Acne Treatments - An External Cause of Acne?

Spots, pimples, scars, blackheads, whiteheads are common complaints of a teenager. Acne is a universal problem that has haunted all of us at some point of time in our lives. Acne happens when oil or sebaceous glands come to life around puberty, stimulated by male hormones from the adrenal glands of both boys and girls. Sebum is a natural substance which lubricates and protects the skin, and under certain circumstances, cells that are close to the surface block the openings of sebaceous glands and cause a buildup of oil underneath. This oil stimulates bacteria which live on everyone's skin and generally cause no problems, to multiply and cause surrounding tissues to become inflamed which gradually becomes a pimple.

Hormones are one of the main causes of acne. Besides hormones, there are some other factors that can cause acne. Food, pollutants, stress are the top reasons. Although there is no substantial evidence to prove this, we have been brought up being told by our elders that any form of junk food can lead to acne. Many suggest that we should avoid pizza, chocolates, greasy and fried foods, milk and dairy products, these findings are far from established. Dirt and other pollutants are also known to cause pimple. Stress, according to many can lead to acne as they believe that it causes hormonal imbalance in the body. However, experts say that there is no direct link.

Non-water based, oily cosmetics are also known to cause acne as they can clog the pores that result in the inflammation of the skin resulting in a pimple. Pressure, drugs and occupations are some lesser known causes in occasional patients. Pressure refers to both mental and physical pressure. Mental pressure can be due to work or personal issues. Physical pressure refers to pressure from helmets, chinstraps, collars, suspenders, and the like that can aggravate acne. Drugs and exposure to industrial products are other causes of pimples.

With all these factors we have to encounter in life, it seems impossible to avoid getting some kind of acne at some moment. This is also why it is difficult to find the perfect acne treatment for an individual. And considering everyone's skin is different, how one's skin can tolerate or react to a specific treatment is never a general rule. Plus treatments should be different for normal, oily or dry skin. It becomes important to fight acne from all ways possible, but not at the price of harming your health. An external treatment should cleanse, treat and repair your skin but be gentle enough so you don't get any form of irritation. Also, a dietary acne supplement should be included to your skin care routine as it deals with the hormonal changes that lead to acne.

Blue Light Acne Treatment - 4 Benefits For Using Blue Light Acne Treatment

Did you know you could cure your acne vulgaris with blue light acne treatment? Though this type of acne eventually goes away, it can leave you will unsightly scarring that can lower your self-confidence.

Acne is very common, so it is obvious that there are various acne cure treatment methods on the market. If you did not know this, there is a new breed of cosmetic dermatologists, that offers an expert acne therapy, promising to remove both acne and the resultant scars.

It is known as photodynamic therapy or blue light acne treatment. An acne patient lies or sits down in front of a special light for roughly 15 to 30 minutes, every week for three to eight weeks straight, until the acne is removed. It works by focusing a blue light-wave which zaps bacteria known to cause acne.

During the acne light treatment a topical lotion - Levulan - is sometimes used. Although this lotion makes your skin go pink and then crust, it really helps fight acne and any acne scars. Photodyamic therapy is nothing new (it has been around for over 30 years). But only of late has it been introduced as a treatment for acne.

So why should you use blue light acne treatment? Blue light acne treatment may still be very new to the market, with the long-run side-effects still unknown, but it does have some positive aspects:

Number one - this type of acne treatment clinic is ideal for patients that have severe side-effects from other treatments. For example - antibiotics to cure acne are usually taken for a long period of time, which has the effect of your body resisting any other antibiotics and putting you at risk of infection. Accutane - a popular acne medication - is known to make some patients depressed and suicidal, and cause birth defects.

Number two - If you always forget to take your antibiotics or apply that acne cream, then blue light acne treatment is a great alternative.

Number three - it is also a great option for people who have had no luck with another acne cure treatment. So if your body struggles with acne lotions or medications, you have more options available.

Number four - Light acne therapy now comes in handy kits that you can use in the comfort of your home. With a choice of blue or red light, these kits are a cheaper, but less effective option to expensive clinics.

Blue light acne treatment does, however tend to out of the price range for middle-income households. If that is the case it always best to try an affordable natural acne cure treatment before relying on antibiotics and topical creams.