At one time or the other we have all struggled with acne. In some of us it may be severe and persistent. In others it may be mild and recurring. We are always on the look out for what would rid us of this problem once and for all. A large number of skin care and acne treatment products are available on the market. Not knowing what would work best for you can mean aggravating your problem or wasting money on ineffective treatment. Here is a guide on understanding acne and choosing the best treatment product available to you. After all healthy, clear skin makes you look and feel beautiful.
What causes acne
Acne may be caused due to a number of reasons. Contrary to popular perception they are not always related to poor hygiene. Here are the most common causes of acne.
1) Hormonal imbalance
Starting or stopping birth control pills, stress at home or work, pregnancy, onset of puberty, imbalanced diet - all these cause hormonal imbalances. In many cases these are one time imbalances which the body sets right. At other times these may be recurring imbalances which cause acne often.
2) Oiliness
Oil is secreted by glands in one of the layers of the skin to protect it, make it water proof and to get rid of dead skin cells. However excessive oiliness can cause acne.
3) Bacteria
The presence of a certain kind of bacteria causes swelling and reddening on spots, which leads to acne. These bacteria affect the red blood cells causing them to secrete an enzyme which in turn causes this chain reaction
4) Genes
The thickness and oiliness of our skin and some of our hormone levels are hereditary. If our parents struggled with acne it is likely that we will too.
5) Unsafe beauty products
With the myriad options of skin care and beauty products on the market. We don't always make an informed decision. Unsafe products irritate the skin and cause acne or aggravate an existing problem. Using a strong soap or washing the face too often irritates the skin and makes it dry. The oil glands go on an overdrive to balance the pH of the skin. This makes acne worse.
6) Touching the skin too often
Our fingers pick up germs from everything we touch and easily transfer them to the delicate skin on our face. This is a leading cause for acne. Pinching and squeezing facial skin only makes the problem worse.
7) Exposure to the sun
Exposure to the hot sun even for over 15 minutes causes skin damage and excess oil secretion. This also causes acne.
Looking at the causes for acne outlined above, here are some general steps we need to take to care for our skin
1) Follow a healthy diet, get enough sleep and try to avoid prolonged periods of stress. Fruits and vegetables and plenty of water in your diet will immediately clear your skin and add a shine to your hair too.
2) Select skin care and beauty products with a lot of care.
3) Use a mild soap and warm water for washing the face, not more than twice or thrice a day
4) Make a conscious attempt to not touch, pinch or squeeze the skin unnecessarily and protect the skin from exposure to the sun.
If your acne is not severe or persistent, there are some simple home remedies which you can use to clear your skin. Try these gentle and natural treatments before subjecting your skin to harsh chemicals
1) Facial masks
If your skin is very oily, try using a mask made of oatmeal. Apply and allow it to dry for five minutes. It soaks up oil and scrubs the dead skin from your face when you wash it out. Do not use any kind of facial mask more than once a week.
Honey is also a great astringent. Mix some honey with grated apple, apply on face and wash off with warm water after five minutes
Always wash your face with cool water after a warm wash to close the pores and prevent dirt from re entering the skin.
2) Herbs
Drinking green tea regularly cleanses your system and results in clear skin. This is just one among many health benefits of green tea Try it once a day or even once in two days and see if it works for you.
Herbs like holy basil, turmeric, dandelion seeds and red clover, all help in treating acne. They can be taken internally or applied on the skin. Many herbal remedy resources are available on line. Use a dependable source and try what looks suitable for you. Even if you find they are not effective, you can be sure that they wont cause any harm to your skin. Herbs also have other benefits like providing relaxation and purifying the blood.
Acne Treatment Products
A number of treatment products are available in many forms. Here are some tips on how to chose what is good for you.
1) Oily skin- You can use products which have an alcohol base. High oiliness is aggravated by lotions and creams. Alcohol provides better coverage, evaporates quickly and does not add moisture to your skin. It may cause some irritation on normal or dry skin.
