Archive for July, 2008

Facts about Acne Vulgaris or Severe Acne

It is only common for teenagers and early adolescents to have mild to moderate pimple and acne problems due to changes in hormonal activity plus adjustments to the so-called “early adult years”. On the other hand, there are many cases when the problem of the skin has gone from normal to worse - this could be the stage of acne vulgaris or what is commonly known as severe acne.

Statistical research have led to numerable cases of teenagers and even young adults who have suffered from low self-esteem, inferiority complex, depression or worse, cases of suicide due to the effects of severe acne problem to their outward appearance and social behavior.

Cases of severe acne usually develop during early adulthood and worsen when one does not immediately apply the necessary treatment for acne. It is very important to be rightly informed about the common What, Why and How questions about severe acne.

How does one diagnose the problem of severe acne (acne vulgaris)?

- The appearance of the acne has already become very unsightly, painful and irritating.
- That of which the case has already spread to the shoulders, neck, back, armpits, chest, buttocks, legs and arms of the patient.
- Not so ordinary number of pimples in which the skin is already characterized by painful to itchy cysts, large nodules, reddish spots and very oily skin.
- The occurrence of the acne could last up to weeks, which could eventually result to acne scars, deep pockmarks and permanent blemishes in the skin.

“What is severe acne or acne vulgaris?”

Acne vulgaris is the condition of the skin wherein there is the development of cysts, nodules and pimples which are large, reddish and painful in nature. Usually, this is the most severe kind of acne problem where the patient must need medical treatment as soon as possible.

“Why does it normally occur to a certain person?”

Severe acne, or just acne itself, could be affected by a number of factors which could be hereditary or could be because of the environment. There is no doubt that acne problems are very well-linked to the genes from the parent but in most cases, the one that should be blamed could still be the hygiene of the person, the environment, lifestyle, general health condition and hormonal activity.

“How does acne develop in the skin? What are the causes of acne?”

It is the belief of the majority of people to blame dirt and bacteria as the number one source of severe acne problems. However, only a part of it is truth. Acne develops when a hair follicle, which is situated in the pores of our skin, got irritated, infected or blocked.

When the production of sebum or oil in our skin is blocked due to closed pores, dirt and dust, the skin’s normal reaction would be to develop antibodies to inhibit where there are bacteria. Antibodies fight off the skin infection, even affecting the cells around them. This is when the pores of the skin turn into something painful, red and inflamed. This is what you call pimple, nodule, acne, zit, cyst, you-name-it.

Leave a Comment

What Are The Best Acne Solutions And Treatments?

Isn’t it annoying seeing yourself one morning with all those red pimples saying hello to you? Have you ever felt frustrated knowing that you have tried almost any acne solutions available in the market but still the problem persists? What’s more annoying about having acne is that one day you’ll see only one and then another day a throng of zits welcomes themselves.

There are said to have a lot of reasons why we faced ourselves with those irritatingly pipsqueak acne. One of the most common reasons why people experience having this pimple crisis is the way they live their lives. As we go on to our habitual routine, we came to a point where we encounter bad timings, which at a certain point ends into a stress.

Now as we all know stress is the usual the obstruction to our body to rejuvenate into its normal state of balance. This internal turmoil, that commence due to stress, oftentimes manifest to our skin, thus, acne appears. Another contributing factor that causes acne is the hormonal imbalances that we, mostly women, experience.

These hormonal imbalances such as pregnancy, menstruation, and the use of birth control pills trigger the glands to turn out into acne. Cheap cosmetics products are another culprit why you can get acne. Those products trap the skin pores which then leads to acne.

So what then is the best acne solution?

Before you even try all the acne solutions available in the market such as creams, exfoliants, and organic acne treatment, you have first to reconsider your diet. Yep. Acne can be caused by your diet. If you go to the Acne Help website, you’ll find a lot more information on the effect of different kinds of diet on acne.

