Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Effective Acne Control
Cleanliness
Keeping acne infected areas of the body clean is very important. Excess dirt and oils cause pores to clog up. Clogged pores can't breathe and are a haven for acne causing bacteria. Added to that is the danger that you may touch an area of your body that isn't clean with your hand and then touch your face or other areas infected with acne, and bingo, you've just spread oil and dirt over a possibly freshly cleansed area. This is why it is so important to shower daily, shower after you workout or sweat for any reason, and to dry off thoroughly. Using a loofah to help scrub away dead skin cells is also effective. Make sure you rinse all of the shampooo and soap off before getting out. Even if it means you're having showers 2-3 times a day sometimes, so be it. Just make sure you use a moisturizer so your skin doesn't dry out from all those showers.
Proper Clothing
Make sure you always wear clean clothing for starters. Nothing spreads dirt and oils and dead skin cells that can clog up pores like putting on yesterdays clothes, even for an hour. Stubborn body acne or back acne will flourish if you constantly expose it to fresh oil and dirt. Try not to wear tight or restrictive clothing over areas with acne. The constant rubbing as the clothing shifts across your skin is irritating and causes acne to get worse. Wearing light, breathable clothing (even clothing made of fibers that wick away moisture from the skin) are the best way to avoid further acne problems.
Proper Nutrition
Although diet is not touted as an effective acne treatment, there is enough patterns to do with diet and acne to keep it in mind and do what you can. Avoid excessive fatty and greasy foods. When you do indulge in these types of foods, make sure to wash your hands before touching your skin. Nothing gets an acne flareup going better than spreading all kinds of oil and grease from eating pizza onto the infected areas. Drinking lots of water can help flush your system of toxins that participate in clogging up your pores from the inside. If you ever find yourself constipated, make sure to deal with it ASAP, as that can also cause toxins and poisins in your body to be realeased through the skin, making acne worse.
Acne Cleansers
Using a good acne cleanser formulated for your skin type is one of the best acne treatments you can do. When I say skin type, I mean whether you have oily, dry or normal skin. Most acne cleansers on the market make it clear on the bottle what skin type they are designed for. Of course, buying an acne cream is no good if you don't use it. So many people fail to follow a good regimen when it comes to applying their acne products. Make sure you use them at least once a day, and try to do it at the same time each day so you don't forget. After washing and drying thoroughly, apply the acne cleanser with a soft washcloth, a soft cotton pad, or your hands. Do not rub too hard as this will irritate your skin. Simply scrub gently to remove any dead skin cells, old makeup, oils and dirt. This will do the job.
Acne Moisturizers
Using an oil-free moisturizer after showering and cleansing is sometimes necessary for people with problem or sensitive skin. Make sure you choose one for your skin type, just like the acne cleanser. Some lines of acne products have a moisturizer that works in tandem with the cleanser, so thats a good choice. Excessive dry skin can lead to acne breakouts, so even if you don't have sensitive skin, using a moisturizer is smart. Just make sure you don't use the same washcloth or pad to apply this as you did to apply your cleanser.
Acne Medications
There are prescription acne medicines you can turn to if none of the over the counter treatments seem to be working. Accutane, stronger benzoyl peroxide creams, and other treatments for acne scarring is available if you take the time to talk to your doctor or better yet, a dermatologist. Although some of these might be a tad pricey, it's worth it if none of the less expensive treatments are working.
Acne Home Remedies
I've left these to last because most people will have some success using the types of products that are common for how to get rid of acne. For those that have super sensitive skin, or perhaps skin that is just not reacting to traditional acne produts, I suggest trying a few of the natural home remedies out there. Some people swear by oatmeal. Others say applying crushed mint leaves helps. Lemon juice is another common home remedy, along with apple cider vinegar. Rubbing toothpaste on acne before bed is said to help, and applying crushed garlic to acne is said to help reduce swelling and repel vampires! Whatever you try, be sure and share your successes with others online, and read about what works for others online to get some ideas of what may work for you.
