Acne is an inflammation of the skin that affects people from every country and every culture around the world. In the US, acne is predominantly thought of as a teenage dilemma, as more than eighty percent of teens and preteens will develop some form of acne. However, the condition certainly affects a large number of adults and even infants. The scientific name for the condition is acne vulgaris because acne usually strikes in plainly visible locations such as the face, neck, chest and back. There are various types of acne that range in annoyance, severity, and healing time. The most severe type of acne may even lead to scars that if not treated properly, may be visible for a lifetime. If you or a loved one is troubled by severe acne, here's what you need to know about acne scars and what you need to do to avoid and care for them.
How Does Acne Form?
Contact with an oily substance such as mineral oil, vegetable oil, or petroleum is a potential cause of acne, as is the use of certain medication and steroids. However, acne is most often cause by the secretion of androgens. Acne is also aggravated by milk or dairy products, red meat and fast food. Androgens are sex hormones that are initially secreted at the onset of puberty. They are male hormones but they are secreted by females as well. Androgens stimulate the production of oil from the skin's oil glands. Acne occurs when these overactive oil glands become blocked, causing the oil to build up in the gland and swell. A bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes normally colonizes this swollen gland causing the development of inflammation and pus. In particularly severe cases, the glands may burst into the skin and produce cysts.
Types Of Acne
Acne blemishes are categorized into four grades, ranging from mild to very severe.
Grade I: Mild acne falls into this category. People with grade I acne generally have blackheads and whiteheads but pimples are not present.
Grade II: The condition is considered moderate acne when blackheads, whiteheads, and small pimples are present, but they are confined to the face and the inflammation they cause is minimal.
Grade III: Severe acne includes blackheads, whiteheads, and deeper pimples with more pronounced swelling.
Grade IV: acne is considered very severe when it occurs on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. Pustules and deeper cysts occur with very severe acne and scarring may result if the condition is not cared for properly.
Preventing Acne Scars
The most important rule for acne sufferers to remember is that you should never pick or squeeze acne blemishes. This can lead to the spread of acne and the development of acne scars. Instead, there are a number of herbal, homeopathic, and traditional formulas that can be used to treat acne and prevent the development of acne scars. Herbs work naturally with the body to reduce acne blemishes and prevent the development of acne scars. Echinacea and poke root are often used for their anti-inflammatory properties and red clover may be beneficial for its estrogenic action. Witch hazel has excellent astringent properties and may be very effective on acne.
Relieving Acne Scars
Acupuncture: Stagnant of Chi in the channels of the face is said to be the cause of acne. Acupuncture performed on these points of the face may help relieve acne, and prevent the development of acne scars.
Surgery: In moderate to severe cases of acne, doctors may use surgery to open up the blemishes and remove blackheads and whiteheads. Unlike medication treatments, the effects of acne surgery are usually more immediate. And surgery is also effective in reducing the development and visibility of acne scars.
Cleaning the intestinal Tract: Acne can be a by-product of a filthy intestinal tract and colon. In most cases when the colon is clean the acne will go away. I recommend the intestinal cleanser Oxy-Powder.
Other remedies include the skin rejuvenation program including 3 products: Oxy-Skin, Oxy-Zap and a strong Aloe Vera concentrate available at http://www.acne-answers.org. These products should help prevent acne scarring.
Dr. Group is heads the research and development division at http://www.acne-answers.org.
Dr. Group, the founder/CEO and clinical director for the Global Healing Center, heads a research and development team producing advanced, new, natural health protocols and products. To learn more visit http://www.ghchealth.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Group
For more information about acne topical and how to treat acne
Friday, August 7, 2009
Acne In Depth Questions and Answers
Acne is a commonplace skin problem for the majority of adolescents and also afflicts a portion of the adult population. People of all different age groups and backgrounds have had to deal with acne at one point or another. Thus, there has long been a long standing desire to prevent it or even cure it.
We will take a look at some of the various causes of acne in addition to some of the various ways in which people are treated. Our hope with this article is that you will gain a better understanding as to the reasons why people get acne and what they can do for prevention and treatment.
What is acne?
For many thousands of years, people have wrestled with acne. Acknowledged in some cultures as a kind of curse from the gods for immoral behavior, acne has mostly been misunderstood. Only within roughly the past century has the medical field been able to distinguish the true causes of acne. As some might expect, this has permitted those who are afflicted with blemishes to gain a certain sense of relief.
An inflammatory disease of the skin, acne is the consequence of serious changes in the skin's structure. Acne is considered to be the body's unique response to a relatively natural production of testosterone, a male hormone.
