Acne Archives

Popular Myths about Getting Rid of Acne

One of the more frustrating things about acne is all of the various myths that surround the problem.  With different things being said by various people, it’s hard to know what to believe.  Acne is a tough enough problem to begin with, and it doesn’t help when there is so much false advice over how to deal with it.  The fact is the question of how to get rid of acne takes a comprehensive approach and a little bit of patience.  It’s important to educate yourself over what really causes acne and how to treat effectively.  Getting caught up in acne myths can actually make the situation worse if a person isn’t careful.

One common myth about acne is that people with severe breakouts are somehow unclean.  While acne can certainly be related to hygiene, just because you see someone with a lot of pimples doesn’t mean that they don’t wash and a regular basis.  In fact they might even wash too much.  That leads into another common myth which is that it’s good to wash to as much as possible.  If you have severe acne then you most likely have sensitive skin to begin with.  In this case excessive washing is the worst thing you can do because it can aggravate the problem.  It might feel good to try to scrub out your acne, but in the end you can find yourself worse off.

Another myth related to acne is that it only affects teenagers.  While it is true that it is more common among teenagers because of higher hormone levels, it can actually affect people at any stage of life.  Acne is caused by clogged pores that have bacteria within them which can lead to inflammation of the skin.  It doesn’t matter how old you are, these conditions can occur even in adult years.  This can be extremely embarrassing since adults with acne can certainly stand out in the crowd.

There are also myths related to diet and how it can affect acne.  The truth is that more research has to be done in this department.  Chocolate has long been said to cause acne, but so far there has been no direct link with this food source.  When in doubt, it’s always best to consult your dermatologist so that he or she can assess the situation properly.  You might need something more than a simple skin cream to deal with the acne and your face.  It’s important to find out the truth and to seek medical help to prevent further problems and possible acne scarring.

Blackhead Removal How To

Blackhead removal may seem like a tricky thing. Unlike other types of acne which tend to dissipate once a person hits adulthood, blackheads can remain an issue throughout life. There are, thankfully, some cheap and easy home remedies to cure blackheads.

What Are Blackheads Anyway?

Blackheads are a type of acne, otherwise known as comedones. Acme forms when excess sebum oil from the sebaceous glands get blocked in the hair follicles with debris and dead skin cells. The blocked pores then either seal over and become whiteheads, or remain open, oxidize with the air and turn black–blackheads.

Home Remedies For Blackheads

Try the juice of lemon. This juice is full regenerative qualities which have been shown for centuries to cure skin conditions. The citric acid content helps kill any bacteria and clear the open poor while the juice’s natural bleaching effect helps to fade the red coloration. Simply apply this juice topically either neat or diluted with water directly to the acne area. Leave for 30 minutes and then rinse off. Be sure to wear sun block after using lemon juice topically as it increases photo sensitivity and therefore increases the chance of sun damage. (Go to tanning lotion for more on this subject).

Special Manuka Honey. The first recorded notes of the medicinal qualities of honey are as early as 1700 BC. Manuka honey from the hills of New Zealand is considered a medical grade substance in some professional circles. Its anti-bacterial qualities and its ability to accelerate the rejuvenation of scar tissue are documented (although not proven). It contains a powerful combination of enzymes and acidic ph which clear the wound of acne or bacteria and provide a perfect air tight, moisture tight, environment for new growth. Apply the honey in the form of a face mask and leave on for 30 minutes. Or, apply to a dressing and sleep with it applied overnight.

Blackhead Extractor Tool

A more hands-on approach to blackhead removal is the blackhead extractor tool. This is a small metal lancet with a round loop hole at one end. You simply place the loop hole on the skin so that the targeted blackhead is showing in the loop, then slowly press down. This squeezes the blackhead from the pore. Note: do not attempt this without steaming your face first. Steaming will loosen the pores and make the blackheads more easily removable. Without steaming, blackheads will be very difficult to remove and the amount of pressure needed to do so could damage the skin.

Warning

Always consult a specialist before beginning any self-help treatment. Even home remedies can carry side effects and although these remedies have been noted as successful, there is little scientific research to back up these claims.

Natural Home Remedies for Acne

Every day, a lot of people are affected by acne. Acne is a common skin disease that appears in areas where there is an abundant population of sebaceous glands. The main cause of acne is an opportunistic bacterium called Propionibacterium. This bacterium is normally found in our skin and follicles. But it causes skin problems once it enters breaks in the skin or that in the sebaceous glands.

Acne is a big problem for those who love their skin so much but fret no more. Today, there are already quite a lot of treatments available for use. But these treatments can get quite expensive and can hurt our budget quite too much. There is a work around to this problem, it will save us a lot of money and help keep our tummies full and that would be to go for home remedies for acne. The materials you will be using for treatment can be found in your kitchen refrigerator.