Though your doctor may say that there is indeed no linkage between the acne and your diet, a lot of researchers have proven otherwise. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with changing your diet. As a matter of fact, changing your diet might even provide you other benefits.

Another acne solution that may be effective is releasing all your stress. How do we do that? Simple. There are a lot of ways to diminish your stress. You can go to a massage center or spa and ask for a reflexology massage. Massage does help in releasing all your stress. By eliminating all your stress you’ll have a lesser chance of saying ‘hi’ to acne. Also, massage does not only eliminate stress, but it can also make you healthier inside and out.

Among many acne solutions, the most conventional would have to be a simple cleaning treatment. Most of the time dermatologist will suggest benzoyl peroxide. It has been proven by many that applying benzoyl peroxide diminishes all those zits within a day or two. However, this is not usually the case since there are a lot of skin types and not all skin types are friendly to acne solution such as benzoyl peroxide.

So before you even try to use harmful chemicals, I would have to suggest that you go directly to your dermatologist. They know your skin type and they will definitely give you proper prescription. However, you can also try the other acne solutions that I mentioned above. Changing your diet and releasing your stress are just some of the cheapest way to fight your skin from those frustrating pimple.

Leave a Comment

Baby and Infant Acne Treatment or Remedy?

A Mother’s Testimonial on dealing with Acne

Being a mother is the most tiring yet rewarding job of all time. I had been a full-time mother to four adorable girls for 15 years now. I never had problems to my first three babies but when it comes to the youngest I had encounter a problem which I did not expect to happen. When my youngest child was born she has a very delicate and glowing skin. I was so happy to see her smile everyday.

But when she was three months old I noticed some spots and little red bumps all over her cheeks. I was so alarmed and went to see a doctor to check what is going on the face of my baby. The doctor told me that my daughter’s situation was uncommon. My daughter is having baby acne, which for me is very dispiriting because my baby is helpless with her case. I was sad those days.

I learned that infant acne is a situation where babies’ undergo some hormonal imbalance in their bodies. This is a very gloomy situation for me because it has no immediate cure. And the pediatrician said that the only cure is to wait for the time when my child’s hormonal changes finally stop. I must always make sure that her face is clean.

I never experienced this kind of problem from my first three babies but I think this situation made my youngest baby very special. She is my most delicate baby. Everyday I used to ensure that her face is clean and that it is away from dripping milk from her bottle.

Patiently and gently, I rub soft cloth to her sensitive face so that I would not hurt her and make her acne worse. The pediatrician also suggests that I should not wash my baby’s clothes with laundry detergent since it can irritate the infant’s skin.

It was a pretty heart-warming experience. With her condition I learned that motherhood needs patience and dedication to her family. After 4 months, my baby’s face is cleared with the acne. When I saw her face and heard her giggle without those rashes, it feels so rewarding. Now I am sure that my baby will be having a very happy and memorable childhood away from pranks and bullying from other kids.

As I watch them grow and become ladies, all I can do is to pass to them what I learned from motherhood. I will teach them to love their children and be patient. And to be a good woman they need to be dedicated and loving to every endeavor they do for their children.

Now, that all of my girls grew up as flawless and beautiful young woman. I am assured that I made a very good job. So to all mothers out there who encounter such problems like Infant Acne the best way to do is to be calm and patient. Dedication is very important since in those kinds of situations you need to be hopeful for your children’s sake.

Leave a Comment

Acne Rosacea and Best Treatment Tips to Cure your Pimples

Acne rosacea is generally characterized by red spots which would range from numerous to only a few spots found in the face, neck, chest or upper back of the body. It is usually a mild case of acne for most adolescents and young adults which are generally overlooked as a minor skin condition which does not need any kind of medical attention.

This is where we have been misinformed of. Acne rosacea or mild could actually get worse and develop into severe cases of cysts, nodules and pus-filled pimples if ignored and neglected. Even if you may see it as something harmless and only mild, it could actually develop into something which you would not even think of severe acne or acne vulgaris.

