Sunday, July 13, 2008

Causes Of Acne

Puberty is when acne begins for most teenagers. At this time, androgen hormones are secreted from the body. This causes the sebaceous glands to become turgid. Some women are known to be sensitive to theses hormone secretion which can result in the commencement of acne problems during menstrual cycle or even during pregnancy. The sebaceous glands secrete oils that along with the dead skin cells block the pores of the skin. Bacteria start multiplying and cause boils in the spots. One should keep in mind that certain skin care products which claim to make skin smoother can actually aggravate the problem by making the skin even oilier. Stress is another major cause of acne as it induces the production of certain hormones. 

Other causes include:
Sometimes acne is genetic.
When a person is on certain medication or steroids.
Using cosmetics that make skin oily.
Harsh cleaning of the skin.
 

One should also know the common misconception of causes of acne.
Not caused because of dirt
It is not a communicable disease
 

More carbohydrates and sugar and help in the production of insulin which can in turn help in production of hormones. More hormones will mean greater secretion of oils and greater amounts of bacteria. All these possibilities can combine to the f formation of acne.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Prevention of Acne

For teenagers, getting rid of acne has become essential, mostly because this occurs at an age when people are most concerned about their physical features. Teenagers are so concerned mainly because it is agonizing and embarrassing. No teenager is spared from a long duration of acne problems. Acne problems arise mainly due to increase in hormones in the body. The dismal part about acne is that it seems to arise only in the parts of the body which are exposed these days due to fashion trends. Teenagers who complain about oily skin during acne problems are one hundred percent correct, since hormonal activity is increased, which in turn causes the skin to secrete more oils. Most of the ointments available today in the market contain specific chemical compounds such as benzoyl peroxide. There is an assumption in teenagers that acne arises due to improper hygienic conditions or inapt nutrition, which is not the case. Dieting and other methods of getting healthier will do little towards the prevention of acne. Regular maintenance of the skin by cleaning the skin definitely helps to a certain extent. But one must make sure not to take it to a level where he/she refers to harsh products. The only thing this will do is intensify the oil secretion in the skin. Constant shampooing of hair and regular wiping of the entire face, not only the areas affected, can help. Constant contact of the acne infected area with the fingers and scratching is restricted. Such acts can result in discoloration of the skin. One shouldn’t disclose the skin to open sunlight for long hours and the use of tanning lamps should be limited. Women must be aware of the ingredients used in the cosmetics that are applied to the skin (products without oily compounds should be used). All fashion accessories usage which covers the skin such as headbands, helmets must be limited as they can cause irritation.