Acne Care Online

Understanding how to treat your Acne involves knowing which type of Acne may have. Acne has many variations, ranging in severity from mild to much more serious cases that can cause disfigurement. There are many treatments for acne available on the market, but it is very important to first identify your Acne type before choosing a treatment.

Acne Vulgaris

The most common form of Acne is named Acne Vulgaris. This type of acne can be easily identified by looking at the characteristics of the lesions.

- Whiteheads: When a pore becomes completely blocked by trapping sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria, you will notice a white appearance on the surface. Whiteheads normally will disappear fast than blackheads on your skin. You should resist the temptation to pop these pimples

- Blackheads: When are pore is only partially blocked, the trapped sebum, bacteria and dead skin will have slowly drained to the surface of your skin. The black color is caused by your skins pigment and melanin reacting with oxygen. Blackheads will normally take longer to disappear than whiteheads. You should also resist the temptation to pop these pimples too.

- Pustules: You can identify a pustule by a red circle with a white or yellow center. The pustule will look similar to a whitehead with the difference being inflammation. Pustules are commonly referred to as Zits.

- Papules: The papule is a red, inflamed and tender bump on the skin with no visible head. You should not attempt to squeeze this lesion as you may cause or exacerbate scarring.

- Severe Acne Vulgaris: The sever types of Acne Vulgaris include Nodules and Cysts and will be quite painful. You should consult your dermatologist for treating these types of acne.

Acne Rosacea

Acne Rosacea may look very similar to Acne Vulgaris and often causes confusion. Millions of people are affected by Acne Rosacea, and it mostly strikes people over the age of 30. It will start to appear as a reddish rash on the cheeks, forehead, nose and/or chin. You may also notice small bumps, skin blemishes or pimples in the area. Blackheads are not a symptom of Rosacea. You should consult your dermatologist if you suspect you have Rosacea, because treatment is often very different.

There are other very serious forms of Acne such as Acne Conglobata, Acne Fulminans, Gram-Negative Folliculitis and Pyoderma Faciale. These forms of Acne are very rare, but they can be disfiguring, painful and have psychological effects.

It is always recommended that you consult with your dermatologist to confirm the type of Acne you have and the best treatments available. The above information should only be used as a reference, and only a trained dermatologist can accurately diagnose your Acne.

Darren Hoffman provides an Acne Treatment Resource Website with information, treatment options and advice for people suffering from Acne. http://www.acne-treatments-web.com

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And the good news is…..pizza, fried foods, and chocolate do not cause acne!

Acne, or pimples, usually starts in the early teens when the oil glands in the body start making more sebum (oil). Approximately 85% of teens and pre-teens - along with many adults get acne. It is so common that it is considered a normal part of growing up. Acne predominately appears on the face, and sometimes on the back, shoulders and chest. Acne can be heredity,and girls usually get it at a younger age than boys.

Teens get acne because of hormone changes that come with puberty - not because of what they are eating! However, acne is not uncommon to have in your 30’s and 40’s.

A ‘whitehead’ results when the hair follicle, or pore, gets plugged up with oil, dead skin cells or germs. If the pore remains open the air touches it and turns it black - it then becomes a ‘blackhead’. A blackhead is not caused by dirt.

Acne can be exacerbated by: menstruating; stress; contraception pills that contain male hormones; oily cosmetics; working in hot humid places or with oil or grease; some types of medicines; or hormone changes during pregnancy.

Having acne can affect one’s self esteem and body image. This can manifest in numerous ways including: the person growing their hair long and keeping it over their face; by avoiding eye
contact; always keeping their body hidden; taking sick days - and missing work or study. Acne can bring on loss of appetite, lethargy, mood swings, crying and sleep issues.

There are lots of acne treatments - some tried and true - and some not - these include: benzoyl peroxide; a course of antibiotics - for severe cases; for some females who may be producing excessive hormones - birth control pills; retinoids eg Retin-A - via prescription; acne creams and cleansers; laser treatments and herbal treatments. With most of these it can take several weeks before you notice any change.

Acne scaring has in the past been of a major concern to a lot of people - there is, however, a new laser treatment for acne scars. The laser treats the damaged skin - resurfacing it, leaving healthy skin unaffected - the laser goes deep into the acne scars - causing collagen remodelling. The procedure is a walk-in, walk-out treatment. It usually takes 4 - 5 treatments for best results.

Gay Redmile is the webmaster of several health and wellbeing sites. For further important information and the latest articles and news on acne - visit her site at http://www.acneinfohome.com

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Herbal acne home cures can be an effective adjunct to whatever other treatments are being used. It is important to understand that they are not hard and fast ‘cures’ in the absolute sense, but will instead support the body’s capacity to metabolize fats and carbohydrates, and encourage elimination through the lymphatic system.

The class of herbs known as alterative herbs are conceptualized traditionally as ‘cleansing’ the body’s tissues. They are thought of as detoxifying herbs, but they don’t work in any obvious way on the body’s elimination channels. - Namely, the lungs, kidneys, or colon. As such, they do not easily fit into a Western model of understanding the body. However, they do have a long tradition of use, and are certainly worth trying as an acne home remedy. Because they work on the internal condition of the body, they are not going to replace any of the topical, over the counter acne treatments. But they may provide benefit in an indirect way that these acne products don’t.

Alterative herbs tend to be quite gentle in their effect, so they are best used as a long term treatment. Results won’t be sudden, but they will improve the general health of the body. They tend to be given for chronic inflammatory problems, especially relating to the skin, such as acne.

These herbs include burdock, cleavers, red clover, figwort, poke root, echinacea, and blue flag. A great combination is blue flag, burdock, yellow dock, and echinacea. These can be mixed together and infused with hot water to make a tea. Drink a cup of this 3 times a day. You can put a little honey in it to make it taste better.

Another possible combination is burdock, dandelion, and sarsaparilla (not the cola!). Mix these together when they are dry herbs, and make a tea in the same way. They can be used separately as well.

There are a number of options for topical acne home remedies as well. Tea tree oil can be applied directly to breakouts, though for those with sensitive skin this may need to be diluted. Fresh cabbage juice can also be applied directly to acne blemishes, and this may be a better option for those with sensitive skin.

An anti inflammatory skin wash can be made from calendula and chamomile. Make a tea as above, then let it cool and keep it in the fridge. Spray or dab this onto the affected areas regularly.

Another combination for an acne home cure skin wash is yarrow, elder flowers, and lavender.

Colloidal minerals such as potassium phosphate and magnesium phosphate can help support the skin. Zinc is excellent to help prevent scarring, as well as fortifying the immune system, and help support the normal functioning of hormones.

Vitamin C is excellent for encouraging the healing of acne lesions, as well as providing antioxidant support to the immune system.

References:
1. Simon Mills, The Essential Book Of Herbal Medicine
2. Judy Jacka, A - Z Of Natural Therapies
3. Paul Bedson, The Complete Family Guide To Natural Healing

B5 supplements for acne have been popular in some quarters, but there is important information you should know before you take that path. Get the vitamin b 5 acne theory debunked here.

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