Instead of a sign that one's skin is not clean, acne is more closely related with the hormonal and bacterial activity underneath the skin, which finally leads to the irritation of the skin. The end result is the red swelling that we know as acne.
What is The Most Common Type of Acne?
One may think that all acne is the alike, but in fact it is not. As with all irritations of the skin, there are several forms involved. Some are believed more serious and harder to eliminate than others. The most usual kind is acne vulgaris, which only means "common acne," ordinarily signified by a red swelling of the skin. Soon after the initial signs, the white or yellow pus that people associate with acne becomes evident.
This is the type of acne that the majority of teenagers get, caused when excessive amounts of oil from the sebaceous gland combine with dead skin cells to end up clogging the pores of the skin. Since the skin's pores are blocked, oil continues to build up, hence permitting bacteria and yeast to spread. This surplus of bacteria and yeast is what finally does tons of damage to a persons skin.
What Are The Mental Effects of Acne?
Acne might show a body's failure to properly deal with hormonal changes. Acne can suggest that a person is not handling stress in an effective manner. It might be an indication of a potentially serious allergic reaction to a medication or other type of element. It is not these effects of acne that tend to do the most damage, though.
Acne is more than a health issue, acne is known to cause people (mainly teens) a sense of shame as well as embarrassment. Acne is incorrectly associated with being unclean. Clear, healthy skin is associated with cleanliness, while severe forms of acne are frequently thought to be the effect of sanitary neglect.
Not just that, acne can be ugly and turn people away. The majority of people who experience severe acne are emotionally scarred by the social rejection, contributing to adolescent emotional insecurity and a sense of self-doubt. Because of this, acne should be treated as rapidly and as thoroughly as possible.
Isn't it True That Staying Clean Helps Prevent Acne?
It is always a healthier alternative to rid your skin of toxins as well as dirt that accumulate throughout your normal daily routine. So yes, to some extent, it is true that washing your skin can help prevent or decrease acne.
Acne is a chemical element, and it is something that occurs beneath the surface of the skin to a greater degree than on the skin itself. Both cleansing on a daily basis as well as care of one's skin will help in reducing the bacteria that resides on the surface of the skin, but these actions cannot decrease the testosterone levels below the surface of the skin that help to create acne.
Recognizing this underlying fact should help to reduce some of the stigma that is accompanied with acne. It should also allow people who are enduring their acne to take some degree of comfort in understanding that they are not necessarily less clean than other people. The truth is that they have very little actual control over what is going on beneath their skin.
What Are Some of The Other Elements Involved That Increase the Probability of Getting Acne?
That is a good question, and one that is likely on everyone's mind. The tough part about acne is that there is not one single element that can prompt it. Several factors help cause acne. Some of them can be circumvented, while others cannot. For instance, one cannot change their family history, but this is one very important factor in influencing the development of some form of acne.
Hormonal activity is another. Women who are pregnant or who are menstruating have been known to abruptly acquire bad cases of acne. Other elements, such as stress and certain medications, can also bring about acne.
Bear in mind, acne is based on the hormonal changes that occur within the body. Any life-changing or stress-inducing occurrence is likely to alter a person's chemical makeup. Lastly, the accumulation of dead skin cells often contributes to increased acne.
Listen to Korbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert author and an avid writer in the field of skin care. If you would like to learn more go to Vitamins for Acne advice and at Cause of Acne revisited.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Korbin_Newlyn
For more information about acne topical and how to treat acne
We will take a look at some of the various causes of acne in addition to some of the various ways in which people are treated. Our hope with this article is that you will gain a better understanding as to the reasons why people get acne and what they can do for prevention and treatment.
What is acne?
For many thousands of years, people have wrestled with acne. Acknowledged in some cultures as a kind of curse from the gods for immoral behavior, acne has mostly been misunderstood. Only within roughly the past century has the medical field been able to distinguish the true causes of acne. As some might expect, this has permitted those who are afflicted with blemishes to gain a certain sense of relief.
An inflammatory disease of the skin, acne is the consequence of serious changes in the skin's structure. Acne is considered to be the body's unique response to a relatively natural production of testosterone, a male hormone.
Instead of a sign that one's skin is not clean, acne is more closely related with the hormonal and bacterial activity underneath the skin, which finally leads to the irritation of the skin. The end result is the red swelling that we know as acne.
What is The Most Common Type of Acne?
