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Pimples or zits are commonly referred to as acne vulgaris in the medical world.  Skin acne is caused by a change in the hair follicle or pore and the sebaceous gland attached to that pore. In harsh cases pimples form which is the result of inflammation of these pore or follicles.

Adolescence

Acne develops most often in teenagers.  Usually it will wane over time and completely disappear after an individual reaches his early twenties. In extreme cases, it will last into the thirties and forties.  The appearance of acne in adolescence can be especially stressful to the teenager, as this is a time when personal insecurities are rampant. Having a faceful of pimples only adds to this insecurity and can lead to severe depression. Therefore aggressive treatment is recommended.

Location

Skin acne is most often found on the face and neck. However, the shoulders, chest, back and sometimes upper arms can be affected too.

Formation of a Pimple

When the follicles become blocked, acne will form. A plug of keratin and sebum will form in the follicle. When sebaceous glands grow at puberty, the sebum enlarges and forms a blackhead or a whitehead. Whiteheads are due to pores being clogged with sebum. Blackheads form due to the oxidation of keratin. Sebum is oil in the skin and, in combination with skin bacteria results in inflammation and pimples.

Primary Causes of Skin Acne

One of the main causes of acne is family history. Acne does tend to run in families. In addition, puberty increases the level of androgens. This resulted in larger sebaceous glands and more sebum.

Another cause of acne is stress. Stress increases hormonal output, which leads to more sebum production and more clogged pores. And abnormally hyperactive sebaceous glands can lead to skin acne too.

Dead skin cells can get trapped in pores, causing blockage and bacteria itself can result in pimples.  Using anabolic steroids or medications with barbiturates, androgens or lithium can all lead to skin acne.

Exposure to chlorinated dioxins can also cause acne. And a specific kind of acne, Halogen acne, is the result of exposure to bromides, chlorides and iodides, all know as halogens.

Hormones are another acne producer. Testosterone, DHEAS, DHT and insulin-like growth factor as have been shown to increase acne.

Acne that develops in later years can be the result of Roscea. Or it can indicate an underlying disease such as Cushing’s syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome in women.

Diet

Certain foods have also been linked to acne. Skim milk, cottage cheese, cream cheese, sherbet and some instant breakfast drinks have all been shown to increase the likelihood of skin acne. In addition, food high in carbohydrates are another contributing factor.

Acne is not caused by dirt. Although oil on the skin can keep the pores from washing out the keratin and dead skin cells. As a result these substances get trapped inside the follicle and eventually result in a pimple. Therefore it is a good idea to keep the skin cleaned of oil that can clog the pores.

If you would like to prevent pimples from reoccurring then there are some clear skin acne treatment tips that will help a lot. This includes eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, maintaining a regular skin care regimen and using an OTC acne product, if needed.

Eating A Healthy Diet

First of all, you should avoid junk food. This includes sodas, sweets and greasy, fatty foods. This may seem difficult to do, but just think how much better you will feel knowing you are taking care of your body and are helping keep your skin healthy. You should eat a diet that is rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and lean meats.

Drinking Plenty of Water

Your body normally expels toxins through your bowels and kidneys, but if you are not drinking enough water, you could be expelling toxins through your skin. Obviously this doesn’t help you keep your skin acne free. Drinking plenty of water will help you clear your body of these toxins while helping to prevent acne. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water each day will help a lot.

Keeping Your Skin Clean

Poor hygiene can cause acne. When your skin gets oily and mixes with dead skin cells, it causes your pores to get blocked and acne to form. Cleansing your skin twice a day to remove oil, dirt and dead skin cells will help prevent acne. A mild facial cleanser or mild acne cleanser should be used, rather than bar soap.

Using OTC Acne Products If Necessary

Over the counter acne medications can be used, if the above lifestyle changes don’t clear your acne. The most popular treatments are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Acne treatments can dry your skin, so it is best to use a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated when using topical acne products.

These 4 quick clear skin acne tips will make a big difference and help you prevent acne from occurring. If you follow these tips and are still experiencing a lot of acne, it is best to consult a dermatologist or your doctor, especially if you have severe acne. Severe acne may need to be treated by the use of a prescription treatment for acne or you may have a health condition that is causing your acne.

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No matter what the colour of your skin, acne can be just as menacing to anyone. This is a skin disorder that strikes fear into the hearts of teenagers and adults alike. Yes, adults have finally awoken to the fact that acne is not a skin disorder that only strikes teenagers. The sooner one realized thay may have acne the better te chances are of curing the disorder.

Acne Can Affect Any Skin

Acne does not look for any particular skin colour to infect. The disease treats one and all alike, let there be no doubt all are equal for acne and all will find acne just as difficult to cure once it consolidates its position within the cells of te skin it chooses to infect. So white skinned individuals are not the only ones who sufer from acne, black skinned people are just as succeptable, though acne may not have been noticed due to the color of the infection blending into the skin.

No Need For Despair!

Now there is not need for black skinned people to despair as there is a cure for all types of acne. Different individuals respond differently to acne treatments and so the time required for acne to be completely cured varies from individual to individual and so patience it the main requirement and ingredient for a proper cure for the disorder. There are many treatments to choose from and the best treatment for you will be chosen by your doctor. Remember that there is no differnece in acne treatments for black skin or white skin. Acne is acne and there are treatments that work effectively on every skin. It just takes time that is all.

