Blackheads

Millions of Americans are affected each day by blackheads. These unsightly blemishes can cause embarrassment, pain, and even infection if left untreated. Fortunately, information is abundant on how to fight the good fight when it comes to the health of your skin. By following these tips, you'll not only find the right battle plan to get rid of nasty blackheads, but you'll be able to prevent them from coming back.

Before developing a strategy to wipe out the scourge of blackheads, we must first understand the enemy. Blackheads are caused by oil in the skin collecting and hardening in the pores. This oil combines with toxins to form a gluey mixture, creating what we know as blackheads. Why the name? Well, when this mixture forms in the pores, it leaves an exposed tip which turns black, causing a blemish that does little to enhance your natural beauty. If your skin is naturally oily, you may find yourself at higher risk for these prickly pests.

Now that we have a basic grasp of the enemy's tactics and chemical make up, it?s time to go into battle. Thankfully, this battle won't require millions of dollars and a volunteer army. In fact, it won't require much money at all as long as you are persistent and you follow these tips for successful treatment.

The first thing you must do is clean your facial area with a high quality cleanser specifically made for oily skin. Your best bet will be to utilize a cleanser with a salicylic acid base. This helps to dry the skin while it cleanses, creating an uninhabitable environment for the toxins and oil that make up blackheads. If you are susceptible to cleansing products, try to find a cleanser that is formulated for sensitive skin. Some people find salicylic acid dries their skin too much, causing itching and flaking, which can be just as irritating as blackheads. It won't do to replace one problem with another, so be cautious when deciding on the right cleanser for you.

The second step toward eliminating those blackheads is the use of an astringent. This will also help to withdraw oil from your skin, and eliminate the favorable blackhead breeding grounds.

Finally, use the medicated cream of your choice to finish the battle and claim victory once and for all. This cream should contain resorcinol, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or some combination of the three. This step is the crucial one in getting rid of the existing blackheads and peeling away their black, unsightly tips.

Once you've won the war on the blackheads that once populated your face, it is time to think about prevention. Obviously, keeping your face clean and free of exterior oils in a good first step. If you find you are particularly prone to blackheads, you might think about adding an exfoliator and scrub into your facial regimen. These creams can reduce the natural oils in your skin and get rid of dead skin and other toxins that like to mix up and clog the pores. It is also a good idea to wear your hair back away from your face as much as possible, as hair tends to be a bit greasier than you might think, and can lead to further outbreaks. Finally, avoid overwashing. Soaps can dry out your skin, and cause the production of more oil to compensate. Alternate full face washings with plain water rinses.

Whitehead

It's a popular misconception that spots only affect adolescents. So it can come as a bit of a shock to realize that, although the teenage years are well and truly in the past, spots, and particularly whiteheads, are not.

Whiteheads can continue to be a problem well into a person's thirties, maybe even beyond that, but if a skin care routine is established early on then these little break outs are less likely to cause distress and result in the sufferer wanting to hide their face away until the offending little eruption has disappeared.
It's worth remembering that whiteheads are actually the body's way of dealing with bacteria. When sebum, the fatty matter which lubricates hair and skin, builds up in a blocked oil duct, bacteria attacks and the area becomes red, swollen and sometimes quite sore. The body's natural reaction is to send millions of white blood cells to fight this minor infection. The result, unfortunately, is a whitehead.

There are many different causes of whiteheads and nobody should be under the impression that these spots are simply a by product of people not washing properly, although, of course, in some cases that might be true. The causes of whiteheads are much more likely to be things like diet and hormones. Many women suffer break outs of sore spots during the middle to end of their monthly cycle when the body experiences a rush of hormones. As well as maintaining a good skin care regime, such women can also try taking a dietary supplement like oil of evening primrose, which helps to balance the hormones in the body.

A common cause of whiteheads is a bad, fatty or sugary based diet. Although there is no proven link, it's fair to say that anyone who eats more than their share of fatty, sugary foods will experience skin problems in one way or another. If whiteheads are a recurring problem, try cutting out the bad foods in your diet and replacing them with more fresh fruit and vegetables, you're likely to see a much clearer complexion emerge.
Whitehead Treatment

But the bottom line when it comes to fighting whiteheads is by far that of a good skin care routine. Always remove make-up before going to bed. Use a gentle cleanser to wash, never use soap on the face. Follow this up with a toner and moisturizer, so that the skin is deep cleaned and kept soft. On the areas which are affected by whiteheads, usually the chin, forehead and around the nose, use a drying, antiseptic gel, but only when a spot is present or is felt to be forming. Over use of such products will cause unnecessary dryness to the skin, which in turn brings its own problems.