One may think that all acne is the alike, but in fact it is not. As with all irritations of the skin, there are several forms involved. Some are believed more serious and harder to eliminate than others. The most usual kind is acne vulgaris, which only means "common acne," ordinarily signified by a red swelling of the skin. Soon after the initial signs, the white or yellow pus that people associate with acne becomes evident.
This is the type of acne that the majority of teenagers get, caused when excessive amounts of oil from the sebaceous gland combine with dead skin cells to end up clogging the pores of the skin. Since the skin's pores are blocked, oil continues to build up, hence permitting bacteria and yeast to spread. This surplus of bacteria and yeast is what finally does tons of damage to a persons skin.
What Are The Mental Effects of Acne?
Acne might show a body's failure to properly deal with hormonal changes. Acne can suggest that a person is not handling stress in an effective manner. It might be an indication of a potentially serious allergic reaction to a medication or other type of element. It is not these effects of acne that tend to do the most damage, though.
Acne is more than a health issue, acne is known to cause people (mainly teens) a sense of shame as well as embarrassment. Acne is incorrectly associated with being unclean. Clear, healthy skin is associated with cleanliness, while severe forms of acne are frequently thought to be the effect of sanitary neglect.
Not just that, acne can be ugly and turn people away. The majority of people who experience severe acne are emotionally scarred by the social rejection, contributing to adolescent emotional insecurity and a sense of self-doubt. Because of this, acne should be treated as rapidly and as thoroughly as possible.
Isn't it True That Staying Clean Helps Prevent Acne?
It is always a healthier alternative to rid your skin of toxins as well as dirt that accumulate throughout your normal daily routine. So yes, to some extent, it is true that washing your skin can help prevent or decrease acne.
Acne is a chemical element, and it is something that occurs beneath the surface of the skin to a greater degree than on the skin itself. Both cleansing on a daily basis as well as care of one's skin will help in reducing the bacteria that resides on the surface of the skin, but these actions cannot decrease the testosterone levels below the surface of the skin that help to create acne.
Recognizing this underlying fact should help to reduce some of the stigma that is accompanied with acne. It should also allow people who are enduring their acne to take some degree of comfort in understanding that they are not necessarily less clean than other people. The truth is that they have very little actual control over what is going on beneath their skin.
What Are Some of The Other Elements Involved That Increase the Probability of Getting Acne?
That is a good question, and one that is likely on everyone's mind. The tough part about acne is that there is not one single element that can prompt it. Several factors help cause acne. Some of them can be circumvented, while others cannot. For instance, one cannot change their family history, but this is one very important factor in influencing the development of some form of acne.
Hormonal activity is another. Women who are pregnant or who are menstruating have been known to abruptly acquire bad cases of acne. Other elements, such as stress and certain medications, can also bring about acne.
Bear in mind, acne is based on the hormonal changes that occur within the body. Any life-changing or stress-inducing occurrence is likely to alter a person's chemical makeup. Lastly, the accumulation of dead skin cells often contributes to increased acne.
Listen to Korbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert author and an avid writer in the field of skin care. If you would like to learn more go to Vitamins for Acne advice and at Cause of Acne revisited.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Korbin_Newlyn
For more information about acne topical and how to treat acne
Acne Treatment 7 Things You Must Know
Let me ask you this...
Are you suffering from acne?
Do you know what is causing it and is there any effective acne
treatment?
Studies show that an estimated 80 % percent of people experience
acne at some point. No one knows exactly what the cause of acne
is, but there are a few theories.
Let´s take a look at 7 of them:
1. Acne normally begins between the ages of eleven and thirteen.
This is true in both males and females due to changes in hormone
levels. These hormones, called androgens, will enlarge the
facial glands. The oil produced by the glands is known as
sebum. The hair follicles shed dead cells too quickly and the
cells and sebum form a blockage in the gland.
2. Pressure and rubbing from tight garments.
Adult with acne should avoid tight-collared shirts that might
irritate the acne further. Adult athletes may notice an outbreak
of acne from equipment such as backpacks or athletic helmets.
3. Acne can also be caused by genetics.
Studies have shown that a family history of acne can affect
whether you have acne and the severity of it. So if your mother
or father had acne as a teen, chances are that it will be a
contributory factor to the cause of your acne.
4. Factors linked to women
Women have several factors that men don’t that can be linked to
the cause of acne. Women go through several phases of life that
cause their hormone levels to change. These changes can cause
acne in adult women between two and seven days before their
menstrual cycle.
5. Pregnancy and hormones
Pregnant women also experience a fluctuation in hormones.
