TIPS, TRICKS AND SECRETS FROM THE SKIN CARE EXPERTS

If you're interested in how to fix problems that arise in the skin including acne, blackheads, and so on, then it's good to know what the skin is made of.. This may have been far too muc

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction: Oh, Those Dreaded Zits! 3

Understanding Your Skin 7

Common Facial Blemishes 12

So What Causes Acne? 18

So Just Cleanse and Cleanse and Cleanse Some More, Right? 24

Acne Medications and Treatment Options 30

Making Your Own Natural Cleansers and Masks 34

Your Diet, Your Physical Activity Level, and Acne 37

The Connection Between Teenagers, Hormones, and Everything Else That Causes Their Acne 43

The Proper Way to Take Care of Your Skin 47

The Worst Things to Do For Acne and Breakouts 53

Other Treatments for Acne 57

Conclusion: You Can Improve Your Acne 61

Acne can be very unsightly and leave permanent scars

I NTRODUCTION :

O H , T HOSE D READED Z ITS !

Zits Pimples Splotchies Pizza face

Okay, that last one was a bit

cruel but chances are, if you

have acne or have ever

been faced (no pun

intended) with this condition,

you've heard that and

probably much worse

It's easy for those without

acne to make light of the

condition; after all, aren't

there more serious health

concerns that one could

have? The cold hard truth is

that this may be true; a

person would probably

rather have acne than

cancer, heart disease, an

amputated limb, be

paralyzed, and so on, but

that doesn't mean that one

should make light of this

condition either

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF ACNE

Acne is actually a condition that can greatly affect one's self-esteem and confidence and can even interfere with one's everyday life Persons without this condition may have a hard time understanding that, but think of it this way Suppose you were in a severe car accident that left huge gashes and cuts across your face The resulting surgeries did little to correct this, so now every time you look in the mirror all you see are those deep, horrendous scars How would you feel every time you greeted someone or just left your home? You would no

doubt be incredibly self-conscious, assuming that every person you came into contact with was immediately turned off by this defect

People with severe cases of acne can feel much the same way Every time they look in the mirror, all they see is their acne regardless of what other features they may have They often assume that other people view them the same way they would that person that is disfigured in a car accident - as if all anyone can see is their defect and nothing else

This is rarely true of course Usually those with acne are far more aware of it than those around them, but those feelings that an acne sufferer has should be taken into account If they feel their condition is important enough or severe enough to warrant intervention, then it should be just as important to those around him or her and those responsible for their care

WHEN A CHILD HAS ACNE

Parents sometimes assume that their child will just grow out of their acne and easily dismiss the condition as yet another dramatic event that teenagers are blowing all out of proportion, but if you are that parent, put yourself in his or her shoes How would you feel if you were in that car accident and your doctor just dismissed your concerns? Or if your spouse just rolled his or her eyes every time you talked about how you felt about your disfigurement?

It may be true that in some cases, a child or teenager will outgrow the acne but even if they do, to them it's a reality that needs to be dealt with right now They may also be facing ridicule and teasing from classmates about the condition, so getting no support from someone at home doesn't help the situation at all

EVEN MINOR ACNE CAN HURT

And certainly your acne doesn't need to be that bad for you to be concerned about it Even just a few minor breakouts here and there can be frustrating and make you very self-conscious, especially if they happen right when you want to look your best! That important date or presentation in front of colleagues or class reunion is not the time to have pimples all over your face! You're under enough pressure during these times and don't need the distraction of trying to figure out how to get rid of those splotchy bumps

Often we obsess about any little pimple or zit, or any imperfection for that matter, whether others are aware of it or not Even just one small pimple can be enough

to send us into a tizzy, wondering if people are staring and laughing at us behind our backs

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE

Treating acne and preventing it from happening in the first place is not that difficult and really can be done by anyone It doesn't necessarily require doctor visits or expensive creams and topical ointments, although a trip to the dermatologist's office shouldn't be ruled out either Sometimes there are good things in those treatments you see on pharmacy shelves or advertised online that can really help your skin to clear up and to stay that way

But at the same time, a person can easily make many mistakes when trying to treat their acne, mistakes that actually make the condition even worse and that aggravate any breakouts you may be having

Clearing up your acne is just half the battle You want to have skin that looks nourished, fresh, clean, soft and supple While some people are naturally born with good skin and can thank their parents and grandparents for this, others have found that they can actually get good skin by taking care of it It's much like how you may not have been born with good muscle tone and a flat stomach, but anyone can exercise and lift weights and be mindful of their diet and wind up with

a good figure or great muscle tone, if they work at it

Your quest for clear and healthy skin is not one you need to take alone We've talked to many experts in the field of skin care and have done all the research for you In this book we will:

