Acne Treatment: How to Fight Against Acne

Most acne sites will have information o­n what acne is and what causes it. The confusion lies as to why the information differs from o­ne site to another. The reason is that many sites concentrate o­n o­nly o­ne piece of the puzzle. Here we will attempt to give you the big picture.

We want you to understand that the plan to fight acne can be different for each individual. Acne can be due to many different causes, including nutritional, environmental, genetic and emotional factors that can be coexisting together so discovering what works for you will help you to control acne o­nce and for all. Our goal is to provide you with all of the knowledge you need so you can develop a successful acne battle plan tailored specifically for you.

Where to begin the fight against acne?

Lets review the basics first. Healthy skin is made up of many tiny pores. The pores of your skin contain oil glands which lubricate your hair and skin. Sometimes a pore may become clogged with too much oil, dead skin cells, and even bacteria, causing acne. If a pore becomes clogged, closes, and the bulges out, you have a whitehead. If a pore becomes clogged but stays open, the top may darken and you’re left with a blackhead. Sometimes when the walls of the pore becomes damaged it allows bacteria and dead skin to work their way under the live skin. This leaves you with a red, but small infection called a pimple. Clogged pores that are open deep in the skin cause cysts which are generally infections larger than pimples that can cause pain and take a long time to heal.

According to the amount of lesions you have acne is classified as mild, moderate or severe. Lets review each o­ne.

Mild acne consists of:

  • lesions limited to the face o­nly
  • acne mainly characterized by blackheads, whiteheads or both
  • no scars and no cysts (that is painful nodules in the skin)
  • 1-5 pustules.

Moderate acne consists of:

  • lesions that involve face, neck and trunk
  • acne characterized for having blackheads whiteheads or both
  • 5-10 pustules (white-centered bumps that can be red at the base)
  • occasional cysts.

Severe acne consists of:

  • lesions that involve face, neck and trunk
  • acne characterized by having blackheads whiteheads or both
  • 10 + pustules and constant cysts.

Top 6 Causes of Acne

Whether your Acne is mild, moderate or severe these are proven to be the major triggers of Acne:

  • Diet
  • Hormone Fluctuations
  • Chemical Intoxication
  • Allergic Reactions
  • Stress
  • Genetics

The Acne Battle Plan

Follow these guidelines to develop your acne fight plan which applies to all acne types where acne is due to o­ne or more of the top 6 acne causes.

1) Choose the right skin care products and treatments

2) You should add beneficial supplements tailored to your needs.

2) You should choose a Dermatologist you feel comfortable talking to.

3) Drink Water! You should drink between 7 to 9 glasses of clean water daily; more if you exercise or sweat a lot.

4) Get enough sleep! Sleep is so important because it is during sleep that our body repairs damaged body tissues. Studies show that most people need around eight hours of sleep; this may be slightly more or less for you.

5) Learn from other people experiences

6) Do not pick your skin!

7) Plan a healthy diet

8) Exercise! Not o­nly does regular exercise increase circulation to your face, and help flush away toxins; exercise is great for reducing stress.

9) You should stay positive because you will defeat Acne!

What effect does sun light have o­n Acne?

Sun is very damaging to the skin. Exposure to ultra violet light from the sun is a double-edged sword. o­n o­ne side of this sword the exposure kills acne bacteria, and reduces the appearance of red marks. O­n the other side, sun stimulates oil production, which causes inflammation and clogged pores, which leads to breakouts. Ultra violet light prematurely ages the skin, which leads to wrinkles. Your skin will always look better directly after sun exposure when the color producing cells called melanocytes rise to the surface of your skin, and produce a darker skin color from the melanin that they produce. BUT within 1 to 3 weeks after prolonged sun exposure most people who are Acne prone will experience a breakout that is directly linked to it. This is the same story with tanning booths because they tan the skin with ultra violet light. While this light is not from the sun it is from specially made equipment that generates this particular wave length of light. “Sun free” tanning preparations are fine as long as they don’t have any comedogenic ingredients in them. Refer to Product Ratings for user recomendations and testimonials of good sunscreens that will not aggravate acne.

Find more acne treatment help, information and experiences from the acne treatment forum archive…