How to Tackle Acne Successfully

August 16, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Acne

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 facial 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

Acne Types: 5 Types of Acne You Should Know

August 15, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Acne

Acne is the most common of all skin disorders. And acne has some types. It is about eighty percent of all people between the ages of twelve and twenty-four suffer some types of acne. It is a problem of the oil glands in the skin. In contrast to several conservative conceptions, it is a problem experienced not absolutely by teenagers. A number of people are overwhelmed their whole lives with endless outbreaks of acne.

There are various types of Acne. The most general type is Acne Vulgaris which is well-known as Acne Simplex too. Other types of Acne except Vulgaris are Cosmetica, Excriee, Cystic and Occupational Acne.

However, many other types of acne exist. Informations in relation to 5 types cited above are:

ACNE VULGARIS: This acne type is a chronic inflammatory condition wherein surplus fluid is formed by over-active oil and sweat glands. Hair follicles become congested with this surplus fluid which is incapable to run away. The trapped sebum could later lead to bacterial inflammation in and around the hair follicle. This type of Acne typically starts at puberty and comes out principally on the face as pimples, cysts and blackheads.

ACNE COSMETICA: it is caused by topical make-up. Typified by small pink bumps, acne cosmetica is typically somewhat mild, with little possibility of scarring. The protracted usage of cosmetics, particularly those including isopropyl myristate and greasy ingredients for example lanolin, may be responsible for this type of Acne. It has been advocated that around 25% of women have this type of Acne, the majority of who contain a history of heavy make-up use. The management is uncomplicated. Find out which cosmetic is leading to the Acne and end applying it.

ACNE EXCORIEE: This is one of acne types that typically discovered in young girls, beginning in adolescence. The girl might discover a pimple and begin scratching at it cruelly. The skin is injured by the fingernails and is not able to cure because of constant scratching, which leaves a broad, superficial scar. This must not be confused with an oblivious nervous practice. In this situation, minimal acne lesions on the face are worsened by neurotic pressing and squeezing of the pimples, trying to clear the contents with the fingers. Consequently, hyperpigmentation and stellate constricted scars take place, while frequently the original underlying acne has cured.

CYSTIC ACNE: One of the most ruthless types of acne, it arises when the infected contents of a pustule or pimple erupts under the skin, rather than on the surface. The body’s natural protections afterward attempt to combat the infection, causing swelling and pain. Cystic acne frequently leads to facial scarring. This type of Acne typically involves the back, upper arms, shoulders and neck. Cystic Acne frequently comes about in males and usually perseveres beyond 20 years of age and can cause enduring scarring. This type of Acne could be medically dealt with and needs specialist recommendation. In some situations it may be rather painful and can effect in the patient feeling unwell.

OCCUPATIONAL ACNE: This is one of acne types which typically shape as the effect of touch with mineral oil or petroleum. This acne type is a general condition had by motor mechanics that are often uncovered to oils and grease. The oil annoys the hair follicles leading to blackheads to shape profoundly in the skin and is hard to treat. Get in touch with the oil must be reduced or eliminated.

Acne Medicine – My Experience with OTC medicine

August 12, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Research




Did you know that over 180,000 people search for information on acne everyday, out of which 77,000 want to know more about acne medicine ? And that there are over 22 million sites talking about acne, and acne medicine, treatment and products ? This tells me a few things. One, there are many people out there suffering from acne, and they are interested in knowing what kind of acne medicine is available to help them cure their problem. Equally, there are millions of available acne treatments and products out there. Obviously, no one acne medicine is suitable for any one person then.

First, a quick review on what acne is. It is what the layperson calls “pimples” or “zits”. There are different forms of acne, and all can occur at the same time, though one stage does not necessarily progress to the next. There are comedones, or blackheads and whiteheads, as they are usually called. Then there are acne spots caused by bacteria, leading to inflammation, resulting in a red possibly painful swelling called a papule. If the papule does not subside spontaneously, a pustule may form. This heals by discharging pus. A severe enough reaction may cause a lot of deep damage, leaving behind scars.

Acne medicine has different purposes. There is acne medicine to prevent acne. There is medicine to prevent infection of the acne. And there is medicine to prevent scarring from the acne. Finally, there is medicine to minimise the effects of acne scarring, should scars form.

Acne medicine can be divided into those that are applied to the skin – called topical acne medicine, and those that are taken orally – called systemic medicine.

Topical treatments come in the form of creams and lotions. There are two main types of topical acne medicine . The keratolytics , which act by peeling off the top horny outer layer of the skin, so helping to dislodge the comedones ( blackheads and whiteheads), and the antiseptics, which attempt to get rid of harmful bacterial action. Examples of keratolytic acne medicine include benzyl peroxide, Retin A, and sulphur. Examples of antispetic acne medicine include iodine ( eg Betadine), chlorhexidine, zinc salts, which are frequently incorporated into acne creams and lotions, azelaic acid.

One of the main problems with topical acne medicine is that they can be rather harsh. They can cause skin irritation and inflammation. Some, like retin A cannot be used during pregnancy. Sulphur containing acne medicines can be extremely smelly, like rotton eggs !

I can still remember the days when acne used to rule my life. I was so desperate for a cure I must have tried every over-the-counter acne medicine there was available. And there were plenty. That was the time when nobody thought acne was a serious problem. Everyone got it. Nobody had died from it. So it never occured to me that maybe I would need help.

It started with a few small spots. So I tried the standard sulphur-based acne medicine. I would apply it just over the offending spots and wait patiently till they went away. But they gradually got worse, with the number of red spots extending to different areas of my face. Soon it covered large areas of my face. I followed the instructions for how to use the acne medicine. I would cover my face with it faithfully every night, and went to bed smelling of sulphur. Even my pillows would smell of it. But I would hope and pray the medicine would do its wonderful work, and my acne would be gone. I always awoke the next day disappointed. I would wash my face, apply on a fresh layer of acne medicine and go about my day. I finally gave up when someone pointed out to me they always knew when I was coming, because the smell of the acne medicine announced my arrival !

I decided to try the benzyl peroxide-based acne medicine next. At least these did not smell of sulphur. The instructions seemed easy enough to follow. Just apply the acne medicine twice a day after washing the face and the acne would be gone within three to five days. It was again with great hope that I applied the new acne medicine. The first night, nothing happened. By the second night, my face was beginning to get a little itchy. By the third night, the side effects of the acne medicine were causing me to have a rather dry and red face. By the fourth night, my poor face was positively uncomfortable. By the fifth night, I gave up. The acne was still there. This acne medicine had not worked either.

Things just got from bad to worse. The small little red spots progressed to big spots. Big spots joined with other spots to form entire continents. There was hardly a clear space on my face. My confidence dipped to an all-time low. Acne ruled my life. It was the first thing I saw when I awoke, and the last thing I saw when I went to bed. Well meaning friends and relatives constantly commented on it and had lots of advice of what type of acne medicine would work best. I had tried everything.

Generally topical acne medicines work well for those with mild acne. A good number can be simply bought over-the-counter without the need of a doctor’s prescription. And for many, this may be the only treatment required for acne.



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