ƒ Explain just what causes acne in the first place, including the myths

about hormones, diet, and the dreaded teen years as well

ƒ Talk openly and frankly about what mistakes you might be making

that are causing you to break out or that may be aggravating your

acne as well

ƒ Clue you in on the best way to take care of your skin, and this

means not just for clearing up acne but for keeping it healthy, clean,

and moisturized as well

ƒ Explain the different ingredients in various acne treatment options

so that you can better understand which ones work and which are

typically useless, and can also understand when they actually may

be doing damage to your skin

Acne is no fun for anyone, children or adults But it doesn't need to be a fact of life either It can be addressed and treated once and for all, and you can live your life acne-free

If you're ready to do just that, then let's get started!

U NDERSTANDING Y OUR S KIN

Do you know what the largest organ in your body is?

That's right, it's your skin Your skin is actually one large, living organ that serves many different functions in your body's overall health and protection

While skin can be absolutely beautiful to look at - imagine someone glistening in the sun or the innocent radiance of a baby's rosy cheeks - the skin can also have problems all of its own Some of these problems are minor irritants, such as a few patches of dry skin here and there or calluses on the bottom of one's feet But sometimes skin can have other problems that are more than minor irritations; they can be painful, dangerous, and downright unsightly

One of those common problems when it comes to skin is acne While we typically think of acne as being a teenager's concern, it's true that acne can strike anyone at any time, and can be the result of factors other than those dreaded teenaged hormones

But before we start discussing acne, its cause, and its treatment options, let's take a closer look at the skin itself and find out more about this amazing organ Once we do that we can be in a better position to understand the root causes of acne and the options one has to address it

FUNCTIONS OF THE SKIN

The skin has many more functions than to just look good and to hold our clothes

in place; as a matter of fact, without skin we couldn't exist Let's take a look at the many different functions of our skin to get a better understanding of why it's important to take care of it and how problems with it can arise

Keeping stuff where it belongs

The most obvious function of the skin is to keep all of our innards where they belong Without skin we'd need to use rolls of duct tape or plastic bags to keep all our intestines and other organs inside! The human body is one self-contained functioning machine and the skin is imperative for that process of containment

Just like a car needs its outer shell to keep the engine, transmission, and other parts of it in place, the body needs the skin to keep everything in one place as well

This isn't to say that all of our internal organs and other elements inside of us are just resting in the skin the way garbage rests inside of a plastic bag Muscles, tendons, and ligaments are attached to bone and of course all of the intestines are attached to one another and folded up neatly to stay tucked in Everything else is attached to something, but in truth, the skin keeps everything in place and upright It acts as one final safety feature to keep all those organs and everything else right where they're supposed to be

Insulation

Imagine going outside in the freezing cold without a jacket, or keeping your house windows open in the cold weather You need that insulation of a jacket to keep your body heat in and keep you warm, and you need to close your windows

to keep your home's heat right where it belongs Your skin is much like that jacket; your body produces its own heat and warmth the same way a furnace produces heat for your home, but without your skin your body heat would just quickly escape the way your home's heat would escape if your windows were open

Realizing that the skin acts as insulation for your body heat should give you a first clue as to how thick your skin really is While it can get cut or gashed somewhat easily, it's not just a thin wafer resting on your bones The skin has several layers to it and these layers on top of one another are thick enough to keep body heat in on a regular basis and even in the coldest of weather

Protection

Do you know why cars have windshields? The answer is somewhat obvious; to keep bugs from getting into your teeth and dirt into your eyes and face That windshield is a protection for the driver and passengers in the car from all those outside elements

In much the same way the skin acts as a protection against all those outside elements that could easily bombard us every day It keeps out not just bugs but dirt, dust, germs, and bacteria Our skin is designed in such a way that it also acts as something of a bumper against things Your car has bumpers so that when it hits something else, the bumper absorbs a lot of that impact and your car's vital components, including the engine, transmission, and even the passengers, are protected Your skin is like that bumper in that it can come into

contact with things and protect the vital organs from being hit and damaged Your muscles and bones are protected against tearing, rupturing, bruising, and breaking because of your skin and its protection

The skin also protects internal organs and other elements from the sun, wind, and rain The skin is designed to absorb or be impervious to these things; the sun on your face or arms is relatively harmless for small amounts of time, as is wind and rain But if your heart or lungs were to come into contact with sunlight

or wind, they would no doubt be irreparably damaged!

