Acne is a relatively common skin condition that typically starts around puberty, in fact about 80-85% of people will suffer from some degree of acne during their teenage years and this frequently continues into adulthood. Unfortunately we are not yet aware of the precise causes of acne and there is no single cure which works for everyone. There are however a variety of tried and tested treatments which can help or even completely eradicate the condition.
So, what exactly is acne? Basically acne is a disease which causes spots and redness on the skin, most often on the face, neck, chest and back. These spots can be either whiteheads, blackheads, red or yellow spots or hard red swellings just below the surface of the skin. It occurs when the little glands below the surface of the skin produce too much sebum. This is an oily substance, used to keep the skin soft and supple. However if much sebum is produced it tends to clog up the tiny pores through which hairs grow out of the skin and this causes blackheads and whiteheads. To make matters worse, this build up of oil creates a perfect environment for a bacterium (Propionibacterium acnes) to grow. Your bodies immune system tries to fight this growth in bacteria causing the redness and inflammation which often comes with spots.
There are many myths surrounding the causes and treatment of acne. For example, acne is not caused by poor hygiene or a diet high in fats and sugars. nor is it contagious. Some things however do seem certain about the condition. High levels of some hormones, especially testosterone seem to cause acne, or at least make it worse. Increased stress levels too are known to exacerbate acne, although the exact reason for this is unknown but it may be because people under stress touch their face more often and so help to spread bacteria. There also seems to be a genetic link, since parents who are suffers tend to pass the condition on to their children.
There are a number of treatments available for acne and your doctor will be able to advise you of these. In addition there are things you can do yourself to help improve the condition. Cleansing the skin is obviously very important as this helps to reduce bacteria levels. You should use a gentle cleanser twice a day and a facial steamer two to three times per week.
Steaming the face or other affected parts can be a useful addition to your acne treatment programme. Although people with very severe acne are advised not to use steam treatment, for the vast majority of suffers, steaming can really help clear the complexion since it opens up the pores and at the same time increases sweating and so helps to flush impurities out of the skin. Since sweat is salty, it can also act as an antimicrobial agent, killing some of the bacteria found on the skin. Steaming also increases blood circulation, bringing greater amounts of oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
To increase the effectiveness of a home steam, some people add herbs or essential oils to the water. These can have very beneficial effects. Rose hip for example is high in vitamin A and useful for skin regeneration. Mint can help to break down the dirt and oil in your pores making it easier for them to be flushed away. Since stress is thought to play a role in acne outbreaks, adding lavender a known relaxant to your steam treatment may help.
While it is possible to steam your face at home over a bowl of very hot water, there are a number of facial steamers available to buy which make the job less messy and are often more effective to use. The come in a variety of designs and price ranges, so you should be able to find one which suits your needs. Portable steamers, for example, are relatively cheap to buy and very convenient to use - you just fill up the reservoir with water, add a few drops of essential oil if required and turn the control to mist or steam. Other facial steamers can be used with a gas called ozone which dries and acts as as antibacterial agent on the skin. Facial saunas too are an effective way of improving your complexion.
Once you have finished your steam treatment, you must always wash your skin immediately afterwards to remove all the impurities which have been drawn out by the steaming process, otherwise you will make the condition worse. The results of steaming your skin in this way will not be seen for a few weeks, in common with all other acne treatments. But if you continue to regularly cleanse your skin in this way, you should be rewarded by a much improved complexion. - 15995
So, what exactly is acne? Basically acne is a disease which causes spots and redness on the skin, most often on the face, neck, chest and back. These spots can be either whiteheads, blackheads, red or yellow spots or hard red swellings just below the surface of the skin. It occurs when the little glands below the surface of the skin produce too much sebum. This is an oily substance, used to keep the skin soft and supple. However if much sebum is produced it tends to clog up the tiny pores through which hairs grow out of the skin and this causes blackheads and whiteheads. To make matters worse, this build up of oil creates a perfect environment for a bacterium (Propionibacterium acnes) to grow. Your bodies immune system tries to fight this growth in bacteria causing the redness and inflammation which often comes with spots.
There are many myths surrounding the causes and treatment of acne. For example, acne is not caused by poor hygiene or a diet high in fats and sugars. nor is it contagious. Some things however do seem certain about the condition. High levels of some hormones, especially testosterone seem to cause acne, or at least make it worse. Increased stress levels too are known to exacerbate acne, although the exact reason for this is unknown but it may be because people under stress touch their face more often and so help to spread bacteria. There also seems to be a genetic link, since parents who are suffers tend to pass the condition on to their children.
There are a number of treatments available for acne and your doctor will be able to advise you of these. In addition there are things you can do yourself to help improve the condition. Cleansing the skin is obviously very important as this helps to reduce bacteria levels. You should use a gentle cleanser twice a day and a facial steamer two to three times per week.
Steaming the face or other affected parts can be a useful addition to your acne treatment programme. Although people with very severe acne are advised not to use steam treatment, for the vast majority of suffers, steaming can really help clear the complexion since it opens up the pores and at the same time increases sweating and so helps to flush impurities out of the skin. Since sweat is salty, it can also act as an antimicrobial agent, killing some of the bacteria found on the skin. Steaming also increases blood circulation, bringing greater amounts of oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
To increase the effectiveness of a home steam, some people add herbs or essential oils to the water. These can have very beneficial effects. Rose hip for example is high in vitamin A and useful for skin regeneration. Mint can help to break down the dirt and oil in your pores making it easier for them to be flushed away. Since stress is thought to play a role in acne outbreaks, adding lavender a known relaxant to your steam treatment may help.
While it is possible to steam your face at home over a bowl of very hot water, there are a number of facial steamers available to buy which make the job less messy and are often more effective to use. The come in a variety of designs and price ranges, so you should be able to find one which suits your needs. Portable steamers, for example, are relatively cheap to buy and very convenient to use - you just fill up the reservoir with water, add a few drops of essential oil if required and turn the control to mist or steam. Other facial steamers can be used with a gas called ozone which dries and acts as as antibacterial agent on the skin. Facial saunas too are an effective way of improving your complexion.
Once you have finished your steam treatment, you must always wash your skin immediately afterwards to remove all the impurities which have been drawn out by the steaming process, otherwise you will make the condition worse. The results of steaming your skin in this way will not be seen for a few weeks, in common with all other acne treatments. But if you continue to regularly cleanse your skin in this way, you should be rewarded by a much improved complexion. - 15995
About the Author:
Fed up of your spots? Find out about the amazing benefits of using steam for acne and how it can really improve the condition of your skin at http://steamforacne.com
