Acne Solutions

Acne can be a physical pain but mostly it is a social pain. Acne on the face, back, neck, chest, and shoulders can send some people into hibernation. Although many people suffer from breakouts, it doesn't make an individual feel any less conspicuous. It's embarrassing.

Acne occurs when follicles, often referred to as pores, become blocked with oil. This oil normally drains to the surface but when it gets blocked and bacteria starts to grow, pimples form. This results in whiteheads, blackheads, or inflammatory acne.

Due to hormones, adult men and women as well as adolescents can experience these skin woes. Dirt does not cause acne. Incessant washing of the skin will only irritate your problem and cause your skin condition to worsen. Do not use a wash cloth on your face if you have acne. Use your bare hands with lukewarm water and a gently cleanser. Fragrance in cleansers can wreak havoc on your skin. Opt for fragrance-free skin care products. Use plenty of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is available over-the-counter in cream, gel, and wash form. It is an anti-bacterial agent. Use care with your fabrics when using benzoyl peroxide as it contains bleaching agents and will discolor your fabrics. Benzoyl peroxide is a tried and true acne solution. Moisturizing is important if needed. You will not create more acne by moisturizing your dry skin. Again, the important thing to remember is that you are safer with a fragrance-free product. Keep skin supple and well moisturized, especially during these dry winter months. It is important to your skin's health.

Our diet has apparently not been linked to poor skin conditions. I found, for myself, that proper diet and exercise as well as drinking plenty of water seem to be beneficial for my skin. After all, water cleanses our systems of impurities and exercise increases blood flow throughout so it would make sense that these things would benefit our skin too. Our skin is our body's largest organ. It manufactures Vitamin D and helps regulate our body temperature. It is embedded with nerve endings that provide sensations of touch, pressure, and pain. It's our protection so we need to protect it. This means using sun screen of SPF 15 or higher every day, not only in the summer months. Treat this valuable organ well.

Interestingly enough, most people in indigenous societies do not seem to suffer from acne. Indigenous people can be characterized as being effectively isolated, sometimes as a whole nation. It is composed of the existing descendants of the peoples and they today live more in conformity with their particular social, economic, and cultural customs and traditions instead of the newly formed institutions of the country. They continue to preserve their customs and traditions. Dan Kern, www.acne.org, is currently said to be looking into this to learn more about the how and why of the matter. It would be interesting to learn exactly why these people do not have the skin problems of our modern society. I would not be surprised to find out it is linked somehow to diet. Food in our modern society contains so many additives and preservatives that it would not be a shock to find out that what we consume plays a large part of our skin ailments.