8 Things To Help Treat Acne
Posted on April 29th, 2009 | by lose_spots |
The most effective methods to fight acne involve a combination of prevention and better skincare.
Here are some suggestions you can use to lessen and treat acne:
1. Get Regular Exercise
Regular exercise can help fight acne by combating negative stress levels that occur in everyone’s life. However, make sure to aviod wearing tight lycra and nylon exercise outfits. These man-made fabrics tend to trap body moisture and heat, creating an ideal environment to foster the growth of bacteria. It’s better to use loose clothing made of cotton or natural blends, and keep your clothing and equipment sanitized.
2. Use Safe Cosmetics
To avoid clogging your pores and irritating your skin that can contribute to acne, use products labeled “noncomedogenic” or “oil-free.” Opt for “hypo-allergenic” perfumes and cosmetics to adverse reactions and irritations. Coal tar derivatives, carmine and heavy cream in blushes can cause reactions.
Shimmering facial colors may contain a flaky mineral called mica that can irritate skin and clog pores. Use a lip gloss without a shiny finish for less pore-clogging. The shinier it is, the more then comedogenic content and the higher the likelihood your pores can clog.
3. Eat a Healthy Diet
Recent studies have shown that a person’s diet does not play as big a role as once believed in either the cause or the treatment of acne. With that in mind, though, what is good for the body is good for the skin. So, ensure that you get proper levels of vitamins, minerals and supplements that have been known to prevent and help treat acne breakouts. These include:
* Vitamin A or Retinol (High doses are toxic)
* Vitamin B Complex
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin E
* L-Carnitine
* Zinc
A high quality brand name multivitamin will probably have the essential vitamins and minerals that you need to help with acne prevention.
4. Hormonal Treatment May Help
Hormones (or a lack of them) during later years - especially for women - often play a role in acne outbreaks. One recent study showed that about 50 percent of women have acne problems, referred to as hormonal acne, in the week prior to their menstruation.
Options for treatment include topical retinoids, oral antibiotics and Benzoyl Peroxide for teenagers. For adult women, oral contraceptives or hormonal birth control pills and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) may be helpful. Other options include systemic ointments, and prescription or over-the-counter products.
5. Follow a Healthy Skin Regimen
Avoid harsh scrubbing or over-washing, because this can cause skin irritation or lead to over-production of oil to replace what’s washed off. Use products that exfoliate gently and don’t use products containing alcohol.
6. Acne Products Are Available
Some of the better products on the market that can prevent acne are:
* Benzoyl Peroxide
* Proactiv® Solution
* Salicylic Acid
* Retinoids
* Antibiotics
* Oral Contraceptives
* Anti-Androgens
* Isotretinoin (Accutane)
7. Advice for Shaving
Shaving is actually a very good way to exfoliate or remove dead skin. This can help with the prevention and spreading of acne by removing it so it does not clog pores. And, for some light acne cases already in process, shaving can help remove small whiteheads and blackheads that are there. Make sure to not shave areas that have worse cases and use shaving cream that says it is for sensitive skin.
Always use a razor with a sharp blade. Use gentle swipes instead of heavy pressure and don’t stroke “against the grain” Electric razors usually don’t shave as close as a regular razor blade, but they can be easier on your skin.
8. Avoid or Reduce Stress
Stress includes external and internal stress factors. External stress factors are those that inhibit your skin’s ability to take care of itself, such as oily make-up and over exposure to the sun. Internal stressors like anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, depression and a variety of other internalized emotions, can trigger chemical imbalances inside your body that can produce acne flare-ups and other skin problems.
There is more information on How To Get Rid of Pimples and Acne here.
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