Archives for Acne category

Know Your Enemy: Acne Basic Training

 
You have company — acne affects almost everyone. It strikes nearly 85% of the population between the ages of 12 and 24. 40% of acne sufferers have breakouts severe enough to require medical treatment.

Acne doesn’t show favorites. Men and women of all races during adolescence and adulthood are nearly equally prone to acne.

Location

It’s a widespread skin condition characterized by lesions that break out on the skin. The lesions form as whiteheads, blackheads, or cysts because pores get clogged.

The so-called ‘T zone’ of the face — the nose, the chin and forehead — are the most common areas for pimples to appear. The back is the second most common area for acne, followed by the neck, chest, and shoulders.

Timing

Usually acne first attacks during adolescence, most often at puberty because that’s when the body starts producing an abundance of an oily substance called sebum. Normally a good thing, sebum keeps the hair and skin soft and lubricated. But during puberty, the body produces too much. The excess oil clogs the pores and leaves the skin feeling oily.

Puberty also triggers an excess production of follicle cells. Dying cells quickly build up and combine with sebum to form whiteheads. The oil and dead cell creates a breeding ground for bacteria that creates redness and swelling in the area resulting in pimples.

A Bad Image

Acne becomes a self-image difficulty for many people because it affects their appearance. Teenagers are particularly at risk as acne can cause feelings of reduced self-confidence and even depression. It causes some to withdraw from social interactions and others become angry and troubled.

Most people find their acne has cleared up by the time they reach their 20s. Although for some it can last throughout their adult years.

Treatable

The good news is there are many modern medical treatments for acne. The first line of defense is to keep the skin clean and oil-free. Do this by gently washing with soap and water twice a day, especially following activities or conditions that cause perspiration. There is a wide variety of medical treatments available, both prescribed and over-the-counter.

For serious cases, a dermatologist is needed for advice about nutrition, lifestyle changes, topical medications, and antibiotics that fight the bacteria causing pimples.

Don’t just look in the mirror and cringe. Fight back!


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Nov 29, 2009 | 0 | Acne

Water As A Natural Acne Remedy

There are many products designed to treat acne.  Some are over-the-counter cleansers, creams, and medicated pads, while others are prescribed medications given to you by a dermatologist.  The increasing popularity of natural remedies has also become prevalent in treating many common conditions, and acne is no exception.

This article discusses one of the most common natural remedies and why it is preferred.  It may even surprise you.

One of the best natural remedies for treating acne is water.  Water is used to hydrate the body, which, of course, hydrates the skin as well.  The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and must be properly hydrated to work correctly and serve its purpose.  This is accomplished in two ways: by washing the face, which hydrates the surface of the skin, and by drinking water, which hydrates the entire body, from the inside out.  This, of course, includes the skin.  Drinking plenty of water will keep the skin looking and feeling healthy.  Healthy skin cells promote a healthy body.

Doctors tell us we should drink six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day.  While this sounds like a lot of water, think of what it can do for your body.  In addition to improving skin tone and texture, it can stimulate cell growth and will help all your organs work correctly.  It also helps filter out unwanted substances that can be harmful to your skin.

Water is also a crucial component deep within your skin.  It provides the basis for a soft, smooth, and healthy complexion and will help you look more youthful.  Though very little water is stored in the outer layers of your skin, this moisture is important and is constantly removed by outside elements such as sun and wind.

Sun and wind can dry your skin, removing moisture and irritating its surface.  When this occurs, pre-existing acne can become even more irritated, which in turn prolongs the problem.  While irritation won’t directly cause more acne to form, it can worsen the problem.  It is important to keep proper moisture in the skin.

Perhaps one of the most common myths is that oily skin does not need moisture.  This is not true.  Just because skin is oily, does not mean it is moisturized.  By cleansing the skin, you are wiping away excess oil, and my moisturizing it, you are helping it remain smooth and decreasing your chances for irritation.

Properly hydrating the skin not only promotes and stimulates cell growth, but also helps the other organs of the bodywork together.  If properly hydrated, the skin will not wrinkle or sag as easily, and will appear youthful for a longer period of time. 

Though water is not the only natural remedy> for the skin, it is the most important.  Without it, the skin could not do its job in keeping the rest of the body in check.


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Nov 28, 2009 | 0 | Acne, Healthy

Makeup For Acne Scars! Where Effective Cosmetic Products Camouflage Scars, Not Your Life

Are you dropping out of society due to experiencing scars after acne breakouts? Are you searching for quality makeup for acne scars to help you blend your skin imperfections, and to also eliminate any future blemishes? 

If your answer is yes to the questions above, then let me help you find the best cosmetic scar treatments that will allow you to get back out into the world, and enjoy your life the way you deserve to!

Nowadays, there are many advanced makeup products such as camouflage makeup specially designed for scars, and are widely offered by professional online skincare suppliers. These special skin products help you positively conceal such physical imperfections, such as scars, hyper pigmentation, rosacea, burns, and dark freckles to name a few.

If you happen to suffer from any of these conditions listed above, you’re not alone, and this is why quality acne cosmetics and scar treatments have been designed specially for you to help you in your current condition.

