Discovering The Acne Control Basics
Teenagers have enough to worry about without adding acne control to that list. For some, acne control is only a passing phase and once the surge of hormones dies down, the acne decreases. But for others, acne control becomes a lifelong battle. There are many ways to treat acne regardless of the severity of your case.
The essential methods of acne control are to keep pores from getting clogged, unclog infected pores, attack the bacteria causing the infection, or reduce the redness associated with acne. There are many preventative measures you can take to reduce the chance of having an acne breakout in the first place. Gently washing your face with soap and water once or twice a day will help prevent your pores from being clogged. Beyond this, benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient in Oxy pads and many other cleaning wipes, helps to further clean your skin as well as dry it out. One of the biggest advantages of using benzoyl peroxide is that it can be used in combination with other products to treat acne.
Exfoliating is another very popular method of acne control. Exfoliating removes the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. These dead cells can cause acne breakouts by clogging extremely active oil glands, especially those on your face. Exfoliating can also make you skin much smoother, softer, and healthy. However, some exfoliating agents can be very harsh, so a new exfoliating product should first be tested on a small area for reactions before using on your entire face.
Exfoliating products have added benefits that can help with acne control. Many of them contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients that will treat the existing acne, as well as reduce the redness and swelling, and thus, decrease the visibility of blemishes. One ingredient to stay away from is salicylic acid, common in many face care products, as it can be too harsh for your facial skin. Other ingredients used in creams and wipes to treat acne, such as sulfur or Azelaic acid, are much better choices and irritate facial skin less.
Some people with severe acne may need to consult a dermatologist for help with their acne control. A dermatologist may suggest a cleansing regime, use lights or lasers to treat and prevent breakouts, or prescribe medication. If you are prescribed medication, you should be wary of the side effects, as most acne medication is very harsh, even toxic. Some of these numerous side effects are somewhat discomforting, but others are very permanent. A few acne prescriptions have even been linked with depression, sometimes resulting in suicide.
Dermatologists may feel like a last resort for acne control, and the prescription medications do have their drawbacks. If you feel that you’re not ready to take that step, over-the-counter treatments for acne care, such as products containing benzoyl peroxide or Azelaic acid, might help you best. Should those solutions not be of help, visit a dermatologist before scarring occurs.
How long will acne last?
The good news is that for most people, acne is a somewhat temporary situation. Ask any teenager about acne, however, and he or she will likely tell you that a fear is being destined to a life of acne. Such is the sense of despair and embarrassment caused by acne.
These teens will be glad to know that most will stop developing acne as they near their twenties, if not sooner. They can also rest assured that in most cases, the effects of acne are much less harsh as people exit their teen years. Unfortunately for some, acne can linger for many years after puberty. Some adults experience severe cases of acne or notice occasional outbreaks as they near their thirties and beyond. In some extremely rare cases, individuals who have never had acne develop it in their later years.
To learn more go to Acne Problems and at Proactiv Acne Treatment also Acne Treatment Skin Care
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