Traction and movement

Have you ever had grease or lotion on your hands and then tried to pick up something? It probably slipped right through your fingers Or maybe you tried to open a jar and couldn't get a firm enough grip

The skin acts as "grippers" for not just picking up and holding things but for all sorts of movement If we didn't have those indentions on our hands and feet that

we call "prints" we would slide around in our shoes and be unable to lift a glass

or anything else for that matter While the skin in most parts of our body is somewhat smooth, it still provides some form of traction inside our clothes and against other materials It keeps up from slipping out of chairs and allows us to move freely, hold things, sit in a seat, and so on

COMPOSITION OF THE SKIN

So maybe you're convinced by now that the skin isn't just some wafer resting over our bones and innards but is much more complicated than that

If you're interested in how to fix problems that arise in the skin including acne, blackheads, and so on, then it's good to know what the skin is made of By understanding its composition you have a better idea of what can go wrong with

it and how to fix those problems; you might liken this to getting a basic understanding of how your car works so that you can better understand those minor problems that go wrong with it

You don't need to be a dermatologist to understand basic problems with your skin any more than you need to actually be an auto mechanic to understand how

to take care of your car Just a few basic facts can go a long way to realizing how to take good care of your skin

Layers of the skin

Are you familiar with

the Greek dessert

baklava? It's made

with what's called filo

or phyllo dough, which

is a paper-thin type of

dough that is stretched

almost to the breaking

point and then folded

and folded over and

over again Because

it's folded into layers it

becomes very thick

even though each

individual layer is

incredibly thin

The skin is something

like this; although it's

not exactly folded, it

has many different layers to it that make it as thick as it is Each layer is incredibly thin but when stacked on top of each other it's much thicker overall

Understanding the layers of the skin is important in understanding why we get certain flaws and imperfections in our skin, since many of these imperfections originate in different layers If we can understand why there are different layers and what each one accomplishes then we can better address those imperfections and flaws at their source

There are three primary layers of the skin: the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin; the dermis, and the hypodermis

The epidermis or outer layer of the skin is very unique in that it contains no blood vessels but is nourished by capillaries underneath it This layer of the skin keeps water in the body, constantly acts as a barrier from chemicals and harmful elements in the atmosphere and protects the body from infection

Underneath the epidermis is what is called the reticular region, in which is located the roots of the hair, sweat glands, nail beds, and blood vessels Many skin problems including acne originate in this particular region of the skin

This may have been far too much about your skin than you ever wanted to know but these things are important to understand for the care and health of your skin overall, and to avoid not just acne but other problems as well For example, stretch marks on a person that is overweight or pregnant usually originate in the reticular region because of the pressure put on blood vessels when skin is stretched past the area that it's supposed to be These blood vessels close up and this results in scarring of the skin

It's also important to understand how thick the skin is and where certain imperfections and problems occur because often we wonder why creams, ointments, and other topical medications just aren't doing the job we expected them to do This is often because these topical treatments just don't reach far enough into the layers of the skin to do any good the way they're supposed to

By learning how thick the skin really is we have a better understanding of what works and what doesn't when it comes to all blemishes, including acne

C OMMON F ACIAL B LEMISHES

Everyone gets blemishes on their face; even the most beautiful Hollywood movie star has had to deal with some imperfection somewhere, some time That's why dermatologists and plastic surgeons do so well in the movie industry - they work very hard on behalf of their clients to fix these problems once they happen or help them to avoid them altogether, keeping the audience and fans in the dark about what those flaws and blemishes are!

Learning more about common facial flaws and blemishes is good for anyone that's trying to clear up acne, as often these flaws and blemishes are related or have the same root cause If we can better understand all the problems that our skin can face then we can be in a better position to have healthy and radiant skin overall, and cure not just our acne but all our facial blemishes as well

ACNE

Acne is actually a disease or outbreak that occurs in the hair follicles of the skin; when these follicles become blocked, a small bump appears that we refer to as a pimple This blockage and resulting bump means that dirt, oil, dead cells, and other such elements get caught in this area and result in that inflammation or dreaded pimple

Skin is a living organ and needs oxygen and blood circulation to keep it healthy, but unlike other organs it also needs to "breathe" or to keep itself free from these irritants These blockages of the follicle and capturing of oil, dirt, and other elements is not natural and not healthy, and this is why an eruption occurs

