Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Adult Acne - Getting Rid of It!!!

If you were part of the majority of people that were unlucky to be plagued with teen acne, just think of all the snickers, jests and humiliation you had to go through, then it easier for you to understand why most adult acne sufferers go through a lot of hassles to remove adult acne from their lives. We both know that adult acne is not a terminal disease (you can't die from having it, I guess you knew that uhhh?). The major thing acne gives us are ugly scars and sometimes they could be really ugly, like mine was at a certain time.

Most of we adults afflicted with acne are usually on the look out for the magical cure that would gives us the fresh and smooth face or skin we had when we were eleven years old. Before we go on a wild goose chase looking for the magical acne medication that would rid us of adult acne lets understand why and how these little annoying monsters grow on our faces.

Why do so many adults still have acne?

It seems from all the amount spent on all those expensive research they still tell us the same thing that we were have all read in encyclopedias, the major cause of adult acne always has something to do with our hormones running wild and also genetics (my dad had a very bad case of acne when he was younger, more severe than mine was). The genetics part simply means that your biological family history has a large chunk of the blame of why you are suffering from adult acne. But aside those there are some other factors that are responsible for worsening your acne condition, some of them include:

*Side effects from some drugs - (such as corticosteroids, androgenic steroids, and lithium)
*Picking at or squeezing at the pimples
*Harsh scrubbing of the skin
*Oil based cosmetic products - (I guess you know this one already)
*Stress, illness or exhaustion
*Heat and moisture
*Diet has a some amount of influence on acne - (and please eating chocolate does not cause acne, where the heck did you hear that from)
*Pregnancy
*Menstruation
*Menopause

How does Adult Acne form on the Skin?

The formation of adult acne as we all know has something to do with sebum, follicle and all those big words that I read in some 21 inches thick encyclopedia. In simple words it is formed when oil (also know as sebum) that is produced underneath the skin surface is blocked from reaching the skin surface where it always flows to, through a hair-containing canal called a "follicle".

The follicle wall sheds cells often and the canal is used to remove dead cells, which sort of become sticky and block the opening as they attempt to leave the follicle. The blockage results in increased bacteria growth in the follicle, which turns the trapped sebum into a very irritating substance and results in an inflammation that is widely known as acne.

Pheww!!! All that explanation reminds me of high school biology (so painfully boring to me).

In one sentence on how acne forms it is simply put as "Dead skin cells clog the pores, and bacteria cause inflammation which results in acne on the skin".

Although so many adults like you have tried many acne medications and cosmetics to combat acne, we tend to wonder why they seem not to get rid of the problem once and for all but still they re-occur. It seems that acne forms when one or more of these conditions occurs:

*A blockage in the follicle
*There is an over production of sebum (oil)
*Increased bacteria growth within the hair follicle.

Researchers have found out that the hormone responsible for acne, which is called "testosterone". Yes you have heard of it before it is the male hormone (it is found in both males and females but it is produced in high levels in males). Testosterone is responsible for increasing production of sebum (oil), which results in more pimples. Since testosterone is an androgen and is more in males than females, this explains why men tend to have more severe cases of acne than women (at least that explains why I used to have more pimples on my face than my elder sister although she started having pimples on her face before I started having mine).

Adult acne occurs as visible bumps on the surface of the skin usually on the face, although body acne is also common. Adult Acne is seen as pus-filled blisters; small reddish bumps, ugly looking thick red skin on the nose, cheeks and forehead, and small reddish blood vessels all seen on the skin surface. Acne outbreaks usually occur on the face, neck, chest, and shoulders and back. A highbrow term for adult acne is "acne rosacea".

For so many folks stress seems to be one of the major factors in aggravating their acne condition. When I was in college towards the end of the semester when the amount of work we had to do increases, I tend to have more break outs of pimples maybe as a result of the stress or because I had lesser time for acne skin care. It seems aside the fact that you have to contend with hormones and genetics being the major cause of you acne condition you also have things like stress to worsen it.

Achieving Acne Control with the best Acne Medication

The first step in treating your adult acne condition has to do with proper acne skin care.

First of all AVOID the temptation of SQUEEZING your PIMPLES. Most of the time this results in the scars you see on your face. The bigger a pimple is the higher the chances it will leave a scar if you "pop" it.

Remember to wash your skin gently only twice a day; this is very helpful in removing surface dirt and excessive oil, which could worsen your acne condition by clogging the pores. Also please do not use abrasive soaps. They could damage your skin pores and leave your skin too dry.

If you currently use oil-based cosmetics it's time you switch to water-based, non-comedogenic cosmetics as oil-based creams or lotions irritate oily skin and cause further breakouts and blemishes.

You should also make it a habit to always remove your makeup before going to bed.

Consider applying an oil-free moisturizer to your skin after washing. This helps your skin replenish its own moisture and keeps the oil glands from over producing.

