health care information

Blemishes. Zits. Pimples. Bumps.

No matter what you call it, nearly everyone has had to deal with acne breakouts at least one time in their life. For some women, dealing with acne is a daily struggle; however, even if you only have to deal with the occasional eruption, acne can be a painful experience.

Many different factors are considered by researchers to be the cause of acne, but a specific cause is still unknown. Factors such as increased hormones, heredity and even the use of some medications have all been attributed to triggering breakouts. In the case of women, it is often the changing levels of hormones in the 2 to 7 days prior to the beginning of a menstrual period that will trigger or worsen an acne flare-up. This combined with skin irritation (caused by rubbing, squeezing or picking at blemishes), pressure from tight clothing (in the case of body acne), pollution, and hard scrubbing can cause acne to worsen.

While dermatologists generally treat moderate to severe cases of acne, it is possible to treat a mild acne flare-up at home. Over the counter treatments that contain such compounds as benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur are often used to treat acne, but each works a little differently. When using over the counter acne treatments, always be aware of possible side effects such as skin irritation, burning or redness, which may lessen with continued use of the product. If symptoms persist or worsen, consult your dermatologist. You may need to consult a dermatologist to see which treatment type is best for your skin type, acne type and cycle of breakouts. Your doctor may also recommend a prescription medication to help control breakouts. This group of treatments include antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin, adapalene and azelaic acid. With all treatments, either over the counter or prescription, products may have to be used for 8 weeks or more before results are visible.

For women, a dermatologist may be able to determine whether acne is related to environment (factors such as pollution and skin irritation) or normal hormonal fluctuation. Medications such as low-dose birth control pills, corticosteroid drugs, and antiandrogen drugs may help control hormone-related acne flare-ups. The use of these types of drugs must be considered carefully, as side effects may vary greatly from person to person and sometimes include irregular menstruation, tender breasts, headache and fatigue.

The first step in any acne treatment should be prevention. By adopting a daily cleansing routine, acne breakouts can be greatly reduced. All skin types can follow these simple steps to help stop acne before it starts:

Clean Skin Gently. Using a mild cleanser twice a day and after strenuous exercise to gently clean the skin can help to reduce the chance of an acne flare-up. Using strong detergents or rough scrubbing pads may seem like the correct way to get a thorough cleaning, but these types of cleansers may actually worsen a breakout. Clean the face from under the jaw line to the hairline; use astringent only if the skin is excessively oily, and only on oily patches.

Avoid Touching the Skin. Squeezing or picking at acne blemishes raises the risk of developing scars or skin discoloration.

Avoid Excessive Sun Exposure. Women have long believed that allowing acne to “get some sun” can help in the healing process by drying out excess oil near the lesion. These benefits are only temporary, and medications to help with acne breakouts often react badly to sun exposure, making the skin more likely to burn.

Choose Cosmetics Wisely. Cosmetics that are noncomedogenic may help in preventing acne flare-ups, and all cosmetic products (including moisturizers, eye shadows and blushes) should be oil-free to help stop acne before it starts.

Treating acne breakouts can range from quick fixes to long-term regimens for skin care set by a dermatologist. With good skin care, acne can be controlled or prevented. Finding the right acne treatment may take time, as women have varying skin types and sensitivities; but with proper skin care and proper treatment of acne, every woman can have beautiful, glowing skin.

Acne patients are always in search for the top acne products in the market that suits their needs because it’s really hard to find the right acne solution suitable for the patient’s skin type. An acne-affected person should consider different aspects in choosing the right product like knowing if that certain product you’re eyeing is the right one for you or not. This is only possible if you’re knowledgeable enough in knowing the facts about the ingredients of acne products and paying attention as you read the product’s label.
1. In the early days of acne, patients prefer to use topical treatments to cure acne problems. Acne creams are available and can be purchased over-the-counter with a reasonable price everyone can afford. As one of the forms of top acne products, most acne creams are made to immediately heal pimples and breakouts from the first time they appear in the surface of the skin, preventing them to grow and form as another pimple. Daily usage is necessary for acne creams for the immediate treatment of the acne as well as the scar caused by acne breakouts.
2. Another form of the top acne products available is through gel lotion. As one of the topical treatment used by many to cure acne, acne treatment in gel lotion form has its similarity with acne creams when applied. This form of acne products is such a powerful product that could cause your skin to become sensitive to sunlight therefore using sunscreen with the gel is highly recommended. Though it could be a negative side of acne gel products that can be resolved, the power of the product in improving the overall appearance of those who use it is a big fact that it really works wonders.
3. Using products with active acne ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid in the form of a facial wash product is one of the popular and top acne products in the market. Everyday use of this form of acne product thoroughly cleanses the skin without causing dryness or flaking of the skin. Top acne products in facial wash leaves a protective healing film after washing that softens the skin as it protects the surface against bacterial infections acquired from environmental pollution and such. The use of facial wash as an acne product also helps in healing existing pimples, improve texture and effectively prevent future pimple outbreaks. Patients with oily skin truly benefits from using these products as it prevents the primary causes of having acne.
4. Everyone believes that the best way to treat this kind of problem is from the inside out. With the combined use of herbal medicines and active acne ingredients, an acne product in the form of pills is one of the popular acne products available in the market. Patients can see a difference in a span of a normal time frame of natural acne treatments which is about 2-3 months of use. Most herbal acne pills contain anti-oxidant ingredients that help destroy the harmful free radicals that often promote infections to the skin. Herbal acne pills are proven to be safe for both adults and teenagers, making it one of the top acne products ever sold.