If you are to use home remedies, you may start by having a healthy diet. Nothing beats a healthy diet. Every must be balanced, anything in excess is bad for the body. A common cause of acne is an excess in blood sugar. Sometimes people tend to eat too much sweets and carbohydrates at a certain time. You will need to get rid of those excess sugars which will help reduce acne. Having the proper amount of blood sugar will help prevent foreign invaders like bacteria and virus from harming the body.

In the medical world, doctors manage bacterial infections by using antibacterial drugs. For a natural home remedy, we can find some products of nature that contains antibacterial properties. One of these products is honey. Honey has been proven to have antibacterial properties and has been used in the treatment of wounds. Applying honey on your acne will help fight off the bacteria as well as accelerate healing and reducing swelling as well. Garlic may also be used it has antibacterial and anti-scarring properties as well. Applying garlic is simple, get a fresh garlic clove, pound it or cut it in half and rub it directly on your acne and the area around it. It will reduce the swelling and scar formation and the acne will be gone in just days. A common herb like the Aloe Vera contains quite a lot of properties that can manage acne. The herb is mostly used in products in fighting acne and it is very effective. Apply the gel as a mask or ingest it, it works rid of acne and help keep the skin happy.

Commercial products may work mostly but will sometimes not work for those who are in a tight budget. Going for home remedies for acne treatment will surely keep us in budget but as well as treat our acne problems.

Treat Acne by Choosing the Right Foods

Acne is a very common skin disease affecting most of the people at some point of their lives, either as teenagers, as adults or both. There are several possible reasons behind the disease. It is most commonly caused by hormonal changes related to different life stages. The other possible causes are high stress levels, genetics and the way you eat.

The hormones affect the secretion of an oil called sebum. The purpose of sebum is to protect the skin and the hair. However, excess amounts of sebum can block your skin pores, which then causes acne. The pores can also become inflamed and the acne getting more severe, which can be painful and cause scarring. Like many other skin problems, acne has been associated with low self-esteem and depression. Therefore it is important to try to do something about it before it starts causing more problems than necessary. You do not have to suffer from acne forever!

There are several alternatives for treating acne. It makes sense to ask a dermatologist to recommend the best skin care products for your skin type. A dermatologist may also recommend you getting on medication, most commonly antibiotics. The best natural acne remedy there is is to take a look at your daily eating habits and start reducing the amount of carbohydrates and milk products in your diet. This is because the scientific research has shown that both high carb foods and milk have a direct effect on the amount of hormones causing acne. The more you have them in your body, the higher are the odds of your skin getting infected.

Becoming acne free doesn’t have to be more complicated than starting to live in a carbohydrate conscious way, which means avoiding sugar and carbohydrates and consuming more fat and protein. You will see the results within a month or two after making the dietary changes. Choosing your diet right is really amongst the best home remedies for acne. Living in a carbohydrate conscious way is also a great way to lose 20 pounds in 2 months and get a leaner figure!

4 Tips for Whitehead Removal

Let me share with you my top four methods for whitehead removal, all of which are absolutely proven to remove whiteheads from your face and your life.

1. Detoxify Your Body

This method might be the best long-term method for whitehead removal at home. The theory is that whiteheads are due to bacterial infections that get out of control because your body is full of toxins. There are many different forms of detox that you can try.  One of the most common is the lemonade fast. You eat nothing and drink as much lemonade as you wish for three days. The lemonade should be made from freshly squeezed lemons, organic honey and purified water. You can add a dash of cayenne pepper if you want to speed along the detox.

If you can’t handle fasting, you can try a raw food detox. You can eat as much raw fruits and vegetables as you wish on this detox diet.  But you must not eat any animal products nor cook your fruits and vegetables.

2. Use a Honey Mask

This is highly recommended to anyone wanting to know how to remove whiteheads as it is a very effective whitehead remover. Honey is a strong antibacterial and also sticks to the impurities that are clogging your pores and causing the whiteheads.  Just apply a honey mask at least twice a week before going to bed for best results.

3. Hot and Cold Compresses

There are a lot of root causes for whiteheads, but hot and cold compresses are always effective even if the root cause hasn’t been addressed. Whiteheads occur because a pore is blocked. Sometimes the blockage is caused by an ingrown hair. Other times it is oil and the root cause is a high fat diet and hormones that cause too much oil to be secreted through your skin. Alternatively it is caused by bacteria building up and clogging a pore.