Always remember to shampoo regularly. This prevents oily hair from rubbing off on your skin.

Like we learnt in biology class, a balanced diet is necessary for optimum health. A balanced diet and drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day can help keep your skin healthy. There are some physicians that believe that an increase in iodine consumption aggravates acne and recommend a reduction or elimination of fish and iodized salt.

Relax a little to reduce stress and try planning out your activities so you are not under a lot of pressure from your daily activities.

In case you are looking for a more aggressive adult acne treatment to totally banish those little monsters of your face/body you should try using a combination of treatment like that offered by clear pores system which consists of a facial/body wash, facial/body protection cream and a herbal supplement which fights the acne from the inside and the outside. This triple combination is guaranteed to get rid of acne from your life.

Another very impressive acne treatment available is acnezine, which has natural ingredients that work to take care of the skin. They help control free radicals that cause skin damage, aging and wrinkling, and that can contribute to infection. Acnezine limits inflammation, helping take care of the ugly redness, and working to limit the inflammatory response that can cause scarring. And, Acnezine promotes healing. Acnezine consists of skin anti-Oxidant Capsules and acne Moisturizing Crème which ensures acne is combated from both inside and outside the body.

For more information on how you can permanently get rid of Adult Acne from your life and look more youthful and beautiful visit adult acne treatment a brand new blog that gives information, tips and advice on how to solve the problem of acne.

What Type of Acne Problem Do you Have?

If you are a teenager or young adult, I am sure you would have noticed that only a small percentage of people are blessed with a perfect and radiant skin. You would agree with me, that not only are the majority of people not endowed with beautiful skin, a large number of young adults and teenagers are afflicted with the “monster” called acne.

Most dermatologists seem to conclude that more than 80% of the human population is prone to having the acne problems. Ever since the mass media decided to tout that only appearance matters in everything, there has been an increase in the number of adult acne treatments in the market recently. It also looks like products, which contain some form of herbal ingredients is demanded by a large number of teenage and adult acne sufferers. Before you go buying and using any remedy you should identify the type of acne problem that you have.

We all tend to feel that only the fat, pus-filled pimples that appear on our face is acne. In case you may not know, your acne problem is not only restricted to having pimples. If you suffer from the mild type, you might not be aware of other types of acne. On some occasions you might notice some bumps developing on your back or necks, such bumps are due to your acne condition.

Even though all kinds of acne problems start in the same way, which is having too much oil also known as sebum, which breeds bacteria, blocks the hair pores and forms skin inflammation which appear as bumps. The different kinds all vary in their seriousness and appearance. In this article let us classify the kinds of acne into three: acne rosacea, acne vulgaris, and the serious type.

The commonest kind of acne, which is acne vulgaris, is divided into the mild and the serious categories. The first classification of acne vulgaris is the whiteheads. These are formed due to the mixture of bacteria, too much sebum (oil) and dead cells. Whiteheads do not turn into brownish color chiefly because they are not really exposed and they are confined in the hair pores, which mean they cannot oxygenate. However they do turn into a yellowish lump on some occasions. The whiteheads that you see on your skin could also occur due to frequent cellular exfoliation that can block your hair pores.

Another classification of acne vulgaris is the blackheads, which are mixture a of dead cells, bacteria and sebum (oil). The difference between them and whiteheads is that they are only moderately blocked in the follicle. Because of that, blackheads are exposed to oxygen and as a result they turn to dark spots. Blackheads take longer time to be eliminated as when compared to whiteheads. Other acne vulgaris’s types are papules and pustules. Papules are recognized as small bumps that are usually inflamed. Never attempt to prick these bumps as the may result in scars. Meanwhile, pustules are large, infected, pus containing bumps on the skin. You should never prick these bumps also as they can cause severe acne scars.

Very serious types of acne vulgaris include cyst and nodules, which are larger than the types mentioned previously and are very painful. Nodules are big lumps located underneath the surface of the skin, while cysts are lumps filled with pus with an average size of 5mm. Cases of cystic and nodules should be attended to by a medical practitioner to prevent severe scarring and increase of the acne lesions.

The second kind of acne which is rosacea is like vulgaris; but one difference is that it only occupies a third of the face’s middle part, usually the forehead, nose and cheeks. A large number of people with rosacea are women in their 30s, but it seems men are usually the ones with the severe cases. It is usually characterized with rashes, swollen skin and in some cases; the blood vessels may become visible. Even though rosacea is usually mistaken for vulgaris, you should visit a dermatologist if you are afflicted with any on the above condition, in order to prevent it from become more serious like rhinophyma.

Individuals who suffer from any of the mentioned kind of acne usually experience a lot physical and emotional pain mostly caused by a number of embarrassing situations. Aside all the previously mentioned types there are more serious types of acne which include pyoderma faciale, acne fulminans, gram-negative folliculitus, and acne conglobata.

