Tuesday, December 05, 2006

6 Lifestyle Tips for Reducing Acne

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Acne? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Acne.

Here are some tips that have helped hundreds of people suffering from acne. Hopefully, these will help you too:

1. Water is Best

Water is by far the most effective treatment for acne. The main support for this claim is the fact that water is alkaline (pH 7.3) and can be considered as a natural treatment or an almost free acne treatment. Thus, it is best that you drink at least eight glasses of water per day (10 to 12 is better). This will help your body in getting rid of oil, waste and toxins, and water even helps to moisten your skin as it keeps your pores from clogging. Perhaps what is most important is that, water helps to relieve stress and relax your body in the end, so you can have a better sleep. Note that water and sleep are factors that help reduce stress. Along with this, try to lessen your coffees, sodas, teas and alcohols intake as much as possible. The reason behind this is that they are partial diuretics that they drive more water out of the cells of the body than they put in.

2. Avoid Astringents

If your goal is to have a beautiful skin, then you should try to avoid astringent natural soaps and any astringent agents that shrink your skin's pores, such as oatmeal, witch hazel, very cold water and rubbing alcohol. It was found out actually that when your skin pores shrink, more oils are clogged in the pores of the skin, causing the onset of acne.

3. Avoid Stimulants

Coffee, tea, cigarettes, as well as excessive sugar from sweets and soda should be avoided. It is often said that anything potential for affecting the entire body, brain and nervous system can easily stimulate the sebaceous glands to release more oil. This oil has to leave the body through the pores, worsening your acne in the end. Stimulants even trigger stress.

4. Watch Your Diet

Note that diet affects acne. So be careful with what you eat. As much as possible, try to eat foods that are low in fat, as fats produce more oils in the body that are capable of producing acne.

5. Avoid Alcohol

A number of people think that alcohol is one of the best ways to relax and relieve stress. Well, alcohol may do this, but studies have found out that alcohol causes the formation of acne. It is considered capable for producing acne knowing that it is an astringent, thus it shrinks the skin pores, making them more prone to clogging. Aside from that, alcohol inhibits sleep, therefore causing more fatigue and stress, leading to worse acne.

6. Hot and Very Cold Count

When considering baths, you should avoid hot and very cold water on areas of the skin affected by acne. Use warm water instead; perhaps well below 98.5 degrees on your skin.


About the Author:
This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and this entire resource box is included. Find more acne resources at ebookpalace.com
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Monday, December 04, 2006

Understanding The Different Types Of Acne

There are many types of acne you can have. That is why it is so difficult to treat acne. The very first thing to know when trying to cure your acne is the type of acne that you actually have. This is very important in diagnosing because it gives insight into what may have actually caused the acne outbreak.

Once you know exactly what it is that triggers the acne, you have an advantage on either preventing it, or effectively treating it if it occurs again in future.

There are several causes of acne and many of those may surprise you. Use this list below to discover what causes your acne. Many people would likely be surprised to learn that acne is not caused by stress, as they may think, but more likely can be attributed to their fancy new perfume or cologne.

1. Adult acne can be caused by a hormonal imbalances, pollution, medications, or stress to name a few. Studies have shown a direct correlation between hormonal imbalances and outbreaks of acne in women ranging in age from 30 to 40 years.

2. Acne Conglobata can cause serious scarring on the face and back and it is usually attributed to hereditary factors. Unfortunately, there's not a lot that can be done here.

3. Acne Cosmetic is just what it sounds like. It is the outbreak of acne due to the aggravation of the skin and pores caused by the active ingredients contained in the cosmetics that you wear.

4. Acne Detergens is the result of the use of soaps and cleaners that cause an irritating effect on the skin.

5. Acne Fulminans is a very serious form of acne that can accompany a fever and body aches. This acne is predominantly found amongst males and it includes the abrupt onset of acne, severe scarring, fever, loss of appetite and a high white blood cell count.

6. Acne Excoriee is actually brought about by the constant picking of the pimples on the face and body. This, perhaps more than all the other symptoms, can and should be avoided.

7. Acne Mallorca is brought on by exposure to sunlight.

8. Acne Keloidalis is common among people of African descent. It usually flares up in and around the neck area.

9. Acne mechanica is caused by materials and fabrics such as clothing and purse straps that chafe against bare skin.

10 .Acne Medicametosa is a side effect of certain medications which include oral contraceptives and over the counter drugs that contain potassium iodide, chlorine and bromide.

11. Acne Pomade is commonly caused by the use of oils found in hair care products. The oil migrates from the hair to the forehead, where it can clog pores and cause acne.

12. Acne Neonatorum is acne that affects infants. It is transferred by way of hormones from the mother to the child.

There are many types of acne. It is best that you find the cause of your outbreak and take specific steps to eliminate the cause. In some cases, it could be as simple as avoiding to touch your face when your fingers are dirty. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist when in doubt. Let them help you determine the cause.

About The Author:
Joshua Poyoh
For more information on How To Get Rid Of Acne And Blemishes and other skin care related matters, please visit Skin Care And Acne Resources
Content Provider: http://www.my-articles.com

Sunday, December 03, 2006

For Severe Acne Seek Medical Advice Early

Acne is a common skin disorder that affects most people some time in their lives. Although it is not uncommon for acne to occur late in adulthood, it is most common among teenagers due to hormonal changes in the body. Teenagers are socially mobile, spending a good deal of time outdoors. Having fun being uppermost on their minds, basic skin care is not high on their checklist. Lack of awareness in this area aggravates their acne problems.

Although acne is rarely a serious medical condition, when outbreaks are severe it can cause emotional distress especially when the acne problem extends into young adulthood. If not treated properly, permanent scarring of the skin may result. This is the time when professional medical advice is needed and prudent.

Parents play an important role for teenagers to recognize this critical stage of severe acne onset. Having a family history of acne will usually result in the next generation also having acne problems. It is thus best to seek the advice of a dermatologist before the onset of severe acne. A dermatologist will be able to give the right skin care advice and proper acne treatment. To battle acne, prevention is always better than cure.

For those who are already in the midst of a severe acne outbreak, it is best to seek medical treatment from a dermatologist if you have persistent pimples or inflamed cysts. It is important not to allow this to persist as this may cause scarring or other damage to your skin. Getting proper professional advice and skin care treatment is extremely crucial at this stage.

Most acne treatments work by reducing the skin's production of oil and accelerating skin cell turnover while fighting bacterial infection. Therefore with most prescriptions you may not see immediate results. Sometimes it may get worse before it gets better. Expect about four to eight weeks to see gradual improvements. In the meantime follow good basic skin care and hygiene routine like not squeezing your pimples and you should be on your way to a clearer skin.


About the Author:
David Gan writes for AcneCareTips.com, a comprehensive online resource for acne cure and skin care tips.Visit http://www.acnecaretips.com
Article Source: ArticleWarehouse