Successful Acne Treatments
The most common form of acne appears as we enter puberty. This is because the production of our skin oil (called sebum) is controlled by the sex hormones (androgens). The more testosterone, 5-testosterone (DHT) and 5-androstene-317diol we produce, the more sebum our bodies make. Sebum is excreted by our pores as a natural way to keep our skin moist, supple and waterproof.
When we produce too much sebum it can combine with bacteria and dead skin cells to block the pores. The bacteria grows which puts pressure on the clogged pore and the result is a blackhead or pimple. The theory of acne treatment is actually fairly simple and straightforward. Make an effort to minimize the body’s production of sebum and continue to keep the skin free of oil and bacteria.
The practice is, of course, a little more complicated because you have to do these things without creating more, and possibly worse, problems.
It can be unwise to mess with hormone production, particularly at such a crucial time of development, and using harsh astringents to dry your skin will leave it cracked, red and sore.
The solution lies in small changes to your diet, the careful selection of vitamins and the use of specially formulated soaps and cleansers.
Acne is not a life-threatening condition and it will be with you for many years to come. Prescription drugs, even though they may rid you of the visible signs of acne, are rarely justified in any but the most severe cases.
Getting control of your acne starts with your diet. First you’ll need to fix your inside prior to treating the outside. Most likely you heard it many times, but our modern high fast, fast food lifestyle is bad for us. Don’t consume highly processed or pre-packaged foods and eat only fresh fruits and vegetables. Lean meat and nuts in moderation are fine and drink mostly water. Avoid sugary juice and carbonated drinks and cut way back on dairy products like milk and ice cream.
You should consider taking supplemental vitamins but overdosing on certain vitamins can do you more harm than good. It’s also a good idea to look for a vitamin program that is designed to specifically target acne.
Keeping your skin clear of excess oil and free of bacteria is a significant portion of your acne regimen. There are many soaps and cleanser formulated escpecially to keep your skin clean without reducing the natural oils that keep your skin smooth and supple.
Lastly, as tempting as it is, try to avoid squeezing or popping your zits. Doing so could result in and infection and possibly scarring that would stay with you for the rest of your life.
You can’t cure acne but you can control it. Proper diet and a consistent cleansing regimen will reward you with a clear complexion free of blemishes.
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