Acne – Acne Treatment – Acne Skin Care Tips

According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), around 80-90% of people between the ages of 13 and 18 will suffer from acne in some form or other in their lifetime.

Many acne sufferers, especially young people, will be able to treat themselves and manage their condition with medication purchased over the counter (without prescription). However, for some people more intensive treatment will be required and therefore a visit to the doctor or perhaps a dermatologist will be required. Many authorities on the subject suggest that by the time most young sufferers reach their early 20s they will no longer suffer from acne. Although occasionally people with extremely sensitive skin may continue to suffer from the condition well into their 40s. There is also late onset acne which is only experienced when someone reaches adulthood.

Acne has no gender preference and both men or women can fall prey to this condition. However there are differing types of skin irritation and spots. It has been said that men tend to get more severe, longer lasting acne whereas women may be more likely to get the condition due to hormonal issues, menstrual cycle, and even as a result of a reaction to cosmetics used on their skin.

Widespread statistics would also suggest that men are less likely than women to seek advice for their acne from a dermatologist.

Acne and Hormones

Sex hormones play a major part in the flourishing of acne, as do hormones generally. During puberty, large amounts of hormones are produced, including testosterone which is the main hormone produced by males and progesterone and oestrogen which are the main female hormones. Interestingly enough, women also produce testosterone as oestrogen is made up from testosterone by special cells found in the ovaries. However not all of this testosterone is used therefore some of it will pass into the blood stream and work its way around the body. Testosterone is the hormone that encourages the sebaceous glands to expand and become over stimulated thereby accelerating the condition of acne.

Differing types of acne

Many types of acne have been recognised by dermatologists and some are listed below.

· Occupational acne

· Adolescent acne

· Infantile acne

· Keloid acne

· Cosmetic induced acne

· Drug induced acne

Each of the above listed types of acne can become apparent in people of any age, apart obviously from infantile acne which as the name suggests only becomes apparent in babies.

The most common form of acne is the adolescent type which is mainly due to the increased hormone levels during puberty.

Drug induced acne can be caused by medication or some types of drugs.

Cosmetic induced acne can be caused by using certain types of cosmetics too frequently.

Keloid acne is usually thought of as a more severe type of acne and usually manifests itself by way of bumpy unpleasant spots.

Occupational acne is generally caused by close contact with harsh chemicals.

So you want a home acne treatment to get rid of those pimples? Well the good news is, you can get rid of acne pretty easily with things around the house! There are actually a number of different things that you can use, so we’ll just go over a few of the main ones here.

Apple cider vinegar

One of the most effective solutions that you can use is apple cider vinegar. This stuff has a lot of healing power, which is why it is used in a number of different remedies. For example, these days many people recommend ACV for everything from warts and acne to helping you lose weight!

Apple cider vinegar works because it has very strong antibacterial properties. In other words, it kills all of the bad stuff that causes acne! The only problem with ACV is that it’s a very strong home acne treatment. Because it is very powerful, you don’t want to use pure ACV on your face. Instead, mix 1 part of apple cider vinegar to 8 parts of water. That means that if you use one tablespoon of ACV, you mix it with 8 tablespoons of water. Then you simply wash your face as you normally do and then apply the water/ACV mixture.

You should note that there is a very strong odor, so I recommend just doing this at night before bed! Also, I recommend trying this on a small portion of your face first to make sure it doesn’t irritate the skin.

Aspirin

Another good home acne treatment is ground up aspirin. It has salicylic acid, which can help get rid of acne very quickly. You can either mix this in with your water/apple cider vinegar mixture, or you can mix it with a small amount of water to make it into a paste and then apply it.

Baking Soda

Have you ever thought of using baking soda? This stuff has just about ten million uses, and one of them is to help get rid of acne! The main reason that it works is that it is great for scrubbing things clean, right? So it very easily scrubs away dead cells and dirt from your face’s pores. Just mix it with a bit of water, and you have a great home acne treatment.

Garlic

Finally, let’s talk about garlic! Out of all of the possible things that you can do to treat acne, eating garlic is probably one of the best.

