What is acne & how to get rid of acne?

Today, let's talk about "what is acne & how to get rid of acne?"

Acne makes us feel uncomfortable and insecure. Today will be explaining what exactly is acne and what are the best ways to get rid of acne once and for all!

 

What do you need to know about acne?

Your skin is producing too much sebum. Sebum is the thick, oily substance that acts as a natural lubricant. However, the excess is blocking your pores. There are two kinds of acne. The most common form, acne vulgaris, shows up on your face, chest, shoulders, or back as blackheads, whiteheads, or red blemishes. Cystic acne appears as painful cysts or firm, painless lumps. Fluctuating hormones caused by puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, or birth-control pills often increase the production of sebum, which can trigger an outbreak or either type. It can also cause by emotional stress, clothing that rubs against the skin, and dome drugs, such as steroids. Genetics may also play a role.

Acne treatments

  1. The first avenue of assault is an over-the-counter cream or gel formulated with benzoyl peroxide. It works by mildly irritating the skin, which encourages dying skin cells to flake off. This helps reopen clogged pores. Benzoyl peroxide also kills the bacteria that infect clogged pores.
  2. Alpha- hydroxyl acids (AHAs), such as glycolic acid, slough off the outermost layer of skin, which helps keep pores clear and unclogged. Opt for a cream, lotion, or gel that contains 8% glycolic acid.
  3. At the first hint of a pimple, wrap an ice cube in a piece of plastic wrap and hold it to the area at least twice a day – every hour, if you can, but for no longer than five minutes each time. The cold will reduce the redness and ease the inflammation.
  4. Pop an aspirin or two. Taking one or two 325-milligram tablets four times a day can help calm an acne outbreak by reducing inflammation. (Check with your doctor before taking aspirin regularly.)

Alternative Acne Treatment

  1. Tea Tree Oil – Three times a day, dab a drop of tea-tree oil on blemishes to discourage infection and speed healing. Research has found that 5% tea-tree oil is as effective against acne as a 5% benzoyl peroxide solution.
  2. For acne that flares at that time of the month drink one to two cups of chaste berry tea a day. Some studies show that his herb helps regulate female hormones. Give the herb two to three months to work. And don’t drink copious amounts of the tea to lo hasten the results- it may make you skin look worse.
  3. Dab vinegar or lemon juice on pimples. All vinegars contain acids that can help flush out pores- so does lemon juice.
  4. Apply aloe vera. One study found that 90 percent of skin sores were completely healed with aloe vera within five days.
  5. Zinc supplements – People with acne tend to have lower than normal zinc levels. Zinc supplements produce visible improvement in about a third of people who take them. You’ll need high doses, though- between 200 and 600 milligrams daily- so take it under your doctor’s supervision.

 

Prevention

1. Wash your face – if you keep skin free of dirt and excess oil – the thinking goes – perhaps your pores will never get clogged. But over cleansing can cause acne by making your sebaceous glands produce more oil. Forgo granulated cleansers. And avoid washcloths; they are abrasive and can accumulate bacteria if you reuse them. Instead, use a disposable cleaning cloth. Dip in a clean cotton pad and use it to clean the pores.

2. For men – rinse your razor in alcohol after you use it so any bacteria it harbors won’t transfer itself to your face.