• All About Back Acne

    February 29, 2008Comments (0) Back acne.Most people are concerned about acne on their faces, but they are not aware that their backs may have acne too. Back acne may not be so obvious simply because it is not so visible and it can be covered by clothing. However, it can be quite difficult to get rid of back acne.

    Blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, pimples, or even cystic acne are some of the different forms of back acne. They are also commonly known as zits. People from ten to forty years old may suffer from such skin disease. If you are among the people suffering from back acne, read on to learn more about the disease and how you can get rid of it.

    What Causes Back Acne?

    Like any other types of acne, back acne is caused by the excessive oil or sebum produced by the skin?s sebaceous glands. This occurs during puberty for teens and before the menstrual period for adult women. The reason for this is the increased levels of hormones experienced during these stages of life. In short, the sebaceous glands get over stimulated and they produce too much oil that will clog the pores in the skin. When the oil mixes with bacteria that come from dirt or sweat, acne is sure to develop.

    Sometimes, when excessive oil or sebum is already clogging the pores at the back and dead skin cells are stuck inside the pores, our skin will get irritated by tight clothing or sweaty shirts from exercise, as well as heavy backpacks. When you already have an oily or sweaty back, make sure you clean and change your shirt properly. If your back has acne, it should be left untouched. Don?t put too much pressure or wear something that will rub itself on the infected area.

    How to treat back acne

    Since the skin is thicker on the back than the face, it?s alright to use a 10 percent benzoyle peroxide cream to treat acne. A lower percentage can be used for thinner skin such as the face.

    Pustule, Papule, Whitehead, Blackhead

    When the back acne inflammation is shallow, you can classify the acne as a pustule, but when the acne is deeper, it is called a papule. Now, when the excess oil breaks out through the skin, it is referred to as whitehead. The whitehead is similar to blackhead except that the head you see is darker due to melanin, which is the pigmentation agent for the skin.

    More information on back acne can be found at AcneInfo.org, Acne.org and other websites! Check them out and find more tips on how you can reduce back acne today!

    Labels: ,

  • Acne When You?re Expecting

    February 26, 2008Comments (0) Acne and pregnancyAcne doesn?t choose its next victim. Pregnant women still experience breakouts from time to time. That?s why when you are expecting, be sure to keep your skin clean and healthy. This way, you won?t have to take medicines or apply topical creams. Some prescriptions are not recommended for pregnant women especially some that may affect your unborn baby. Here are some tips and guidelines that will help you handle acne while you?re pregnant. You may also check out helpful sites like Acne Resource, Baby Resource, and American Pregnancy.

    During pregnancy, a woman will experience elevated hormonal levels. This is the very reason why pregnant women will encounter acne flare-ups and such. When this happens, you should not be taking any oral or topical medications unless prescribed by your doctor. You may be able to use over the counter drugs or creams but be sure to consult with your doctor first, before using. The best way to handle this is prevention.

    A Healthy Regimen

    We know that acne is the result of dirt plus bacteria plus oil plus clogged pores. To avoid having break outs, make sure that you follow a healthy lifestyle during your pregnancy. Of course, it?s best if you keep a healthy regimen even if you?re not expecting. Being healthy means keeping clean and well groomed, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, drinking lots of water, and regularly exercising.

    Keep your skin oil-free

    During pregnancy, maintain an oil-free skin by regular cleansing. It?s best to clean your face or other parts of your body that are prone to acne, at least twice a day. Make use of microfiber cloth that can absorb oil. If you already have acne, use only a mild soap that is not oil-based. On the contrary, washing your skin too frequently can cause it to be dry. You will still need some moisture so make sure that you don?t overdo cleaning. At the same time, if you notice dryness on your face, you have to use some moisturizing agent. Over cleansing can also cause your glands to produce more oil, simply because they will know that you?ve lost too much oil in your pores.

    Again, the only things you can do when treating acne during pregnancy is to keep developing healthy habits. Prescriptions are highly discouraged because of the side effects that can harm the baby. Check out the article on risks of prescription medications to find out what side effects you can expect with such.

    Labels:

  • Acne and the Digestive System

    Most people do not think that the digestive system affects the occurrence of acne, but in fact, one of the main causes of acne is a weak digestive system. It?s the digestive system that fuels up the whole body with energy. It is also responsible for the breaking down of the food we eat into nutrients and minerals needed by various parts of our bodies, including our skin. Thus, the condition of our skin actually reflects the condition of our digestive system.

