Acne treatment

What is Acne ?

How to Get Rid of Acne?

Acne is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that causes spots and pimples, especially on the face, shoulders, back, neck, chest, and upper arms. 

Whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, cysts, and nodules are all types of acne. ... Acne is a skin disease involving the oil glands at the base of hair .

What is acne? 

Acne is a disorder that affects the skin's oil glands and hair follicles. ....

Pimples are raised red spots with a white center that develop when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Blockages and inflammation that develop deep inside hair follicles produce cystlike lumps beneath the surface of your skin. Other pores in your skin, which are the openings of the sweat glands, aren't usually involved in acne.
 Acne is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that causes spots and pimples, especially on the face, shoulders, back, neck, chest, and upper arms. Whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, cysts, and nodules are all types of acne. ... Acne is a skin disease involving the oil glands at the base of hair follicles.

What causes acne on the face?

Can you go to a regular doctor for acne?

Which foods cause acne?

At what age does acne go away?

Factors that may worsen acne

These factors can trigger or aggravate acne.

Hormones

Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives also can affect sebum production. And low amounts of androgens circulate in the blood of women and can worsen acne.
Certain medications. Examples include drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium.

Diet

Studies indicate that certain dietary factors, including skim milk and carbohydrate-rich foods — such as bread, bagels and chips — may worsen acne. Chocolate has long been suspected of making acne worse. A small study of 14 men with acne showed that eating chocolate was related to a worsening of symptoms. Further study is needed to examine why this happens and whether people with acne would benefit from following specific dietary restrictions.

Stress. 

Stress can make acne worse.

Causes

Four main factors cause acne:

Excess oil production

Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
Bacteria
Excess activity of a type of hormone (androgens)
Acne typically appears on your face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders because these areas of skin have the most oil (sebaceous) glands. Hair follicles are connected to oil glands.

The follicle wall may bulge and produce a whitehead. Or the plug may be open to the surface and darken, causing a blackhead. A blackhead may look like dirt stuck in pores. But actually the pore is congested with bacteria and oil, which turns brown when it's exposed to the air.

Pimples are raised red spots with a white center that develop when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Blockages and inflammation that develop deep inside hair follicles produce cystlike lumps beneath the surface of your skin. Other pores in your skin, which are the openings of the sweat glands, aren't usually involved in acne.

How acne develops?

These factors have little effect on acne...

Greasy foods

 Eating greasy food has little to no effect on acne. Though working in a greasy area, such as a kitchen with fry vats, does because the oil can stick to the skin and block the hair follicles. This further irritates the skin or promotes acne.

Hygiene

Acne isn't caused by dirty skin. In fact, scrubbing the skin too hard or cleansing with harsh soaps or chemicals irritates the skin and can make acne worse.

Cosmetics

Cosmetics don't necessarily worsen acne, especially if you use oil-free makeup that doesn't clog pores (noncomedogenics) and remove makeup regularly. Nonoily cosmetics don't interfere with the effectiveness of acne drugs.
Prevention and management tips.

Here are some tips for looking after skin that has acne or is prone to it.

Wash your face no more than twice each day with warm water and mild soap made especially for acne.

Do not scrub the skin or burst the pimples, as this may push the infection further down, causing more blocking, swelling, and redness.

Avoid popping pimples, as this makes scarring likelier.

A specialist can treat a pimple that requires rapid removal for cosmetic reasons.

Refrain from touching the face.

Hold the telephone away from the face when talking, as it is likely to contain sebum and skin residue.

Wash hands frequently, especially before applying lotions, creams, or makeup.

Clean spectacles regularly as they collect sebum and skin residue.

If acne is on the back, shoulders, or chest, try wearing loose clothing to let the skin breathe. 

Avoid tight garments, such as headbands, caps, and scarves, or wash them regularly if used.

Choose makeup for sensitive skin and avoid oil-based products. 

Remove makeup before sleeping.
Use an electric shaver or sharp safety
razors when shaving. Soften the skin and beard with warm soapy water before applying shaving cream.

Keep hair clean, as it collects sebum and skin residue. Avoid greasy hair products, such as those containing cocoa butter.

Avoid excessive sun exposure, as it can cause the skin to produce more sebum. 

Several acne medications increase the risk of sunburn.

Avoid anxiety and stress, as it can increase production of cortisol and adrenaline, which exacerbate acne.

Try to keep cool and dry in hot and humid climates, to prevent sweating.

Acne is a common problem. It can cause severe embarrassment, but treatment is available, and it is effective in many cases.