In all cases a pore must be clogged for a whitehead to form. So if we use a brute force method of unclogging our pores, we won’t get whiteheads and existing whiteheads will disappear. Cold compresses force pores to tightly close and squeeze out anything blocking them. Hot compresses then force pores wide open and cause sweat to further clean them out. Alternating several times between cold and hot compresses will clean the pores from the inside out. This is much healthier than mechanically sucking out whiteheads with a suction device or squeezing them to pop them.

4. Antibiotics

You have to go to a doctor to get a prescription with this method, but it does attack one of the three leading root causes of whitehead acne. That cause is bacteria buildup blocking your pores. A doctor can examine you to see if an antibiotic prescription is right for you. This may be the easiest method of all if it is appropriate for your situation.

Trying some of these methods should hopefully help you to clear your skin of whiteheads.

Milk the Cause of Acne?

In the past, it wasn’t uncommon for parents to hassle their kids after having learned they had consumed a chocolate bar or the like, despite the fact that they had been warned not to. Chocolate was thought to be a death sentence when it came to acne. When kids complained of a pimple on their lip, or on any other part of the body for that matter, chocolate was blamed.

This was in a time where washing your face was the end all, be all treatment for the skin condition. Things have drastically changed for the better since those days. For one, there is a much wider array of treatments available that are designed for each respective form of acne. In addition, many of the illogical notions that many people readily accepted about the disorder have since been disputed. While there is little evidence to suggest that chocolate causes acne, there is still a divide in the acne community over whether or not other foods can have an impact on acne lesions. Ultimately you should draw your own conclusions, but it’s important to be informed as to how some food and beverage choices may potentially affect your condition.

If you ask what anyone what milk is good for, they’ll tell you for promoting bone strength. Experts have gone back and forth arguing over the health benefits of milk as we age. Some say it contributes to both fragility, others say otherwise. Regardless, there are some fundamental things that we do know about milk that raise some flags when it comes to acne. Since milk is intended to nurture a young calf, it is hormone-laden. Nobody knows for sure what sort of effects these hormones can have on the body. What is clear is that acne is closely related to hormonal fluctuations, and introducing foreign hormones into the human body is probably not the best way to go about preventing the condition. The only way to verify that your milk consumption is adversely affecting your acne is to stop consuming the beverage for at least a month. If with everything else constant you notice an improvement in your condition, you might be better of switching to an alternative.

You shouldn’t rely on your dermatologist’s word that milk has absolutely no effect on your complexion. They obviously have their own agenda in treating you and would rather prescribe some expensive acne medications to clear your lip pimples, for instance, without addressing the root of the problem. If you fear that a sudden decline in milk consumption may have adverse effects on your overall health, consult with your physician before proceeding.

The Best Way To Remove Blackheads

Blackheads are ugly. There is no doubt about it. They can be more unsightly than regular pimples and may be harder to cover. So, what is the best way to remove blackheads?

There is some thought that blackheads cause acne but actually, they are a form of acne. Exfoliated skin, dirt, and bacteria congeal to form the unsightly blemish. Nose blackheads are common but other bodily areas are affected such as the face, ear lobes, forehead, neck and back. Safely removing blackheads can be tricky as there are recommended methods that have to do with clean hygiene and skin care.

There are lots of blackheads home remedies that are used to clear your face. Among them are popping or squeezing them, washing vigorously until they are cleared, strong soap such as lye soap, and even using steam. Other common methods to remove blackheads are using alcohol, peroxide, face soap, hypoallergenic soaps or creams.  There are as many ideas on how to treat blackheads as there are for other kinds of acne.

The medical term for blackheads is comedomes.  The causes are thought to be from poor hygiene, excess generation of facial oils, poor diet, digestion and possibly thyroid disorders.  Removing blackheads can be painful, messy, and leave noticeable scars.

There are many acne treatment products on the market. Many have been successful and work well for millions of people. Some of the names are Proactiv, Murad and Clearasil just to name a few. Some severe forms of dermatitis and acne require medical attention to prevent pain and permanent skin markings.  In some cases, strong antibiotics are prescribed such as Accutane and Tetracycline but they have potential side effects and are reserved for afflictions that are more acute.  One popular method is blackhead removal strips. This product contains sterile bandage tape that is applied to the affected areas.  After about 10 minutes, the strip is removed with the dirt, pimples and other skin debris. This method is safe, clean, and useful to clear blackheads.

So, what is the best method to remove blackheads?  Most doctors and dermatologist agree that proper skin hygiene is essential.  Bacteria, dirt, and allergens compile on the skin. Washing, exfoliating, and prevention is the best strategy to clear blackheads and other forms of acne.  Treating blackheads invariably starts with the washcloth.  Without habitual washing behavior for the face, all the creams, ointments, or acne pills will do no good.  Soap and water will remove unwanted oils and grime that contributes to nose blackheads.

