Acne

So what is acne? You see it everywhere; teens agonize over it; adults and babies are afflicted, too. No age, gender or race seems to be safe. Acne is so common that it's accepted as just a part of life, albeit a most unwelcome part. However, can anyone explain exactly what acne is?

Well obviously, acne is first and foremost an unsightly and embarrassing skin condition marked by the spots it leaves on various body parts, seemingly targeting and specializing in one or two particular areas such as the face or back. These spots aren't just your average whiteheads or blackheads often related to raging hormones or eating too much chocolate either. Rather, they are skin glands which have been afflicted and, if not properly looked after will eventually turn into nasty sores leaving behind ugly, tell-tale scars.

Acne Formation Process

What Causes Acne?

Acne is a disorder that is caused by the sebaceous gland of the skin. This gland is more commonly known as the hair follicle. The skin is covered with these tiny openings. The only exceptions to this are the bottom of the feet, the palms of the hand, the top of the feet, and the lower part of the lips. The chest, upper part of the neck, and the face are the parts of the body with the most sebaceous glands on them. This is what causes acne to be more common in these areas.

During the teens boys and girls go through a lot of hormonal changes. This hormonal change results in a lot of variation in the production of oil. This normally results in more acne during teenage. Acne impacts almost 85 % of the teens. Listed below are 10 of the top causes of acne. 

1) Hormonal changes? Increased production of hormone called androgen results in excessive oil produced by sebaceous gland. This is one reason acne is seen in boys and girls during teenage. 

2) Food? It has been noticed that your diet has direct impact on your acne. Oily and greasy food results in more acne breakouts. Similarly sugary drinks and sugary foods also aggravate the acne problem 

3) Environmental factors? Climate, humidity and sun can have an adverse impact on your skin thus increasing the chances of acne. 

4) Hereditary? If your parents had acne it is quite likely that you may also have acne. 

5) Stress and Anxiety? Stress and anxiety can result in hormonal changes in the body which in turn can trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more oil and hence more acne. 

6) Makeup? Oily makeup can result in clogging of the pores and hence more acne. 

7) Poor Skin Handling? If your skin is washed too very often or if your skin is subjected to harsh soap or cleanser, this can result in pimples and acne. Squeezing, picking and scrubbing the pimples can also cause more acne. 

8) Medication? Some medicines and drugs like lithium and bromides have shown signs of stimulating acne formation. Medicines having these elements should be avoided to prevent acne. 

9) Clothes? Clothes that do not allow proper airflow to the skin can cause acne. Similarly tight clothes and protective gear like hats, helmet etc can cause acne due to friction with the skin. 

10) Birth Control Pills - Beginning to take or stopping birth control pills may cause acne. 

 Natural Treatments for Acne

Acne is a 'natural' condition, and the treatment for it should be natural too. So what are some of these natural treatments for acne?

Here is a list of home remedies for acne that are very simple and give good results.

Holistic Acne Treatments

If you're making the same deadly clear skin mistakes as most other acne sufferers, you might control and rid of your acne temporarily, but your acne and your health will get worse in the long run. Your acne is just way too complex to be treated, controlled or cured using "ordinary" creams, over the counters and pills. 

You can't overcome such a profound internal problem using drugs and lotions aimed at treating the external symptoms of acne - You can't fool your body - you have to work with your internal system, not against it by fixing the root cause! Lotions, Creams, and Ointments aimed at treating acne fail to address the root cause of your condition and moreover they contain steroids which can cause liver disorders and weaken your immune system. Holistic acne remedies include herbal mixtures, the use of nutritional supplements and changes in diet.

Holistic Acne Treatments - The Permanent Acne Cure (Acne no more)

Acne no more

Mike Walden believes that pimples are caused by hormonal irregularities so that balancing hormones can prevent acne outbreaks and results to skin which is clear of acne, not only on the outside but also within. The e-book explains how holistic treatment allows for the natural elimination of internal organisms that blocks the body's systems thus controlling the main cause of pimple breakouts.