Pyoderma faciale is characterized by the severe types of nodules, lesions and pustules that are in large numbers on an afflicted person’s face. These “monsters” leave very ugly scars. This condition is prone to women aged between 20 and 40. Although these condition cause damage to an individual, they usually end in less than a year.

Acne fulminans is more prone to young men and it is usually accompanied with joint fever and ache. A person with this type has an extreme case of nodulocystic and is prone to severe scarring.

Meanwhile gram-negative folliculitus is classified as a bacterial complication of pustules and cysts usually resulting from an extensive treatment of acne vulgaris. This is a special case of acne and doctors and dermatologists do not know which of the sexes are prone to this classification of acne.

Finally acne conglobata is more common in young men aged 18 to 30. It is recognized as large lesions with blackheads occurring on the buttocks, back, chest, face, thighs and upper arms. This particular type causes severe and sometimes long-lasting damages on the skin, which include large and deep scars. Sufferers of this acne problem should run to a dermatologist for help.

Whatever type of acne you afflicted with, acne is a stumbling block to achieving the level of self-esteem and self-confidence you desire. The best time to treat your acne problem is now, in order to avoid any future damage on your skin. There are quite a number of acne treatments available, but there are only a few, which actually give excellent results. A skin care product like Clear pores is a very good option as it combats the root of cause all acne problems, which is usually due to chemical and hormonal imbalances in the body. Other options are the Acnezine and the Healthy pores acne system, which also include herbal supplements that fight acne internally and externally.

Acne Treatment

Before considering your acne treatment, it is important to know a few quick facts about acne vulgaris and acne treatment



1. No direct link has been established between acne and diet (pizza, nuts, sweets, chocolate )



* There is no link between acne and diet. In particular, no cause and effect has been established between acne and chocolate, dairy products (milk products), shellfish, sweets, or fatty foods (french fries, pizza, etc.). Healthy diet is good for your overall health but it will not be enough to get rid of acne.






2. Acne cannot be cured (There is NO acne cure); it can be effectively treated (see acne treatment) and controlled (but there is no permanent acne cure)




* There is a widespread belief that acne is curable and that a course of antibiotics is all that is required to treat acne. People will often make statements such as my acne treatment did not work because when I stopped the tablets the acne came back again, and after my acne treatment the acne only improved but did not completely disappear. It must be made clear that continued acne treatment is required and that there is no cure for acne (although isotretinoin may cause long-term remission of the disease).




3. Acne is NOT a result of poor hygiene




* Dirt and surface skin oils do not cause acne. However, accumulation of daily dirt on the skin and excessive skin oils should be removed by gently washing your face twice a day with a mild soap, pat dry and use an appropriate acne treatment.




4. Constant washing does not improve acne




* Constant washing does not improve acne. Excessive scrubbing dries and irritates skin further and can actually make your acne worse.




5. Getting a tan does not clear acne




* Although there has been little scientific evidence that sunlight has any reliable beneficial effect on acne, and even less evidence for the benefits of solariums; nevertheless, there has been a resurgence of interest in effects of sunlight on acne. Before recommending such acne treatment one should carefully evaluate any positive effect of using sunlight in acne treatment against the possible long-term carcinogenetic effects of ultraviolet light on the skin. In addition, some studies have shown that acne treatment using sunlight can even worsen acne.




6. Not only teenagers can have acne, adults get acne too (adult acne)




* Even though, acne vulgaris is mainly a skin disease of teenagers; the prevalence of acne in teenage boys and girls is so high that acne is considered almost universal in this age group; nevertheless, adults suffer from acne, too.




7. Acne should be treated and controlled, do not just "let acne run its course"




* Even though, in most cases acne will “run its course”; nevertheless, untreated acne can leave you forever with unaesthetic acne scars, reminding you about your teenage acne skin problems for the rest of your life. There are multiple acne treatments available; therefore, acne should be treated and controlled, avoiding any potential unaesthetic acne scars in the future.




8. Stress does not cause acne, but it can exacerbate the existing condition




* A study of 215 graduating medical students showed that 67% believed that stress plays a role in acne exacerbations. Anxiety was considered an acne-exacerbating factor by 74% of students and their relatives. There is also evidence that stress may exacerbate acne during examinations. It has also been noted that treatment with biofeedback mechanisms is useful in some acne sufferers.




9. Exercise does not increase risk of acne




* According to Stanford University School of Medicine (Stanford.edu) research and contrary to popular beliefs, exercise and sweating during exercise do not increase acne in athletes.




10. There are misconceptions regarding variably of too little or too much sexual activity and acne.





* There are myths regarding too little or too much sexual activity and acne.



o First sex and acne myth that too much sex or masturbation may worsen acne.


o Second sex and acne myth that somehow when females begin having a regular sex life their acne will be improved.






* Although acne is linked to androgen metabolism at the level of the sebaceous glands; nevertheless, there is no evidence supporting neither of these rather strange extrapolations.