As you can see, strong acne control is a result of a multi-faceted campaign to wipe out acne at all levels, preventative and symptomatic. Although there may not be an easy way to get rid of acne overnight, following all of these acne tips as well as others you may read elsewhere will make it much more probable to retain some control over your stubborn acne problems.
Choosing a Good Acne Cleanser
Types of Acne Cleansers
A good acne cleanser will remove unwanted makeup, dirt and other things that clog up your pores and make acne breakouts an inevitability. Some cleansers use salicylic acid as their main ingredient. This chemical helps remove dead skin and encourage new cell growth. It can help keep skin smoother. Benzoyl Peroxide is another common chemical used in many acne products. You can find it in soaps or to be used with application pads. It works by drying up blemishes and killing the bacteria that causes acne. However, be aware that it can also dry out and damage your skin with overuse, so you should always use some kind of moisturizer afterwards. Natural home acne remedies are sometimes utilized when over the counter acne cleansers are too harsh for sensitive skin. Honey, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar have all shown some success in treating acne. It's simply a matter of discovering what works best for you and then using it consistently.
Popular Acne Products
Cetaphil
Simple ingredients, not loaded with chemicals.
Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash
Lathers away dirt, makeup and oils.
Lancome Clarifiance oil-Free Gel Cleanser
Leaves your skin feeling soft and not oily.
Dove Essential Nutrients Soft-Foaming Cleanser
Washes away oil and dead skin cells.
Bloom Facial Cleanser
Has essential oils.
Avon Clear Skin Foaming Cleanser
Gentle on all types of skin.
Neutrogena Pore-Refining Cleanser
Soaks up oil without drying up your skin.
DermaMed Acne Gel
Soothes skin without drying it out.
Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub
Good for makeup removal.
Clinique Acne Solutions Emergency Gel Lotion
Benzoyl Peroxide based, unclogs pores and reduces redness.
Acne Cleansing Tips
Simply using an acne cleanser will not completely control your acne problem. You will also have to develop strong cleansing habits to make sure you maximize the effectiveness of your treatment. Here are a few tips to a strong acne cleanser habit.
- Cleanse every night before bed - Doing this will help remove any makeup, dirt or oil that could sit in your pores all night while you sleep and clog them up, leading to an acne breakout. When you cleanse your face, don't forget about your neck and behind your ears, common acne areas people sometimes miss.
- Stop Scrubbing Your Skin - A thorough cleanse is one thing, but a serious scrubbing is not good. Do not use abbrasive scrubs or rough washcloths when cleansing. Better to use a soft cloth or even your bare hands. Too much scrubbing can irriate the skin and make acne breakouts worse.
- Remember to use Acne Medications - Consistent acne treatment is the key to good acne control. Sometimes simply forgetting to use your products are the worse thing you can do. Try getting into the habit of using your acne products at the same time every day so it easier to remember.
- Stop Picking at your skin - I know you want to pop that pimple before you go out with your friends, but usually that is the worse thing you can do for long-term acne control. Popping pimples can lead to more damaged skin and even acne scarring. Avoid it whenever possible.
- See a Dermatologist - If stubborn acne persists after all of your efforts, see a doctos as soon as possible. He will have prescription acne medicines and other treatment options available that aren't available to you without his/her consent.
Generally speaking, the tougher it is to get a certain acne product, the higher chance it will be effective. This means presciption medications and treatments will tend to be more effective than over the counter cleansers. This good news is, most people can clear up their acne with a few good habits and 1 or 2 good acne products that are available everywhere. Read as much as you can on the internet about acne skin care and their acne tips, and you'll be sure to get the answers you need. Now go out there and find a good acne cleanser.
