Acne is a common problem faced by teenagers and sometimes even adults. It often tends to dwindle the confidence of the person affected. Do not let it affect your confidence adversely. You should try to prevent the eruption of pimples as much as possible. A thorough treatment of acne is possible with a little bit of effort and complete dedication. However, if you feel that no amount of dedication is curing your acne, you should immediately seek medical assistance.
It is also good if you can avoid the use of moisturizers, lotions and creams. It is best for your skin if you can avoid the use of make up. However, this is not always possible for everyone. Hence, if you have to use makeup it is best for you to use oil free water based products and moisturizers instead of using oil based ones. Make sure you remove the make up before you retire for the night.
Never try to pick or squeeze the acne in any way. Instead of bringing the bacteria out, it rather pushes it back deeper into the skin and makes the area appear red and inflamed by spreading the infection. Squeezing pimples -- or "popping zits" -- can also leave behind permanent blemishes even after the acne dries off.
There are various remedial measures that can be taken at home. These are easy to follow and are absolutely safe. Perhaps the simplest way to keep excessive oil at bay is by washing your face at least twice daily with lukewarm salted water. The salt in the water will help in reducing the production of oil in your skin and at the same time will not enhance the acne problem.
Water is considered to be very helpful in reducing oil in the skin and in protecting the skin against acne. The goodness of water can be utilized not only by washing your face with it but only consuming it in a large quantity. A minimum of 8 glasses should be taken everyday. Water helps in flushing out harmful toxins from the body and in hydrating your skin. Exercise also flush toxins and maintains blood circulation.
Do not use unnecessary makeup if your skin is prone to pimples. Even if you are wearing makeup, always clean it before you go off to sleep. Make use of topical cleansing pads that contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur to clean excess oil. Do not use harsh cleansers and try using acne skin care products that mildly exfoliates.
There are various ointments and lotions available in the markets that help in fighting acne. Most of these products contain benzoyl peroxide that is a bleaching agent. These may be effective for a short-term cure but they may damage your skin and make it dry and rough if the bleaching content is too high. If you are still keen on using these bleaching products take care to use only the mild ones.
Exercising is a good way to stay healthy. But remember to take a wash after exercise. The moisture and heat trapped against the skin becomes a perfect breeding ground for spreading bacteria. Avoid wearing makeup during exercises and do not wear garments made exclusively with nylon.
Even after acne is cured, it often leaves behind a scar that can mar your beauty. Treating acne scar is essential to have a clear and fresh face. Two of the commonly used methods to treat blemish are Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion. In Dermabrasion, the top layer of the skin is removed by the use of a high speed rotary wire brush or a diamond coated fraise. Microdermabrasion on the other hand blasts tiny crystals on the skin and rubs it using a rough tool. Both these methods are carried out by cosmetic surgeons.
The market is full of a wide variety of cosmetics that have numerous types of chemicals in them. These chemicals are harmful for the skin as they take away the natural oils that are there in our skin. The natural defensive technique that works in our body starts functioning and tries to protect our skin by producing more oil. This oil clogs the pores and results in pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. Hence, you should opt for natural cosmetics and skin products.
Rinse your face with lukewarm water and use a mild soap to cleanse the dirt away. Washing you face also helps to remove plugs from your skin pore, which is a mishmash of bacteria, sebum and dead skin cells. The accumulation of dirt only increases the infection by working together with oil and skin debris. But avoid excessive washing of your skin as over washing can stimulate production of extra oil and irritate the acne prone areas.
Do you have oily skin as well as long hair? Your long hair could be detrimental for your acne prone skin. The oil content in the hair attracts dirt and when the hair touches the skin on your face, neck, shoulder, etc. (this is more likely in case of long hair) the oil and bacteria problems are intensified. Shampoo your hair frequently and keep it away from your face.
You can even take multi-vitamins, with great nutritious value, everyday for your health. Some people swear that a chromium supplement daily will work wonders when it comes to curing your acne. Also Vitamin A is said to have great virtues in taking care of the skin. It defends the skin against bacterial attacks and helps in the deterrence of pimples. It effects in the minimization of the production of sebum. (Please consult a doctor before trying either.)
After you have tried all remedial steps and have also taken care to consume healthy food there is one more thing you should remember. You need to have patience. You should give a minimum of two months’ time for your treatment to prove its effect. There are various effective antibiotics that need quite some time to cure your acne.