Preventing Acne & Acne Myths Busted:
It was once believed that acne was caused by poor hygiene. This fact has long
been overthrown, as it has been discovered that it can actually cause acne to
become worse. Prevention does include proper hygiene, but here is the rest of
the story that many people don’t know.
Does Your Diet Affect Acne?
It has long been believed that foods that are fried, chocolate or soda cause acne.
Well, this great debate is over because it has been shown that these items have
no scientific root linking them to acne.
There is no scientific evidence that shows that foods such as pizza, French fries
or soda cause acne. Acne is caused by a biomechanism that causes your
sebaceous glands to produce too much oil. These oils are much different than
those that are used in cooking food. This myth has been around for so long
because people simply believe that it is true. They cease eating foods and their
skin clears up, but this can be due to a variety of other physical effects. Some
people have noticed these changes and a doctor will simply tell you that if you
think that is the cause then stop eating those foods. They are not going to tell
you that chocolate and Dr Pepper cause acne.
It is, however, very important that you do eat healthy. There are numerous
nutrition related issues that may be caused when you don’t eat a healthy diet.
What you eat will not directly affect your skin, but it can cause a variety of other
health problems that are much more serious than acne, such as heart disease.
A balanced diet will also leave you feeling better all around. You will have more
energy, slow down the effects of aging and make a healthier environment for
your skin.
Acne is Not Caused by Poor Hygiene
This myth seems to make sense, but it really is not true. Acne is caused by an
overproduction of sebum. This is natural oil that is essential to your skin to keep
it waterproof and hydrated. A lack of cleanliness does not cause acne. In fact,
the products that cause acne are located deep inside tissues that you can’t
clean. Over cleaning and scrubbing your skin too much or using harsh chemicals
on your skin can cause you to irritate your skin, thus increasing your chances of
acne.
Proper skin care is important at all times throughout your life. If you have acne,
then you want to take special care to keep your skin clean and healthy. This
means that you need to protect it from too much sun and harsh cosmetics.
To clean your skin you will want to use a gentle soap or specialized skin cleaner.
Wash your face with this product twice per day. Don’t scrub and aggravate the
acne but clean it with a nice, soft cloth. Apply cleanser to all areas around the
hairline and the neck. Rinse clean with water and pat dry your face. If you have
very oily skin, then you may need to use an astringent. Use it only in the oily
parts of your skin because dry skin will increase its oil production and make your
acne worse. Hair care is also important and you will want to shampoo at least
two or three times per week. If you have oily hair, then you will want to shampoo
daily. This can help prevent scalp acne as well. Try to keep the shampoo off of
your face as much as possible.
Tanning was once considered an acne treatment, but it really only dries out your
skin and temporarily hides your acne. As your skin becomes accustomed to the
sun, the acne will adjust and flare again. You are also risking skin damage and
increasing your chances of skin cancer. Many acne medications are also prone
to causing skin to be more sensitive to sunlight. This means you will need to be
diligent about using sunscreen when outdoors.
The best thing you can do for your skin is not wear any make-up at all, but since
we know this is not happening for many women, you will want to make your
make-up selections carefully. Look for make-up that is “noncomedogenic” and
avoid make-up that has an oil base. Be sure to read labels carefully when
shopping. Be aware that even if it says “noncomedogenic,” it may still cause
acne in some people. Be sure to wash away all make-up every evening before
you go to bed. This allows your skin to breathe and provides your acne with air.
You can also look for make-up that contains products that will aid in killing
bacteria that contributes to acne. In fact, this make-up can be useful in
prevention as well. If you apply moderate amounts of make-up, you may be
doing your skin some good. There are also several types of make-up that
contain sunscreen to help prevent your face from damaging sunrays.
Avoid products that cause your skin to become dry. Avoid products that contain
alcohol, as it will dry out your skin and defeat the purpose. It may kill the
bacteria, but it will cause your body to produce more oil. You also want to ensure
that your aftershave and perfume is as alcohol free as possible. Use products
that contain a moisturizing product. Use moisturizers that are oil-free, you will
also want to use oil-free foundation.
Antibacterial products will help kill the bacteria that causes acne. There are
several antibacterial cleansers available that will aid in killing the bacteria. Look
for products that contain Benzoyl peroxide. Be aware, however, that these can
cause your skin to dry out if they are overused.
If you have long hair, you will want to sleep with your hair up and on a pillowcase
that nobody else has used. This will keep the oil from your hair from causing an
increased amount of oil on your face.
Shaving with acne can be uncomfortable. If you do need to use a regular
razorblade to shave, then be careful around blemishes. Be sure to use plenty of
water and shaving cream. Electric razors are often good because they do not
scrape the skin, but cut the hairs.
