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.

Here's How to Deal With Adult Acne - The Adult Way!

Teenage acne issues always overshadow the equally frustrating issue of adult acne, which afflicts around twenty per cent of the adult population, to a greater or lesser extent.

The adult acne statistic relates to adults under 40 years of age, but it is a frustrating and often reasonably difficult-to-treat issue in the sense that adults are often more concerned about other issues and 'relegate' their acne problem when it should not be at all.

One of the factors that causes adult acne is the use of cosmetics and other skin applications that can create skincare problems after prolonged use. This is another reason to take great care in what lotions, gels and creams are used on the skin at any time, beginning in the teen years. Bad cosmetics and body lotion, including aftershave lotions, can lead to stress in the skin leading in turn to over active oil glands that then lead to pores laden with bacteria.

Similarly, hormone activity can lead to acne problems and birth control pills with andogen can lead to acne breakouts among adults (or teens). Adults should therefore also be wary of using many products or taking medication and pills that might have side effects leading to acne. Non-acnegenic products should be used, along with oil-free gels, moisturizers and cleansers.

These are all things that adults can readily check and accomplish without too much effort, but in doing so they can be not only reducing the chances (or eliminating the chances altogether) of acne, but also creating a healthier lifestyle and skin. Yet many fail to take these relatively basic steps.

Proper cleaning is always basic advice and adults should try and ensure that they are getting good skin cleansers, including things like sulfur and zinc masks.

It is important to recognize that adult acne is not like teen acne and it is no good using the same products that teenagers use. I always stress the need to use natural acne treatments, as you can see from our our acne reviews wherever possible and that of course means drinking ample water, maintaining good skin cleanliness, using natural products on your skin and eating good, healthy food for maximum vitamin and mineral intake. It is a good idea to take vitamin and mineral supplements too, particularly as these elements can become more significant as the skin ages.

The use of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to unclog pores and reduce bacteria is helpful. Remember when exfoliating or cleaning not to scrub too hard, which can lead to irritation and inflammation. Often a good scrub containing alpha-hydroxy acids is effective, as explained in this very useful.