Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Discovering The Acne Control Basics

Teenagers have enough to worry about without adding acne control to that list. For some, acne control is only a passing phase and once the surge of hormones dies down, the acne decreases. But for others, acne control becomes a lifelong battle. There are many ways to treat acne regardless of the severity of your case.

The essential methods of acne control are to keep pores from getting clogged, unclog infected pores, attack the bacteria causing the infection, or reduce the redness associated with acne. There are many preventative measures you can take to reduce the chance of having an acne breakout in the first place. Gently washing your face with soap and water once or twice a day will help prevent your pores from being clogged. Beyond this, benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient in Oxy pads and many other cleaning wipes, helps to further clean your skin as well as dry it out. One of the biggest advantages of using benzoyl peroxide is that it can be used in combination with other products to treat acne.

Exfoliating is another very popular method of acne control. Exfoliating removes the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. These dead cells can cause acne breakouts by clogging extremely active oil glands, especially those on your face. Exfoliating can also make you skin much smoother, softer, and healthy. However, some exfoliating agents can be very harsh, so a new exfoliating product should first be tested on a small area for reactions before using on your entire face.

One benefit of using exfoliating products to treat acne is that many of them contain additional ingredients that have antibacterial properties to help with acne control. They also contain anti inflammatory ingredients that reduce the redness and swelling, and therefore visibility, of existing acne breakouts. Sulfur and Azelaic acid are two commonly used ingredients in facial exfoliating creams and wipes. Salicylic acid is also common, but should not be used on the face, as it is far too abrasive.

Some people with severe acne may need to consult a dermatologist for help with their acne control. A dermatologist may suggest a cleansing regime, use lights or lasers to treat and prevent breakouts, or prescribe medication. If you are prescribed medication, you should be wary of the side effects, as most acne medication is very harsh, even toxic. Some of these numerous side effects are somewhat discomforting, but others are very permanent. A few acne prescriptions have even been linked with depression, sometimes resulting in suicide.

Because of the dangers of using acne medication as well as the costs involved, it is preferable to try over-the-counter treatments first, like benzoyl peroxide or exfoliating products for acne control before consulting a dermatologist.


What are some of the other factors that increase the likelihood of getting acne?

That is a good question, and one that is probably on everyone's mind. The tough part about acne is that there is not one single thing that can cause it. Several factors help cause acne. Some of them can be avoided, while others cannot. For example, one cannot change family history, but this is one very important factor in determining the development of some form of acne.

Hormonal activity is another. Women who are pregnant or who are menstruating have been known to suddenly develop bad cases of acne. Other factors, such as stress and certain medications, can also bring about acne. Remember: acne is based on the hormonal changes that take place within the body. Any life-changing or stress-inducing event is likely to alter a person's chemical makeup. Finally, the accumulation of dead skin cells often contributes to increased acne.


To learn more go to Acne Treatment Vitamin A and at Acne Skin Care Products also Acne Care Treatment

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