Acne No More covers important acne prevention topics such as regulating environmental factors that can result to hormonal imbalance and neutralizing external elements that cause acne thus promoting clearer, healthy and glowing skin. Most importantly, the e-book shows you how to maintain yourself being acne free by following a treatment plan.

Simple Home Remedies for Acne 

Toothpaste

This classic treatment is probably one of the most famous acne remedies that you can try. This is for two reasons. First, it works. Second, it’s inexpensive and you can do it in less than 5 minutes.  For years, people have been spot treating with toothpaste to help get rid of acne. There are some things to remember though when you decide to treat your acne with toothpaste. Toothpaste is most effective when spot treating. This means, it should be used on isolated pimples. If you get a big, painful pimple on an irregular basis, you can apply a tiny bit of toothpaste to it to assist in the drying out process.

If you suffer from more severe acne, applying a large amount of toothpaste over a wide area is not recommended. The active ingredient in toothpaste that helps combat your acne is sulfur. This is what causes the drying out of acne, particularly whiteheads. Applying it to large sections of your face can cause redness and a possible burning sensation. Use toothpaste sparingly.

Also, make sure to use standard toothpaste. Brands that advertise things like “Tartar Control” or “Whitening” contain additional ingredients that can have undesired effects, such as a more pronounced burning sensation. Apply less than a pea sized bit of toothpaste to an individual pimple and see results by the next day.

Vinegar do clean your skin of oil.
Vinegar helps to get rid of excessive oils from your skin as well as to kill the bacteria that cause acne. It is best to use apple vinegar, it is milder, but generally any vinegar would do. Dilute 1 spoon of vinegar in 8 spoons of water and wash your face with this cleanser.
 

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has been a popular skin treatment for centuries. Many people have found that it also makes for one of the better acne remedies. Because Aloe Vera naturally reduces redness and swelling, this quality helps you get rid of acne. Not only will it reduce the appearance of your acne, but it’s also an excellent thing to use as part of your everyday skincare regiment. Your skin will look smoother and clearer as you begin to use Aloe Vera daily.

Not all Aloe Vera treatments have to be topical, though. It also comes in juices and gel capsules. Much like using raw garlic, you’ll be treating your acne from the inside out. There are conflicting anecdotes about the effectiveness of using Aloe Vera internally to treat acne. Start your Aloe Vera treatment with topical solutions. If you see that it helps, then you can try the ingesting method.

You may notice that your skin feels different when you first begin your Aloe Vera treatment. The solution itself is sticky and may be unpleasant if you aren’t used to it. You may also notice that your skin feels tighter. Any minor side effects will go away as you get used to the Aloe Vera. It’s great for treating moderate cases of acne.

Vinegar does clean your skin of oil 
Vinegar helps to get rid of excessive oils from your skin as well as to kill the bacteria that cause acne. It is best to use apple vinegar, it is milder, but generally any vinegar would do. Dilute 1 spoon of vinegar in 8 spoons of water and wash your face with this cleanser.

Lemon juice  

Lemon juice is another of those acne remedies that people use both as topical treatment and a consumable one. Many find lemon juice to be extremely effective when trying to get rid of acne fast. The key is to use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Using lemon juice from the bottle isn’t good because it comes from concentrate.

Lemon juice applied to the skin has been seen to have many positive effects beyond clearing up acne. Users report reducing of inflammation, improvements in complexion, and the lightening of scars. Initially, using lemon juice will be unpleasant. It will burn and there may be some redness. Many find that these slight nuisances are well worth the results, though. The acne dries out and fades rather quickly.

One word of caution on using lemon juice to get rid of acne, however. Though it is highly effective, it does have a bleaching effect. You might notice your skin tone becoming a little lighter. If you have facial hair, it will bleach it. You may also notice your skin becoming more sensitive to direct sunlight. This is why you should limit your lemon juice treatments to once or twice a week. You don’t want to overdo it.

Common Questions Asked by People with Acne