Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Acne Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Author: james sameul

Acne is a red, irritating skin rash primarily affecting teenagers and young adults. It can, however, occur at all ages. Typical acne appears in the oil-producing areas of the body—namely, the face, chest, and back. Acne can also occur on the neck and upper arms.

The surface of the skin has lots of small sebaceous glands just below the surface. These glands make an oily substance called serum that keeps the skin smooth and supple. Tiny pores (holes in the skin) allow the serum to come to the skin surface. Hairs also grow through these pores.


Cause Of Acne

Food: All over the world, parents tell teens to avoid pizza, chocolate, greasy and fried foods, and junk food. While these foods may not be good for overall health, they don't cause acne or make it worse.

Dirt: Some individuals have more "oily" skin than others (as mentioned above, "Blackheads" are oxidized oil, not dirt). Sweat does not cause acne, therefore, it is not necessary to shower instantly after exercise for fear that sweat will clog pores. On the other hand, excessive washing can dry and irritate the skin.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, polytheistic ovary syndrome, and other endocrine disorders with excess androgens may trigger the development of acne vulgaris.
Acne vulgaris may also be influenced by genetic factors.

Symptoms Of Acne

The main symptoms are spots that range from tiny, painless whiteheads to large, angry red cysts filled with serum and pus. Scarring may leave discolored pitting of the skin.
With inflammatory acne, the whiteheads become inflamed, and red pimples and pustules develop. In its most severe form, inflammatory acne can cause disfiguring cysts and deep, pitting scars of the face, neck, back, chest and groin. Prescription drugs and sometimes surgery are needed to treat inflammatory acne.

Prevention

Get a nonprescription acne medicine and apply regularly. Over-the-counter drugs containing sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide, are all effective for treating mild acne.
Don't over-wash. Since dirt is not causing your acne, excessive scrubbing and washing won't make it go away. Try to limit yourself to two washings per day — anything more than that can leave your healthy skin dry, and your acne-prone areas irritated. Habitual over-washing may also stimulate extra oil production, which could result in more breakouts.

Treatment Of Acne

If you have itchy acne, try taking Kali bromatum 6X three times daily until you notice an improvement.

Herbal Remedies For Acne

Raw potatoes contain potassium, sulfur, phosphorus & protein. The enzymes in raw potato pulp combined with its vitamin c content & natural starch are a natural skin food. The alkaline nature of the juices is an antiseptic. The acid portion of the pulp helps remove decaying or dead skin. Applications of its juicy pulp (grated or shredded) as poultice, clears skin blemishes, melts away wrinkles, banishes age spots, helps prevents boils, pimples, blackheads, whiteheads & gives a glowing & youthful look to the skin.

Radish seeds contain a bleaching agent and its emulsion prepared with water applied over the face will remove blackheads & freckles. Radish leaves crushed & applied as a poultice also help in the process. Grated white radish & its water makes an excellent astringent and bleaching agent for a fairer complexion.