Myths about the factors that cause acne are quite widespread and confuse a lot of people.
Today, we will discuss some prevailing myths and bust them forever!
1. Acne is caused by sexual activity: When teenagers reach puberty, their body undergoes lot of hormonal changes. These changes lead to the development of sexual features as well as acne in many cases. Hormonal changes and not sexual activity cause Acne.
2. Cosmetics make Acne worse: Though, many creams and lotions with high oil content and chemicals can aggravate acne conditions, many cosmetic products are safe and in fact help in containing acne. Cosmetics that do not aggravate acne or lead to development of comedones are labelled “non-acnegenic” and “non-comedogenic” respectively.
3. Acne is caused by dirty skin: Many people who suffer from acne clean & scrub their skin excessively which can make acne worse. Over active oil glands cause acne and when you over-wash your skin, the skin gets dry. To counterbalance this oil glands secret more oil which causes more acne. You should gently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap and then pat dry.
4. Acne needs no care; it will go away on its own: This patently untrue. Though acne generally does subside on its own, it may leave permanent scars. There are many treatments available which can control acne and help to keep away those scars. Talk to your dermatologist about which ones are right for you.
5. Only teenagers get acne: One can get acne at any age. Even babies, adults in the age range of 25-44 can suffer from acne. Many adult women have acne because of the constant fluctuation of their hormones during each menstrual cycle. Some medications, like birth control pills, as well as being pregnant can also contribute to adult acne.
6. Picking or squeezing a pimple is the best way to get rid of it: Squeezing or picking can damage the cells under your skin and cause the pimple to be inflamed or leave a permanent scar. As tempting as it is, you will be better off in the long run to leave them alone and let them heal on their own.
Posted on 15 June '10 by admin, under Skin. No Comments.
Acne cleansers are used to remove accumulated oil, make-up, sweat, and dirt on the surface of your skin. By removing this upper layer of dirt, these products generally make it easier for topical acne treatments to be absorbed. However, excessive use of acne cleansers can also lead to irritated dry skin. Most acne patients will only need to cleanse with such products once to twice daily.
There are many types of cleansers:
1) Salicylic acid cleansers:
These break down keratin in the blackheads, and can be used for mild acne.
- PANOXYL® CLEAR ACNE CLEANSING GEL (Stiefel)
- SALAC® (Medicis)
- CLEARASIL® (Procter & Gamble)
- FOSTEX® (Bristol-Myers Squibb)
- NOXZEMA® (Procter & Gamble)
- AVEENO® BAR (SC Johnson)
2) Benzoyl peroxide cleansers:
Breaks down keratin in blackheads, and has antibacterial effects.
- PANOXYL® BAR, PANOXYL® CREAMY WASH, PANOXYL® WASH – (Stiefel)
- BENZAC-W® wash – (Galderma)
- CLEARASIL® – (Procter & Gamble)
- CLEAN & CLEAR® – (Johnson & Johnson)
3) Antibacterial cleansers:
- TRISAN© (Dermtek)
- TERSASEPTIC® (Stiefel)
Posted on 2 June '10 by admin, under Skin. No Comments.
Acne and pimples is a widely prevalent skin condition which begins during one’s adolescence. It is quite common in adulthood and after 40 too. Acne is mainly caused due to excessive sebum secretion. During puberty due to level hormonal imbalances, the sebaceous gland tends to secret excessive sebum. The oil secreted by the gland combines the bacteria and dirt present in the skin and creates an environment that is conducive for the bacteria to grow. This gradually triggers a chain of chemical reactions that leads to full blown acne.
The perfect care for acne prone skin involves routine hygienic and cleaning practices, such as cleansing, toning and moisturizing. These three steps are very vital for having a acne free skin. Regular, exfoliation also keeps skin problem free. While cleansing the skin, bacteria, dirt and excessive oil are neatly removed. Toning allows the pores to breathe easily and moisturizing nurtures & hydrates the skin. Exfoliation helps in removing the dead cells & blackheads keeps pores clean.
However, acne may become chronic and in that case you need to seek help from a dermatologist.
Mostly, some topical agents, laser treatments or hormone treatments are suggested for acne treatment. But apart from these, the home remedies for acne also work fine. Following these few tips can result in diminishing acne.
1) Minimize the secretion of sebum and keep your skin clean & clear.
2) If your skin is very oily, you must always try to keep skin pores open. This opens all the clogs. Wash them properly with warm water. This procedure must be repeated regularly many times a day.
3) Do not use harsh cleansers or scrubs; use gentle cleansers instead. Wash with a scrub gently and rinse. Never rub towel just dab it on your face.
4) Use natural remedies like tea tree oil, aloe vera, calamine lotion and other natural ingredients for effective treating acne and pimples.
5) Always avoid products with ingredients like alcohols, fat and minerals oils.
6) Drink lots of water and have plenty of fruits and green vegetables to provide adequate vitamins and other nutrients.
Posted on 3 February '10 by admin, under Beauty, Skin. No Comments.