Once the proper habits are formed, if the blackheads are still persistent, market products are plentiful.  Most have been approved as safe and effective for treating blackheads.  It is imperative to recognize that skin care starts with the daily cleansing with warm water and soap.  There can be no denial of this.  Without consistently clean hygiene, skin care products will not be as effective and may lead to unnecessary expense.

This would seem to be common sense but it is sometimes difficult to slow the pace of life enough to wash up.  The air is not pure oxygen and carbon.  There is an enormous list of chemicals, pollens, allergens, pollutants, emissions and stuff that is released into the atmosphere. Just walking around outside may result in chronic conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, colds, flu and other air borne sicknesses.  It only stands to reason that the face is the very front that filters through and catches the Earth’s ingredients.

Conversely, most people are very busy with children, work, school, and life.  Tenacious and thorough hygiene sometimes is too difficult for people with a busy schedule even though it may only take 10 minutes a day to cleanse their face.  Like other good daily routines, this task may be pushed aside or ignored until the acne problem has already appeared.  While it is never too late, it may take a great effort to control the symptoms and clear the blackheads.

The best advice for anyone suffering from these hideous facial marks is to wash, clean and bathe the areas affected as much as possible.  Just as hand washing cuts germs, face washing cuts the chances of developing acne and other conditions. Try to wash your face every time you wash your hands.  Use warm water and soap regularity. It still may be necessary to use over the counter products or even see a dermatologist.  Lastly, do not be discouraged because clean hygiene will help alleviate the problem.

Chin Acne Triggers and Cures

Chin acne is no different from those found in other parts of the face such as forehead acne or acne on other parts of the body like back acne.  Acne is caused by the formation of and mixing of material that plugs hair follicles.  These materials are a combination of discarded skin cells and excess sebum and oils produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin.  When the plug is mixed with bacteria, this leads to infection thus the occurrence of acne.

The chin is an area that is susceptible to the formation of acne, especially with women.  It can appear at any age and not just with teenagers as commonly believed.  Research shows that chin acne in women appears a lot during puberty, pregnancy and also during menstrual cycles.

Some experts believe that chin acne, or acne breakouts in general can be caused by several triggers.  Included in the possible causes of acne are the following:

  • Stress Levels
  • Diets – allergic reactions to food and unbalanced diets
  • Hormonal causes or fluctuations
  • Toxins

Now this is not an all inclusive list. Rather they are the more common causes of acne breakouts.  As previously mentioned, the chin is especially vulnerable to acne breakouts.  Experts cite many treatments for chin acne.  Some can be purchased over the counter, whereas others will require medical supervision.  Listed below are guidelines on how to deal with acne on the chin.

  • Washing your face on a regular basis to remove bacteria and dead skin;
  • Don’t over wash or use strong cleansers as these may cause dryness and further injury to the skin;
  • Apply moisturizers if skin becomes too dry;
  • Antibiotic creams such as doxycycline are available but consult a physician for the right medication;
  • Accutane is an effective way of reducing the production of sebum, however the use of this Vitamin A derivative needs be applied with direction from a dermatologist as there have been known side effects from its use;
  • Take a lot of water and get sufficient sleep;
  • Maintain a balanced diet;
  • Never prick acne – pricking can cause permanent scars as well as cause the spread of infection and the acne.
  • Do not use oil based cosmetics – look for cosmetics that are labeled “non-comedogenic” or “oil free”.

If you are suffering from acne breakouts, it is best to consult an expert to put together the right medical treatment for you.  Acne is unique to an individual thus the mix of treatments are best provided by a dermatologist.

How to Get Rid of Back Acne

Acne is a plague for most teenagers. It is caused by the sebaceous glands producing extra oil during the teenage years. Right at a time when most people are very self conscious about how they look, hormones kick in and many people break out in either pimples or acne. Acne is common on the face and on the back. I written plenty of other times about acne that occurs on the face, so in this article we’ll specifically look at how to get rid of back acne, or bacne.