Exposed Acne Treatment
Exposed acne is different than deep lesions or infections in that they are, well, exposed. This is the type of acne most of us experience as a teenager and have to deal with before going out on that all important date. It usually consists of pimples, blackheads and whiteheads, with the occasional cyst. If you have a light case of acne usually some simple washing and cleansing is effective. If you have a heavier breakout, more concentrated acne cleansers and perhaps even some acne medicines might be required.
Acne Cleansers
Using an acne cleanser after you wash is an important step in acne control. You can either buy one that is formulated for sensitive skin or not. Make sure that if you have sensitive skin to get one for your skin type. A good acne cleanser will remove makeup, built up oils, and any other dirt and debris clogging up your pores. Using an acne cleanser after washing is simply step 1 in any effective acne treatment. You can buy 4-1 cleansers, foaming cleansers, acne washes, the list is endless. Once again, make sure you do your research.
Acne Medications
There are a number of acne medicines you can use after you've thoroughly washed and cleansed. Some of the more common ones are benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy acid. Benzoyl peroxide helps prevent the bacteria that lives in the oils on the skin, therefore reducing acne outbreaks. You should choose a cream with at least 2.5% benzoyl peroxide to be effective. Always use a gentle cotton pad for application. Alpha hydroxy acid can be used for slightly heavier cases of acne. It works best at 5-8% concentration. Alpha Hydroxy is a more concentrated approach to acne control than benzoyl peroxide, but can also irrate the skin a lot easier, so make sure you really require it before you use it.
Accutane
Using accutane can be the next step if cleansers and other acne medications are just not cutting it. Accutance is a pill, usually taken for 6-8 weeks, that works at the cellular level to change the way the body deals with its natural oils. It reduces oil production and also helps with the actual chemical makeup of the oil produced so it is less apt to clog up pores. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which helps, since all acne is inflamed. Accutane can have some serious side effects though, so this should be used after other forms of acne control have been attempted. Some of these are depression, joint pain, headaches, or more serious things like respiratory symptoms, inflammatory bowl disease, and vision problems. Be sure to consult a doctor before going down this road.
Acne Scarring
Sometimes a heavy case of acne will lead to scarring. If this happens, there are a number of medical treatments you can check into, including micro pigmentation, isolagen, subcision, scalpel excision, and skin needling. As usual, do some research online to find out about these options and always talk to your doctor or dermatologist before undertaking any acne treatments.
Natural Acne Control Methods
Probably the most important step in your acne treatment is to do all of the things that don't require any kind of medication that you can do to minimize a breakout in the first place.
- Wear light clothing whenever possible to avoid excessive sweating
- Don't wear tight clothing to avoid heavy fibers irritating your skin
- When you do sweat, wash as soon as possible and dry the area well, and put on fresh clothes
- Keep your hair clean and off of your face and neck
- Keep bed linens clean
- If you have bacne, avoid wearing heavy backpacks
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid excessive junk foods and fatty foods
- When you do eat greasy foods, wash your hands afterwards
- Make sure to never stay constipated
- Try to minimize stress as much as you can
- Get regular exercise
If you follow some of the advice I've talked about here, you'll be well on your way to not only controlling your acne problems, but minimizing your breakouts and perhaps eliminating them from your life forever. Keep reading forums and researching different acne treatments on the internet. In your quest for a good exposed acne treatment you will learn all kinds of things that have worked for others, and just may be the thing you need to get rid of acne forever.
Good Acne Remedy
When choosing a good acne remedy, there are a couple of things to think about before you buy. Firstly, are you trying to combat facial acne or body acne? Facial acne can be easier to deal with simply because the pores on your face are smaller and therefore easier to clean, as well as the fact that they are on your face so they are easier to get to. Sometimes body acne can be hard to get to, especially if it's back acne or bacne. Then you have the issue that sometimes body acne is tougher to control because the pores on your body are larger and therefore hold onto the dirt and oils a little better than facial pores.
Light Acne or a heavier case?
