Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Some Acne Realities For You

By Dave Owen

We know that acne is caused by body oils and dead skin blocking the skin's pores so many of the things you may have been told about what causes acne is not factual.

For starters, if you eat greasy foods like French fries, potato chips, or pizza, your skin will not be adversely effected. This is the same if you eat chocolate or drink any of the many carbonated drinks on the market. Also, if you wear make-up, your skin will not be effected if the products are oil-free.

If your parents had acne as teens you likely will as well. But for most people, by the time they begin to ease into their twenties, it has already begun to disappear. There are some things that can be done to minimize an acne outbreak. Be sure to wash your face with warm water and a mild soap once in the morning and again at night before bed. Do not use a facecloth, as it could be too rough on your face and so aggravate the already tender skin -- use your hands instead.

If you are considering putting anything on your face be it makeup, moisturizer or sunscreen, it needs to be oil free. If you are wearing makeup, you should not go to bed without washing it off. If you are working out or doing anything that causes you to sweat, make sure that you wash the sweat off of your face. Keep your hair clean because it has oils that can be transferred to your face.

If you need the use of hair care items like gels or spray to control your hair, it is best to keep it off of your face. These products can block your skin pores. Also, if you wear hats or caps, be careful that they do not help the growth of acne on the hairline.

Another important thing to remember is not to touch your face excessively. Touching transfers the dirt and oils from your hands to your face. Equally important is to refrain from picking, touching, popping or squeezing the pimples which can cause them to get much worse.

There are many acne products to be found at the drug store. Be careful what you use because something that works for your friends may not work for you. The products that work the best contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as these ingredients will help dry out and reduce the pimples. But, you must follow the directions completely. And do not overuse or misuse these products because that could damage your skin.

If you don't find something that works over-the-counter, arrange to visit your dermatologist who will be able to prescribe something stronger. - 15438

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