Acne also known about Pimples, and Zits. Acne is a common skin disease that causes pimples. Acne is worldwide problem. Acne occurs when the natural oils that the skin produces clogs the pores of the skin. Acne is not just a problem for teenagers, it can affect people from ages 10 through 40. Pimples form when hair follicles under your skin clog up. Most pimples form on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. Acne happens when oil (sebaceous) glands come to life around puberty stimulated by male hormones from the adrenal glands of both boys and girls. Oil is a natural substance which lubricates and protects the skin, and under certain circumstances, cells that are close to the surface block the openings of sebaceous glands and cause a buildup of oil underneath. There are many misconceptions and rumours about acne. Several factors are known to acne. Hormone changes, such as those during the teenage years and pregnancy, probably play a role. There are many myths about what causes acne. Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed, but there is little evidence that foods have much effect on acne in most people. Heredity with the exception of very severe acne, most people do not have the problem exactly as their parents did. Almost everyone has some acne at some point in their life. Most cosmetic and skin care products are not pore-clogging (“comedogenic.”) Of the many available brands, those which are listed as “water-based” or “oil-free” are generally a better choice. Some medications may cause or worsen acne, such as those containing iodides, bromides, or oral or injected steroids (either the medically prescribed prednisone or the steroids bodybuilders or athletes take.).

Comedonal acne most often infects the forehead and the chin. Many teenagers get this type of acne. This acne might get worsen due to hormonal changes, humid weather and oily cosmetics such as sun-screens and petro-jelly based moisturizers. Cystic acne is often cause by the pinching or squeezing of small pus-filled acne. This causes the pus to burst deep into the skin tissue. This triggers a body mechanism which sends white blood cells to the infected site to fight off bacteria. This results in swelling, causes deep rooted inflammation, and this deep infection causes pain. So keep in mind to keep your hands off your acne-infected skin, otherwise you will be spreading the infection deeper and creating more trouble for yourself. One severe form of acne is acne conglobata . This acne affects the face, chest and back extensively. It is a severe form of nodular cystic acne vulgaris. It is characterized by a presence of multiple inflamed and non-inflamed nodules and scars. It is commonly found in men. Acne fulminans is a rare and very severe form of acne conglobata associated with systemic symptoms. It nearly always affects males.Infantile acne takes place in newborn babies, although not frequently. Sometimes it’s even present at the time of birth. It’s a mild form of acne and settles down in a few months. The reason is supposed to be fetal hormones, but sometimes excessive testosterone and follicle stimulating hormones are also found to be cause of infantile acne.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and it helps other organs with eliminating waste. One of the best acne treatments is a diet. Diet is a classic scapegoat for acne. the best natural acne treatments is diet which has many home remedies for acne in the foods that we eat. If you are unhealthy inside it will be reflected in your skin. bad diet is not a cause of acne. There are plenty of people in the world with very poor diets and excellent skin, however unjust that seems. There are several nutrients found in foods that promote an overall healthy body. Use Stevia, the no calorie natural sweetener rather than sugar. Regularly eating breads, cakes, chips and other staples of Western culture is likely to promote acne.Peanuts and peanut butter may provoke acne in some individuals.Eat as many vegetables as you wish, preferably organic. Eat a wide variety, not just the few that most American eat. The combination of fish and vegetables is likely to be the healthiest meal for those with acne. Increase intake of foods that may improve acne such as fish (halibut, salmon, tuna, sardines). These contain important omega 3 oils such as EPA and DHA. They will make a difference in the health of your skin. Using herbs to provide nutrients to your liver and other organs, as well as for cleansing. Vitamin B-2 is great at alleviating stress so obtaining B-2 can help keep acne at bay.Niacin or Vitamin B-3 improves circulation, promoting healthy skin. It also helps reduce cholesterol level in the blood and helps metabolize protein, sugar, and fat.

n you get (catch) acne from other people?

Answer: While certain types of acne do contain a bacterium, it is located in the hair follicles under your skin and can not be transmitted through contact.  So no, touching or kissing someone with acne will not cause you to develop acne.

2.) If both my parents had acne does that mean I will develop acne?

Answer: Studies show that heredity does play an important role in determining who develops acne.  So children of parents who had or have acne are at a grater risk then others.  It should be noted that as with any disease just because you have a family history, does not guarantee you will get it; only that you have a much great chance then someone with no family history.

3.) Does eating or drinking certain foods cause acne?

Answer: Over the years studies have suggested everything from chocolate, candy, fried foods, sugar, drinking water, orange juice to milk can cause you to develop acne or make existing acne worse.  However their is no scientific evidence to support any such results.  There are so many factors effecting acne development that it is very difficult to isolate any one cause.  So whether or not to avoid certain foods or drinks is really just an individual preference.  If you find your skin reacts negatively to certain foods, then just don’t eat or drink it.

4.) Does dirt on my skin cause acne?