What should be Done to Get Rid of Acne Rosacea

Topical ointments, creams and lotions are usually the best kind of medical acne treatment when you are talking about the price of maintenance and level of efficiency. Topical gels with benzoyl peroxide are usually prescribed by dermatologists for those suffering from mild to severe cases of acne. This has become one of the safest methods of acne treatment due to the rareness of cases of sensitivity and skin reactions to benzoyl peroxide which are available in 5%, 10% to 15% solution.

How to Permanently Erase Acne Rosacea from your Vocabulary

Because acne is caused by the inflammation of oil glands due to blocked pores of the skin, it is best to keep the skin “breathing”. Always wash your face with warm water to open up the pores of the skin and remove those unwanted impurities which causes those problematic signs of acne to develop. But not hot water and not too often as to scald your face and make it even more oily and dry than before!

Have you ever heard of a statement that “eating peanuts causes acne break outs”?

This is actually has a touch of little fact since peanuts are well known to have very high content of oil and fat, high intake of this could actually cause acne to “erupt”. It is NOT only nuts but also foods like deep fried, fatty foods, high in sugar, starchy foods and even milk! Studies have linked cow’s milk to acne problems. All kinds of milk, skimmed milk, buttered milk, evaporated milk, etc. That glass of warm milk could actually be the reason why you have developing acne in your skin throughout these years.

Whatever happens, just don’t touch nor prick your pimples!

Even if your big date is tomorrow night, do not ever try to squeeze those pimples in your cheek. Pricking and touching it all the time would very well worsen its condition. What would be the best thing for you to do is to apply salicylic acid ointments to the affected area to dry the pimples away, fast and effective. You could also try dabbing ice on the pimples to lessen the inflammation and redness then hide it with non-comedogenic make up or water based concealer.

Do not ever try tanning lotions and creams just to conceal the acne!

Tanning lotions could actually darken the skin but it does not remove nor really hide the acne in your skin. Other people would tend to have darker acne blemishes than before due increased pigmentation on the skin. So if you are thinking of tanning your acne, it is best to not consider it. Acne rosacea is not similar in nature to freckles.

Leave a Comment

Acne Medication and the Benzoyl Peroxide

Acne Proactive Solution - should you use it?

What should you do with your acne? How should you deal with it so that your self esteem will not be affected? Many acne sufferers tend to get lower self esteem than those who are not bothered with it. A lot of acne treatment solutions have been uncovered in the past years and many of the acne sufferers these days find them really effective. Yet there are several thoughts to unearth when it comes to the choice of a particular treatment to deal with acne.

In today’s market, the benzoyl peroxide is considered to be the strongest topical medicine which fights off the outbreak of acne. People should also be made aware that this type of chemical is harsh and can create the most unwanted consequences should it be overly used. For one, it can result to the dryness of the skin. Second, it can twist the skin’s ph level. When there is acne infection heaped on a person, the healing process will be hindered. After all, the last thing that a person needs and wants is another set of irritation on the skin after a very long time of being bugged by acne infection.

The proactive acne solution is far different from the rest of the acne treatment medicine introduced in the past years. It contains the strong chemical called benzoyl peroxide yet it also possesses the capacity to counter attack its harsh side effects. The use of proactive acne solution involves three significant steps.

They are the following:
The first step in the treatment is the use of the proactive renewing cleanser. It includes the chemical benzoyl peroxide which sanitizes the skin and strips it of the dead cells which clog the oil glands. At the same rate, the treatment allows the medicine to seep deep into the pores to fight off the problem.

The second step to the treatment is the proactive revitalizing skin toner. It is alcohol free and provides a balanced ph on the skin. It likewise moisturizes the skin so that the harsh side effects of the chemical medicine benzoyl peroxide will be threatened. This second acne treatment then moistens the skin, makes it elastic, and enables it to fight against the bacteria before they can settle into the pores.