Common look of acne

BLACKHEADS AND WHITEHEADS

You may have seen these small eruptions on your face or other areas of the body; small bumps we call blackheads or whiteheads are actually forms of acne When that gathering of materials has an open face to it, it is usually dark in nature since we can see the dirt and oil being captured inside These we refer to as blackheads When the top of

it actually closes up or forms underneath a small layer of skin, this is called a whitehead and the most common form of what we refer to as acne

So when it comes to blackheads and whiteheads, it's easy to think of them as being something different than your regular acne but in reality they are the same; if we understand how to treat and address our acne we can better understand how to address these two problems as well

CYSTS

Sometimes we confuse cysts with acne since they are usually white and bumpy The look quite a bit like whiteheads, but unfortunately a cyst is something more involved than typical acne

A cyst is a small, closed sac or pocket that has a distinct membrane and division

on the nearby tissue A cyst may contain air, fluids, or other materials

It's not unusual for a person to develop cysts not just on the skin but inside the body as well It's not unusual for women to develop cysts in their breasts or their reproductive system, and men develop internal cysts in many areas and systems

as well

Typically they are very small and are usually harmless Many cysts go away on their own, but in severe cases they may need to be removed by surgery It's important to understand that a cyst is not the same as a cancerous cell; many people make this mistake Of course only your doctor can tell you if a cyst is dangerous and needs to be removed Typically in cases like this it's not the cyst itself that is dangerous but rather its placement When cysts are inside the uterus or the opening to the fallopian tubes this can interfere with a woman's ability to get pregnant and to carry the pregnancy to term Again, only a doctor can know for sure if a cyst is dangerous

Usually cysts that appear on the face are very small and often confused with acne They are typically harmless and may go away on their own, or sometimes the process one uses to get rid of acne will get rid of the cyst as well

MOLES

A mole is a typically harmless dark spot on the skin; they can occur anywhere and to anyone regardless of gender, race, and so on Most persons develop moles sometime in the first two decades of their life, although a baby can be born with moles as well

Most moles are what is known as benign neoplasm, a neoplasm being a collection of cells that result in a tumor While most people immediately think of the word "cancer" when they hear the word tumor, this just isn't the case for every single type A small percentage of moles can be harmful but usually they are just collections of cells with more skin pigment, which accounts for their dark color

Moles that change color or shape may be dangerous; this change can signal a problem in that they may be developing into cancerous tumors However, the vast majority of moles are harmless and will simply remain present throughout one's life

A common case of rosacea; many cases are much worse than this

ROSACEA

Rosacea is a very

difficult condition to deal

with; while there is no

particular cure for the

condition it can be

controlled and lessened

with the proper

treatment

Many people confuse

Rosacea with acne

because of its red and

ƒ Small visible blood vessels on the face

ƒ Bumps or pimples on the face

ƒ Watery or irritated eyes

What causes rosacea?

Blood vessels on the face dilate very easily and there are many reasons why they might do this When you're embarrassed the blood rushes to your face and these vessels dilate, causing your cheeks to get red Drinking alcohol also causes blood vessels to dilate so it's not unusual for someone that's had a lot to drink to have redness around the cheeks and nose When you're in cold weather, blood rushes to your face to keep it warm, and so you have a red nose and cheeks

When a person has rosacea this dilating of the blood vessels too often and too much It may also be caused by skin bacteria, skin mites, irritation of the hair follicles, sun damage of the connective tissue under the skin, an abnormal immune or inflammatory response, or other factors that doctors have not yet determined

There is much study and research yet to be done about rosacea but many doctors have found that it appears more often in those with very fair skin and very sensitive skin This might be a clue as to why it occurs at all - sensitive skin overreacting to cold or other factors that cause those blood vessels to dilate and become red

When discussing acne and other conditions such as rosacea it's important to really understand the differences between the conditions If rosacea happens because the skin is too sensitive then products that treat acne are just going to irritate it even further While rosacea may look like acne it is actually a very different condition and so needs to be treated differently so that there is no further damage to the skin and so that you don't cause it to break out even further

There have also been cases reported of growths or certain tumors that doctors have no real explanation for, occurring both on the skin and internally These growths are not cancerous and often doctors do not know what causes them or how to treat them, other than to have them removed Obviously any growths on the skin that are not immediately recognized should be immediately checked out

by a doctor or dermatologist, especially if they are painful, change shape or color,

or for some other reason cause alarm It's always best to have these things checked by a doctor and to be told that they're harmless than to ignore them and realize the danger down the road

