Acne Skin Care Methods

Mark Woodcock

Acne can be a painful and embarrassing condition for a person to
be afflicted with. Often, a person who has acne cannot control
its occurrence. But, by following a few acne skin care
practices, acne can be controlled and even gotten rid of.

Acne is an inflammatory skin disease that affects millions of
individuals. The most universal type of acne is known as "common
acne". Acne is caused when too many oils are secreted from the
glands and those oils mix with dead skin cells, blocking the
hair follicles. More oil secretions increase underneath the
already blocked follicles (or pores), and skin bacteria begin to
grow rapidly. This leads to red and irritated skin that most
often appears as bumps on the skin's surface. Any skin surface
of the body is susceptible to acne, but it most commonly (and
heavily) appears on the face, chest, back, and upper arm region.

Acne commonly begins to occur during puberty due to an irregular
response by the body to regular levels of testosterone, a male
hormone. Often, acne begins to subside or disappear altogether
by the mid 20's. However, some individuals do suffer with it
throughout adulthood. And some adults do not even see the onset
of acne until well into the adult years. This is known as adult
onset acne.

Acne can leave scarring on the skin, as well as have a scarring
effect on a person's self-esteem, and even lead to depression.
Because society can be so unforgiving about appearances, there
are various medically prescribed treatments available, as well
as acne skin care regimens that can be utilized in order to
minimize the symptoms of acne.

Different things cause acne for different sufferers. A few of
the recognized causes of acne include heredity, hormonal
activity (puberty, menstruation, pregnancy), stress, certain
medications, and skin irritation. All of these things have the
potential to cause acne, as well as exacerbate it. There are a
few myths regarding acne. For instance we've all heard of a mom
telling her child not to eat too many greasy foods like French
fries, or eat too many sweets, because it will give him or her
pimples. That is simply an old wives' tale. Diet does not cause
acne, and does not affect it. Also, poor hygiene has no bearing
on the occurrence of acne. Acne is not caused by dirt, and
having poor hygiene habits will not aggravate the condition.

There are many treatments for acne available, both through
prescription, and over the counter. There are antibiotics in the
form of pills, as well as topical creams that are designed to
treat the condition. Exfoliation can be used as a treatment to
remove and prevent the build up of dead skin cells. And light
therapy is being used more and more to treat acne. It is
important to consult a dermatologist in order to determine the
best course of treatment and learn the best regimen of acne skin
care to carry out.

Dealing with the occurrence of acne requires knowing how to
properly care for the skin. Acne skin care can help keep the
problem from getting worse, and even alleviate it. It is
important to gently wash the skin at least twice a day with a
gentle skin cleanser. Do not scrub with a rough pad or use a
rough soap. This will make the acne problem worse. And always
completely rinse the skin after cleansing.

As part of an acne skin care routine, it is important to
remember not to touch the afflicted skin areas. Do not try to
squeeze acne. An infection could occur, compounding the problem,
and scarring could result. Also, avoid the sun when possible.
Wear protective clothing to avoid tanning or burning. The skin
will age faster, and any fading effect of the acne is temporary
and will become visible again when the burn or tan fades.

When using cosmetics, take care to use oil-free products, and
products that are non-comedogenic (won't clog the pores). And
for men who shave their faces, it is important to shave very
carefully. Shave with a light hand to avoid cutting or nicking
the blemishes. If these steps in acne skin care are taken, the
pain and embarrassment of the problem can be alleviated, and
over time, eliminated completely.

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