First, the idea of acne being caused by any form of sexual activity is humorous.  This notion dates all the way back to the 1600’s, and was started as a way to try to dissuade young people from engaging in premarital sex.  There can be many consequences to early sexual activity, but acne is not among them.

As for the story that the sun can clear up acne.  There is a partial truth to this story, but overall it does more harm than good.  Reddening the skin through sun exposure can cause evening of the skin color that makes acne harder to see, but the sun also dries and damages the skin.  In the long run, excessive sun exposure makes acne worse, so while a typical amount of exposure is healthy; it isn’t advised to lie on the beach all day in an attempt to cure your acne.

Last, don’t listen to the commercials that say to use a scrub a few times a day or more to clear your skin.  Over-washing your face will dry your skin and irritate your pores; both of which will make your acne worse than before.  Gentle washing a couple of times a day with a mild astringent or soap is more than sufficient.

I hope this has cleared up a bit of the confusion and mystique surrounding acne.  While many rumors have been created as to the cause of acne, it is simply the irritation and clogging of pores and not a side effect of impure thoughts or an impure skin regimen.  Look into any remedies you hear about before trying them or talk with a doctor and you can prevent making your problem worse, like so many people who have believed that a day baking in the sun would cure their acne problems.

Can I Avoid Those Nasty Pimples?

So, trying to avoid pimples when you are a teenager is nearly impossible. First, you need to realise that there are a number of factors that contribute to them breaking out on your face: first you have those pesky hormones surging through your bloodstream, causing all manner of changes (some quite embarrassing!) in your body. Then there is your heredity, the genes you got from your parents. Yeah, you can blame them for yet another horrid aspect of your life! Then there are the environmental factors: the oils and greases that you put on your face, and how clean you keep your skin.

One thing to always consider is what you put on your skin. Without a doubt, one of the chief culprits in causing acne is the telephone. You put it against your face daily and, if others use the same phone, you can end up with sharing all those germs and dirt from others. All of these contribute to your skin follicles getting clogged. This sets off a chain of events that leads to acne. Bacteria start to grow, they attract white blood cells and eventually the acne bursts – sometimes quite literally. These spots can be like little volcanoes just dying to squirt their pus. The last thing you want to do it pick at the pimples, it will only contribute to the problem, spreading the germs across your skin where they can get down into more pores and cause more spots.

Seek Medical Attention

So the first sensible step in dealing with an outbreak of acne is really to consult a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon about your acne. They can assess your case and outline a course of action. Sometimes, they will combine treatments, have you use one medication in the morning and then apply something else at night. A very important factor in all this is timing. You need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The reason for this is quite simple: acne is a disease that responds very well, but only if treated in the early stages of its development. And, keep this in mind, if acne is left untreated, you can be looking at scarring, especially if you pick at those spots. Acne scarring can be long-lasting – even permanent.

Teens are like any other people; they are concerned with their appearance. And, given their issues with body image, self-esteem and fitting in, they want to look their best. So, taking care of a bad case of acne is important.

The hormone testosterone is considered the culprit behind the outburst on the skin. This causes the oil secreting or sebaceous glands to become hyperactive. Consequently, the excess oil mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria, clogs the pores, and leads to whiteheads, blackheads and pustules. Severe acne, if left untreated can cause permanent scarring.

Keeping Acne under Control

Some basic do’s and don’ts help avoid aggravating the skin and keep the acne in check.

• Wash your face with warm water and a mild cleanser twice a day to keep it oil and dirt free. Dirt does not cause acne but it does make it worse.
• Don’t overdo the washing. Also, do not scrub vigorously.
• Do not squeeze or pick your acne and do not touch your skin often.
• Watch your diet. Wrong food is not a cause but it does worsen the existing condition.
• Keep cosmetics at bare minimum. Avoid oil-based moisturizers and make-up.
• NEVER leave make-up on at night.

Treating Acne

Acne treatments and medication options are numerous. There are various types of acne and treatments could vary. It is best to go about the process with care and in consultation with a dermatologist. Many cosmetic surgery clinics offer free consultations (until the end of March, Transform offer a free mini Microdermabrasion).

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) clearly states that ‘Acne is not curable, but it is controllable’. It is necessary to understand that there is no magic potion to make acne disappear. Prevention of acne is deemed the best line of treatment for acne. A strict skin care regime helps cut down on the bacterial activity on the surface of the skin.

Acne complexes are Over-The-Counter (OTC) or non-prescription kits containing a complete skin regime and medication for local application. This would normally constitute of cleansers, sunscreens and moisturizers suited for acne-affected skin and spot-treatment creams or solutions. It is imperative that only oil-free and non-comedogenic products are used on acne-affected skin.

Regime

Cleansers: Their job is to clean the skin of accumulated oil, dirt, make-up and sweat making it easy for the skin to absorb topical applications. Twice-a-day use is recommended in most cases. Overuse can cause dryness and irritation.

Topical applications: The AAD indicates that dermatologists most commonly use Benzoyl Peroxide, Retinoids and Antibiotics for topical treatment of acnes. These also form an important part of any acne complex kit.

• Benzoyl peroxide – The vital function of benzoyl peroxide is skin oxygenation. As a result, acne bacteria are killed. It also works as a mild peeling agent, thereby, unclogging the pores. Benzoyl peroxide is available in different concentrations. Lower strengths cause less irritation and are available OTC.
• Retinoids – They are chemical compounds derived from vitamin A. First generation retinoids like Retin-A or retinol are used for acne treatment. They help unclog the pores further enhancing the absorption of other topical medication such as antibiotics. They are usually best used at night. Topical retinoids do cause sensitivity to the sun and redness of the skin, hence care must be taken.
• Topical Antibiotics – Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory antibiotics like Clindamycin, Erythromycin or Sulfacetamide are used to enter the hair shaft and fight underlying infection.

Antibiotics are used in combination with benzoyl peroxide or retinol for overall effectiveness. Combination therapy such as this ensures that the skin does not develop resistance to the antibiotic and the antibiotic requirement remains low.

Clear Pores Cleansing System, Murad’s Acne Complex, Revitol Spot Gel are some of the many acne treatment systems available in the market today.

Stronger medication, hormone treatments or laser and surgical treatments may be required for the more severe cases. In any case, it is always recommended that you consult your dermatologist to ascertain that the acne treatment you undertake is the best for your skin.