We can also cause quite a bit of damage to the skin ourselves with our own treatment of it Excessive pulling of the facial area, harsh chemicals, rough cleansers, and things such as these can damage the skin very easily Think of how bad your skin looks when you scrape your knee or bang your elbow - the skin of the face is even more delicate than these areas, and yet often we subject

it to the harshest of treatment! Broken capillaries can result in red areas and

harsh chemicals from facials and other treatments can mean dry skin, rough or blotchy patches, and problems such as these

Many facial blemishes are also caused by the same things that cause acne, such

as clogged pores, excessive oil buildup, and so on By examining the problems

we encounter that create these other blemishes we can be in a better position to treat acne, as well as these other problems at the same time

Good skin care does not have to be difficult, and there are many common mistakes that a person makes when trying to clear blemishes or when caring for their skin By understanding these things and by taking care of one's skin overall, there is no guarantee that you'll never get another breakout but it's much more likely that you'll have clear, radiant skin

A clogged follicle that is about

to become a pimple

S O W HAT C AUSES A CNE ?

Have you ever seen water bubbling on the stove? What about hot lava doing the same as it churns around an active volcano?

When you look at water or lava bubbling, what you see is the substance filling up with air and other molecules, stretching the membrane or outer layer of the substance until it bursts

But what if you were watching something that couldn't burst in that way? It would

be much like filling up a balloon - it would just get bigger and bigger and then stay that way

Acne is something like that It is a "filling up" in a pore or hair follicle that then gets bigger and bigger and since it doesn't burst, it just stays that big, causing a bump that we call a pimple or zit

THE BUILDUP THAT BECOMES ACNE

A balloon expands because there is air

inside of it But with acne, it's just not

that easy The substances inside of a

pimple include oil, dirt, and dead skin

cells Oil is an important factor for your

skin as it keeps it soft and supple; without

it our skin would be like leather and

would crack and bleed more often But

when there is too much oil in any one

space, this oil also acts as a trap for

these other elements including dirt, dead

skin cells, and so on

When dirt and oil and these other

elements get trapped in a hair follicle or

skin pore, it can continue to collect and

grow if the skin layer on top of it does not

naturally break away and allow it to be

washed off the face When that happens the small "sac" grows into a pimple

Oil and dirt are very sturdy and feed upon each other This is why acne may spread for many people; some have just an occasional pimple here and there but most who are prone to acne find that they have it all over their forehead or chin

or other spot as opposed to just one small contained area It can also easily spread on the shoulders or back, another area of the body that is prone to dirt and oil buildup

MANY FACTORS FOR ACNE

Acne doesn't happen because of just one particular circumstance but there are many things that go wrong with skin that is acne prone

Under normal circumstances the cells on the outermost portion of the skin exfoliate by themselves which means that any buildup inside and underneath the skin gets washed away easily With acne that top layer doesn't open up so that dirt and oil can't be washed away

This explains why that buildup stays on the skin but doesn't explain why it happens in the first place Understanding what causes this buildup is probably going to be one of the most important factors in treating your acne, since there are many incorrect ideas about the root causes of acne

Hormones

When hormones are imbalanced this causes a chain reaction of events that affect your skin's surface Androgens are a type of hormone that stimulate your oil glands to go into overdrive and to produce what is called sebum This sebum moves up the hair shaft and mixes with bacteria and dirt; if the hair follicle or skin pore gets blocked this causes acne

Some experts dispute the idea of hormones being connected to acne; since all people have hormones and not everyone has acne, they feel that the two cannot

be as connected as some may think But there's no arguing the fact that hormones can affect everyone in a different way and that it's very shortsighted to say that since not everyone is affected the same then there is no connection at all As an illustration, it's believed that male hormones have much to do with male pattern baldness However, not all men have male pattern baldness while all men have male hormones Again, everyone's system is different and everyone is affected differently by their hormones

Dirt and bacteria

Living or working in a very dirty or dusty environment means that you're going to have more dirt and dust on your skin; there's just no getting around that After all, one function of your skin is to protect your sensitive insides from dust and dirt

in the environment

If you look at anyone that works in a mine or other such place you'll notice that their skin turns grey or black from the dust and dirt It only makes sense that this same dirt would settle into the pores of their face and stay there