Sometimes acne is caused by simply touching your skin too much. If you sit with
your chin in your hand all day, don’t be surprised when your chin breaks out. If
you constantly swipe hair off of your forehead, don’t be surprised when your
forehead breaks out. By touching your face you are introducing dirt and oil to
these sensitive areas.
If you have a blackhead problem on your forehead, nose or chin, there are
several strips available to help you remove this debris. You simply get your skin
wet, apply the strip and allow it to dry. After the strip has dried, you simply peel it
off of your skin. This is an interesting sensation, but you can almost feel all of
that material coming out of your pores. These are safe and very effective. They
may not get them all, but if you look at the strip you will see little black spikes all
over the sticky side of the strips.
Medications that Aggravate or Create Acne:
There are several medications that can do you more harm than good. When this
comes to your acne, you want to avoid any that may make your situation worse.
Many of these medications will aggravate your already existing acne or may
cause you to breakout.
Any illness may aggravate your acne or cause you to breakout. In this sort of
situation, it is difficult to determine what the cause of the breakout is. Is it the
illness? Medication?
Despite this fact, you want to be certain that you don’t stop taking a medication
that is essential for your health simply because it is causing your acne to be
worse. Instead, consult your doctor to prescribe you a different medication that
may be easier on your acne. It is more important that you sustain your health so
that you can live even if you don’t look the best you have ever looked. Acne may
be painful to look at, but it is not life threatening.
Other medications that are known to cause acne include:
Anticonvulsants: Certain anticonvulsants are prescribed for people who
suffer from epilepsy and seizures. They may also be prescribed to people
who suffer from bi-polar disorder and depression. These medications
often list acne as a side effect. Lithium is another medication that is
popular for these conditions and can also cause acne
· Corticosteroids: These are often used to treat asthma and other chronic
lung disease. These medications are similar to cortisol and can stimulate
the body to produce sebum, which can cause an increase in acne.
· Sobriety Medications: Antabuse is often prescribed to help alcoholics
stop drinking. I can also cause acne in recovering alcoholics.
· Immunosuppressants: These types of drugs suppress the immune
system. These may be required for people who have recently received an
organ transplant. It can also suppress your ability to fight the bacteria that
causes breakouts.
· Thyroid Preparations: Many thyroid medications are known to trigger
acne. Large amounts of iodine may also cause breakouts.
· Systemic Steroids: Systemic steroids are synthetic versions of natural
steroid. These may cause breakout of acne while curing another skin
condition.
· Anabolic Steroids: These are steroids that can cause severe cases of
acne in some users.
· Cosmetic and Acne: Acne that is caused by cosmetics is called “acne
cosmetics.” This acne is triggered by cosmetic products rather than the
natural causes that typically cause acne. If you think that you are
experiencing a breakout because of a product then you will want to
discontinue using it.
Birth Control & Acne:
There are several oral contraceptives that may
control acne but there are also several others that may cause it as well.
These tend to have a low estrogen content and a progestins that
increases androgens in the body. Only women are affected, obviously as
it is oral contraceptive, but they tend to only be women who have a
tendency towards androgenicity. Some of the pills that you may want to
steer away from include:
o Loestrin 1.5/30
o Loestrin 1.5/20 Fe
o Estrostep Fe
o Levlen
o Alesse
o Ovral
o Norlestrin 1/50
Stress Does Not Make Acne Worse:
Many people believe that acne is related to stress. This is simply not true
because there are many stressed out individuals who are not breaking out with
acne. Everybody has stress and it is a part of life. It is also a part of
adolescence. Acne may cause you to become more stressed out because it is
there, but it does not directly cause stress.
Conclusion
Acne is a part of life, but it is something that should be taken seriously. This
condition can have a devastating effect on teenagers and this certainly needs to
be considered if you have a teenager suffering from acne.
Parents have usually experienced the mental distress that acne can cause, so
you want to be compassionate. As adults, you know that the acne will pass, but
when you are in high school it can be hard to deal with. We know that people
don’t walk around staring down your blemishes and making fun of you, but it’s
still a hard part of life.
There are several new medications and treatments that you can take advantage
of whether you are a teenager or an adult. There are several common conditions
that can be brought under control rather quickly with this new technology.
Always consult a dermatologist if the acne is severe. You will not want this
condition to go untreated, as it can prevent scarring. Scars can be a reminder of
your adolescent years, which most teenagers will not want to remember. A
dermatologist will be able to provide you with numerous treatment options.
Remind teenagers and yourself that acne is treatable and you are not alone in
your suffering. Many people suffer from acne and, in fact, about 85% of
adolescents suffer from acne. If you are unable to be successful with over the
counter medications, look for professional treatment to aid you in your fight
against acne.
0 Comments