Acne can be a painful and embarrassing condition for a person to be afflicted with. Often, a person who has acne cannot control its occurrence. But, by following a few acne skin care practices, acne can be controlled and even gotten rid of.

Acne is an inflammatory skin disease that affects millions of individuals. The most universal type of acne is known as “common acne”. Acne is caused when too many oils are secreted from the glands and those oils mix with dead skin cells, blocking the hair follicles. More oil secretions increase underneath the already blocked follicles (or pores), and skin bacteria begin to grow rapidly. This leads to red and irritated skin that most often appears as bumps on the skin’s surface. Any skin surface of the body is susceptible to acne, but it most commonly (and heavily) appears on the face, chest, back, and upper arm region.

Acne commonly begins to occur during puberty due to an irregular response by the body to regular levels of testosterone, a male hormone. Often, acne begins to subside or disappear altogether by the mid 20′s. However, some individuals do suffer with it throughout adulthood. And some adults do not even see the onset of acne until well into the adult years. This is known as adult onset acne.

Acne can leave scarring on the skin, as well as have a scarring effect on a person’s self-esteem, and even lead to depression. Because society can be so unforgiving about appearances, there are various medically prescribed treatments available, as well as acne skin care regimens that can be utilized in order to minimize the symptoms of acne.

Different things cause acne for different sufferers. A few of the recognized causes of acne include heredity, hormonal activity (puberty, menstruation, pregnancy), stress, certain medications, and skin irritation. All of these things have the potential to cause acne, as well as exacerbate it. There are a few myths regarding acne. For instance we’ve all heard of a mom telling her child not to eat too many greasy foods like French fries, or eat too many sweets, because it will give him or her pimples. That is simply an old wives’ tale. Diet does not cause acne, and does not affect it. Also, poor hygiene has no bearing on the occurrence of acne. Acne is not caused by dirt, and having poor hygiene habits will not aggravate the condition.

There are many treatments for acne available, both through prescription, and over the counter. There are antibiotics in the form of pills, as well as topical creams that are designed to treat the condition. Exfoliation can be used as a treatment to remove and prevent the build up of dead skin cells. And light therapy is being used more and more to treat acne. It is important to consult a dermatologist in order to determine the best course of treatment and learn the best regimen of acne skin care to carry out.

Dealing with the occurrence of acne requires knowing how to properly care for the skin. Acne skin care can help keep the problem from getting worse, and even alleviate it. It is important to gently wash the skin at least twice a day with a gentle skin cleanser. Do not scrub with a rough pad or use a rough soap. This will make the acne problem worse. And always completely rinse the skin after cleansing.

As part of an acne skin care routine, it is important to remember not to touch the afflicted skin areas. Do not try to squeeze acne. An infection could occur, compounding the problem, and scarring could result. Also, avoid the sun when possible. Wear protective clothing to avoid tanning or burning. The skin will age faster, and any fading effect of the acne is temporary and will become visible again when the burn or tan fades.

When using cosmetics, take care to use oil-free products, and products that are non-comedogenic (won’t clog the pores). And for men who shave their faces, it is important to shave very carefully. Shave with a light hand to avoid cutting or nicking the blemishes. If these steps in acne skin care are taken, the pain and embarrassment of the problem can be alleviated, and over time, eliminated completely.

Acne is not the worst thing that can happen to somebody. There are in fact many things much worse than acne that one can suffer from. However some people may feel differently about their acne and want to rid themselves of it. For those people they have found the right article full of helpful tips and ideas.

If you talk on your cell phone on a regular basis and find yourself breaking out on one side of your face, this may be an indication that your cell phone is harboring bacteria that is causing you unnecessary trouble. Wipe down your phone as often as you can to eliminate the bacteria growing on it and prevent the spread from your phone to your face.

Try to keep your hands off of your acne. It is much easier said than done! If you squeeze, poke or prod your pimples it increases your chances of scarring. It is much better to treat your skin with a targeted medication instead. Your skin will appreciate this much more.

The most expensive facial cleanser in the world, will not get your face any cleaner than the cheapest one, that does the job for you without irritation. Money will buy fancy labels and beautiful bottles, but the fact is, your face is a skin barrier, with only a finite number of cells that can be penetrated. No cleanser can go past that point. So if you find an inexpensive cleanser that doesn’t irritate your skin, even if it’s the $2 Cetaphil knockoff from Walgreens, use it and save yourself a ton of dough.

Zinc will help to heal your acne. Zinc, which is found in beef, pork, nuts, beans and fortified cereals, is essential for healthy skin. It is a powerful way to keep acne at bay, by maintaining proper sebum and hormone levels, and helping to reduce prior scarring. As well as getting zinc through food, you can try oral or topical treatments for acne.

If your skin is unbroken and not infected, you can use a masque of black clay (found in health food stores) to help dry and tone it. Just mix the dry black clay powder with warm, purified water. Apply it to your face and sit in moderate sun for about half an hour. Rinse the masque off with warm water followed by cool water.

Looking for a way to help you battle acne? Think about your caffeine intake and try to lower it. Caffeine can increase your stress levels which can then increase your oil production and then cause acne. Try to avoid things such as coffees, sodas and chocolates and other products with caffeine stimulating ingredients.

Avoid touching your face all day. Many people rest their faces in their hands or rub their face throughout the day. This transfers pore clogging oils as well as any pathogens or bacteria you have touched with your hands throughout the day. This alone can help clear up problem acne.

Although many people many think that acne is not a big deal or anything to worry about, they may only be speaking for themselves. For the people on the other side of the fence they need to arm themselves with helpful information to fight against the acne they struggle with.