Acne Introduction

Acne is a skin disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the skin’s oil glands (sebaceous glands) which leads to plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and outbreaks of cysts or nodules commonly called pimples and they may occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms. Most of the teenagers are affected by the acne. However, the disease is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20s – even into their 40s – can get acne. Being not a life threatening health condition, acne is still upsetting and disfiguring as sometimes it leads to permanent and serious scarring. Even less severe cases leads to scarring.Acne Symptoms

There are two main types of acne: non-inflammatory and inflammatory.

In non-inflammatory acne, there are usually just a few whiteheads and blackheads on the face.

With inflammatory acne, the whiteheads become inflamed, and pimples and pustules develop. In its most severe form, inflammatory acne can cause disfiguring cysts and deep, pitting scars of the face, neck, back and chest.Acne Causes

The main cause of acne is a devitalized condition of the skin resulting from unhygienic living habits. Other causes of acne are excessive use of tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco, strenuous studies, masturbation and sedentary habits which lead to indigestion and general debility.Acne Treatment – Home remedies for Acne

1. Apply orange peel pounded well with water to the affected area.

2. Apply Cucumber leaves or grated pieces for acne cure. One of the effective home remedies for acne.

3. Rub the affected area with a fresh cut clove of garlic.

4. Apply clove based face mask or a paste of Fenugreek (Methi ) leaves overnight on acne and wash off next morning.

5. The lemon has also proved beneficial in removing pimples and acne. It can be applied regularly.

6. Grind the bark of neem and turmeric (haldi) together in water. Rub the paste on the affected parts. One of the best home remedies for acne.

7. Rub a piece of sandalwood on a clean stone, using a little of rose water or cucumber juice to make a paste. This pack will give a fresh feeling and will discourage acne. One of the popular home remedies for acne.

8. Rub jaiphal nut with sandal powder and unboiled milk and apply the paste on the acne. Wash after one hour. Do this regularly till you get 100% results.

9. Mashed papaya applied on the face helps clear scars and marks on the skin.

10. A teaspoonful of coriander juice, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder, is another effective home remedy for pimples and blackheads. The mixture should be applied to the face after thoroughly washing it, every night before retiring. One of the useful home remedies for acne.

11. The juice of raw potatoes has also proved useful in clearing skin blemishes. This cleansing results from high content of potassium, sulphur, phosphorus and chlorine in the potato. One of the effective home remedies for acne

12. In nature cure, the main emphasis is on diet and certain water applications.

13. A Multani Mitti pack is an effective way to control pimples.

14. A spoonful of honey mixed with rose water can be taken daily. One of the well liked home remedies for acne.

15. Any sulphur soap can be used to wash the acne face daily.Acne Prevention

1. Regularly clean the skin.

2. Have a well-balanced, regular diet. Emphasis should be on foods rich in fibre such as raw foods, especially fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouted seeds, raw nuts and whole grain cereals, especially millet and brown rice to prevent constipation, the main cause of acne.

3. To keep the face pores open light steam should be given once a week.

4. Drink at least 1 liter of water a day to impart a healthy glow to the skin.

5. Starchy, protein and fatty foods should be restricted.

6. Meats, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and processed foods should be avoided.Cleaning methods to be followed for acne skin

1. Apply a suitable home made face pack and keep it for 10-15 minutes.

2. Remove the pack and blot the residue with a cold, wet towel.

3. Moisten a piece of cotton with an antiseptic lotion and touch each every pimple or acne.

4. Antibiotic lotions can also be applied after cleaning the face.

In all cases of skin problems high standards of personal hygiene, balanced diet, congenial environs, gay and happy mood will go along way in preventing acne and quick recovery. One should inhale natural fresh air and take long walks, keep the mind free from worries and tensions for the quick recovery from acne with minimum use of medications.