The Acne Report

Archive for the ‘Acne Articles’ Category

No matter how young you feel, you should never treat your skin like a teenager. Skin is a rather delicate part of your body and is also the body’s largest organ. It must be treated with extreme caution. Any outbreak of skin related problems should be addressed immediately and under professional advice and care.

Acne can be cured perfectly. You can rest assured that your skin will be as radiant as it was prior to the acne problem. All you have to do is be patient and seek professional help.

In layman’s terms, it can be told that acne is a result of excess secretion of oil in your body that finds its way to the surface of your skin. In this process if its passage to the surface through the pores on the skin is blocked this oil gets collected. This becomes a toxin and a great medium for the harmful bacteria to breed like mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water. It also causes certain organs in your body to produce hormones, androgens in particular, which inhibits the production of a substance called sebum. The result of this is the surfacing of pimples, sometimes called ”zits?. When this is neglected it will ultimately lead to acne.

The human body is full of various types of harmful as well as useful bacteria. Therefore, the target in acne cure should be to fight the harmful bacteria while not destroying the good bacteria.

There are three ways to fight these bacteria. The most natural way is to have less oily food. Practicing good eating habits and drinking plenty of water has no side effects. Apart from food, the skin should be periodically treated with a little turmeric mixed with lime juice. If this is applied on the skin surface at least 30 minutes before a bath once a week it will clear the poses and kill the harmful bacteria. The second acne cure will be the oral consumption of antibiotics like erythromycin, tetracycline, minocycline, and doxycycline. However, these have side effects which must be understood first. The third acne cure is to treat the affected surface of the skin with laser light. At present there are no know side effects. However, it is costly and you should be prepared to bear the financial burden..

Whichever treatment that you wish to take for acne cure, you must consult your dermatologist before embarking on the treatment.

Men who have facial hair have another facet of complexity added to their fight against acne - they have actual hair as a blockade to treating and successfully defeating acne in those areas because the areas that produce hair also happen to be factories for oil (sebum) production as well as collectors of debris and [...]

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It is important that an individual’s self esteem is not subjected to any harm if that individual is to face the world with confidence. Unfortunately, more than fifty percent of males are subjected to an attack of acne during adolescence. During adolescence a man or woman considers self esteem paramount. Therefore, acne treatment cover-up plays a significant role in helping the individual in facing the world with confidence in a social situation.

The most common acne treatment cover-up that is freely available in any supermarket or drugstore is talcum powder and foundation creams. Both these come in handy compact forms that can be carried in a lady’s hand bag or even by men without being noticed. Talcum powder is considered a good absorbent of the oil produced by the skin. These simple day to day cosmetics work really great and are easy on an individual’s purse.

It is important that when one shops for acne treatment cover-ups he or she should look for non oil based products so that the pores of the skin will not be clogged. Clogging of the pores on the skin means trouble for certain. Products with a small content of sulphur will do a world of good to control acne. Sulphur acts as a good agent in combating the bacteria and the oil secretion by the skin and promotes the slow peeling of the top layer of the skin. There are some skin lotions which are water based and will be effective for the cover-up. Application of sulphur based cover-ups should be done only once a day and may be gradually increased to twice or thrice a day at the most. The bottom line in choosing acne cover-up creams or lotions is to check on the label whether the particular cream or lotion contains antibacterial, antiseptic, and/or antifungal agents. It will be much desirable if the ingredients used are natural rather than chemical substances. Anything else in an acne treatment cover-up may cause more acne.

One important point all acne sufferers should remember is not to squeeze the affected area as this will lead to further complications in the troubled skin area and may cause permanent scars.

I just wanted to take the time to thank all of the people who post their stories, questions and comments on the posts here at AcneMagazine. I also wanted to encourage you to do so as this is what I love most, generating a conversation amongst those of us who know acne best. If acne [...]

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There has been a lot of speculation over the years if certain foods may spur on or cause acne, but there has been a debate raging amongst skin care professionals about whether diet even has anything to do with acne at all. I believe that acne and diet are closely related, and that certain foods [...]