Why? Well, there are two main reasons. For one thing, it has very powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Since acne is basically a small infection, it helps minimize them and reduces their redness.

Another reason that you should eat garlic is that it makes your entire immune system stronger! Since this is the only home acne treatment that gives this additional benefit, it’s our most recommended method!

Most of us suffer from blackheads at some point or other in our lives. It can be particular prevalent in individuals with oily skin.

It is commonly thought that blackheads are a result of trapped dirt in your pores, this is incorrect. Blackheads are causes from dead skin and oil (sebum) getting trapped in your pores. The dark colour is due to the oxidation effects of this mixture in the pores.

When suffering from blackheads it can be very tempting to squeeze them to get rid of them. Try to avoid squeezing them as you can often end up spreading the infection even further. Breaking the skin’s surface like this can end up scarring your skin and making your face red.

Over the counter acne products

A number of natural acne products are available that can help reduce the symptoms and get rid of blackheads effectively. The best products tend to use gentle ingredients that are safe and kind to your skin, such as Tea Tree Oil.

Two of the most popular acne products on the market are Clear Skin Max and Exposed Skin Care. Both treatments use tree tree oil and use a multi-step approach to tackling acne symptoms and causes.

Make your own facial mask

There are many face masks on the market that can help to reduce the symptoms of blackheads. It is easy enough and cheaper to make your own though using a splash of lemon juice and beaten egg whites. Boil some water and put the water, eggs and lemon juice into a bowl. Then cover your head with a towel over the bowl ensuring you leave around 30 cms from your face to the water. The idea is to use the steam to help cleanse your skin, so you do not want to get your face wet.

Some acne treatments include a facial mask as part of their treatment, such as Clear Skin Max.

Best method to get rid of blackheads

Treating the symptoms can alleviate the signs of blackheads but it will often re-occur. To really get rid of blackheads you need to address the causes and not just the symptoms.

Ensure if you wear make-up you avoid putting any harmful chemicals onto your skin. Also avoid using acne treatments that dry out your skin, instead use natural products that are similar to your skin’s ph.

For many individuals, the nightmare of acne does not end after the acne is gone. Acne scars are left behind. These scars can be so pronounced they will have the affected individuals looking for ways to conceal them or better yet, ways to permanently reduce their appearance. The good news is there are several acne scar removal products on the market today. The secret is knowing how to choose the best one for your type of scars and budget.

First of all, many of the more popular products contain glycolic acid. You are probably wondering why you would want to put acid on your face. However, this type of acid is derived from sugar cane. Citrus fruits can also be considered glycolic acids. Glycolic acid is actually a natural product.

This type of natural acid is used in scar removal products because it has a high solubility. It can effectively get beneath the outer layer of skin to remove the damaged layer of skin and expose healthy skin underneath. It also has the ability to draw moisture into the new layer of skin. It should be noted that this type of acid will leave the skin very sensitive to the sun, so a good sunscreen should be used for at least six months or more after the treatment.

When you are looking for acne scar removal products you also want to make sure you find a product that will be effective at nourishing your skin. Acne ravaged skin has been through enough torture. Therefore, you should use a product that contains enough natural ingredients to promote healthy supple skin. Make sure you read all the ingredients and research them before you buy an acne product.

Some of the best scar removal products will have a lot of positive testimonials. It is important that you look for testimonials before you decide on a product. Since the Internet makes it so easy for anyone to promote any type of product you should do some research into the product and the company before you buy. The best companies have been around for a while.

Another factor that comes into play when looking for acne scar removal products is the price. Keep in mind that more expensive does not always mean better. If you are on a strict budget you want to make sure you can afford the cost of the acne product before you buy. Depending upon the severity of your scars, you may need to purchase several acne treatments before the appearance is reduced significantly. So build this in when comparing products to more expensive but effective surgical treatments.

Last, but not least, any product you buy should come with a money back guarantee. The best products will not be afraid to offer such a guarantee since they know their products are effective. Keep all of these things in mind when looking for the best acne scar removal products. Once you find a good product, use it exactly as directed. You can reduce the appearance of those scars over time.