Acne consists of those terrible, red, swollen, pus-filled pimples which are the every woman's worst nightmare. The most common form of acne is known as acne vulgaris, usually found on women with oily skin. Acne occurs most often during puberty, because hormonal changes cause a greater secretion of sebum or oil. The oil blocks the pores, causing acne. Almost every woman will experience a few acne pimples at some point in her life.
There are various other factors that could cause acne.
* Pores clogged by dirt or pollution. * An undue amount of stress. * Hormonal changes caused by menstruation. * Too many soft drinks and too much fried food or chocolates. * Do your parents have a pimple problem? Genes could be a factor. * Some forms of medication. * Dandruff or a greasy scalp. Certain types of products you use in your hair could also irritate your skin, causing acne.
While acne is commonly seen at adolescence, many women get it during pregnancy as well, again due to hormonal changes. However, a few months after delivery the acne subsides as the hormone levels normalize. Surprising as it may sound, many women get acne for the first time in their mid-thirties or forties! This type of acne is called acne rosacea.
Benzoyl Peroxide Treatment
The next time you pick up a face wash or pimple cure cream read the list of ingredients to find out if it contains benzoyl peroxide, very effective for fighting acne. Acne is bacteria, growing in a clogged pore, and benzoyl peroxide fights bacteria. Just make sure you smear enough of it, and use it often. Your skin will start clearing up.
Fight acne on your back by making sure you scrub your back with a loofah or rough cloth while showering, after applying soap. Giving your bath a one minute scrub everyday will work wonders. If you exercise, take a shower after your workout. Don't wait too long, or the sweat will dry up and clog pores, only aggravating the acne. Apply benzoyl peroxide on your back as well.
Benzoyl peroxide is drying, so if your face or back feels very dry, realize that this is normal. Once your face is clean, you can reduce the amount of cream you apply, and your skin will gradually return to normal.
Other Treatment Options
Antibiotics: Acne can usually be treated by antibiotics. Some antibiotics for acne are very strong, and have severe side effects. The hair may start falling, or the woman may even experience difficulty during childbirth. Never, ever take any acne medication that has been prescribed for another person.
The pill: Some birth control pills can also help treat acne. This is because the hormones in the pill can stabilize the hormones that are causing the oily sebum, which causes acne.
Lazer: Lazer treatments are also effective in treating acne, but this is an expensive option. However, acne medication could also make a rather large hole in your pocket as well!
Irritation: Avoid any form of irritation to your skin. Don't pick at it or touch it too much, avoid scrubbing it with a harsh cloth, keep hair away from your face and never use substandard makeup.
Acne scarring is one of the great misfortunes of many people, young and old. It is basically visible markings, indentations or lumps on the surface of the skin that result from scar tissue which has shaped as part of the healing process where acne has previously ruined the original skin or the hair follicle.
Acne scarring is observed in different forms. Three of which are the main types of acne scarring: ice pick pore scars, acne out scars, and raised scars. It is interesting to know in the first place that this classification was discovered by the development of the acne scarring classification system that assists the medical professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of a number of acne scars.
The first type of acne scarring which is the ice pick pore scars are noted to be large and deep scars with detectable open pores that generally seem as if the skin has been jabbed with a thin and sharp instrument like the ice pick. This type of acne scarring is typically caused by a deep pimple or cyst that has damaged the hair follicle as its infection moved to the shell of the skin.
The second type of acne scarring, which is the acne pit scars, are characterized by a slightly sunken or depressed appearance on the skin. This type of acne scarring are basically indented and caused by pimples or cysts that have destroyed the skin and formed the scar tissue.
The third classification of acne scarring, known as the raised scars, are caused by the clumping together of a number of large cysts. When the cysts have clumped together, the scar tissue then forms which can create a lumpy mass of raised tissue on the surface of the skin, thus known as raised scars.
Acne scarring can be prevented. One of the main steps to prevent acne scarring is simply not to pick, pinch, and squeeze your pimples. Besides, there are several tactics that can help you lessen the visible signs of acne scarring. There are glycolic peels and special creams on the market today that can help soften the scar tissue and enhance the texture of the skin. Aside from that, acne scarring can be prevented or eliminated through some effective options like the dermabrasion, laser resurfacing or collagen injections. And, there are some vitamins and minerals that can also help to reduce acne scarring such as the vitamins A and E, as well as zinc.
So if you are having problems with acne scars, don't let acne scarring control your life. Apply those mentioned ways or consult your doctor first before opting for a particular method.
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