Acne Rears Its Head

While acne is considered to be the bane of the average teen, it can also be problem for adults.  Acne, however, does have a tendency to rear its ugly head with the onset of puberty with 75% of teenagers having some degree of acne.

As puberty hits, hormonal changes wind up stimulating the oil producing glands that are situated within the pores of skin around the hair follicles. These glands wind up being plugged up with excess oil and skin which forces the hair follicle to bulge and become a whitehead. The top then might darken and turn into a blackhead.

If the follicle wall ends up rupturing, bacteria from the surface can then enter the skin and cause the area to become infected. Then, pimples form. Sometimes, if the infection is really deep within the skin a painful cyst will form. These cysts are the most painful kind of acne.

While acne has the tendency to form on the face, it can also show up on the neck, shoulders, chest and back. Acne on the extremities such as arms and legs is much less common. Acne can show up because of excess dirt and oil on the skin, hormonal changes that can occur with menstruation and pregnancy, or stress. Certain drugs such as testosterone and cortisone can also cause acne.

Acne, or the degree in which an individual has it, tends to be hereditary in nature. It can be more prominent in some families, than it is in others. Acne is not contagious, and it is a very treatable problem.

Acne treatments

The most common type of treatment for acne comes in the form of medications that are designed to dry out the skin in the infected area. Some chemicals that are used to achieve this are sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, retinoids, and resorcinol.

Oral antibiotics might also be prescribed in extreme cases of acne, Tetracycline, for example, has been proven to be effective. Antibiotics, however, can wind up permanently discoloring your teeth and are generally not prescribed to younger people for this reason. There are also topical antibiotic medications available that are applied directly to the surface of the skin.

Other methods to reduce acne

Going out and getting a little sunshine  exposure can also help improve the condition of your skin and help to naturally dry out the acne riddled spots. You just need to keep in mind that too much sun exposure can also increase the risk of getting skin cancer.

Washing regularly with a gentle soap and warm water to help remove dirt, oil and make up will also help keep your acne under control. Taking a shower immediately after exercising will help keep acne off of the rest of your body. Also, be sure to shampoo regularly, preferably with an anti dandruff shampoo. Also, if you have long hair, comb it or tie it back so it is not in your face.

It is very important to remember not to touch the infected area. While they are difficult to ignore, touching and picking and pimple will only make the situation worse and cause more damage to your skin. You should also try to avoid resting your head on your hands as this can also aggravate the skin.

Another important thing to do is to monitor which foods or skin products may be causing outbreaks. Everybody is a little different when it comes to specific triggers and the best way to find out f something is causing you to break out is to closely monitor what you are eating or putting onto your skin.