Acne Cure Blog

Acne is a big problem – so now it is big business! The market is full of different proactive treatments as people become desperate to zap those zits and achieve clear skin. It can sometimes seem like an uphill battle, but there are things you can do to help you keep control of the oil levels in your skin which are the main cause of acne spots, as skin pores get blocked up and collect oil until the pores erupt in pimples, boils and even cysts. Proactive acne treatment works on two levels – as a long-term skincare regime to help to control the acne outbreaks – but also as first aid for acne blemishes, so to speak; the latter use of proactive acne treatments can be either topical, to apply to the skin, or they can be supplements or pills to take orally.

Often, particularly for more severe cases of acne, you would be well advised to visit a dermatologist to allow them to sort out a personalized acne treatment regime. The important thing is not to over-do any proactive treatments as they all are a variety on a theme of drying up excess oil within the skin. When you know that, it’s obvious to tell that excessive use of these products is going to lead to dry skin, redness and soreness. Don’t risk it – follow any instructions for the proactive acne treatment that you are using. One of the simplest acne treatments is ordinary soap; you mat recall how your face can feel dry after using an ordinary bar of soap on it, which gave rise to a whole industry of moisturizing facial washes; well – you can use this to your advantage with acne: you can dry up some of the excess oil with that soap. Use it two or three times per day. That alone may be enough to bring your acne breakouts under control.

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Don’t you think that whenever you find something indulgent, something nice – especially if it’s something to eat – there are always plenty of people waiting around to tell you just how bad it is for you? That’s what it’s like with chocolate. OK – tooth decay and obesity – perhaps there may be something in those arguments that chocolate is a cause – but acne? Are you serious?

Thankfully, recent studies have shown just how good for you that chocolate – especially dark chocolate – can actually be. The higher the cocoa solid content, the lower the fat content and so the better it is for you. So, with chocolate, the darker the better is the rule to go by.

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There are three common types of acne – acne vulgaris, acne rosacea and acne inverse.

Acne vulgaris

This is the most common type of acne and is most commonly suffered by teenagers after the onset of the hormones in puberty. However, adults can also suffer from acne vulgaris. The pimples of this type of acne are caused as plugs of sebum harden in the pores and form whiteheads. At oxidation, these plugs of sebum turn black and form blackheads. Also, if these pimples are scratched or squeezed and become inflamed, they can become infected, worsening the acne. Most often, acne vulgaris affects the face, but the pimples can also occur on the back, shoulders, upper arms and chest. Occasionally, other parts of the body are also affected.

Acne rosacea

Acnea rosacea mainly affects the face’s central panel – often called the T-zone – the forehead, nose and chin. It mainly affects people with fair skin. The redness of acne rosacea occurs when the small blood vessels dilate and become visible as blushing skin. Pimples are not really associated with this type of acne. This skin condition has been nicknamed ‘adult acne’ as it really only seen in adults over the age of thirty. It is also more common in women than men. People who habitually blush or who are prone to hot lushes are more likely to get acne rosacea. It can be a sign of more longstanding and deep seated health concerns linked to the blood vessels and blood circulation, but this is not always the case.

Acne inversa

Acne inversa is perhaps the worst type of acne there is. The pimples in this type of acne can often become pus-filled abscesses and they most commonly occur in the warm, concealed parts of your body like the armpits. That is because they firm in sweat gland areas but the boil-like pimples can also often occur in areas where there is a lot of skin to skin contact, again like the armpits. The pus can be smelly. Although the cause of acne inverse is not really known, it appears that there is a link with smoking and obesity.

If your acne – whatever the type of acne – is severe enough to make you want to have it treated, then you need to know which of the types of acne you have. This is because the treatments are different – which makes sense if you think about it, as the symptoms of different types of acne are all different.

There are many myths about what causes acne. You may have heard everything from eating chocolate causes acne to tanning can keep acne at bay. Here are some of the more popular myths and truths about acne.

Myth #1) You just have to let acne run its course. While it may seem there are times when you have worse outbreaks than others, you do not have to just sit by and wait. There are things you can do to help clear up your face. If you have tried different products, natural or otherwise, and the condition is only getting worse it may be time to seek professional advice. You may just have simple allergies causing an acne condition. Do not let any medical condition go untreated. This includes acne.

Myth #2) You have acne because you do not wash well enough. This is simply not true. You may find that scrubbing your face three and four times a day can actually increase the acne problem. You could end up with more outbreaks the more you wash your face. The rule of thumb is to wash in the morning with a mild soap and pat your face completely dry. In the evening you should remove any dirt and oil in the same way. If you wear makeup it is always best to remove it all before going to bed at night; this way your face is clean and able to breath without any of the pores being blocked.

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Contrary to popular belief, acne is not just a problem for teenagers. Yes, the problem most commonly raises its ugly, pus-filled head when the hormones of puberty kick in, but it can actually occur at any age. The real danger years for an acne breakout are from ten or so to around forty, but even babies can get acne and the breakouts can occur well into old age. An acne breakout is possible even if you have rarely, or even never, suffered from acne before.

Acne isn’t a simple matter of a few spots here and there. The most commonly affected area if the face, as everyone knows; however, it is not unusual for the back, chest and upper arms to be affected by an acne breakout. These breakouts are typified by spots or pimples, but also whiteheads, blackheads and blocked pores. If you’re really unlucky these pimples will fill with pus and can become inflamed and quite sore. Rubbing, picking or otherwise breaking these pustules will spread the bacteria further and worsen the acne breakout so that even quite painful cysts way develop.

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