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Rosacea is sometimes known by the misleading name of adult acne. It is not acne, symptoms and treatment are quite different, and traditional acne treatments may worsen the condition, as will sun exposure, wind, spicy foods, alcohol and medications like vasodilators (that cause blood vessels to widen). All of these have been thought to bring out rosacea.

A hair mite and H. pylori, a bacterium often associated with stomach ulcers have been implicated but the exact cause is not known. Rosacea is a demonological condition most often seen in fair skinned people that is a result of vasodilatation, or blushing. It results in an embarrassing permanently red face, and untreated rosacea can cause a disfiguring nose condition called rhinophyma (ryno-fee-ma), literally growth of the nose, characterized by a bulbous, enlarged red nose and puffy cheeks ala W.C. Fields. Severe rhinophyma can require surgical repair.

The most serious complication involves the eyes; nearly half of all people with rosacea experience burning and grittiness of the eyes (conjunctivitis) and recurrent sties. If this is not treated, rosacea keratitis, a chronic condition occurs that may impair vision. Treatment involves preventative skin care and both oral and topical medicines. Oral antibiotics (such as tetracycline) are commonly prescribed, especially where there is eye involvement; the dose may be initially high and then be tapered to maintenance levels.

A topical antibiotic cream such as metronidazole (Metrocream) reduces the inflammation and the redness. Other topical antibiotic creams include erythromycin and clindamycin (Cleocin). Anti-inflammatory creams are also effective. In the short term, topical cortisone (steroid) preparations are used to reduce local inflammation. Smoking, spicy food and drink, not only alcohol but also hot beverages, really anything that causes the skin to flush, should be avoided. This includes exposure to sunlight and to extreme hot and cold temperatures.

Skin care begins by washing the face and eyelids carefully with baby shampoo or an alcohol free cleanser that will not irritate the eyes, followed by thoroughly drying with absorbent paper towels or tissue. Avoid cream cleansers and heavy moisturizers as well as cortisone medications. Always pat the skin gently when applying creams or drying, as rubbing the face will irritate the reddened skin. Choose cosmetics and hair sprays carefully.

As with any scar on the skin surface, acne scars will vary in intensity and longevity. The best way to prevent acne scars is to not develop them in the first place. Good hygiene habits and dietary constraints will lessen the severity of the attacks. It is important to remember that hands should be kept away from the face to avoid spreading germs and hastening the growth of bacteria. A second rule is to never pick at or scratch acne blackheads or whiteheads. Doing so can spread the bacteria and damage surrounding tissue, thus making it easy for bacteria to invade the injured area. Some acne scars will disappear in a relatively short period of time; others remain throughout a lifetime without comprehensive treatment by a professional.

Several basic types of scars can occur with acne and each one requires different treatments to remove the blemish.

Ice pick scars are almost vee-shaped in appearance. They look as if an ice-pick had been pressed against the skin. The indentation is usually not very large in diameter, but may be shallow or deep

A boxcar acne scar is similar to an ice pick scar, but generally deeper. The boxcar scar also looks something like a chickenpox scar, but with edges more rounded.

Rolling acne scars have no sharp edges and are fairly shallow. They appear to be just smooth indentations in the skin tissue.

Raised acne scars are more common on the shoulders and back, and come in two types. Hypertrophic scars are raised above the surrounding surface, but stay within the confines of the original trouble spot. Keloid scars are also raised scar tissue but it has grown beyond the confines of the original scar.

Different kinds of scars respond best to different forms of treatment, but in general, treatment of acne scars follows one of five or six usual courses or treatment. Many times, more than one method is required to complete reverse the effects of the scar. Each person’s face and skin is different, so the course of treatment must take into consideration the results desired as well as how the individual’s skin responds to the particular treatment.
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Acne scars are unsightly things and because teenagers are so sensitive to change, due to hormonal surges and growth spurts, it is undoubtedly helpful to fund a visit to a qualified plastic surgeon. The plastic surgeon will work in ways you can’t imagine to present you with a face that is livable.