Those who may have previously had little or no acne may see
pimples during their pregnancy and for a time after the birth of
the baby until the hormone levels return to normal.
6. Menopause and hormones
Menopause will cause changes in hormone levels for woman and can
be a cause of acne. Women also tend to wear heavy makeup when
experience an acne outbreak, which only worsens the problem by
further clogging pores.
7.Stress.
Especially in adults, stress can be another cause of acne.
When you are stressed, the hormone cortisol is produced.
Cortisol will worsen any acne you already have. To prevent
stress-related acne, try relaxation and meditation.
Some adults experience acne from picking at blemishes on their
skin. You should never pick at or squeeze a pimple, blackhead or
any other blemish on your face.
This can only cause more acne and possibly an infection.
When cleaning your face, avoid harsh facial cleansers(they cause
the creation of more sebum) and scrubbing your
face too vigorously.
Acne treatments
The sad part is that most of the acne products are sold over the
counter for treatment.
Most over-the-counter acne treatments are topical and come in
the form of a cream, soap, lotion or gel.
Acne products normally contain benzoyl peroxide (good for
killing the bacteria and possibly reducing oil production),
sulfur (helps eliminate blackheads and whiteheads) and/or
salicylic acid (cuts down the speed of cell lose).
More severe cases may require prescription acne medicine that is
topical or oral.
Oral acne medication can help reduce both the growth of the
bacteria and inflammation of glands.
Robin Araoz makes a short review about Chris Gibson´s natural acne treatment. Find out how thousands of people have cured their acne in 3 days. Visit this link for details: acne treatment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Araoz
For more information about acne topical and how to treat acne
Are you suffering from acne?
Do you know what is causing it and is there any effective acne
treatment?
Studies show that an estimated 80 % percent of people experience
acne at some point. No one knows exactly what the cause of acne
is, but there are a few theories.
Let´s take a look at 7 of them:
1. Acne normally begins between the ages of eleven and thirteen.
This is true in both males and females due to changes in hormone
levels. These hormones, called androgens, will enlarge the
facial glands. The oil produced by the glands is known as
sebum. The hair follicles shed dead cells too quickly and the
cells and sebum form a blockage in the gland.
2. Pressure and rubbing from tight garments.
Adult with acne should avoid tight-collared shirts that might
irritate the acne further. Adult athletes may notice an outbreak
of acne from equipment such as backpacks or athletic helmets.
3. Acne can also be caused by genetics.
Studies have shown that a family history of acne can affect
whether you have acne and the severity of it. So if your mother
or father had acne as a teen, chances are that it will be a
contributory factor to the cause of your acne.
4. Factors linked to women
Women have several factors that men don’t that can be linked to
the cause of acne. Women go through several phases of life that
cause their hormone levels to change. These changes can cause
acne in adult women between two and seven days before their
menstrual cycle.
5. Pregnancy and hormones
Pregnant women also experience a fluctuation in hormones.
Those who may have previously had little or no acne may see
pimples during their pregnancy and for a time after the birth of
the baby until the hormone levels return to normal.
6. Menopause and hormones
Menopause will cause changes in hormone levels for woman and can
be a cause of acne. Women also tend to wear heavy makeup when
experience an acne outbreak, which only worsens the problem by
further clogging pores.
7.Stress.
Especially in adults, stress can be another cause of acne.
When you are stressed, the hormone cortisol is produced.
Cortisol will worsen any acne you already have. To prevent
stress-related acne, try relaxation and meditation.
Some adults experience acne from picking at blemishes on their
skin. You should never pick at or squeeze a pimple, blackhead or
any other blemish on your face.
This can only cause more acne and possibly an infection.
When cleaning your face, avoid harsh facial cleansers(they cause
the creation of more sebum) and scrubbing your
face too vigorously.
Acne treatments
The sad part is that most of the acne products are sold over the
counter for treatment.
Most over-the-counter acne treatments are topical and come in
the form of a cream, soap, lotion or gel.
Acne products normally contain benzoyl peroxide (good for
killing the bacteria and possibly reducing oil production),
sulfur (helps eliminate blackheads and whiteheads) and/or
salicylic acid (cuts down the speed of cell lose).
More severe cases may require prescription acne medicine that is
topical or oral.
Oral acne medication can help reduce both the growth of the
bacteria and inflammation of glands.
Robin Araoz makes a short review about Chris Gibson´s natural acne treatment. Find out how thousands of people have cured their acne in 3 days. Visit this link for details: acne treatment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Araoz
For more information about acne topical and how to treat acne
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