What Causes Acne?

There is a thick, oily substance called sebum that our bodies produce as a natural lubricant.  An overproduction of sebum causes pores to become blocked.  One of the main reasons why our bodies increase production of this substance is the fluctuation of hormones during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy.  Birth control pills have also been linked to an increase in sebum production.

Other culprits that can trigger acne are stress, clothing rubbing against the face, chest or back and even genetics.  Fortunately, there are simple, effective home acne remedies out there.  Here’s a few:

The Most Effective Over The Counter Acne Treatments

Benzoyl Peroxide

• Benzoyl Perozide mildly irritates the skin, which helps dying skin to flake off, which in turn aids in reopening clogged pores.

• Also great at killing off that bacteria that infects congested pores.

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids

• Alpha-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid, keeps pores unclogged by sloughing off the top layer of dead skin cells.

• Creams, lotions and gels that contain 8% glycolic acid will be the most effective in treating acne and preventing new pimples from forming.

Aspirin

• Believe it or not, one or two aspirins taken 4 times a day will reduce the inflammation that comes with an acne outbreak.

The Most Effective Natural Acne Remedies

• Use a cotton ball to dab  a little vinegar or lemon juice on acne.  They both have acids in them that will flush out those clogged pores.

• Use Aloe Vera on pimples.   Did you know that a study proved that Aloe makes 90% of pimples disappear within 5 days?!

• Got blackheads?  Mix 1 teaspoon Epsom salt, 3 drops of iodine and ½ cup of water.  Bring it to a boil.  Once cool, use it on a cotton ball to really clean those pores.

An Ounce of Acne Prevention…

• It makes sense to think that keeping your skin free of all of that dirt and oil in the first place will provide an excellent defense against flare-ups.  The truth is, over cleaning will cause the glands to produce more oil, thus causing pimples.

• Don’t reuse washcloths.  Not only are they abrasive to sensitive skin, but whatever bacteria they’re harboring will be transferred to your skin.

• For men, dip your razor in a little alcohol after shaving to ward off any bacteria.

When To Call The Doctor

Usually a pimple every once in a while just comes with the territory, however, if pimples do not respond to over the counter treatments or home acne remedies within 3 months, then you may want to see a dermatologist.  Also, if your skin becomes seriously inflamed, with painful fluid-filled lumps accompanied by a reddish or purplish cast, something more serious may be going on.

What ingredients are actually in acne remedies, what do they do and what side effects might they have?  Following are a few common active ingredients found in over-the-counter acne products.

Acne remedies containing Benzoyl Peroxide is a great place to start when trying to figure out which acne treatment product might work for you.  Benozyl Peroxide kills Propionibacterium acnes, which cause acne inflammation.  This ingredient also helps removes dead cells and removes excess oils.  However, you should be careful when applying benzoyl peroxide, because it is known to bleach hair and clothes.  It may also cause dryness, redness or burning.

Some acne remedies use salicylic acid.  This ingredient helps to prevent pores from clogging and also helps to break down whiteheads and blackheads.  Salicylic acid may cause stinging or irritation, so you should start with a low dose in the beginning.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids are used in acne remedies to help remove dead skin cells and to reduce inflammation.  This ingredient also helps reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Sulfur is another common ingredient used in over-the-counter acne remedies.  This ingredient removes dead cells which clog pores and also removes excess oils from the face.  This ingredient may have a distinct and not so pleasant smell and may cause dry skin.

You might want to start with using one of these ingredients.  Then after you see how that ingredient works or does not work, try another ingredient.  You might try to use a soap with benzoyl peroxide, then follow with a cream using salicylic acid.  Try different varieties to see what might work for you.  Trial and error is the best way to find which acne remedies will work on your acne.

If one wants to clear acne scars fast the best way to go about doing this is to seek professional acne scar treatments at a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon’s office. The top acne removal treatments are laser resurfacing, chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion.  Each of these seeks the same results; reduce the appearance of acne scars through removing the top layer of skin. The underlying layers of skin that is revealed should will (or should be) reduced or removed.

Laser resurfacing targets the light of the laser on the scar area to vaporize the first layers of skin. Chemical Peels use acid to burn through the first layer of skin, and micro-dermabrasion physically scrapes off the skin with a fast moving rotary brush. After acne scar removal treatments the patient should stay away from the sun and wear sunscreen as a precaution.

Is there such a thing as affordable acne scar reduction treatments? Not really. These acne treatments can get rather expensive since the cost of the procedures are not typically covered by the cost of insurance companies. Costs for acne scar removal can run upwards of a thousand dollars or more depending on how many scars a person has as well as the number of treatments needed.

Despite the high cost, acne scar treatments are considerably worth the cost. Not only can removing acne scars improve one’s appearance, it can significantly improve one’s self-esteem as well. Everyone deserves to look and feel their best.

One great way to clear out all the accumulated dirt in your skin is by using steam. You can purchase a face steamer if you like. The shape of this steamer fits perfectly around the nose and mouth area. Another thing that you can do in line with this approach is to pour hot and boiling water over a bowl and place your face directly towards the steam all the while covering your head with a towel to enclose the steam. However, you need to very cautious when you are using this approach because as we all know, boiling water can be extremely dangerous.

Steam will help loosen up your clogged pores, making it a lot easier to take out those unsightly blackheads and whiteheads. Next thing you need to do is to wipe the dirt away using a cotton ball dipped in warm water. Do this every single day to clear out the oil plugs, so you can have a clean, soft and healthy glow on your skin. Take note that this approach is also great for white head removal.

You can also clean the affected areas with the use of scrubs. When you are using over-the-counter scrubs, remember to first try it out on a small portion of your skin. This is to ensure that it does not leave any adverse effects on your skin.