Answer: Having proper hygiene will help with healthy skin.  However dirty skin will not cause acne, but anybody with acne should be extra vigilant in having a good cleansing routine.  Over washing can irritate your skin and make it more vulnerable to infection.  Washing with a gentle cleanser will help reduce skin cell build up and keep your skin looking at its best.  So find a balance and try not to over wash.

5.) Does stress cause acne?

Answer: Stress has been shown to make acne worse, not directly cause it.  So if you suffer from acne you should be aware of how you react under stress and develop ways to help manage and keep it under control.  This will not only help with controlling your acne but also benefit your over all health.

6.) Can you develop acne once you are out of your teens?

Answer: The simple answer is yes.  In fact many people who never experienced acne as a teen can develop it in their 30, 40, and 50’s.

7.) Does make up or sunscreen make acne worse?

Answer: Certain products that are overly greasy and thick can plug the skins follicles leading to the development of acne.  Not all products affect everyone the same way, so while you many develop acne using one product someone else may not.  If you are prone to acne you will need to be extra careful with what you put on your skin.  Try to always use oil free products and also test a small amount on a patch of skin for a few days before using it all over.

8.) Will exercising affect my acne?

Answer:  While it is still unclear why this happens, vigorous exercising that causes your body to heat up and sweat does seem to cause acne to get worse for certain people.  One theory is that exercise increases the production of sebum, the oil that when to much is produced can lead to acne.

9.)  Can a facial help with acne?

Answer: There is no easy way to answer this question.  The term facial is used to describe everything from an over the counter product you buy from a drug store and do it yourself to something done at an expensive spa for hundreds of dollars.  The bottom line is anything that might irritate your skin can make your acne worse.

10.) Why does my acne stop responding to my current treatment?

Answer: Acne medication, like all medications can become less effective over time as your body builds a resistance to them.  It might be necessary to use acne treatment regiments on a rotational basis for optimum effectiveness.

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Lets see what is an Acne first before going into Acne Scars. Acne refers to lesions or pimples caused when the hair follicles on the skin become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. A plugged follicle is the perfect place for bacteria to grow and create the red bumps and pus-filled red bumps known as pimples. The usual bacteria that causes acne is called Propionibacterium acnes. Hormonal changes during the teen years often cause increased oil production that contributes to the problem.

Causes of Acne Scars

In the simplest terms, scars form at the site of an injury to tissue.

They are the visible reminders of injury and tissue repair. In the case of acne, the injury is caused by the body’s inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle.

Two types of true scars exist, depressed areas such as ice-pick scars, and raised thickened tissue such as keloids.

Things to remember before going for Acne Scar removal

People experience different types of scarring from acne, and every person is left with different ****** topography. Therefore, acne scar treatment must be addressed on a case by case basis. No single treatment is right for everyone. You and your dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon will have to decide what is right for your type of acne scarring.

Since getting rid of acne scars is a complex process, often several of the treatments listed above will have to be combined to produce the best results. For example, punch techniques followed by laser acne treatments is common. Ice pick acne scars might require undermining the acne scars (subcision) followed by injections (augmentation). It is not uncommon to see more than two procedures combined as well.

Basic research into how acne scars are formed and how they respond to treatment is very limited. It has not been a well treated condition in the past.

Prevention and Treatment of Acne Scars

The best way to prevent post-inflammatory changes caused by acne is to prevent acne lesions from occurring. This is done by understanding the factors that cause acne and using the appropriate treatments for the different acne types.

If you have scarring, the acne scar treatment you get will depend on the type of scars you have, as well as on your skin type. Most experience has been gained treating ****** scars. Generally, scars on the chest and back do not respond as well.

Collagen injection. Collagen, a normal substance of the body, is injected under the skin to “stretch” and “fill out” certain types of superficial and deep soft scars. Collagen treatment usually does not work as well for ice-pick scars and keloids.

Autologous fat transfer. Fat is taken from another site on your own body and prepared for injection into your skin. The fat is injected beneath the surface of the skin to elevate depressed scars.

Punch Excision – Ice pick acne scars have hard, irregular jagged borders and often the depth is irregular as well. Simple excision of these scars with a sutured closure allows the dermatologist to bring the dermis back together, get rid of the ragged margins and close the area with a fine, uniform line.

Subcision – In this procedure the dermatologist undermines the acne scar with a sharp instrument such as a tiny scalpel or needle. Subcision helps break fibrous bands of scar tissue that are creating tension between the epidermis and deeper structures and also helps induce new collagen formation.

Dermabrasion – This procedure has fallen somewhat out of favor with the availability of newer, easier to use techniques. In dermabrasion, the skin is anesthetized and frozen and an extremely sharp rapidly rotating blade sheers away damaged tissue.

Laser Treatment. Lasers of various wavelength and intensity may be used to recontour scar tissue and reduce the redness of skin around healed acne lesions.

Skin Surgery. Some ice-pick scars may be removed by “punch” excision of each individual scar. In this procedure each scar is excised down to the layer of subcutaneous fat; the resulting hole in the skin may be repaired with sutures or with a small skin graft. Subcision is a technique in which a surgical probe is used to lift the scar tissue away from unscarred skin, thus elevating a depressed scar.