There are different ways to try to get rid of back acne; most of these ways and tips apply to acne overall. It is very important to keep clean and free from sweat if you have acne problems. If you have back acne, try to shower often to wash the sweat off your back. Perspiration and dirt will make acne worse. If you have facial acne, wash your face every day with a good facial scrub. Also be mindful of what you eat. Oily foods, processed foods and foods with high sugar content are all bad for acne and should be avoided. Eating a lot of unhealthy food causes a toxin buildup in the body, which will make your acne worse.

example of back acne

Example of Back Acne

There are also many scrubs, cleansers, pads and lotions on the market for those with bacne, as back acne is often known. Products with either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide are both good options. The way that salicylic acid products work is by cleaning dirt and dead skin out from the pores, which not only gets rid of the acne you already have but also prevents it from coming back. No matter what product you get with this particular kind of acid, you will need to apply it to the whole area of your body, not just on the acne pimples themselves. You should only use the product twice a day at most, as overuse will cause your skin to get uncomfortably dry and peel; overuse of any product with salicylic acid will not make the acne go away quicker.

It is also very important to keep using the gel or lotion once the acne clears up, or else it will very likely come back. You can use it once a day or even once every other day, but keep using the acne cleanser on the particular part of your body that is susceptible to acne, whether it is your back or face.

Benzoyl peroxide is commonly used in over the counter acne treatments and is quite successful in clearing up mild to moderate acne. If your acne is severe then you can get a heavier duty benzoyl peroxide treatment prescribed by a dermatologist but for most people, it is better to start out with a milder treatment and only move on to a stronger one if the milder one does not have an effect. As with the above mentioned treatments, you will have to put benzoyl peroxide treatments on the whole area of the body, be it the face or the back, that has an acne problem. Be aware however that this particular chemical bleaches clothing so if you have bacne then you might want to consider wearing an old shirt right after you apply the cream so that you do not stain your clothes or your sheet if you apply this right before you go to bed.

If you do have an allergic reaction to any acne product you are using, such as the skin stinging or burning, then you may want to either stop the use of the product altogether or cut back to using it less. Also check what particular kind of anti acne cream or cleaner you are using as some are stronger than others and you may need to find a milder product.

If you are wondering how to get rid of bacne without using chemical products that can have side effects on the skin, then using tea tree oil is a good option. Tea tree oil is good for the skin and muscles. Applying ten to twelve drops of tea tree oil to your bath and then soaking your body for half an hour or so is a good way to both cleans the skin and relax the muscles at the same time. To use tea tree oil on bacne, you should dab a swab of cotton in the oil and then apply it to the acne-affected areas right before you go to bed. In the morning, rinse the oil off. The package will also direct you to take Vitamin E supplements and it is important that you do so as this will help to speed up the healing process.

Apple Cider Vinegar is another great natural cure. You put one part vinegar for every three or four parts of water and then apply this to your face with clean cotton, rinsing after ten minutes. You can also leave this on overnight and then rinse it off in the morning for more severe acne.

How to Get Rid of a Zit in 6 Steps

Want to know how to get rid of a zit? Check this article out. Zits, or pimples are the cause of frustration among people who suffer from them because they often pop up on your face and are unsightly.  Contrary to common belief, Zits are not just present in teenagers, they are also found in some adults, often as a result of hormone imbalance.

How do you get rid of zits in a safe and hassle free manner?  Most people would not go to a doctor just because of a zit.  That is why people say that home remedies are the best solution in fighting these blemishes of your face. When you have zits, you do not need a fancy diet but please exercise some common sense and minimize your food intake to a sensible level. Here are some of the many natural and household remedies/tips you can use to take away the zits from your face. Try these if you want to know how to get rid of a zit fast!

  1. To prevent the breakout of other zits in the future be sure to hydrate yourself. Drink at least eight glasses of water every day. (Is this really a home remedy for zits? You’d be surprised at how big of a difference this one can make.)
  2. Get the skin of a lemon and submerge it in warm water then let it rest on the top your face for about thirty minutes then after that you should wash your face with regular face wash.
  3. If you do not want to use the lemon skin facial wash then you may also use the cucumber facial mask. This is actually an easy and fun zit home remedy This will give your skin a large amount of vitamins and minerals to help you get rid of the zits and acne on your face. To use this remedy, make the cucumber into a paste and rub it all around your face. Let it sit there for about five to ten minutes then remove it using water (wash your face with water). Use this treatment if your skin is dryer than normal.
  4. Fresh air and a reasonable amount of sunlight (not enough to cause any sunburn).
  5. Avoid food that is high in fat.  Avoid chocolates as they may be the cause of your zits.  Stick to food that is high in vitamins and minerals. This one is good for people that want to know how to get rid of back acne.
  6. Keep the affected area clean at all times.  Don’t over-wash the zit as this may cause too much dryness.

In conclusion, zits can be found in adults as well as children and is caused by hormones in the body. Be careful and try to regulate if not totally avoid chocolate and foods high in fat. Zits won’t kill you but they can be frustrating to deal with and can be very embarrassing for some people. Though you can easily get rid of zits by following the 6 steps above. Now you know how to get rid of a zit!