How To Stop Acne
Posted on March 30th, 2009 | by lose_spots |
Acne most commonly rears its head around the age of adolescence Some people manage to remain mostly acne free, for others it sets in quite badly. What causes acne, and how can it be controlled? In this guide, we have a close look at acne, what the causes are and how to treat it.
The causes behind acne
Acne happens when pores become clogged with oil called sebum. Sebum is responsible for lubricating skin and hair to an optimal level to ensure that it stays soft and smooth, or greasy when washing is undertaken irregularly. However, during puberty, hormones surge and can cause the skin to produce more Sebum than it needs, which can cause acne. Most of the time, acne occurs on the chin, nose and forehead, also known as the “T zone,” because this is where the most oil-producing glands are. This is usually the first and most likely place pimples will pop up.
Blocked pores quickly become inflamed and the Sebum starts backing up. Most often, you see “whiteheads” appear in these areas, which is an inflamed area surrounding a small white “capsule.” “Blackheads” are a variant of whiteheads, they are simply whiteheads that turn dark after dirt gets into them. The whitehead only becomes a pimple after the whitehead becomes infected with bacteria.
Essential Tips for Acne Care
Giving your face a good scrub a few times a day will not stop acne. Washing and scrubbing regularly will clean and cleanse the pores, however this will have the side effect of stimulating more oil production from the washed regions of skin. As the skin is already suffering from Sebum over-production, increasing this will only make things worse.
Steps you can take to control acne
Washing your face gently twice a day with specialized acne soap will remove cleanse the pores without increasing Sebum levels. DON’T SCRUB. Instead of scrubbing, massage the soap in circles over the affected areas taking care not to further inflame the irritated area.
After you clean your face, apply a mild over-the-counter lotion with benzoyl peroxide, which will kill bacteria and lower oil production. Most of these lotions also have moisturizer, which assists in moisturizing and preventing the regrowth and spread of acne.
A list of things for acne sufferers to avoid.
Don’t use moisturizers unless they are specifically formulated for oily skin or for those with acne.
Other creams will only server to make your acne worse. DO use moisturizers specifically made for oily skin and/or those that contain benzoyl peroxide.
Avoid popping pimples.
I know its difficult sometimes, but when you realize it causes infection to spread and even scarring, you may find it a lot easier to resist the urge.
Avoid touching your face unless you know for a fact that your hands are clean.
Of course, you have to touch your face when you’re washing it with clean hands, for example, but don’t touch your face throughout the day with hands that are not clean. You can transfer bacteria or other people’s sebum to your face, which can make breakouts worse.
Avoid wearing tight clothing if possible and be sure that you keep your glasses or sunglasses clean.
Clothing that is tight or constricting (even headbands and scarves) pushes oil back into the pores and causes oil buildup. The bridge of your nose is in constant contact with glasses or sunglasses, which is why its important to keep them clean. If you choose not to do this, you will be re-introducing old bacteria to your most acne susceptible areas.
If you must wear makeup, take it off before you go to sleep.
Make sure you also buy makeup that does not clogged pores and is water-based. Keep your eyes peeled to ensure that it is labeled “noncomedogenic” or “nonacnegenic”.
Wear your hair back off your face.
Having hair touching your face can aggravate and spread acne to more areas of your face.
Lastly, if you are still still having trouble with acne outbreaks, you should book an appointment with a dermatologist. He or she will have treatments and other options available for you if you can’t seem to keep it under control with normal methods. However, for most people, they will be able to keep their acne in check by following the tips listed above.
To find out more, visit a page on acne cures.
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