2) normal to oily skin - Creams, foams or gels can be used for this skin type. Creams add a moderate amount of moisture to the skin and are absorbed quickly. Gels and foams only add a low amount of moisture. Foams cover a large area but are expensive. Creams and gels cover smaller areas and are less expensive. If your skin needs more moisture, chose a gel which contains glycerin.
3) Normal to dry - Ointment based products are best for drier skin. Ointments are more greasy, they add more moisture to the skin and don't cause irritation in most cases.
4) General - Lotions may be suitable for most skin types. They cover a large area, they are easily absorbed, and they may add high moisture to the skin.
5) Watch for allergic side effects - Once you have selected an acne treatment product, try it on a small patch of skin on the neck and check for inflammation or redness. If you don't see any allergic reactions try using it. Do not apply more than the recommended measure or more often than recommended. If you see any redness or experience irritation, wash immediately and discontinue use. it makes sense to buy a small pack of the product you are trying and then buy a bigger pack if it is effective.
6) Fragrance free products - Fragrance free products are less likely to irritate the skin.
7) Benzoyl peroxide - Use a product with low benzoyl peroxide, about 2.5 % and use it regularly. Higher concentration can cause irritation. benzoyl peroxide makes it difficult for bacteria to grow and prevents pores from clogging. It does cause some dryness so use a good moisturizer after applying it.
8) Salicylic acid - This also a common ingredient in many over the counter treatments. It slows down the shedding of skin cells and prevents pores from being blocked. It also helps break down white heads and black heads.
9) Sulfur and resorcinol - these are the other active ingredients in acne treatment products. They may cause discoloration and irritation if you are allergic
10) Do not combine products - You may be allergic to one or more of these active ingredients. Select one with care after sufficient research. Do not combine the use of different products. It may increase irritation and aggravate your problem 11) Follow a regular regimen - Wash, medicate and moisturize your skin carefully and regularly twice a day. Keeping all the above factors in mind, make some lifestyle changes that can help keep your skin healthy. This may be difficult but has plenty of other benefits as well and definitely worth trying. Try natural and herbal remedies at home for mild acne. If you have to use a commercial product, do your research before you pick one and take all the precautions outlined above while using it. If the acne persists, do not hesitate to talk to an expert. Prescription medication targeting your specific causes for acne may be the best solution for you. Only a dermatologist can help you in that case.
Acne may be caused due to a number of reasons. Contrary to popular perception they are not always related to poor hygiene. Here are the most common causes of acne.
1) Hormonal imbalance
Starting or stopping birth control pills, stress at home or work, pregnancy, onset of puberty, imbalanced diet - all these cause hormonal imbalances. In many cases these are one time imbalances which the body sets right. At other times these may be recurring imbalances which cause acne often.
2) Oiliness
Oil is secreted by glands in one of the layers of the skin to protect it, make it water proof and to get rid of dead skin cells. However excessive oiliness can cause acne.
3) Bacteria
The presence of a certain kind of bacteria causes swelling and reddening on spots, which leads to acne. These bacteria affect the red blood cells causing them to secrete an enzyme which in turn causes this chain reaction
4) Genes
The thickness and oiliness of our skin and some of our hormone levels are hereditary. If our parents struggled with acne it is likely that we will too.
5) Unsafe beauty products
With the myriad options of skin care and beauty products on the market. We don't always make an informed decision. Unsafe products irritate the skin and cause acne or aggravate an existing problem. Using a strong soap or washing the face too often irritates the skin and makes it dry. The oil glands go on an overdrive to balance the pH of the skin. This makes acne worse.
6) Touching the skin too often
Our fingers pick up germs from everything we touch and easily transfer them to the delicate skin on our face. This is a leading cause for acne. Pinching and squeezing facial skin only makes the problem worse.
7) Exposure to the sun
Exposure to the hot sun even for over 15 minutes causes skin damage and excess oil secretion. This also causes acne.
Looking at the causes for acne outlined above, here are some general steps we need to take to care for our skin
1) Follow a healthy diet, get enough sleep and try to avoid prolonged periods of stress. Fruits and vegetables and plenty of water in your diet will immediately clear your skin and add a shine to your hair too.
