An Acne Overview

Most people deal with acne at some point in their adolescence or adulthood but not everyone knows what really causes it or how to treat it.

Is It Really that Big a Problem?

Acne is not life threatening. However, breakouts that are not properly treated can cause scarring. Breakouts and scarring can damage a person’s self esteem. So, it is important that it be properly treated. In order for that to happen it is important to understand what really causes this skin condition and consider some tips for effective treatment.

Common Misconceptions About This Common Skin Condition

You may have heard all kinds of stories about what causes acne. Stories have been past down from parent to child and circulated in the hallways of most middle schools. However, the following four stories are simply myths and do not contribute to skin outbreaks. They include:

• Poor Hygiene: Acne is not caused because people do not wash their faces. In fact, frequent face washing may contribute to it. The best plan is to wash your face gently twice a day.

• Poor Diet: There is no evidence to support that eating pizza, French fries or chocolate contributes to pimples. Eating a well balanced and healthy diet is always a good skin care option, however.

• Stress: Again, there is no scientific evidence to support the fact that stress causes acne.

• Sun Will Improve your Skin: This is just not true. However, there is a lot of documentation about the harmful effects of the sun on skin. A tan may mask acne symptoms but it does not cure it.

What Does Cause This Skin Condition

Basically, pimples, whiteheads and other blemishes occur when the skin’s pores are clogged and oil and bacteria are trapped within the pores. The body sends white blood cells to the clogged pore resulting in inflammation.

Treatments

There are many treatments on the market and finding the right one to use will involve some trial and error. Whichever treatment that you find works for you, can be made more effective with these simple tips: gently wash your face with a mild cleanser, do not touch, pick, squeeze or otherwise play with the blemishes and, use cosmetics labeled noncomedogenic. Also, whichever treatment you choose needs to be used as directed and for enough time to determine if it works. If you do not see an improvement in about 8 weeks, it is time to look for a different solution.

So, now that you know what really causes acne and how to get the most from your skin treatment you can look forward to clear beautiful skin.