<b>Now You Can Get The Scar Coverage You Need, Custom Made For You!</b>

With treatment makeup, many of these uniquely designed scar products give you a large array of colors to choose from, helping match your skin tone perfectly, thus offering you that custom looking facial skin color blend. You pick 2-3 shades, and unify these colors together for that natural cosmetics look, and quality finishing touch!

The specially created Camouflage makeup products are made with mineral pigments that are fragrance and oil free, so it does not irritate your skin. The best thing is that the finish looks flawless, and your complexion will have virtually no signs of visible acne scars.

Don’t ever think that you’re the only one that has facial scars in this world! You would be surprised and amazed on how many of your favorite celebrities, and athletes have the same scar condition as you. This is the main reason why top quality scar cosmetics have been created, and when you’re under the camera and public microscope, these stars don’t want to take any chances of exposing their skin condition to their fans.

With that in mind, you can now take advantage of these quality skincare makeup products as well, and you don’t have to settle for the over-the-counter generic items that give you that caked on look, and do not properly blend away your scars. In most cases these retail products end up enhancing the look of your scar, rather than blending them.

You may notice that the prices on these products are a little higher than your retail store generic makeup products, but when you actually try them, you will understand why, and also realize that these uniquely designed scar care makeup items easily available to you online, are created for you in mind, and will eventually allow you to get your life back, by feeling comfortable in the public eye again!


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Nov 27, 2009 | 0 | Acne

What Causes Acne?

Though the exact cause of acne is unknown, many doctors believe it is a direct result of a variety of factors.  One of these factors is the increase in androgens during puberty.  Androgens are hormones, and can cause the enlargement and overstimulation of the sebaceous glands in people with acne.

For both males and females, the increase in androgens during puberty can cause these sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, which is oil.  This oil mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria on the skin and blocks pores.  Inside of these blocked pores bacteria multiplies and leads to swelling, which then causes spots and pimples.

Some researchers also believe that acne is hereditary, and that people with parents who had acne are likely to inherit acne.

Though stress has not been found to be a direct cause of acne, it can lead to aggravated cases of acne.  This happens because when someone is laden with anxiety, their body produces hormones such as cortisol, which exacerbates acne.

Other possible causes of acne include certain medications, drugs, steroids, have or oily make-up, and harsh skin cleansing.

Greasy foods and dirty skin have often been blamed for acne, but there is little evidence supporting these as direct causes of acne.  Acne is also not contagious.


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Nov 26, 2009 | 0 | Acne

Learning About Acne Scars

Macules and Scars:
Before I jump into the topic of scars, I need to clarify the difference between Macules and Scars. Macules may look like scars, but they are not scars in the sense that a permanent change has occurred. Macules are essentially the final stage of most inflamed acne lesions. They are normally flat, reddish spots that can remain for up to 8 months. But the difference between a Macule and a scar is that a Macule will end up disappearing completely whereas a scar will remain for years or indefinitely.

As for scars, this can also vary from person to person. With some individuals, scars may remain for a lifetime without change but with others, their skin will undergo a form of remodeling that will eventually diminish the scar.

Another factor that needs to be evaluated is the human element of scarring. People simply have different feelings about acne scars. Those who are distressed about their acne scars are much more likely to actively seek out treatment to moderate or remove the scar than those who are more indifferent about the scars.

Cause of Scars:
Let us first gain a better understanding of acne scars by first determining the cause of scars. A scar is a mark left in the skin by the healing of a wound or surgical incision in which the normal functional tissue (skin) is replaced by connective tissue (scar). In the case of acne, the lesion is caused by the body’s inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells that are trapped in the plugged sebaceous follicle.

When your skin tissue has suffered a lesion of some sorts, your body will attempt to heal the injured site. It does so by increasing the white blood cells in the area along with an array of inflammatory molecules whose function is to repair the damaged tissue and fight infection. In the end, the repair job can be messy, and the site of the lesion is now filled with fibrous scar tissue or eroded tissue. As for the inflammatory molecules and white blood cells, they can remain at the acne lesion for days and even weeks.

Take note of the fact that not everyone functions in the same way, and this holds true with our skin as well. Some people are simply more prone to scarring than others.

Treatment for scars:
Bear in mind that treating acne and treating acne scars are two completely different things. Treating your acne has nothing to do with treating an acne scar. Acne scars can indeed be treated, but it is important that an acne sufferer bring their acne condition under control first if they still suffer from moderate to severe acne.

Once your acne subsides, make an appointment with a dermatologist and discuss the methods (if applicable) of scar treatment(s) he/she recommend you undergo to treat your scars. Keep in mind that there are many methods with which you may treat your scars. These methods vary according to your scar type, size and location, type of skin, and of course, money $$$. All this should be discussed in great detail with your dermatologist.

Before undergoing scar treatment, ask yourself the following questions before having your dermatologist undergo the decided procedure(s).: Are you willing to wait and see if the scars will subside on their own with time? Do your acne scars affect you emotionally and socially? Is your scarring substantial enough to warrant scar treatment? Can you afford the treatment or what treatment options can you afford?

Keep in mind, the objective of scar treatment is not to necessarily rid you of all indications of scars by completely restoring your skin. It very much depends on the severity of your scars, your skin type, your skins ability to regenerate, etc. Significant improvements can definitely be achieved, but complete restoration is often impossible.


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Nov 20, 2009 | 0 | Acne