2) Select skin care and beauty products with a lot of care.
3) Use a mild soap and warm water for washing the face, not more than twice or thrice a day
4) Make a conscious attempt to not touch, pinch or squeeze the skin unnecessarily and protect the skin from exposure to the sun.
If your acne is not severe or persistent, there are some simple home remedies which you can use to clear your skin. Try these gentle and natural treatments before subjecting your skin to harsh chemicals
1) Facial masks
If your skin is very oily, try using a mask made of oatmeal. Apply and allow it to dry for five minutes. It soaks up oil and scrubs the dead skin from your face when you wash it out. Do not use any kind of facial mask more than once a week.
Honey is also a great astringent. Mix some honey with grated apple, apply on face and wash off with warm water after five minutes
Always wash your face with cool water after a warm wash to close the pores and prevent dirt from re entering the skin.
2) Herbs
Drinking green tea regularly cleanses your system and results in clear skin. This is just one among many health benefits of green tea Try it once a day or even once in two days and see if it works for you.
Herbs like holy basil, turmeric, dandelion seeds and red clover, all help in treating acne. They can be taken internally or applied on the skin. Many herbal remedy resources are available on line. Use a dependable source and try what looks suitable for you. Even if you find they are not effective, you can be sure that they wont cause any harm to your skin. Herbs also have other benefits like providing relaxation and purifying the blood.
Acne Treatment Products
A number of treatment products are available in many forms. Here are some tips on how to chose what is good for you.
1) Oily skin- You can use products which have an alcohol base. High oiliness is aggravated by lotions and creams. Alcohol provides better coverage, evaporates quickly and does not add moisture to your skin. It may cause some irritation on normal or dry skin.
2) normal to oily skin - Creams, foams or gels can be used for this skin type. Creams add a moderate amount of moisture to the skin and are absorbed quickly. Gels and foams only add a low amount of moisture. Foams cover a large area but are expensive. Creams and gels cover smaller areas and are less expensive. If your skin needs more moisture, chose a gel which contains glycerin.
3) Normal to dry - Ointment based products are best for drier skin. Ointments are more greasy, they add more moisture to the skin and don't cause irritation in most cases.
4) General - Lotions may be suitable for most skin types. They cover a large area, they are easily absorbed, and they may add high moisture to the skin.
5) Watch for allergic side effects - Once you have selected an acne treatment product, try it on a small patch of skin on the neck and check for inflammation or redness. If you don't see any allergic reactions try using it. Do not apply more than the recommended measure or more often than recommended. If you see any redness or experience irritation, wash immediately and discontinue use. it makes sense to buy a small pack of the product you are trying and then buy a bigger pack if it is effective.
6) Fragrance free products - Fragrance free products are less likely to irritate the skin.
7) Benzoyl peroxide - Use a product with low benzoyl peroxide, about 2.5 % and use it regularly. Higher concentration can cause irritation. benzoyl peroxide makes it difficult for bacteria to grow and prevents pores from clogging. It does cause some dryness so use a good moisturizer after applying it.
8) Salicylic acid - This also a common ingredient in many over the counter treatments. It slows down the shedding of skin cells and prevents pores from being blocked. It also helps break down white heads and black heads.
9) Sulfur and resorcinol - these are the other active ingredients in acne treatment products. They may cause discoloration and irritation if you are allergic
10) Do not combine products - You may be allergic to one or more of these active ingredients. Select one with care after sufficient research. Do not combine the use of different products. It may increase irritation and aggravate your problem 11) Follow a regular regimen - Wash, medicate and moisturize your skin carefully and regularly twice a day. Keeping all the above factors in mind, make some lifestyle changes that can help keep your skin healthy. This may be difficult but has plenty of other benefits as well and definitely worth trying. Try natural and herbal remedies at home for mild acne. If you have to use a commercial product, do your research before you pick one and take all the precautions outlined above while using it. If the acne persists, do not hesitate to talk to an expert. Prescription medication targeting your specific causes for acne may be the best solution for you. Only a dermatologist can help you in that case.