subject: Causes of Acne and How to Prevent Them [print this page] Causes of Acne and How to Prevent Them Causes of Acne and How to Prevent Them
Acne can occur no matter what age group you belong to. They are most prone to those who are in puberty. They most commonly show up on the face and the neck. There are also those who have them at the back.
Adolescents fear it because it can make feel shy and self conscious. It can lead to social withdrawal and severe depression. The most common types of acne that can affect us are as follows:
? Acne lesions - These can be inflammatory and non-inflammatory. The most severe inflammatory type of acne is nodular acne. Others are open and closed comedones. For non-inflammatory acne lesions this would include: whiteheads and blackheads
In non-inflammatory acne, open comedones are a result of an enlargement as well as dilation of a plug forming from skin cells and oils in the hair follicle. When the hair follicle pore stays open, it exposes a black plug. This is what we refer to as black heads. It is not dirt that constitute to its black color. It is the oil inside the pore exposed to oxygen.
Closed comedos are formed when the hair follicle pore stays closed. If this is the case, the plug or white head won't be exposed to oxygen so there is no black coloration that develops. Instead, it will appear as small pink bumps on your skin.
As for inflammatory acne lesions, they comprise of red blemishes, deep tender swollen lesions and pimples or "zits".
Diagnosing Acne
There are actually no specific tests that can diagnose acne. Doctors will just suggest hormone blood tests before they prescribe you with medications for your acne condition.
How to Treat Acne at Home
You can treat or prevent acne even with a few simple medications and with proper hygiene. Consider the following methods:
? Wash your face once or twice a day with soap and water. This can help remove excess oils form your skin.
? Use acne cleanser. You can get this OTC from any drug store.
? Don't scrub or use abrasives because they can irritate your skin and worsen your acne.
? Use OTC acne medications with care. You can apply them during the day or at bedtime. Just follow the directions on the package. If you have sensitive skin, make sure they are hypoallergenic. Better yet, check with your doctor or derma.
? Use cover up products with care also. Though you can buy them over the counter and they are good for hiding blemishes as they heal, people with sensitive skin should test it first on their elbows.
? Use water-based make up. Also consider those that are noncomedogenic. They cannot cause or worsen your acne condition.
? Stay away from cow's milk as there are studies that prove that it can make acne conditions more severe.
Don't manipulate your lesions. Squeezing and pinching them can worsen your acne. It can also enhance chances of scarring and even long-lasting pimples.
