Here's acne help for those of you who are looking for some tips on how to treat acne. Even though acne vulgaris isn't a rare skin problem, the effect of having pimples, boils, zits and cysts on the face is depressing. Most people are affected psychologically, socially and in some cases sexually as well. They become self-conscious and feel ashamed to face others. What follows is a huge drop in self confidence and self esteem.
Other than on the face, acne also shows up on the back, chest, arms neck and shoulders. It affects most teenagers, both boys and girls. By the end of the teen years or during the early 20s the problem normally stops but may leave acne scars. Breakouts may or may not reappear in later life.
Adults are also not spared from and even those who are over 40 may develop it. Sometimes people, especially women, who never had acne during puberty, may get adult acne between the ages of 25 to 40.
There are pores on the human skin. Below the skin are sweat glands, sebaceous or oil glands, hair erector muscles and blood vessels. There are ducts for the hair follicles to grow and protrude out and surface on the skin. The sebaceous glands are attached to the hair follicles.
The sebaceous glands produce sebum, an oily and waxy substance and it comes out of the pores. During puberty or because of other reasons that cause hormonal changes, the glands produce excess sebum. At the same time there is also an increase in the production of follicle cells. When the excess sebum mixes with dead follicle cells, they clog the pores, cause a buildup and breeds bacteria. The end result is acne.
Comedo is a term used to describe an oil duct that is clogged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria.
A blackhead is an exposed comedo. There is no skin covering it and it looks like a black spot. It is black in color because of the exposure to oxygen.
A whitehead is a closed comedo. It is white and small and covered with the skin.
When the comedo raptures, it forms into a papule. A papule is usually small, hard and red and there is inflammation and infection.
A pustule appears when the comedo raptures and just like the papule, there is inflammation and infection. A pustule has a yellowish center due to the pus near its surface.
A nodule or a cyst is also a ruptured comedo and is the most severe of all acnes. It is normally large, deep and painful. Most acne scars are the result of nodules.
Even though you will feel tempted, avoid from picking, pressing or squeezing the pimples. If you do, you may spread the bacteria and this is one of the causes of scarring. Furthermore, when you pop it, only the surface is ruptured. The sebum, bacteria and cells still exist and may seep out into the surrounding tissue and cause inflammation.
There are 3 common types of skin namely oily, dry and sensitive. Find out what is your skin type so that you can choose the right product. It isn't necessary but it is useful to know. As a general rule, gel products fit oily skin, cream based products suit better on dry skin and people with sensitive skin should use products with lower concentration of active ingredients.
If it isn't severe acne, you may want to use any of the over the counter product. Look for a product with benzyl peroxide as one of the ingredients. Benzyl peroxide helps break up the plug of dead skin cells, bacteria and oil in pores. Take note that the concentration of benzyl peroxide differ in each product. If you have a sensitive skin, use the lower concentration. The normal routine is to use it once or twice a day.
One of the ingredients that a product may include is sulfur or salicylic acid. Sulfur can promote peeling and drying and may get rid of acne. Salicylic acid can help slows down future breakouts.
This is actually a basic personal hygiene routine. Wash your face with a cleanser or if you use soap, use one with benzyl peroxide. Be gentle and avoid over washing and scrubbing to prevent the blemishes to open up. Women who use makeup should wash it off before going to bed. To wash your back acne, use a scrub benzyl peroxide soap.
You eyes and lips don't develop acne so it's alright to use oil based cosmetic. But use water based makeup on the other parts of your face.
Although there are differences in opinion about whether certain foods will trigger acne, it's best that you reduce your consumption of junk or fast food. Foods that contain a lot of processed or refined carbohydrates and sugar increase your insulin level which will then trigger acne.
Foods that contain high amount of sugar are carbonated drinks, candies and fudge. Examples of food that are refined carbohydrates are white bread, pasta and cakes. Opt for vegetables, fresh fruits and juices and organic food. And drink lots of plain water because it hydrates your skin.
One of the best ways to determine if you are affected by the food you eat is to take note of what you eat and identify which food causes a breakout.
Vitamins that can help improve your skin health are vitamin A, B complex, C and E. Zinc gluconate may help heal tissue and prevent scarring.
One of the ways to cure acne is to see a doctor. A doctor most likely will give you antibiotics to be taken orally and to apply topically.
If you have tried almost everything and your acne problem doesn't seem to subside after more than eight weeks or have an extraordinarily large cyst, consider getting acne help from a professional.
A dermatologist might recommend an acne laser treatment. This is an expensive procedure. The treatment gets to the oil glands and destroys them so that they will stop producing. It will get rid of acne and result in fewer outbreaks. Other than acne prevention, an acne laser treatment can also get rid of acne scars. It will remove the top layer of the affected skin.
Take it easy. Acne isn't life threatening. So don't get too uptight about it. Furthermore, if you are worried about it and it is causing you too much stress, you are going to aggravate the development.
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