Acne is a condition which is the bane of teenagers and young adults mostly, but it can also target babies and children, cats and mature adults. Acne appears as minor skin eruptions due to inflammation of the sebaceous glands. These little glands, located on hair shafts all over the body, produce sebum, a thick, oily substance that lubricates the skin.. A hormonal imbalance?common during adolescence, menstrual periods, pregnancy, or when first using oral contraceptives?may trigger over activity of the sebaceous glands.

Male hormones (androgens) stimulate sebum production, and when sebum is secreted faster than it can exit through the pores, it may plug the hair follicle and produce a white head.

If the follicle is not plugged completely, skin pigments may oxidize and darken, forming a blackhead. Bacteria normally found on the surface of the skin may then infect the whitehead or blackhead and produce pus that causes pimples or, in more severe cases (known as cystic acne), boils.

Except in cases that cause widespread skin eruptions and scarring, acne is generally harmless and responsive to treatment.

It is most common during adolescence and can cause considerable psychological distress. Eruptions tend to wane by one’s 20’s, but may persist in some. Among women, acne may first appear in the 20s and 30s. Unexplained outbreaks of acne in older adults may be a sign of a more serious underlying problem.

Symptoms

* Pimples or skin eruptions (blackheads and whiteheads) most prominent on the face, but also found on the neck, shoulders, back, chest buttocks, and more rarely, the upper arms and thighs.

* Clusters of red, inflamed cysts in more severe cases (cystic acne)

* Thick, firm painless lumps below the surface of the skin (sebaceous cysts).

* Pockmarks and scarring from chronic acne

What Causes Acne?

* Hormonal changes (especially excessive androgen secretion) resulting in increased sebum production.

* Hereditary factors
* Certain drugs or compounds, including oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, or other hormones, as well as barbiturates, iodides, bromides, vitamin B12, anti-seizure drugs, and lithium.

* Grease, tar, heavy oils, cosmetics, tight clothing, or anything else that can physically block the pores.

* In adults, underlying medical conditions, including ovary or adrenal gland dysfunction, such as polycystic ovary disease and Cushing’s syndrome

* Other factors including climate changes, stress, and exposure to dioxin.

Prevention

* There is little evidence that dietary modifications will reduce the incidence of acne in those predisposed, although good hygiene may reduce severity
* Picking or squeezing acne lesions may increase the danger of infection and scarring.

What should you do if you have acne? Acne is a skin condition characterized by masses of inflamed, sometimes pus-filled skin eruptions on the face, neck and shoulders, as well as other areas of the body. If you have acne, it can be a painful and embarrassing condition, and can lead to permanent scarring without treatment. If you have acne, you should first determine the cause accurately. Before you dash off to the doctor, ask yourself the following questions.

”Am I under undue stress?? Very often stressful periods lead to outbreaks of acne. If you’re in the middle of one, get some extra sleep and calm down.

”Is there a relationship between acne and my menstrual period?? If there seems to be, see your gynecologist. Possibly you should change to a different type of birth-control pill.

”Have I started any new medications?? Drugs like cortisone, for example, cause acne as a side effect. Perhaps your doctor will taper your dosage or switch you to a different medication.

”Have I changed my makeup?? Possibly you should cut out makeup altogether and use an astringent like Seba-Nil to counter the acnegenic oils contained in almost all make-ups. Seba-Nil has acetone, alcohol and water, which combine very effectively to dry the skin.

”Have I been out in the sun lately?? Sunshine, especially on that midwinter jaunt to the Caribbean tends to initially draw out whiteheads. Abrasive scrubs like Pernox will peel the top layer of skin and usually relieve the problem. Acne soaps with salicylic acid will do the same. Good ones are Fostex and SAStid.

”Am I eating acnegenic food?? Maybe you are. Some of the foods traditionally thought to cause increased acne symptoms include chocolate, sugar, walnuts, candy, cheese, malted milk and oil- and deep-fried foods. More recent studies show that chocolate may not be the villain it has been thought to be in the past.

Once you have removed potential causes from the list above, you may move to the next step which is over-the-counter medications. Conventional therapy for acne basically boils down to drying up the skin. There are a host of products on the market, many of which are not very useful. When shopping, look for ingredients like precipitated sulfur, resorcinol, and especially benzoyl peroxide. Good products include: Benoxyl, Transact, Rezamid, Xerac, Thera-Blem, Acnomel and Fostex.

