A very common skin affection that keeps us from healthy skin is acne. Some people view it as a minor problem because of its commonality and leave it untreated. This response may lead to long lasting effects including discoloration of the skin and scarring. There are also deeper consequences such as social embarrassment and lower self esteem. You don't have to suffer from these things; it is possible for you to have a clear complexion.

Acne Formation

Acne develops deep in the skin's surface at the base of hair follicles. These spaces are surrounded by skin cells and sebaceous glands that are responsible for producing sebum, a type of oil. The sebum in clear follicles brings dead skin cells to the surface to be washed away. Blemishes are caused by an interruption of this process when a follicle is unable to secrete a group of dead skin cells. A blocked mass of dead skill cells and oil produces a micro comedone. Bacteria begin to grow in this microenvironment, as it is able to fuel itself and live off of the dead skin cells and oil. The result of this infection can become a whitehead, a closed comedone, or a blackhead, an open comedone. In more serious cases your body will naturally send other types of cells to fight the infection, causing the mass to grow larger, become inflamed, and result in a painful bump or cyst.

Causes of Acne

This process can be started by the presence of many different factors. Stress related and heredity factors are the most significant, however diet can play a strong role as well. Some people may be responding poorly to their acne, doing more harm than good. For example, women may choose to cover their acne with heavy make up which certainly can worsen the condition. Washing your face too often or scrubbing too hard might also have negative effects. You also should be careful with hair products that might contain oil and cause problems around the forehead and temples.

Acne Tips and Treatment

1. Do not be tempted by blackheads and whiteheads. Popping them or picking at your skin leads to further infection and future scarring.

2. Do not overdo your skin care routine with excessive washing. Blackheads might appear as though they are filled with dirt, but what you see is actually oxidized sebum. The truth is that cleaning your skin too often can actually exacerbate the condition. Gently wash your face with warm water and adult acne products and pat dry.

3. It is important to use noncemdogenic skin care products because they do not cause or aggravate acne.

4. Be sure to look over your acne treatments carefully. Most pharmaceutical acne treatments cause a sensitivity to the sun. It is important to use UV protection.

5. If you are a regular at the spa, consult your doctor before continuing treatments like facials. These may aggravate your acne.

6. Avoid oily skin by not touching your face with your hands. More oil and dirt equals worse acne. It is also helpful to keep your hair out of your face as it also contains oil.