The third treatment is called the proactive repairing lotion. It is a well formulated lotion which involves benzoyl peroxide yet doesn’t clog the pores in any way possible. It functions in coating and beautifying the skin with a type of an anti-bacterial medicine coat which somehow bars the bacteria from getting into the skin pores.

Unlike any other acne medicine, the proactive acne solution assaults the bacteria that thrive on the top layer and underneath the skin. Aside from killing the acne causing bacteria, this type of acne solution likewise beautifies the skin. Moreover, this renewing natural treatment is becoming more and more popular among the youth and the celebrities. The three-step-solution is easy to apply and can be administered anywhere the user is.

Comments (1)

Acne Wash and Showers using Acne Soaps or other Skin Care Products

To understand if showers can be good to get rid of acne, you must understand where acne comes from. Acnes come from a long line of dirt in your pores that is clogged and trapped. This dirt is caused by bacteria in your skin. And when this dirt spreads throughout your skin, it now causes pimples and for some, this eventually leads to acne.

There are different ways in order for you to get rid of acne. You might want to try out a kind of acne soap, oil, cream, shampoo or moisturizer that is best suited for your skin. This way, these types of products, when applied fully, is able to help you get rid of these dead cells and unearth some fresh new ones. You can also consult your dermatologist about the best products for your skin.

These advices can make your skin look fresh, new and appealing. And since all of them have a common pattern, which is cleaning, then naturally, showers can be good for the skin for it cleanses the skin and is able to get rid of dead cells. Experts have advised that it is best to take showers at least two times a day to get rid of these dead skin cells. And when taking showers, always use a mild soap for the skin since you are able to treat your skin gently.

You should avoid using harsh soap, which would only worsen your acne.
Showers not only help you in being cleansed fully but it also takes your hair out of your face. This situation can help you develop acne and in these cases, it is best to take a shower regularly. And always try and keep your forehead clean by always applying wet and clean tissues or cloths.

It is also advisable that when you take a shower, always shampoo your hair. But of course, like soap, use a shampoo that is best suited for your hair. It will not help you get rid of the acne in your face but it can also help you get rid of the oil and grease on your hair.
And when finished taking a bath, guarantee that the products you use are non acnedemic, which basically says that it does not clog pores and it lets pores breathe. It is also best to use daily wash acne regularly at least twice a day – one in the morning and the other one in the evening.

It is also advisable not only to shower but to also wash your face upon waking up, and always use fresh and clean towels and wipes.

When getting rid of acne, it just means that you need to make yourself clean, and by cleaning, taking a shower regularly. This would help you get rid of all the dirt and oil not only in your face but throughout your body as well. Choose the right kind of moisturizer, the right kind of shampoo or soap for your body. If you can’t decide which product to buy, consult your dermatologist about this.

Leave a Comment

Body Acne Treatment Skin Care Tips

Everybody wants to be beautiful. With the advancement in advertising in different media, the people are too exposed to model-like beauties that are very much pleasing to look at and even more pleasing to have. But there are times when a person is simply born with neither a flawless skin nor a beautiful body. With this demand, technology has given each person the chance to improve. There are now many available ways to improve each person’s appearance and this includes lessening the acne and the scars that goes with it. With this chance, people may feel better with a blemish-free skin.

Acne is a skin disease that is caused by excessive secretion of sebum oil in the skin. The increase of this type of oil can be hereditary, caused by the environment, or hormonal changes. By knowing the cause of the acne, it can be easily resolved through proper cleansing and other beauty regimen. Although it may take time to permanently achieve the acne-free skin, it is still pleasant to know that it is treatable.

The first thing to accept if one aims to treat acne is that acne does not clear overnight. It takes time to heal and clear out the skin. Also, continuous treatment is still needed to sustain good result. So if one really wants a blemish-free skin, investing time would be the first thing required. Another pointer is that people have different skin types. With this, we know that some people may have fine and smooth skin even if they do not apply anything to their face while there are those who only manage to keep their face clear by cleansing, moisturizing and toning day and night. This also applies that one face care regimen may work for one person but not for another. This is caused by the fact that there can be different causes for the acne development in every person. The environment, skin type, stress and the kind of acne present may also be the cause of this variation.

