avoiding Teen Acne - Accessorize wisely. Heat and friction (rubbing) can cause acne flare-ups. So steer clear of hats and headbands — and if your sports team requires you to wear a helmet or any other equipment that might rub against your skin, try lining it with a layer of clean, soft cotton. And remember to shower immediately after exercising — don’t sit around in a sweaty uniform, no matter how cool you look.

Teen Acne Treatment - Find a regimen and stick with it. Most cases of mild acne can be improved with “over-the-counter” products, or products that don’t require a prescription from your doctor. There is a wide range of treatments available, and there’s a good chance one of them will work for you. If you start treatment before your acne gets severe, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding physical and emotional problems down the road. But if your acne gets worse or lasts more than a couple of weeks, see a dermatologist. Here’s a quick listing of the most common products used to treat acne — click on the links that interest you for more information on that course of treatment.

• Benzoyl Peroxide: Kills the bacteria that causes acne.

• Proactiv® Solution: A dermatologist formulated Combination Therapy® acne management system. Click Here and receive 2 free bonuses when you try Proactiv® Solution Risk-Free for 60 Days!

• Salicylic Acid: Unclogs your pores and encourages skin renewal.

• Tretinoin (Retin-A®): Promotes healthy sloughing.

• Antibiotics: Kill bacteria and reduces inflammation.

• Oral Contraceptives: Help regulate hormone levels.

• Anti-Androgens: Inhibit the body’s production of acne-causing hormones.

• Isotretinoin (Accutane®): Treatment for severe cystic or nodular acne.

Relax — it’s not your fault. The most important thing to remember about acne is that it’s not your fault. You didn’t make your face break out by eating too many french fries, wearing make-up or daydreaming about your crush. Now you know a few of the things that can aggravate acne in teenagers. But since acne is different for everyone, you should watch your own skin carefully for things that trigger breakouts — and avoid them. If your acne still hangs around, see a doctor.

Kerwin Chang writes for http://www.acnestuff.net where you can find out more about acne and other skin care topics.



LANE