Monday, September 28, 2009

Acne Remedies

Acne Vulgaris: A: Cystic acne on the face, B: ...Image via Wikipedia
Acne vulgarisImage via Wikipedia
Andy Carr just spied his first whitehead before going to his Math class. Just imagine his embarassment as he thought he saw that everyone was checking on him. Fortunately for Andy there are good treatments available for his acne.

Acne can be a problem for just about anyone, throwing zits your way without regard to age or race. The majority of those that {suffer|suffers| from acne, though, are adults and young adults, aged 12 to 24. Nearly eighty percent of people who fall within this group have acne and of those 25% will experience prolonged scarring that can be anything from light to severe.

Those 25 and over, though, can still suffer from acne's vise like grip. The American Dermatologist Association reports that 20% of all adults have active acne. This translates to approximately 60 million Americans, adults and teens have active acne skin lesions and 20 million of those have acne that is bad enough to cause scars. Surprisingly, only about 10% of acne sufferers will ask for help, but this is partly caused by the the way people treat those with acne.

There is reason to hope, though, for those affected with acne. Once you have learned what causes acne, the things that help and the things that don't help and how to prevent your acne, you can take those steps to get skin that is glowing and clear.

What Causes Acne?

While acne skin lesions and the resultant scarring is not contagious, there are some known factors that do contribute to a case of acne lesions. Generally, acne is caused when the sebaceous glands produce excess oil. Other causes might include:

* An inherited tendency towards acne or genetics  * Poor cleansing of the skin  * Over washing the skin  * Hormones and hormone imbalances  * Some illnesses  * Some prescribed medications  * Stress and anxiety  * Physical irritation  * Cosmetics that are oil based  * Pollutants in the environment

Don’t Waste your Time and Money

While some acne remedies help, many do not. When buying an over the counter remedy, be careful. Lots of the acne products on the shelves today have harsh ingredients that can dry out your skin, or even make your acne worse. Pick out your cleaning and acne remedy products with care and seek out products that are not too harsh.

What Really Works

Four things really do work for acne. Together they pack a powerful punch to make acne disappear.

* Healthy diet  * Water  * Adequate sleep  * Proper cleansing

To treat acne you currently are suffering from, use natural products such as tea tree oil which has strong antiseptic effects and is really effective. Witch hazel is an effective toner and it can provide a healthy glow. Mint is a good spot treatment, especially for cystic acne. It has properties that cool and sooth the skin and kill germs in the process.

A good firming and cleansing mask that you can make yourself is a corn starch and egg white mask. Make a paste with the egg white and corn starch. Apply to your clean skin and allow to dry. Take it off later with a wet washcloth and rinse well. You will be rewarded with great skin.

An Ounce of Prevention…

Prevention will help you avoid acne in the first place. The best way to avoid acne is to take good care of your health. A good, diet low in fat that includes plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains will help keep your skin clear. Dark green leafy vegetables, like broccoli, are great acne fighters. Make sure you drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated. Adequate sleep is another easy beauty secret. Doctors will tell you to get approximately seven hours of sleep a night.

Finally, proper cleansing of your skin is necessary for keeping it clear. Take time to cleanse your skin every day. If you wear cosmetic makeup, make sure that you take it off each nightbefore retiring. When you wash your skin, use a cleanser that is gentle and be sure that the water is not too hot. Don’t over cleanse or scrub because that can make your acne worse. Rinse your skin well and blot dry with a clean towel. When you work to prevent acne, you won’t have to worry about any scarring from it.


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