Stress

Our bodies respond in all sorts of way to stress and pressure We may get short

of breath, panicky, nauseated, tired, irritable, and so on Many of these reactions can be traced back to primitive responses to threats and dangers For instance, you may feel lightheaded and dizzy during times of extreme stress because the body is moving blood to your legs in case of that "fight or flight" response, which means the blood is draining from your head, causing you to be dizzy You may feel nauseated for the same reason - that vital blood that's needed for digestion

is being diverted to your legs, making you feel sick to your stomach

It's still unclear why the body would break out into acne during times of increased stress but it might have to do with an increase in oil production during these times The body may feel that it needs to protect itself, including the skin, and this means that it needs to produce more oil as that protection It might also be true that as it diverts blood to the muscles of the legs it moves it from the face, meaning that this important blood is not washing away dirt and bacteria and dead skin cells the way it normally would

In any event, stress does seem to make one more prone to breakouts and acne Whatever the reason for this - a compromised immune system, overactive oil glands, or something else - there is a connection between the two, so be wary of stressful situations and your acne

Over cleaning

The body has some interesting reactions to the things we do to it, as ways of protecting itself For example, when you don't drink enough water the body has a tendency to retain water, in order to save it since it's not getting enough from you

If you don't eat properly the body will actually start to draw protein and

nourishment from its own muscles since it's not getting that nourishment through your diet

So when it comes to cleaning your face, if you clean too often or with products that are too harsh, thinking that you're going to get all that oil and bacteria off, the body may actually start to produce more oil in response All it knows is that you're stripping that important and healthy oil off of the face, so it needs to produce more to compensate Cleaning too much or too harshly is a common mistake of those with acne, but it really only makes the situation worse in many circumstances

WHAT DOESN'T CAUSE ACNE

As important as it is to understand the causes of acne, it's just as important to realize what doesn't cause it so that you are not treating the cause with something that doesn't work or that is just going to make the situation worse

Sweat

Believe it or not, sweat doesn't cause acne per se Sweat itself doesn't contain bacteria and germs the way people think; it's just water the body releases onto the skin to keep it cool

What does cause acne with sweat is when the sweat passes over dirt and bacteria on the skin and traps it in pores without being washed away The sweat itself doesn't harbor these bacteria or any of this dirt, but may allow it to get trapped if underneath the skin It's rare that a person gets acne under their arms, but when you exercise that's one part of the body where you sweat the most! So it's not really the sweat itself but the dirt and bacteria that are already present that

is causing the breakout

If you sweat because you've just exercised or for another reason, you don't always need to immediately clean your face for fear of acne The sweat itself is typically harmless This is true especially if your face was clean before you began your workout routine

Cosmetics

Keep in mind that there needs to be some type of clogging of the pores or hair follicles for acne to happen Just having dirt and bacteria on your face isn't enough to cause acne; this dirt, bacteria, oils, and other substances need to get caught or clogged in pores in order for it to grow into the bump we call a pimple

Many years ago the materials used to make women's cosmetics were a common culprit for acne sufferers They were made of heavy metal materials and were often oil-based, meaning that they just sat inside your pores and helped to collect and trap dirt and oils inside It wasn't unusual for women especially to have acne

in the areas where they used the most cosmetics, including their chin, forehead, and nose

So why do we say that today it's rare that cosmetics cause acne?

Simply put, dermatologists and cosmetics manufacturers have done quite a bit more research and study about their product and how it has affected the face They have learned that they can still produce a great product with much better ingredients, and most cosmetics today are water-based rather than oil-based This water obviously doesn't clog the pores or trap dirt and bacterial the way oil would Many of the other ingredients that caused breakouts have been removed from most cosmetics; when this was first practiced, cosmetics manufacturers used to advertise that their product was "non-comedogenic," meaning that it didn't clog pores Today, so many products that are sold in the cosmetics aisle are free of these agents that most manufacturers don't even need to put this on the label any longer

As a matter of fact, today many cosmetics are actually good for the skin They often contain a wealth of vitamins and products such as vitamin E oil which actually moisturizes the skin and keeps it soft They also provide some sunscreen properties, keeping the face protected from the harmful rays of the sun As a matter of fact, many women with acne are actually told to use cosmetics every day so that it can form a protective barrier between the dirt and dust in the atmosphere and their skin's pores As long as makeup is removed every day then it really shouldn't cause a problem with acne

Poor hygiene

Many people assume that since acne is caused by a buildup of bacteria and dirt then this means that someone with acne is just not cleaning their face properly, right?