    Acne & the digestive system

    One of the most important parts of our body is the digestive system

    The digestive system turns our food into glycerin, sugars, fatty and amino acids. These are then distributed to the organs in our bodies through the blood stream. Therefore, the digestive system is a very essential part of the body. Without it, other systems and organs in our bodies will not get the nutrition they need to function properly. That?s why our skin won?t look healthy if the digestive system is weak.

    A lethargic digestive system causes most skin problems

    A lazy or slow-moving digestive system can cause a lot of problems in various parts of the body, including the skin. Most skin problems come about due to the malfunctioning of the digestive system. These skin problems include acne, psoriasis, eczema, body odor, and boils. When the digestive system is healthy, food is broken down to functional components to keep the body parts in tiptop condition; but when it fails, toxins will be produced. In turn, such toxins will cause problems in various organs throughout the body. As we know, the largest organ of the body is the skin, and it is the organ that is most affected by toxins. The occurrence of acne represents a toxic digestive system and of course, a weak immune system too.

    The important substance in your digestive system

    A vital substance that helps your digestive system work properly is Hydrochloric acid or HCL. Your digestive system must be able to maintain a certain level of HCL to function effectively. If you eat junk food regularly and your usual diet includes a lot of fat and sugar, the HCL level in your stomach will be reduced. Try asking your doctor about this especially if you experience fatigue or adult acne and other skin problems. Depleted HCL will also result in other problems like muscle cramps, arthritis, and food allergies. Aside from an unhealthy diet, long term use of antibiotics is another cause of HCL depletion. Without sufficient HCL, your immune system will be impaired, and this will cause acne to flare up. For more information about acne and the digestive system, you can visit http://www.answerswithherbs.com/digestive_system.html or http://www.acne-advice.com.

    Labels: ,

  • Acne: A Common Skin Disease in America

    Do you know that acne is one of the most common skin diseases in America? In fact, it is a very common skin disease throughout the world. In the US alone, studies show that three out of four people suffer from acne, and the bad news is, acne has no cure. However, it can be treated and controlled. There are various ways to treat acne, and the length and type of treatment will depend on the severity of the acne.

    What Causes This Common Skin Disease?

    There are many factors that can contribute to the development of acne. They can be hereditary, hormonal, and environmental. Basically, acne occurs because of clogged pores that are infected by bacteria. The skin?s pores become congested with excess oil produced by the skin?s sebaceous glands, and this oil is called sebum. When too much sebum is produced, it clogs the pores and traps the dead skin cells. When bacteria from dust, dirt, and other outside factors touch our faces and come into contact with the clogged pores, the result is infection. This infection is what we call acne.

    Then, you may be wondering, what causes the bacteria and the excess oil? It?s easy to determine the occurrence of bacteria since it is common knowledge that they can be found on any dirty object that we get into contact with, or they are just floating in the air. In other words, bacteria are caused by environmental factors or the dirty things that surround us. The other question is, what causes excess oil and how do our sebaceous glands produce too much sebum? That?s when hereditary and hormonal factors come in. Our sebaceous glands may function improperly when hormonal imbalance occurs. Hormonal imbalance happens during puberty and the teenage phase when hormonal activities are more vigorous than normal. For some women, hormonal imbalance takes place when they are nearing their menstrual periods. Whatever causes hormonal imbalance may lead to over production of sebum, and this will result in the occurrence of acne.

    Struggling With Acne

    Probably most of us have suffered from acne, whether mild or severe. And we probably understand the emotional deal that comes with acne. People who have acne will lose their confidence and self-esteem, which is especially true for teenagers. In fact, most teens may not want to go out when they have acne showing on their faces. Acne can ruin one?s social life and cause embarrassment. Therefore, people with severe cases of acne will experience great emotional struggle.

    If you are among the three out of every four Americans suffering from acne, you will want to find an effective treatment for acne. Basically, there are creams and other skin products that will help you get rid of acne. However, if you suffer from a severe case of acne, then it would be best to leave the treatment to a skincare expert or a dermatologist. Meanwhile, you can check out other resources such as ?Acne ? How to Treat It?, ?Treating Your Acne?, and ?Acne Treatment? to get useful tips on how to treat acne.

    Labels: ,