The Truth About Acne & Simple Treatments
What is acne?
In most cases, acne is a genetic disorder of the pores. Normal pores shed a layer of dead skin cells per day inside the pore. An acne-prone pore sheds five layers of dead skin cells a day, and the body cannot sustain this level of exfoliation. Pores become clogged with dead skin cells, oil, or sebum, causing congestion under the skin and creating the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. If bacteria are present, these clogged pores can cause inflammation, redness, and pimple formation.
What causes acne?
There are many myths about what causes acne. The truth is, we don't really know what causes acne or the overproduction of shedding skin cells. However, we can identify acne "triggers" and other factors that contribute to the development of acne, including hormones, stress, medications, exercise, and cosmetics.
Do hormones cause breakouts?
This is not a myth but needs some clarification. It's not usually your hormones that cause breakouts, it's an "imbalance" of hormones that can lead to low estrogen levels and an increase in oil production. Some other factors that can lead to the development of acne are stress, medications, exercise, and cosmetics.
Acne is caused by dirty skin
This is not entirely true. Acne starts deep within the pore and is caused by the excessive shedding of dead skin cells. It has nothing to do with dirt or oil on the surface of your skin. You can wash your face several times a day, and it won't stop acne formation. Acne is a skin disease. When your body can't shed excess skin cells, they get trapped inside your pores and cause trouble. That's why it's so important to use the right combination of products to unclog pores, increase exfoliation, and stop acne breakouts where they start.
Eating too much chocolate, drinking soda, or eating french fries can lead to acne breakouts
Although these are all "acne triggers", they are not the root cause of acne. In fact, it is not the food itself, but rather in/in the food. For example, it's not the French fries that aggravate acne, it's the "salt" on the fries. A diet high in iodide (salt) can make acne worse. Once iodine enters the bloodstream, the excess is eliminated through our oil glands. It irritates the pores and causes inflammation and breakouts. High-sugar foods like chocolate and soda are known to cause inflammation within the pore. In general, taking care of your body by eating a healthy, nutritious diet will always result in better skin.
You will outgrow acne naturally
Maybe you will, maybe you won't. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine who will outgrow acne and who will not. Here again the culprit, hormones. Hormones continue to flow and fluctuate throughout life and acne appears. The good news is that at any age, acne can be managed with the right home care products and professional acne treatments.
Some simple acne treatment tips:
Most women spend hundreds of dollars on expensive balms and beauty salon treatments and still get unsatisfactory results when there are simple methods one can do in the comfort of their own home to ensure their skin is healthy and blemish-free. Read on for tips to keep your skin healthy and happy:
1. Exfoliate often
Excess oils produced by the skin clog pores and lead to the formation of acne; Dead skin cells accumulate and need to be regularly removed to make way for a new, healthy layer of skin. Make sure to gently exfoliate your face once or twice a week and it will dramatically reduce the appearance of dark spots and blemishes.
2. Avoid touching your face
Avoid touching your face throughout the day as your hands sweat and this transfers to the face. Most people feel compelled to pop the moment a pimple appears, but this can make acne worse as it spreads bacteria and leads to infections.
3. Apply ice and honey
Ice helps tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of pores. Applying ice helps remove oils and dirt and reduces redness and swelling. When your acne flares up – a single ice cube can do wonders. Honey acts as a natural antiseptic that soothes and heals the skin. Applying honey masks works against acne problems and is a good preventive measure.
4. Apply toothpaste
If you don't have time for homemade masks or remedies then use this as a quick trick to cure inflamed acne. Apply a small dab of toothpaste on the affected area and leave for several hours or overnight, then rinse. This will dry out the acne, but remember to use only white toothpaste and never with whitening properties.
5. Aloe Vera
Few things are as effective as aloe vera when it comes to acne. This plant has antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, and astringent properties and can be used as a facial mask, moisturizer, oil, or added to your diet. It works wonders in reducing and preventing acne because it regenerates and soothes the skin, stimulating cell growth.
Acne can be uncomfortable, but it is never a stand-alone problem. Many times the cause lies in our lifestyle habits, food choices, or stress levels and we need to examine them to see an unhealthy pattern that needs to change. Remember - healthy and beautiful skin comes from within. Sometimes the problem requires medical attention, in which case dermatologists offer effective treatment to get rid of acne and restore the skin to its natural, beautiful state.
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