Prevention is better than cure

Nothing can be nearer the truth. It is better to be on the look out for any signs of acne. At the very onset attack those pink pimples with the proper treatment – cleanliness. Wash the affected area at least thrice a day with a mild unperfumed skin cleaner. A harsh soap used to clean the affected area will remove all traces of oil from te skin. Though removal of oil is necessary some amount of oil is required for healthy skin. Never apply oily substances to the skin if you notice any signs of acne. A rule of thumb is to discard the use of any product that contains isopropyl alcohol. This substance dries the skin and forces the glands to produce excessive oil that is the main contributing factor to acne infections.

Natural acne treatments

Nature has hidden many cures for human disorders. Some fruits and vegetables have natural substances that are known to cure acne completely. Some of these are cucumber, lemon, tea tree oil, oats, lime, honey, orange, tomatoes and turmeric. A paste made from any of these fruits or vegetables can be applied to the affected area as a face mask for half an hour every day and rinsed with luke warm water will help in destroying the bacteria causeing acne and also remove the excessive oil being produced by the skin. This is a very enjoyable home remedy for acne infected black skin – or any type of skin.

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Acne has a tendency to begin when a child reaches puberty. Hormones cause the sebaceous glands to grow. These glands produce oil, which blocks the pore so they cannot cleanse themselves. As a result, the pore gets clogged and pimples develop. The key to help preventing skin acne is to start a skin regimen before the acne flares up. Cleansing To help prevent skin acne, the first step is proper facial cleaning. If you wear makeup, begin by using a non-oily make up remover and rid your face of all cosmetics. Choose a cleaning solution for your face and neck that contains at least 5% benzoyl peroxide. If you find you are allergic or overly sensitive to benzoyl peroxide, then choose a solution with 2% salicylic acid. Cleanse your face thoroughly. Be sure to wash the creases on either side of your nose and right up into you hairline. Do not forget to scrub your upper neck, as this is an area prone to pimples too. And rinse well, as you want to remove all of the soap and oil. Follow this regimen twice a day. Topical Gels After washing your face, you can apply a topical gel that has 5% benzoyl peroxide. You have the option of applying this cream all over your face and neck or, if you find you skin is too sensitive, then just apply to affected areas. Do not over apply or you can end up with sore red patches of skin. Use this gel after you wash in the morning. Night Creams After washing your face for the evening, carefully examine your head and neck. If you are prone to pimples on your chest, back or arms, examine these areas too. If you spy any areas of irritation where a pimple or blackhead might form, apply a cream containing sulfur to that area. Make-Up If you plan on using make up, read all the labels carefully. You want to choose make up that is oil free. The oil in oil based make up will block your pores and cause build up of keratin, sebum and dead skin cells. This will result in skin acne. In addition if you use a moisturizer, be sure it is a light cream and not heavy in oils. Picking and Popping As hard as it is to resist, leave those pimples, whiteheads and blackheads alone. Squeezing, popping & picking will only lead to scarring. Concentrate on preventing acne instead of causing facial scarring. A pimple that lasts for a few days is much more appealing than a scar that lasts a lifetime. When following a skin care regimen, read all labels before purchasing the products. For acne prevention, you want a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Both products help prevent pore blockage, skin inflammation and pimple formation. Select an effective night cream to rub into pimples that flare up. Keep any heavy or oily materials away from you face. Also try and wash oils off of your hands before touching your face. Keeping your face oil free is the key to preventing skin acne.
More Skin Acne Articles

Though skin acne is a superficial affliction, the amount of social embarrassment and negative cosmetic value it brings along is significant. Understanding your skin and its properties will go a long way in addressing your skin acne as well as preventing recurrence. The following are the five major properties of the skin.

1. An important shield

Skin acts as an important shield placed on the outermost part of our body, preventing microorganisms and harmful substances from gaining entry into the body. It also helps control loss of water and blood, so essential to sustain life, the body tissues are protected from injury and the body temperature is regulated through perspiration. In addition to all these, the skin also protects us from the harmful UV rays from the sun.

2. Changes constantly

The skin comprises of several cells and structures with specialized characteristics and keeps changing constantly, though we do not notice it. Its function as a sensory organ helps us feel heat or cold and other changes in the environment. Several million nerve cells under the skin help us react to situations or emotions.

3. Sensitive organ needing care

The skin is a very sensitive organ and we need to keep it fit and healthy apart from protecting against potential infection. The skin can also be affected by a variety of metabolic changes inside the body like hormonal changes during adulthood, or menstrual cycles in women. Skin acne can be largely attributed to these hormonal changes.

4. Structure of the skin

The skin has a three layered structure comprised of ‘epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue’. The thinnest layer on the outermost surface is epidermis, with the dermis beneath. These layers have a significant role in the formation of skin acne due to the presence of hair follicle, sweat glands and the sebaceous glands. Blood vessels and nerves pass through these layers making the skin sensitive to itching, pain, and temperature. Several thousand cells are comprised under each square inch of the skin and holds oil glands, sweat glands, blood vessels as well as nerve ends. The epidermis acts as a protective layer and is quite tough. Melanin, the pigment which lends color to the skin is also held by epidermis. Blackheads or dark color is also caused by Melanin. In comparison to light skinned people, dark skinned people will have more melanin in the skin.

5. Categories of the skin

Normal skin, oily skin and dark skin are the three categories. Sub categories are combination skins, aging skins, mature skins, sensitive skins and acne prone skins. When the skin is acne prone, you will notice pimples and blackheads. This type of skin also tends to be oily. These blackheads or pimples, when left uncared can progress to an ugly stage with the skin getting pitted and scarred. If you are already afflicted with skin acne, you should exercise greater care for your skin and be selective in your good as well as cosmetics. After all, prevention is better than cure isn’t it?