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Understanding Body Acne Helps Lead To Clearer Skin
Posted on March 27th, 2010 No comments
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the-acne-skin-care.info Understanding Body Acne Helps Lead To Clearer Skin Most people believe that once they get through puberty they will seldom see break outs of acne, but reality can be a source of frustration for many adults as they contend with this unsightly problem throughout their adult life. In addition to the usual spots on the face and neck, body acne can be a source of embarrassment as well as uncomfortable when rubbed and irritated by clothing. In addition to the usual causes of acne such as stress, hormones and menstrual cycles, body acne can be caused by sweat and tight-fitting clothing as well. build up of sebum Acne, regardless of its location is caused by a build up of sebum, the glands that provide moisture to the skin’s surface. When it mixes with dead skin cells or other dirt on the surface, it blocks the pores through which the sebum travels to the surface, causing body acne. Typically, people are used to seeing acne on faces and necks, but it may not be until they get to the beach in the bathing suit that they reveal body acne on shoulders, back, legs and even their butt. rigorously exercise People who exercise rigorously exercise in tight clothing may be more prone to outbreaks of body acne than others as their work out causes them to sweat, which is then help against the skin by their choice of clothing. In most cases, simple steps for acne care can reduce the outbreaks and help achieve clearer skin. Prevention Is Best Cure For Acne While some …
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Understanding Body Acne and Treatment Options
Posted on January 10th, 2010 No comments
Acne is a common skin disease that is characterized by a variety of lesions: comedones (whiteheads and blackheads) papules (raised red areas), and pustules (raised skin eruptions filled with pus). Acne is most often found on the forehead, nose and cheeks, but body acne is also possible, and the legs, back and shoulders can be affected. Acne generally starts during adolescence and fades considerably during the 20s or 30s, but occasionally, someone can pass through adolescence unscathed and develop acne in his or her 30s or 40s.
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The exact cause of acne vulgaris (the word acne comes for the Greek word for peak, and vulgaris means common) is not known, but an increase in hormonal activity, e.g., during puberty or menstruation, common skin bacteria, stress, and sebaceous glands (small glands under the skin) that are producing too much sebum (a thick secretion of fat and dead skin) may all contribute. There is likely no single cause for acne, but many factors, and there are many other explanations for why it occurs.
But although the exact cause of acne is not known, the process of the disease has been clearly outlined. The sebaceous glands are attached to hair follicles that start below the surface of the skin, and sebum normally passes to the surface of the skin through the hair follicles. However, in acne, there is an overproduction of sebum, and the skin cells that line the follicle and normally move to the surface with sebum proliferate. The combination of excess sebum and dead skin cells blocks the hair follicle, sebum builds up, and a whitehead or a blackhead is produced (Many people think blackheads are dirt in the pores; that’s not true. The black color comes from a chemical change in the sebum/dead skin compound and from the presence of pigment cells). If the process continues, bacteria that are normally present in the skin (Propionibaterium acnes) find this environment very conducive to growth. The result? Infection, inflammation and the pus-filled lesions that most people associate with acne.
Acne can’t be cured, but it can be managed, and this can be a challenge, especially if you have body acne with widespread lesions. Traditionally, people have been instructed to avoid certain foods such as french fries, potato chips, chocolate and others, but there is no definite evidence that these foods cause acne or make a pre-existing condition worse. The most basic and the simplest steps in treating acne are to keep the skin clean and oil-free (a real challenge for people with body acne). That sounds simple, but there are literally hundreds of acne products on the market – most of which promise more than they deliver – so it’s hard to know which one to choose The quick answer is that there are no ‘miracle’ treatments and everything you need you can find at the local pharmacy. Use a mild, water-based skin cleanser that will not clog pores and use an exfoliant. Exfoliation removes the surface layer of dead skin cells and helps keep the pores open and draining.
The second step to treating body acne is topical treatments. There are a variety of these and you may have to experiment – at times with help from your doctor – to find one that works. Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial that can be purchased over the counter, and topical antibiotics such as erythromycin, clindamycin, and tetracycline can be used. These are especially useful for people with body acne as they can be applied directly to the areas with lesions.
If topical treatments are ineffective, you doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, tetracycline) or for women, oral contraceptives; oral medications are also especially useful for people with body acne as a) topical treatments can be awkward or inconvenient to apply in hard to reach places, and b) oral medication is delivered directly to the affected areas below the surface of the skin. Oral retinoids such as isotretinoin reduce sebaceous gland secretions and can also be effective and light therapy has been used with some success; again, these treatments would be very convenient for people with body acne. Finally, one of the most important ways to treat acne is to use patience. It may take months for some of these therapies to make a difference and if you have a bad case of body acne, it can be difficult to wait. -
Acne Remedy – Understanding the Top Causes to Help You Solve Your Acne Problem Fast
Posted on December 20th, 2009 No comments
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The view of what factors are involved in the cause of acne has undergone changes over the recent decade. A better understanding of the causes of acne is instrumental in determining the best acne remedy for any individual case. Factors that were widely considered to be the cause of acne in the past have not always been found to have as large of an impact on the breakouts as was previously thought. For example, acne is not caused by dirty skin. The cause is much more complicated than just simple lack of personal hygiene. Here are some of the factors that affect acne and its severity.
Genetics
Previously, the role of heredity in the incidence of acne and the severity of the lesions has been somewhat in question. More recent research, however has pointed out that the genetic factor is not one which can be ignored in an acne remedy. The research has verified that not only does a family history of acne mean a greater incidence of acne lesions, but the onset of acne is likely to be younger and more severe. Further, there is a positive correlation between family incidence of acne and therapeutic difficulties in treating the lesions effectively.
Hormones
Another primary factor in the cause of is the hormone levels in the body. Puberty is a time of tremendous changes in almost every organ of the body, as well as the hormonal levels. The increase of hormones, usually in early puberty have a strong positive correlation with the breakouts of acne blemishes on the skin of the face, shoulders and sometimes back of the adolescent. An acne remedy that controls the hormonal level is very effective in some patients. In fact, birth control pills have been proved to be effective and are sometimes used in the treatment of acne lesions.
Cleanliness
Although cleanliness is important in an effective acne remedy, it is important to note that acne is not caused by dirt. This is a myth that is still stressed by some people who are undoubtedly well meaning, but not necessarily helpful. Use a gentle and regular cleansing routine regularly on your complexion for the overall health of your skin. Treatments with a mild soap, products that contain salicylic acid, and for more stubborn cases, benzoyl peroxide to dry up the lesions and provide a gentle moisturizing action are most likely to provide positive relief for the personal suffering from adolescent acne. Blackheads associated with acne are not caused by dirt plugging up the hair follicle, but rather by pigment in the skin.
Food
Another old wives tale that has been debunked is the belief that there is a direct cause and effect link between foods such as chocolate and the incidence and severity of acne lesions. An avoidance of such foods may be healthful for other reasons, but avoiding chocolate or other fatty foods will not guarantee an acne remedy. Eat healthfully, for the sake of your body’s health, but don’t expect dietary considerations to totally remove the scourge of acne.