Monday, 8 June 2009

Luckily, I only had very minimal bouts with acne during my childhood. When you have it, acne causes a lot of discomfort and embarassment. Some people feel helpless with it. In a study conducted in the US, 85% of adolescents were found to have acne. Acne usually appears during puberty and may remain until early adulthood.

What exactly causes acne on your skin? And what can you do to get rid of it?

Acne develops partly because of hormonal imbalances in the body during puberty while wrinkles start to appear because of our advancing age. Acne is caused by various factors; some of them are also linked to wrinkle development. Maybe, we need to take a closer look at acne first before discussing different effective ways to get rid of them.

Acne, also known as acne vulgaris, is a skin condition caused by changes in the hormonal balance of the skin. The uppermost layer skin is made up of the hair follicle and the accompanying sebaceous gland. Acne is also known as pimple, blemishe or spot. The word "acne" is a corruption of a Greek word which was first used by an ancient Greek writer. In severe cases, acne could be very inflammatory. The face and the neck are the parts of the body most affected, while some find their way to the back, shoulder and chest.

According to a 2006 study conducted by Greg Goodman of the a university in Australia, acne contributes to several psychological conditions; foremost of which is marked low self-esteem. There were also few cases when acne led to severe depression and, ultimately, suicide, as reported in the Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health (Vol. 42, 2006).

Specifically, acne develops because of the blockage in the follicles. Excess keratin mix with sebum to produce a plug. This condition is called "hyperkeratinization". There are many factors affecting your likelihood of getting acne. Some studies have shown significant links to family and genetic history. Regular and normal changes in the body that alter the hormonal balance, such as menstrual cycle and puberty, also promote acne development. Stress, toxins, bacteria in pores and intake of medicines with compounds known to trigger acne development are also some of the reported causes.

In severe cases, acne need to be treated using medications containing active ingredients that kill the bacteria causing it, such as topical bactericidal (with benzyl peroxide as the primary ingredient), topical antibiotics (uses erythromycin, etc.) and oral antibiotics (containing tetracycline and other anti-biotic compounds. Their basic function is the elimination of the Propioni bacterium acnes, the very specific type of microorganism that causes the infection. Remember, though, that these are curative treatments. But knowing better about the causes of acne, you can still do something to prevent acne's growth and save you from having those humiliating acne scars. Here is a short list on how to effectively get rid of acne scars and wrinkle effectively.

1. Take lots of vitamin A-rich foods. A study conducted by the American Chronicle showed that people with acne have lower amount of vitamin A in their bloodstreams, while those who were able to prevent acne's growth have inversely higher amount of the same nutrient in their blood. Vitamin A has long been known to boost the immune system of the body, aside from its beneficial effects on the eyes and the skin.

2. Vitamin E. The British Association of Dermatologists now recognizes that vitamin E plays a key role in our fight against acne. People who have ample amount of vitamin E in their body are less likely to develop acne during puberty and early adulthood.

3. Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera is widely used as an anti-burn and anti-inflammatory plant ingredient.

4. Drink plenty of water. Alcohol, smoking and strenuous physical activities usually result to dehydration. Water plays an essential role in skin lubrication. Insufficient moisture found on the skin provides an ideal condition for the early appearance of wrinkles and acne. Proper hygiene is also required, knowing that the skin is a rich breeding ground for different bacteria that feed on the dead skin cells and sebum.

5. Balanced diet. You need to avoid highly processed and preserved foods. They are known to contain harmful chemicals that lead to the accumulation of toxins and free radicals in the body.

Fighting acne and wrinkles is no easy task. You should be devoted enough if you want to look better. Patience and keen understanding of the various factors, both internal and external, are important in the early prevention of acne and wrinkles.

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