ACNE SKIN CARE, CAUSES OF ACNE
What is acne ?
Acne skin care and the best acne treatments are very important topics. Before going over acne control, its important to know what acne is and the causes of acne.
Acne is a very common skin condition. It usually starts at puberty, and for most people it
disappears by age 30. It is not uncommon though for some people to have it into their
40's. It affects areas containing the largest oil producing glands, including the face, neck,
upper arms, chest and back. These glands are called the sebaceous glands. Males are
more likely to get acne, and tend to have more severe cases. In females, it tends to last
longer. Although it is not a serious health threat, severe cases can be painful and may
cause permanent scarring. Even less severe cases can lead to scarring.
We will now discuss the causes of acne in more detail.
Causes of acne
The sebaceous glands of people who get acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of a hormone called testosterone.
The amount of the male hormone testosterone in
the body increases at puberty (in girls too, although not as much as in boys). This causes
the glands to pump out an excess of oil. At the same time, the dead skin cells lining the
openings of the hair follicles are not shed properly and clog up the follicles. These two
effects combine to cause a build up of oil within the hair follicles.
Bacteria (known as P. acnes) lives on everyone's skin, usually causing no
problems. But in those who are prone to acne, the build up of oil creates an ideal
environment in which these bacteria can multiply. This triggers a chemical reaction and
the formation of red or pus-filled spots.
Sometimes the blocked follicles do not become inflamed. The term blackhead is used
when the blockage can be seen as a dark plug at the skin surface. A bumpy and flesh
colored blocked follicle lying just under the skin is called a whitehead.
Now that we have gone over the causes of acne, we will discuss risk factors.
Risk factors
The following risk factors can be causes of acne:
-Hereditary, though there is no guarantee that if you parents had it that
you will get it.
-Oily or greasy cosmetic products including sunscreen.
-Hormonal changes associated with adolescence, menstruation, and pregnancy.
-In some people, sugars can trigger an outbreak. Examples include chocolate, sweets, sugary
foods and drinks, sugar that is added to coffee or tea, cakes, desserts, etc.
-Stress can cause hormonal changes, which can cause outbreaks.
-Friction and sweating. Typical causes include bike helmets, backpacks, tight collars or
headbands.
-Environmental irritants such as pollution and excessive humidity.
-Excessive washing/scrubbing of the skin.
-Squeezing and picking blemishes.
We will now discuss acne scarring, and then acne control.
Acne scarring
Scars are caused by the body's inflammatory response to acne lesions. When the
body repairs the skin, it does not always do a perfect job. As a result, scars form. Why
scars form in some people and not others is not entirely understood. Some people may
just be more prone to scarring than others. Scars in some people improve over time,
while in others the scars may last a lifetime. Everyone is different, and there is no way to
predict how one's skin will react. The best way to prevent scars is to treat acne
early, and as long as necessary. Good acne skin care today will mean a lifetime of healthy looking skin.
We will now go over acne control.
Curing acne
Acne control can be difficult. No treatment will completely cure acne. The aims of the best acne treatments are to prevent new spots
from forming, to improve those already present, and to prevent scarring. The important thing with acne skin care is to treat it immediately before it worsens.
We will now go over the best acne treatments.
Best treatments for acne skin care
There are many acne skin care treatments available. While these treatments
can offer improvement, some treatments work better in certain individuals than others.
The experts at healthy skin guide have been studying acne treatments for many years. We have found that the key is to keep your skin clean, and use an effective natural acne treatment. The best skin wash for preventing acne that we have seen is ClearSkin FaceWash. The best acne treatment is ClearSkin Acne Gel. Follow these links to read more about both, and learn how they can help you.
Many over the counter and prescription medications have side effects. For that reason it is very important to use quality products like these that only contain safe natural ingredients.
If you have any questions about acne skin care, acne control, or the causes of acne, please email us at editor@healthy-skin-guide.com.
More than Acne Skin Care on our Acne Treatments Page
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