In reality it's not the oil and dirt that causes acne; those with this condition usually have no more oil, dirt, bacteria and other harmful elements on their face than anyone else Rather it's the condition wherein the skin above those clogged pores or hair follicles does not break the way it should, allowing all this dirt and other elements to be washed or rinsed away

Everyone has dirt, oil and bacteria on their face but not everyone gets acne It's true that some are more prone to oilier skin than others, but this too doesn't mean that they're not cleaning their face properly anymore than someone with dry skin is not taking care of their skin either! These preexisting conditions may

be caused by diet and other external factors, but usually it's just something that a person is born with Having extra oil on the face isn't necessarily a sign of poor hygiene, and neither is acne

PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER

It's important to understand all these various factors of what does and doesn't cause acne in order to treat it properly If you're doing something that is aggravating your skin, just stopping that may help lessen your breakouts Or if you're not doing something that your skin needs to be healthy, then you can probably very easily pick up on this and start taking better care of your skin and your face

Acne is not that difficult to get rid of, regardless of what a lifetime sufferer may assume There are usually a few small mistakes that he or she is making when it comes to their skincare routine that, if changed, can clear up those breakouts for good

S O J UST C LEANSE AND C LEANSE AND

C LEANSE S OME M ORE , R IGHT ?

If most acne happens because the skin gets buildup of dirt, oil, and dead cells, then the answer to acne is to just cleanse and cleanse your skin constantly, right? In reality there is a lot to know and understand about the right way to cleanse your skin, what products to use, and how often it should be done in order

to not just fight acne but to keep your face looking radiant

Let's take an in-depth look at cleansing your face so that you have a better understanding of what we're talking about

OVER-CLEANSING AND OVER-DRYING

Getting oil off of your face is important when it comes to keeping it clean, but as we've discussed, your face has natural oil on it that is necessary to keep your skin healthy and soft Cleaning too often and with products that are too harsh will strip those natural oils and cause dryness and even wrinkles Using products that are harsh and using them too often also means irritating your skin

Bath soap

Many people still rely on bath soap to cleanse their face Unfortunately the same cleansers you might use for the area under your arm are not going to be good for the delicate area of your face! Think about this for a moment - the dirt, sweat, dead skin cells and things such as this that you get in other areas of your body just aren't going to be present on your face, at least not to the same extent Additionally, the areas of your underarms, groin, and feet all harbor bacteria (which is one reason for them to have odors) and you need to use a soap or cleanser strong enough in these areas in order to kill those bacteria Your face however, even if it has acne, does not have the same bacteria and certainly not

to the same extent

Most commercially

available soaps contain

very heavy cleansers

and when these are

used on the face this

causes those natural oils

to be stripped Without

those oils, skin is more

prone to wrinkles and

irritation

Additionally, most bath

soaps contain heavy

perfumes and other

additives that make them more desirable to use in the shower but more damaging to the face Perfumes and dyes of any type are very irritating to the skin on the face

Astringents

By definition, an astringent is a substance that by nature causes the skin to constrict Astringency is the effect caused by the tannins in certain fruits that make your mouth pucker When you apply an astringent to your skin this causes the blood vessels to constrict and proteins to coagulate; the skin then hardens or toughens up

Most with some form of acne are told to use astringents because of their drying properties, but these simply dry up excess oil and don't really treat or cure acne

at all While excess oil can and does cause acne, using something as harsh as

an astringent on your face all the time will only strip your skin of natural oils and cause it to become overly dry While an astringent can help in some cases, it's usually better to address any problems you may be causing yourself because of diet or other outside factors

Toners

Toners are actually very good for your face; they close up the pores after you've cleansed or used any type of mask or other product They also absorb any excess oils and add moisture back to dry areas of the face

Most people should use a toner on their face, and those with oily or acne-prone skin especially so They help to finish up the job of cleansing and moisturizing but don't strip the skin of natural oils

USING FACIAL MASKS

Many who are prone to acne are recommended to use facial masks or treatments; these promise to draw out all the bacteria and other dirt and elements that have built up on the face, to exfoliate the top layer of skin, and to moisturize at the same time

There are some facial masks that can do all of these things but you need to be choosey and selective when trying them Here are some things to remember:

ƒ Avoid facial masks that contain acne fighting ingredients This is

simply because keeping them on your face in such a high

concentrate is probably just going to cause excessive dryness and

irritation of the skin

ƒ The areas around your cheek and next to your eyes are some of

the most sensitive on your face; your facial mask should be left off

of these areas and instead just used on forehead, nose and chin

ƒ Always moisturize after any facial mask no matter what type you

use; most will leave some dryness on your face no matter what

type of moisturizing ingredients or properties they promise to have

THE CLEANSERS TO USE AND THE ONES TO AVOID

So what about acne cleansers? Since they're advertised as being specifically for those with cases of acne, they should be perfect, right?