You should also consider whether you are the type of person to be affected by cleansers that aren't designed for people with sensitive skin. If you think you do have sensitive skin, make sure that when you do choose an acne cleanser that you get one formulated for sensitive skin.
If your case of acne is light, simply washing by gently cleansing your skin, drying thoroughly, and then applying a low percentage alpha hydroxy acid might be enough. If you have a heavier case of acne that includes body acne, then you may need a more focused approach. Gently cleanse your skin with your chosen acne cleasner then perhaps apply some bezoyl peroxide, and then applying the alpha hydroxy acid may give you better results.
Should you consider Accutane?
If you have a severe case of acne then perhaps taking Accutane may be required. Accutane comes in pill form and is a vitamin A derivative. It should be mentioned that there can be side effects to taking any medication, including Accutane, so this should only be considered when other forms of acne control have already been tried and failed. Accutane works on the cellular level by reducing the size of the oil glands and the amount of oil they produce. The bacteria that causes acne live in the oil on the skin, so by reducing the amount of oil you thereby reduce or eliminate the bacteria. Accutane can also slow down the speed by which the body produces new skin cells, thereby helping reduce the speed by which pores get clogged with old, dead skin cells.
Popping a pimple
When dealing with a pimple, it is actually better to let it heal on its own rather than pop it, but most people do not want to live with an unsightly pimple for a couple of weeks, so decide to remove it. If you are going to pop a pimple or zit, at least do it the proper way. Disinfect a needle with rubbing alcohol, softly prick the pimple, wrap a kleenex around two fingers and squeeze the infected area gently from the sides. Squeezing hard is not necessary - if the pimple is ready to pop it will pop. If clear fluid or blood starts to come out you should stop. Trying to remove a pimple that is not ready to pop can result in acne scarring which you do not want, so leave it for another day or two and then try again.
Cortisone shots
If you have some deep, painful infections that can result from untreated acne, perhaps a visit to the dermatologist for a cortisone injection may be worth it. sometimes severe cases of acne resist topical cleansers and other exposed acne treatments. Cortisone can reduce the swelling and heal the area much quicker than repeated attempts at cleansing can. Cortisone is a chemical our body produces naturally to deal with swelling. Obviously our body tries to do things slower so it sometimes takes a while to have an effect. A cortisone shot directly into the infected area has a speedy effect and can take the swelling and redness away quickly if you have an event like a date or a wedding that you don't want to look bad for.
Natural Acne Control
All of the mentioned acne medicines are fine but don't forget the simple things that you can do to control your acne in the first place. Wear light, breathable clothing to help avoid sweating too much. When you do sweat, and especially after working out, shower as soon as possible and dry thoroughly. Drink plenty of water and try to avoid exessive junk foods. Although there is no solid evidence that diet is linked to acne, it never hurts to eat healthy. That includes getting some regular exercise on a daily basis.
Effective Acne Treatment is a personal choice
The best acne treatment for you is a personal choice, so never listen blindly to others advice. The best way to learn what works for you is to experiment. If you try different things, read acne forums online and do your research you are sure to find a good acne remedy that will be effective for your acne control.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Acne Treatment and Skin Care
There are a lot of acne websites out there advertising the best acne skin care treatment or the most effective acne treatment, but not many actually talk about all of the false information out there about acne. It's also hard to find sites that are willing to give you some useful information about acne without trying to sell you acne products that are sometimes completely useless as an acne remedy.
First I'd like to talk about some basic information about acne that you may or may not already know about. Firstly, facial and body acne is largely genetic, so even if you do everything you can in regards to cleanliness and diet, it is still possible to get acne if your mother or father had it. Usually people who get facial acne end up contracting some form of body acne also. The skin on your body is much tougher than skin on the face, so sometimes body acne is worse than facial acne and even tougher to treat and control.
Where Does Acne come from?