Try to find a product which contains witch hazel, as this is a natural and very affective ingredient for treating whiteheads. Above all, do not be tempted to squeeze a whitehead. Continued squeezing and even picking of spots will most likely leave a person with scarring to the skin. If it is absolutely unavoidable to squeeze a whitehead, then slight pressure, never using fingernails as they dent the skin harshly and contribute to scarring, with tissue paper held between the fingers and the skin is just about acceptable.

Acne Control

Often the result of hormonal changes in the body, acne is common condition ranging in severity from occasional pimples to serious cystic acne that requires the intervention of the dermatologist. If you suffer from acne, you may experience pimples around your forehead, nose, and chin, blackheads, whiteheads, and to a lesser degree, occasional more serious infections.

Because the symptoms vary widely, there are a number of treatments for acne ranging from topical over-the-counter ointments to more serious prescription drugs and laser treatments. 

The root cause of acne is a blockage in skin pores and hair follicles that leads to infection. Hormonal imbalances that result in the overproduction of oil by the sebaceous glands in the skin worsens the problem, as does the presence of any bacteria on the skin's surface. The most effective acne treatments work to reduce the amount of oil on the skin, keep pores and hair follicles open and clear, and keep affected areas free of bacteria.

Natural Remedies:

Scrubs
Natural methods of treatment include mild scrubs with oatmeal or other abrasives designed to open clogged pores. They are often combined with cleansing creams that work to kill bacteria.

Antibacterial Agents
Many ointments, balms, and lotions sold to treat acne are mild antibacterial agents designed to kill bacterial colonies and keep them from reforming. Tea tree oil, salicylic acid, and sulfur have excellent antibacterial properties and have been used effectively alone and in combination with other acne treatments.

Skin Repair
Aloe Vera, vitamin A, and vitamin E are useful in healing blemishes, repairing skin cells, and reducing inflammation. They are also used in combination with antibacterial agents to heal skin after an acne outbreak.

Treat Oily Skin
Preparations used to reduce the amount of oil on the skin often contain benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial and drying agent. There are also non-prescription masks and peels designed to remove excess oil from the skin.

Mild scrubs, antibacterials, drying agents, and skin conditioners work together to open clogged pores and keep skin healthy and clear of infection. For minor skin problems they are very effective, and regular treatment using these products will reduce acne flare-ups.

Resistant Acne:

Cosmetic Procedures
More resistant acne often responds to chemical peels and abrasive techniques like micro-dermabrasion. These techniques are administered by a dermatologist in his office and can also be effective in reducing the acne scarring that may result from prolonged acne conditions.

Vitamin A Derivatives (Retin-A)
Therapies using concentrated vitamin A derivatives like Retin-A have had success in treating whiteheads, blackheads, and cystic acne. Used topically over a period of weeks, vitamin A derivatives increase skin production and help in keeping skin pores clear.

Oral Contraceptives
For women, often oral contraceptives have the side benefit of having a positive impact on problem skin.

Laser Treatment
Light therapy is a very effective treatment for acne. Reaching deep into the skin, lasers kill bacteria, help improve the skin's texture, and are effective at helping to reduce oil production.

Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin(Accutane) is reserved for the most serious skin conditions. Usually administered in pill form, it works internally to help reduce the skin's oil production and combat infection. Available only through prescription, it can have serious side effects, so discuss any treatment plan carefully with your doctor.

Acne can be a complicated condition, and it may require some trial and error to determine what type of treatment is going to work best for you. Even the most severe forms of acne respond to treatment, and with some experimentation you will discover a method that will provide the results that you are looking for. In the meantime, keep your skin as clean as you can, and never be tempted to squeeze blemishes. Although satisfying, damaging your skin invariably prolongs the healing process and can lead to deep and permanent scars.

Acne Myths and Facts

Of the millions of people who are afflicted with acne, thousands are afflicted with acne not only on their face, but on their bodies too. There are many products that boast that they clean the pores to prevent acne outbreaks.

Caution is advised when using these products because they contain strong chemicals that can strip the skin of important nutrients and that too can lead to an acne outbreak. Acne is a painful disorder, both physically and emotionally. For severe acne suffers, it is difficult to face the world on a daily basis.