Most acne cleansers contain a concentration of benzoyl peroxide, which helps to dry up the oil and clear away the bacteria that cause acne The problem with these cleansers however is that you begin using them on your entire face, and you're spreading this type of peroxide onto your entire face, not just the infected areas You might compare this to putting a bandage on your entire hand for a small cut on one finger Talk about overkill!

Use cleansers that are marketed specifically for sensitive skin These products are usually free of perfumes and dyes or other such irritants They also typically have a smaller amount of actual soap in them, which is good for a face that is prone to acne This smaller amount of soap means your face will be less irritated and aggravated

Emulsions are natural moisturizers that should be in any cleanser you use These can include ceramides, the natural oils and fats of the skin that are necessary to keep it healthy

Your cleansers should always contain a high concentrate of vitamins, especially vitamin A, C and E Look for this on the label

What to avoid

While you want a cleanser that is going to leave some moisture behind, you want

to avoid anything greasy or too heavy Sometimes you can feel this just by touching the product - if it feels heavy or greasy on your hand it's going to feel that way on your face

Believe it or not, products that are designed for use by acne sufferers can sometimes be the worse thing for you and your skin If they have a high concentration of treatment products this can just dry out your skin and irritate it further, causing even more breakouts

Avoid medicated products We often think that medications for any particular

condition or problem is the best thing for us, but often these so-called medicated cleansers simply contain high levels of alcohol or acetone and will do nothing but dry your face and cause redness, peeling, stinging, and sensitivity to the sun Your face will be painful to the touch and may even break out more than before

INGREDIENTS TO LOOK FOR

If you want to use the best products for your skin, opt for natural ingredients These include:

Cocamide Propyl Betaine

This is an oil derived from coconuts; because it moisturizers naturally it helps to protect the skin from being stripped of natural oils It also does not clog pores or

follicles and still allows the skin to "breathe" underneath its moisturizing properties

Vegetable Glycerin

This moisturizer attracts and holds natural moisture in the skin without clogging pores Because it's made from vegetables it's very natural and less harmful than other moisturizers

Chamomile

This natural product has antiseptic properties that help to heal dry and chapped skin Many doctors have extolled the benefits of chamomile for skin, and many use chamomile tea bags on their eyes to reduce puffiness and redness under the eyes

Spearmint Oil

This oil is refreshing and moisturizing; it actually helps to relax the skin and can even be used on muscle aches and cramps

Hops Extract

This extract provides toning to the face and an increased blood flow to the skin

It also acts to calm irritated skin and can decrease redness, swelling, and other aggravations to the skin's surface

Olive Leaf Extract

Olive oil is very good for the skin; it not only moisturizes but it has inflammatory properties, as well as antimicrobial properties The extract of olive leaf acts as a natural moisturizer without irritating the skin

anti-Fruit Extract

The juice and extract of most fruits are perfect for the skin, especially the sensitive skin of the face

A CNE M EDICATIONS AND T REATMENT

O PTIONS

Walk into any pharmacy and you'll see probably an entire aisle devoted to acne treatment methods You can also browse online and fine a wealth of options when it comes to acne treatment, from homeopathic medicines to topical treatments How can you tell which of these may help your acne, which do virtually nothing for you, and which may actually make your acne worse?

It's good to understand the common ingredients in acne medications and treatment options so that you can make the best decision about what to choose for your own treatment, and so that you don't go overboard with treatments and cause more damage to your skin

Some acne products work by killing the bacteria that cause acne flare-ups or breakouts; other acne products remove excess oils from the skin or remove dead skin cells by exfoliating them away And some acne products perform a combination of these things

BENZOYL PEROXIDE

Benzoyl peroxide is very strong; it's strong enough to get rid of some types and cases of acne, so of course it's strong enough to affect skin in other areas of the face Most acne sufferers should avoid using these cleansers unless they do so very carefully, being sure to wash only the areas with acne and avoiding the areas of the cheeks, around the eyes, and so on

Benzoyl peroxide works by kills the bacteria that cause acne and that are clogging the pores or hair follicles It also helps to remove excess oil from the skin as well

You can typically buy different strengths of benzoyl peroxide, from 2.5% to 10% It's not unusual for benzoyl peroxide to cause scaling, redness of the face, and even minor swelling in the areas where you use it And because it dries the face and removes those protective oils it can also make the skin more sensitive to sunlight and increase cases of sunburn