10 HOME REMEDIES FOR ACNE SCAR REMOVAL

Acne scars are the worst. I think we can all agree on that. Here are ten remedies that you probably have right now at home that can help eliminate your dark spots and acne scars fast.

1. ALOE VERA

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Scars heal when there are moisturizing and soothing properties present in your treatment. Aloe vera contains these two… and then some. The antioxidants in aloe vera reduce swelling and redness, while its natural astringent removes excess oil and dead cells.

Aloe vera is also great for sunburns (Miami girls know this) and can even be ingested if diluted properly. 

The great thing about aloe is that it doesn't really need measurements. If you can find the plant, even better! Just scrape it off the leaf and lather the scar and cover it with some plastic wrap. It might feel weird and sticky but your skin will thank you.

2. COCONUT OIL

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Really, any oil can work as long as it’s rich in omega fatty acids to penetrate and moisturize the skin so it can restore your skin’s glow.

Coconut oil is especially great for this and is even recommended by avid users to make them a part of your daily regimen.

Our favorite way to use coconut oil? Dab some under your eyes, on your lips, and bare brows in the morning to keep your face looking naturally fresh.

A word of caution for dewy beauties: use coconut oil only on the area you want to treat. Too much coconut oil might just cause a breakout here and there if you don't control your usage. 

3. BAKING SODA

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How exactly can baking soda help with removing scars? It balances your pH and acts as a natural exfoliator. In doing so, it eliminates dead skin cells and leaves you refreshed without damaging the skin around the scar.

Using two parts water and one part baking soda, make a paste and scrub it on the affected area, rinsing thoroughly and gently after a minute.

4. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Need we say more? Apple cider vinegar has been touted as an all-around natural ingredient for everything from cleaning solutions to skin care.

When it comes to treating scars, mix it with honey and leave it on for 10 minutes after applying it to the area. Do this up to three times a day for the best results.

Got a pimple coming? Take a Q-tip and soak it in ACV then in water to dilute it just a bit, and dab the swab right on the looming pimple (beware: it might sting for a sec). It’ll help reduce redness and stop any whiteheads from forming. 

5. ONION EXTRACT

If you don’t mind a little sting (don’t worry, it goes away quickly) then onion extract is another great option for you.

With bioflavonoids, like cephalin and kaempferol, onion extract has been known to significantly reduce the appearance of scars after only a few weeks, with daily use, of course. 

Onion extract is also excellent for fighting acne. It has properties that reduce inflammation, redness, and soreness.

6. HONEY

TAKE THE QUIZ

There’s a reason you’ll see honey more than once on this list. Its natural moisturizing effects and stimulation of tissue regeneration make it a popular ingredient to mix into your skin care routine.

In its raw form, honey is amazing and the darker it is the more medicinal properties it contains.

Mixing honey with cinnamon is a great renewal treatment that can help keep skin smooth and clear.

7. LEMON

If you want to lighten your scar, lemon is a great choice. It has alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), meaning it has the healing properties your skin needs. 

Known as a natural bleach, this lightener aids in new cell growth and gives your skin its elasticity back.

Have your AHA moment with a little lemon. Start by cutting a lemon in half and rub half over the scar; squeeze the lemon to let it soak the scar for about 15 minutes. Dab with cool water to rinse.

Since lemon can make skin sensitive to sunlight, give your scar a fighting chance at healing by using a daily moisturizer with SPF before heading out during the day.

8. ESSENTIAL OILS

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From lavender to tea tree, to carrot seed; the type of essential oil depends on the type of scar you’re dealing with.

Mixing oils is also a great option.

Try mixing apricot oil with neroli, rose, and lavender oil (1-2 drops each) for a gentle and aromatic daily moisturizer to help heal your scar.

Remember to only use essential oils topically and with a carrier oil. 

9. SHEA BUTTER

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We all know shea butter helps women prevent or eliminate stretch marks, so why wouldn’t it work on scars?

Apply it daily to feel its moisturizing effects brightening your skin.

If you can find unfiltered raw shea butter, use that instead of any refined version. Refined usually means any nutrients have been broken down or destroyed. 

Store-bought brands usually irritate because they have added fragrance and other additives.

10. TURMERIC POWDER

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Turmeric is great for acne scars specifically because it contains curcumin, a compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce excess production of melanin, which adds pigmentation to your scar and makes it darker.

This treats discoloration and helps skin glow. It’s also antiseptic so it smooths your skin without irritation. 

Use it with some of that honey we mentioned earlier! Just add equal parts honey and turmeric (1 tsp each) and keep it on for about 20 minutes to allow the paste to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
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