Seeking for professional help may be helpful for those who really aim the meticulous result. In addition, some skin types may not respond well to over the counter medications since their skin might be sensitive. With the said different factors that might affect the cause of having acne of a person, it is advised to ask for a dermatologist’s help in treating it. The expert will then e able to determining the cause of the acne, its severity, type, and the best form of treatment which will depend on the environment and lifestyle of the person.

With this, it can be better assessed what best action can be done to treat acne and prevent the skin from having one again. Additionally, acne will better react to medications done during the early stage. So, it is suggested that acne will be treated early to achieve best efficiency. Early treatment would also prevent scarring. Together with all of these, having a clear skin is just the first step in possessing the much wanted model-like face and body.

Leave a Comment

Acne Vulgaris Information and Acne Products for Treatment

Pertinent Information on the Condition called Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is a condition of the skin, better known as a skin disease that is inflammatory in nature and normally develop because of clogged skin pores usually on a person’s face but also can grow in the chest, the arms, and the back.

The pores being blocked results to restricted oil flow into the skin surface causing the oil to solidify hence forming a blackhead. The build up of oil causes bacterial infection that will end up producing pus and redness; severe inflammation would then result to dep rooted infection that is the start of acne vulgaris.

Acne vulgaris is most commonly found in adolescents. However, it may also develop in people in their mid-twenties and in some cases even develop in people who are 40-50 years of age or older.

One of the myths pertaining to acne vulgaris development would be eating fatty foods such as chocolate would case acne. The truth is that in some people chocolate or other types of fatty foods may worsen acne vulgaris but those kinds of foods are not necessarily the factors in acne vulgaris development.

The myth that acne is caused by dirt should also be forgotten. Poor hygiene or dirt does not cause acne vulgaris. The belief that squeezing acne can cure your condition is also untrue. Pricking acne may improve the skin’s condition only if a professional skin expert is the one doing the squeezing and if the special tool for pricking (sterilized) is used. Squeezing your acne vulgaris using your own fingers would only cause the dirt and oil to go deeper into the skin which would cause acne scars and would worsen the acne. That is why avoid pricking your acne by yourself.

The most common products to treat acne vulgaris are the following:

- Benzoyl peroxide – a product that is an over the counter medication and is used for treating mild acne. Prolonged used however would result to more skin irritation as well as cause the skin to dry up.

- Topical vitamin A derivatives – are in cream, lotion, or gel form that are best for treating blackheads (the star of acne vulgaris development) however just like benzoyl peroxide, use of these derivatives would irritate and dry the skin.

- Antibiotic tablets – this is a treatment for moderate and also severe acne vulgaris. The most popular of these tablets are the so called tetracyclines. Treatment is not done for a short period of time, rather a long one, at least six months and can even last up to 2-3 years. You also cannot stop taking antibiotics abruptly as it will worsen your acne. Stopping antibiotics intake should be done gradually.

Acne vulgaris may also leave severe scarring on the skin, especially on the face. The scars can be reduced or improved most especially if treatment is done on the earlier stages of scar formations. Deep scars however require procedures such as skin peeling, dermabrasion, etc. and would take a longer period of time before any improvements are seen.

Leave a Comment

Acne Free Home Treatment Wash and Soap

Your Guide to Be Acne Free

A lot of people dreamed of being acne free when they were adolescents. Often called as zits, acne has been associated with depression, lack of self-esteem, and sometimes even suicide. Be free of acne, one person needs to understand its nature and move on from there. Acne is believed to be hereditary. Some teenagers get it and some do not. Researches show that acne seems to run in bloodlines or families. It has been observed that people who develop acne will have one or more relative who also have acne.

