Sunday, February 1, 2009

Acne Introduction - The Causes Of Acne And How To Prevent It

By Haiyan Lasi-Heskin

The dictionary defines acne as: "an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, characterized by comedones and pimples, esp. on the face, back, and chest, and, in severe cases, by cysts and nodules resulting in scarring."

The face and upper neck are the most commonly affected, but the chest, back and shoulders may have acne as well. The upper arms can also have acne, but lesions found there are often keratosis pilaris.

Acne is most common during adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers, and frequently continues into adulthood.

The best thing a teenager can do to help prevent acne is to keep their faces clean. Using harsh cleansers will not prevent acne. Use a mild soap and don't scrub with a washcloth.

Built-up oil of the skin can block the passages of these pores, so standard washing of the face could wash off old oil and help unblock the pores. Clean your face at least twice each day, morning and evening.

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and poultry in order to provide your body with the required nutrients for healthy skin.

Take foods that are high in zinc such as brewers yeast, whole grains, Brazil nuts, and pumpkin seeds, as zinc gluconate has been shown to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory acne.

Basically, keeping your skin clean and eating good balanced diets are about the only things that you can actively do to help prevent acne. - 15438

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