While growing up, you’ve probably heard of the many speculations and myths about acne. There are numerous myths about the causes of acne as well as treatment for acne. Not surprisingly, you probably grew up not really knowing the cause and the correct treatment for acne. If you are not suffering from acne, you wouldn’t really care but once you are afflicted of this pesky skin disease, you’d likely care a lot.

The Lowdown on Acne

Acne is a skin disorder. It is caused by the activities of hormones and skin elements like your hair follicles and the skin’s oil glands. Acne appears almost everywhere on the skin surface but primarily on the face, neck, chest, back and shoulders.

In order to properly treat acne, you should know the myths surrounding this skin disease. It is a good idea to visit your dermatologist the minute you are plagued with acne to receive proper treatment. Your dermatologist will probably enlighten you to the truth about acne, what causes it and how to treat it.

7 Common Acne Myths

There are actually many kinds of myths about acne. Here are some of them:

1) Frequent washing eliminates acne. Admittedly, while frequent washing may get rid of the bacteria and oil on the skin. It also causes skin aridness which may also cause frequent acne breakouts.

2) Avoid makeup or shaving if you want to prevent acne. You don’t have to totally forego using cosmetics. You just have to learn how to choose your cosmetic products properly. Look for brands that are labeled noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic. You can also shave. Just make sure that you do it properly and with good razors so you’d avoid nicking your skin and causing allergies or irritations.

3) Poor hygiene triggers or causes acne. This might be true to some people but most people who suffer acne are actually quite hygienic. In fact, they almost aggravate their acne more with frequent washing. They develop some sort of obsession to cleanliness.

4) Tanning helps cure the condition. In truth, tanning does not help treat acne. In fact, it may actually aggravate the condition. You may also developed allergy from the chemicals used in tanning.

5) Acne is caused by greasy foods and chocolate. There is actually no scientific proof to this old myth. There is no proof that pizza, cheese burgers and French fries cause acne. Of course, there may be some people who experience acne breakouts with certain foods like chocolates. People’s bodies react differently to foods.

6) Stress causes acne. You need to differentiate the type of stress that may or may not cause acne. Day-to-day stressors do not cause acne. However, severe stress that requires medical intervention or treatment may indeed cause acne breakouts.

7) Let the condition run its course. Often, people suffering from acne, especially teenagers, are advised to let their affliction just run its course. “It’s natural for your age!” Well, perhaps it is but it can be treated and it can clear up with treatment. You don’t have to bear with it for a long time and you don’t have to risk scars from developing. You can seek treatment for it the minute the condition gets out of hand or even before then.

Here is the list of the type of acne medications that is available on the market today:

Topical Acne Medications

Visit your local drug store, or even convenience store, and you will find a wide array of creams, gels, lotions, and other topical treatments for acne. These over-the-counter acne medications are usually for mild to moderate types of acne.

The common active ingredients that topical acne medications contain are sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, resorcinol or lactic acid. If you find that these medications do not work on your acne, it is time for you to visit a doctor, preferable a skin or acne specialist, so that you will be given prescription for a stronger type of topical acne medication.

Adapalene and Tretinoin are some of the active ingredients of the more potent topical creams. These two chemicals are derived from Vitamin A. These types of topical lotions or creams usually work by preventing hair follicles from clogging, which is the main reason for the development of acne, and hastening of cell regeneration.

If your acne is severe, your doctor might prescribe the use of topical antibiotics. These medications are aimed at killing or eliminating skin bacteria. Usually, topical antibiotics are used in conjunction with other acne medications.

Antibiotics

Acne problems that are severe usually need the help of oral antibiotics to help fight off the bacteria that are causing the breakout and ease the inflammation. You should never take oral or topical antibiotics without prescription. Usually, oral antibiotics are taken for weeks or months.

Oral Contraceptives

Women who have acne can take advantage of oral contraceptives to improve their acne condition. Usually contraceptives that contain ethinyl estradiol and neogestimate are the ones that are effective pimple fighters. However, since oral contraceptives might have side effects, you need to consult first with your doctor before taking such medications.

Isotretinoin

For the type of cysts and nodules that antibiotics cannot reach, isotretinoin may be the answer. This is a strong medication that is a last resort treatment for stubborn acne. A lot of people have confirmed the effectiveness of this type of treatment for hard-to-treat acne.

However, it also might have potential side effects. Thus, dermatologists usually closely monitor people who are using this type of acne medication. Some of the adverse effects of isotretinoin are birth defects, triglycerides increase and reproduction problems.

Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is actually more useful in removing or reducing the appearance of the scars or craters from acne infections. Usually, the procedure called dermabrasion is used for the removal of scars on the face. This works by peeling off the top layer of the skin by use of chemicals and equipment.

Whatever type of acne medication you use, it is wise to consult a doctor first so that your treatment will be monitored. Furthermore, it is still best to know what is the underlying cause of your acne breakouts so that you can handle the situation right at its roots.