Acne can appear anywhere on your body except the soles of your hands and feet. These two areas are the only areas on your body without the type of gland where acne is formed. Acne can be in the form of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, cysts, pustules, etc. Acne can effect everyone at any age and the number of people being affected is rising every year. Even though most people probably think that pimples and zits are caused by dirt in your pores, this is not entirely true. What actually happens is that the walls of your pores stick together deep inside your skin, starting the creation of acne. Frequent washing can actually set you up for even more acne problems, so limiting your washing to twice a day, and then only lightly with your hands, will help with acne control. Other things that sometimes contribute to acne are perspiration, poor nutrition, and hormones, especially in teenagers and women who are pregnant or going through menopause.
Acne Control Tips
Skin Irritation
Any kind of skin irritation can cause acne or worsen an already existing outbreak of acne. Rubbing up against rough surfaces such as wool blankets, sand, even rough clothing, can bring about a fresh bout of acne. Try to be more aware of what you rub up against from day to day and avoid rubbing up against things that may irritate your skin. It is possible that even things like fabric softener can irritate your skin enough to cause an acne outbreak, so be aware of this if you use it.
Cleanliness
Another cause of acne is cleanliness, or more to the point, lack of it. If you have long hair you should try and keep your hair clean and off of your neck and face whenever possible.Showering after a workout is a must. Make sure to moisturize your skin with some kind of acne cleanser before putting on fresh clothing. Don't rub your skin too hard when you're washing. The clothing you wear should be loose and comfortable, allowing your body to breathe. There are clothes you can purchase that help wick away the moisture from your skin. Wash your face sparingly and never use soap with perfumes in it.
Stress
Some people believe that the level of stress in your life can have an effect on acne. Unfortunately this is not really something that is easy to prove or monitor, and definitely not easy to deal with. The most effective acne treatment when it comes to stress is to not let little things bother you. Focus on other ways you can control your acne.
Exercise
Getting some good healthy exercise can also be a helpful natural acne solution. When you exercise you sweat, and when you sweat your pores clean themselves. Just remember to shower right after and put on fresh clothes. Lets face it, your body is designed to take in calories and the burn them off with exercise. This is not only good for your pores, but good in a lot of other ways for your body and maintaining good health. If you like to get your exercise outside, be aware of this. Sun exposure can sometimes help with acne in the short term, but is not a long term acne solution. The sun actually damages your skin over time. You should always avoid any other skin damage during the process of treating your acne problem.
Diet and Nutrition
Lots of studies trying to link diet, exercise and acne have been done. Some of these studies show that diet does have an effect on peoples acne problems. Unfortunately others show that there is no connection between diet and acne, and watching what you eat is not in any way part of an effective acne treatment. At the very least I would recommend drinking lots of water and try and stay away from junk foods. It may not help your acne, but it has all kinds of other health benefits that are worth it.
Facial Acne and Body Acne
Acne is mostly experienced as a teenager, but it is becoming more and more common to see adults with facial acne or body acne. Sometimes back acne is referred to as "bacne". If you have bacne you should try and avoid carrying heavy objects on your back like a backpack. This will only rub and irritate the skin more, causing your back acne to get worse.
Choosing an Acne Cleanser
There are tons of choices out there so make sure you do your research before using anything. Always make sure that when you are applying any acne medicine, remember to rub it on gently. Rubbing too hard can irritate your skin and make things worse. When shopping for an acne cleanser, try and find one that is good for sensitive skin. This will minimize the irritation. After rubbing it on, its a good idea to apply some kind of moisturizer to make sure your skin does not get too inflamed by the acne treatment. Sometimes after treating your body acne, using a soothing, cooling body mist helps keep the pain of inflammation away.
How to Get rid of Acne
How to get rid of acne is a process involving many things. An effective acne treatment is one that combines all of the natural acne remedies at your disposal with a few well-researched acne products that work for your skin type and severity of acne. Although there are lots of people willing to give you advice on the best acne treatment, checking with a doctor, or better yet, a dermatoligist, is always the safest way to go when it comes to finding your own personal acne solution.