Acne Tips

Acne is a term that’s used to describe whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. (You may well recognize slang terms like spots, or zits). Most teenagers get the type of acne called acne vulgaris, which can show up on the face, neck, shoulders, back, and chest. Skin pores contain oil glands which naturally lubricate your skin and hair. But sometimes if a pore gets clogged beneath the skin with excess oil and bacteria, the dreaded acne is caused...

Whiteheads happen when a pore gets clogged, closes, and then bulges out. If a pore gets clogged but stays open, the top may darken and you've got a blackhead. A pimple happens when dead skin and bacteria work their way under live skin. This leads to a small infection that makes your skin look red.

What Causes Acne?
Although everyone is different, acne is usually caused by the build up of oil and dead skin in a pore. This build up of oil and dead skin is caused because of -

• Natural hormones. These are particularly active in your teens.
• Plugged skin. Lots of skin cells can close the oil glands or pores, creating blackheads or whiteheads.
• Bacteria. Bacteria can easily infect oil glands and pores and grow very quickly.
• Family background. If you have acne, your kids are more likely to have it too.

How To Reduce An Acne Problem

• You shouldn’t squeeze, pick, scratch, or rub your skin as it makes the problem worse, and it might even cause scarring.
• Regularly shampoo your hair, and try to keep it off your face if possible - especially at night.
• Keep a food diary to work out if you are one of the few people whose acne gets worse if they eat certain things.
• Exercise regularly to get the old blood flowing, and make sure you get a wash as soon after as possible.
• Avoid unnecessarily touching your face.
• If possible, try to minimize your stress levels.
• Avoid getting sunburned.
• Change your wash cloth every day, as bacteria can grow on damp cloth.
• Wash your face twice a day with a gentle soap like Dove or Lever 2000.
• Always rinse really well with lots of water.
• Only wear makeup on special occasions, and then make sure you remove it completely.
• Granular facial scrub can make acne worse by aggravating the skin

Tips for Preventing Acne at Any Age
From 16 to 40 and beyond, acne is a condition that affects almost everyone at some time in their lives. Nearly 85 percent of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 develop the condition, and some people continue to be affected into their forties and fifties.

• Don’t pick, pop or squeeze, or otherwise mess with your skin. Squeezing blemishes or whiteheads can lead to infection or scarring. It almost always makes the acne you have worse.
• Wash your pillowcase often and always use clean face towels. Dirty towels and pillowcases can harbor bacteria and germs that can make acne worse.
• Be sure to pull your hair away from your skin when you sleep.
• Try to shower as soon as possible after your workout since sweat combined with skin oils can trap dirt and bacteria in your pores.
• Don’t go to bed with makeup on. It can clog your pores and lead to breakouts.
• Make sure to clean cosmetic brushes regularly in soapy water and throw out old, contaminated makeup.
• Use topical treatments anywhere that you tend to get breakouts -- don't just spot-treat existing pimples. The pore-clogging process happens two to three weeks before any blemish becomes visible on the skin.
• Exercising regularly can help reduce stress and it increases blood circulation and oxygen penetration to the skin, which may help to prevent acne.
• Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to help "detoxify" the body from the inside out.