Most people know about the skin condition that may affect the face, shoulders, neck or chest with inflamed pores which we call acne. Acne can affect anyone, no matter what their age.
Acne is caused when pores of the skin become plugged with dead skin cells that mix with the oils of the skin. There is also a bacterial that lives in the oils of the skin, which can aggravate the problem.
Hormonal changes in the body seem to trigger acne. Therefore it is prevalent in teens, women at different parts of their menstrual cycle or during pregnancy or when starting or stopping birth control pills. This is sometimes known as pregnancy acne or hormone acne.
Acne that becomes infected can leave scars on any of the affected areas. Facial scaring may affect a person’s self esteem.
You can find many treatments for acne. Some are based on scientific study, while others are simply old wives tales. Products that contain benzyl peroxide have been shown effective for many teens. An antibacterial cleanser can also help to remove dead skin cells and bacteria to prevent further outbreaks.
Benzyl peroxide is often too strong for adults with acne and they have better results with products that contain salicylic acid.
Persons experiencing acne should avoid touching, picking or squeezing the already irritated skin. This can cause the problem to become even worse.
If you are using the preferred over the counter medication for your age group, but your problem is not clearing up, you may need a prescription for a mild antibiotic. When taken as directed, the antibiotic lowers the possibility of infection and the scaring that is associated with it.
While it is not always possible to prevent outbreaks of acne, there are steps that can be taken that will lessen the chances of permanent scaring. While these steps may seem like a hassle in an already busy teen’s life, in the long run this preventative care will be worthwhile for the rest of your life.
Tags: acne, acne cause, acne causes, acne scar, acne scarring, acne scars, acne treatment