If you have light skin and eyes, you might want to try something a little milder, like Klaron or Rezamid.

Ageing, death and income tax, even if we don’t have income, these are the sure things in life. Our physical appearance changes as we grow older. Visible signs of old age appear like lines, wrinkles in the face and dark circles around the eyes. When we get older, skin loses its elasticity, dries out and gets wrinkled. The blood vessels in skin reduce and the dermis gets thinner so we lose the youthful glow and thus wrinkles appear. Replacement of old cells in the skin happens slowly in old age. People have searched for good anti-ageing wrinkle cure creams that can restore the elixir of youth.

Common ingredients in anti-ageing wrinkle cure creams

Retinol: Retinol is the antioxidant to be originally used in anti-ageing wrinkle cure creams and is less potent than vitamin A derivative tretinoin, which is now used widely in anti-ageing wrinkle cure creams. Retinol skin care products like Nina Ricci Flash Lift Serum, Shiseido Men Deep Wrinkle Corrector, Isomers Matrixyl Wrinkle Defense Serum and La Prairie Cellular Anti-ageing Wrinkle cure Serum are good examples of what is available over the counter.

Vitamin C and E: These are commonly used anti-ageing wrinkle cures. Vitamin c helps in recycle of vitamin E; Vitamin E is the one of the significant anti-oxidant found in skin and endorses collagen formation. An anti-ageing wrinkle cure cream that contains vitamin C and E can reduce wrinkles and neutralize free radicals. Tocopherol and tocopherol acetate are universal forms of vitamin E present in anti-ageing wrinkle cure creams. Olay Regenerist range, POTENT C+ Packs, LA Looks Anti-ageing Wrinkle cure Treatment Cream are this forms of anti-ageing wrinkle cures which has multivitamin action.

Hydroxy acids: Alpha Hydroxy acids (AHA), beta hydroxy acids and poly hydroxy acids are all used in anti-ageing wrinkle cure. AHA ingredients are sometimes listed in the anti-ageing wrinkle cure products as glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid. These acids are exfoliants (substances that remove the dead skin cells in old age as in old age replacement of dead skin layers happen slowly and stimulates the growth of smooth, new skin). Salicylic acid, used in the treatment of acne is a beta hydroxy acid. Beta hydroxy acids can be added to alpha hydroxy acids regimen of daily skin care of acne persons. Anti-ageing wrinkle cure using hydroxy acids are M.D. FORTE, nourish pore minimizing cream, Alpha Hydroxy (AHA) Face Cream

Use sunscreen during alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) wrinkle cure usage as it increases skin’s sensitivity to the sun and for at least 10 days afterwards.
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Coenzyme Q10: Coenzyme Q10 is a fat soluble vitamin like substance that helps regulate energy production in cells. Clinical studies have shown that its effectiveness as wrinkle cure around the eyes with no side effects and protects as a sunscreen. Nivea visage wrinkle cure , Avalon Organics Coenzyme Q10 Wrinkle Defense Serum, Christian Dior Capture R-Mask Bi-Skin Intensive Wrinkle cure Treatment, Rons Alpha Lipoic Firming Eye Cr?me with Coenzyme are available in the market as anti-ageing wrinkle cure using coenzyme Q 10

Copper peptides: This is a copper protein complex in the synthesis of collagen and elastin, which is structural proteins in the skin that degrade with growing age .clinical studies has shown its usage as anti-ageing wrinkle cure, as sunscreen, and in increasing the skin elasticity. Life cells Skin Care, Neova Day Therapy are examples of anti-ageing wrinkle cure having copper peptides.

Alpha-lipoic Acid (ALA): Alpha-lipoic acid is a natural anti-oxidant and acts as mild exfoliant .The advantage of using this in an anti-ageing wrinkle cream or lotion is that it has a defensive effect on vitamins C and E and therefore enhances its anti-oxidant activity within the cell. Menscience Anti Ageing Formula, NV Perricone Alpha Lipoic Acid Face Finishing Moisturizer are based on ALA anti-ageing wrinkle cure.