Acne Advice

Acne
What Acne Is

Our body is covered with pores (also known as follicles). Sometimes these pores get blocked. The reasons for this are more or less unknown. Body oils that find their way out through the pores cannot get out. Bacteria begin to grow.

A microcomedone is the beginning of acne. This then grows into a whitehead or blackhead. These whiteheads or blackheads are called comedones. A whitehead is formed when the trapped sebum (oil) cannot reach the surface at all.

On the other hand, in the case of a blackhead the oil partially reaches the surface. The skin pigment (melanin) reacts with the oxygen from the air and forms a blackhead. The blackhead or whitehead heals if the oil is let out to the surface.

If the follicle wall ruptures then inflammatory acne is caused. This is caused by picking or touching. This is why skin that is prone to acne should be untouched. When the follicle wall is broken white blood cells rush in and a formation called a papule follows.

When white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin, several days later, a pustule is formed. This is commonly known as a zit or a pimple and is often the cause of adolescent embarrassment. A nodule is formed when a follicle breaks along the bottom and there is total collapse. Cysts are pus filled cells formed by a severe inflammatory reaction.

Causes Of Acne
What can causes acne?
The sebaceous glands produce sebum in the skin. An overactivity of these glands causes acne. These glands start secreting excess sebum due to the hormone called testosterone, which is found naturally both in men and women.

The dead cells that line the openings of the hair follicles are not shed properly and block the follicles and hence the flow of sebum. This causes oil to build up in the hair follicles. Whiteheads and blackheads are formed as a result of this.

In most people acne is limited to this stage of growth. Sometimes however, the sebum (oil) build up in hair follicles creates an environment for Propionibacterium Acne to grow. These bacteria normally reside harmlessly on the skin. When there is a build up of oil, they feed on this oil in the follicles causing a response from the body's immune system.

This results in the sore red spots we know as pimples. Why acne forms in some hair follicles and not in others is unknown. Acne is the result of hormones, diet, evolutionary biology, stress and vitamin deficiency.

Today there are myriads of acne treatments available over the counter, and while some of them seem to offer some help for some people, there are others that just don't work for anyone. You'll find inexpensive treatments and very expensive ones, but you may not want to spend a lot of money on your acne treatment, especially if the product isn't going to work for you. So, why not try out some home remedies. They can help you get rid of your acne quickly, but you won't have to go broke trying to purchase them. So, here are a few excellent home remedies that you may just want to give a try.

Raid the Freezer
Go to your freezer and grab some ice. Yes, I said the ice. Ice is simple and of course cheap, but it can actually help you treat your acne. All you have to do is take some ice and hold it on the area that is problematic. Since it is cold, it helps to get rid of the inflammation that you have on your face quickly. This makes your pimples look better and less noticeable and it can really help it to heal faster. So, if you need a quick treatment for a new pimple, try going to the freezer and grabbing some ice.

Use Some Essential Oils
Many people today have found that using essential oils for acne is a great home remedy. You can find essential oils in most health foods stores and they are not overly expensive either. People who have very sensitive skin are going to want to dilute the oils in another oil, such as grapesee oil. Some great essential oils that you may want to try out include rosehip see oil, lavender oil, sandalwood oil, and even primrose oil.

Milk of Magnesia
If you have some milk of magnesia sitting around the house, why not use it. It is a great home remedy for acne. Take the milk of magnesia and use a cotton swab to put it right on the acne that you want to get rid of pronto. Let it dry on your skin, then once it is dry, you can rinse it all off with nice, cool water. Use this a couple times a day if you want to get the fastest results.

Toothpaste is for More Than Teeth
You can also use toothpaste as a home remedy for acne as well. Don't use gel toothpastes, but go with the plain white toothpaste for this. Take a dab of the toothpaste and put it right on the affected area of your skin. Allow it to try and make sure you let it stay on your skin all through the night. When you get up the next morning, wash it off and you'll probably see that most of the inflammation is gone and the entire pimple may look totally better.