Another cause of acne is bacteria. Just like pimples, acne can be caused by dirt that clogs the skin. Without a healthy skin, the glandular system will not work well and this will cause clogged follicles, which, in turn, will result to acne. How one person can be acne free is not really a total shot in the dark. Although everyone knows that acne is a real trouble, there are still ways to ensure that the acne problem will not worsen.

First off, any person needs to exfoliate. There are a lot of products in the market that offers several stages of exfoliating cram that will fit the age and skin type of the user. The key here is discipline. Exfoliating should be done as a ritual and should never be missed. One thing that a person should remember, though, is that she has to follow the instructions carefully and she may even need to consult a doctor what exfoliating cream to use. There are some people whose skin is so sensitive that exfoliating may even do more damage than harm.

The second recommendation to reduce acne occurrence or to be totally acne free is hygiene. People often overlook their own cleanliness. Often times, the solution to a skin problem is not found in medications but in habits. It is advised that people who have acne should wash their face at least twice a day. However, this should be accompanied by a soap that nourishes the skin. Washing the face too much may remove it of its natural oils and may lead to a dry and cracked skin.

Aside from washing, people with acne should not touch their faces often. Hands touch everything and the hand is a powerful source of disease. Bacteria are always present in the hands and touching one’s face often will lead to the bacterial transfer from the hand to the face.

In addition to hygiene, bed sheets and pillowcases must be changed regularly. If possible, this should be done weekly. All the oil from the hair and face is transferred to the pillow and the bed sheet. If these are not changed frequently, acne will not go away but instead get into a worse condition.

The last thing one should consider to be acne free is diet. Although there are no solid scientific evidences yet, there are studies that show that being dehydrated causes acne. It is therefore necessary to drink lots of water. It is also advised to keep away from alcoholic drinks or beverages and spicy foods.

Leave a Comment

What Causes Acne and The origin of Acne

I’m quite sure that you have wanted to get rid of that acne on your face for the longest time. Not only does it scar your whole face but it also ruptures your self-confidence and keeps it at a minimum low. Right now, there have been studies and researches on how to get rid of acne and its ill-splitting side effects. But before knowing how to get rid of acne, you must really know what causes acne. This way, you would know what you should do and what to avoid.

Acne is actually a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, which is made up of hair, sebaceous gland and hair follicle. These units can be located all over the body except for the top of the feet, the lower lip, the palm, and the soles. Most of these units can be found on the face, chest and upper neck. The sebaceous gland is responsible for the secreting of sebum, which keeps the skin moisturized. During the teenage years, the sebaceous glands produce much sebum under the direction of the hormones. During the age of 20, the sebum eventually decreases.

There are bacteria in the skin called Propionibacterium acnes, which are just normal and make use of sebum as a growth nutrient and gives off follicles during the stage of puberty. People who are suffering from acne have more Propionibacterium acnes in their follicle than people who are not suffering from acne. This type of bacteria then is able to attract white blood cells to this follicle. However, these white blood cells produce such enzymes and are here to destroy the walls of the follicle. Therefore, if this be the case, the contents of these follicles seep into the dermis, and which produces an inflammatory sign that is called papules or red bumps. The bacteria also are able to come out with free fatty acids that cause the increase in the inflammation of the follicle.

The sebum that comes from the sebaceous gland is combined with the hair that is being carted off from the hair follicle and this would make the hair follicle “full.” When it is full, the sebum spreads over the skin layer and this gives off an impression of oily appearance in the skin. When this process works correctly, the skin can actually be moisturized.

But when it doesn’t work properly, problems arise, especially if the sebum is trapped in the hair follicle. And there are some hair follicles which get blocked. When it gets trapped, the cells that are being carted off become clammy which eventually blocks off the follicle. When follicles are obstructed, this is now known as the comedogenesis, and this causes a type of acne, which also produces blackheads and whiteheads.

So if you are suffering from acne, always try to take care of your skin, particularly in the face, lower neck and back areas. You can do this by taking a shower regularly and by choosing a smooth soap for your skin. It is always best to consult a doctor, especially a dermatologist, about this ailment.

Leave a Comment