There are a lot of myths about acne. Some are true, and some are not. The truth is, medical researcher have concluded that if you eat a diet that is high in grease and fat, you are more likely to get acne.

Eating foods like greasy burgers and fries, potato chips, and drinking gallons of soda will cause an outbreak of acne very quickly. This is the diet of three fourths of all teenagers.

Research has shown that teenagers frequent fast food restaurants at least three times a week. This is why when we think of acne, we think of teenagers and their pimply-faced friends. The fact is acne affects just as many adults as it does children. It is a non-discriminate skin disorder. People as old as sixty and seventy have been reported to have acne.

It affects men and women, girls and boys equally. At one time, it was believed that acne afflicted girls more than boy. This was because they had long hair. It was thought that the oils that were in hair that was not kept clean triggered an acne outbreak. This has been proven false.

Some people believe that stress is a factor when it comes to acne. The only correlation that medical research could determine is that when a person is in a stressful situation, their body produces a hormone that can aggravate existing acne.

There are many many myths regarding acne. A lot of these have been passed down through the generations. Almost none of them are correct. If you want to find out the truth about acne, you can research it yourself by using one of the many search engines that the Internet has to offer. Consulting a dermatologist is a good way to have all of your questions answered immediately. They are easy to find and always more than willing to assist their patients.

Acne Treatment

Now that you know that it is bacteria that causes acne, it simply doesn't make sense to pick or squeeze a bump. When you squeeze, you create more inflammation and p. acne lives on inflammation. Also, when you squeeze, you can encourage the p. acne to spread under the skin to new areas. One squeeze can trigger lots of new bumps close by. Some products are excellent at killing off the p. acne bacteria. Here is a list:

Sulfur. Sulfur unclogs pores and removes p. acne bacteria. Also used to reduce inflammation. Over the counter acne medications contain sulfur.
Tea Tree Oil. Tea tree oil kills p. acne and is an ingredient in many acne skin care formulations-cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. Tea tree oil is considered as effective as benzoyl peroxide for killing p. acne bacteria, but it takes longer. However, tea tree oil doesn't cause the redness, irritation, and inflammation that's common with benzoyl peroxide.

Benzoyl Peroxide. P. acne can't live in the pressence of oxygen. Benzoyl peroxide forms oxygen deep in the pore and the p. acne dies off. Benzoyl peroxide is drying to the skin and can make it peel. Benzoyl peroxide is an active ingredient in many over the counter acne products.

Antibiotics. Antibiotics are available only by prescription from your doctor and include tetracycline and erythromycin. It's not advised to use these for an extended period of time because antibiotics have undesirable side effects, such as dehydration of the skin and killing off beneficial intestinal bacteria, which results in yeast overgrowth infections. You can also build up resistance to the effectiveness of these antibiotics, such as birth control pills.

Retin A. This prescription medication is applied topically. It's derived from vitamin A, and it helps prevent the formation of microcomedomes in which the p. acne live and multiply. Retin A removes the top layers of the skin so no oil can be trapped in the pores. Retin A can be used for longer periods of time. Think of Retin A as a super exfoliator. Because Retin A thins the skin, you need nitense sun protection every day because your face is far more susceptible to burning than normal. Also, avoid waxing your upper lip or anywhere on your face when using this product. Wear a hat that shades your face when using this product

Accutane. Accutane is a prescription only medication that's taken internally. Accutane is vitamin A at a very high dose. Use only with severe acne eruptions. Accutane severely dries up mucous membranes and has serious side effects including birth defects and mental disorders. You must sign a consent form before taking the medication. If a women decides to take Accutane, she needs to provide two negative pregnancy tests and must use two seperate effective forms of birth control for the month before starting Accutane. You receive a 30 day supply at a time and will be required to have a monthly blood test to make sure you stay healthy. A national registry is being proposed to track persons who have used this powerful medication for long term safety studies. Because of the serious nature of Accutane's side effects, make sure you have tried everything else before using this medication.

Differin. Differin is a topical prescription medication that's a Vitamin A derivative. It clears clogged pores but is gentle to the skin, and not as drying as Retin A. Use as you would Retin A, being sure to always wear a high level of sun protection.

All of these products can ease of eliminate an acne flare up. Because none of them can kill off the p. acne for the rest of your life. The best thing you can do to eliminate future outbreaks is to make lifestyle changes.

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