Dealing with those nasty pimples

Tips on treating your acne

By SkinCareGuide.ca

You don't have to be a teenager to get acne, although generally acne starts during puberty. How you treat it and how early you treat it can have long lasting effects on your skin. Here are a few tips to help you deal with those nasty pimples. For more information, go to acne portal.

• Acne can be more than skin deep. Often, acne doesn't just affect us physically. It can also have an emotional impact - causing self-consciousness, anxiety, depression and even social withdrawal. That's why finding an effective acne treatment is essential. If you have acne, see your doctor.
• Don't aggravate your acne! Squeezing or picking pimples will only increase inflammation and can lead to scarring. Hard as it may be, try to keep your hands away from your pimples and let nature take its course.
• Acne cleansers remove accumulated oil, makeup, sweat and dirt from the surface of your skin. This makes it easier for your skin to absorb topical acne treatments. However, excessive use of acne cleansers can also lead to irritated and dry skin. Read the label and use acne cleansers only once or twice a day
• The pimple's gone - why is there a red mark? You may notice a bright red mark where the pimple used to be. This is a post-inflammatory change in your skin, which usually disappears in six to twelve months. Squeezing your pimples or picking at scabs will lengthen the time required for the mark to disappear.
• What causes acne? Acne is the visible end result of hormonal, bacterial and inflammatory disturbances. Blocked pores trap oil produced by our sebaceous glands, creating an ideal environment for the growth of acne bacteria. The resulting inflammation produces pimples or deeper lumps such as cysts or nodules.
• Trying to hide acne? If you're using cosmetics to cover up your acne, make sure you're not using products (such as oil-based foundations) that may actually make your acne worse. Use oil-free cosmetics wherever possible.
• Two benefits in one! Topical creams like tretinoin do double duty: they'll not only improve your acne, they'll also encourage collagen production and help smooth out very fine acne scarring.
• Long hair that sweeps along your face can cause acne breakouts. If you've noticed a connection between your hair and acne, make sure you shampoo daily, be careful not to apply hairstyling products near your skin and try and keep your hair away from your face.

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About SkinCareGuide:

The SkinCareGuide Network of dermatology-related websites was founded by a prestigious group of international dermatologists. It provides comprehensive information for patients and physicians about the skin, its care and various skin conditions and treatments. All content is reviewed by an independent Board of Medical Advisors to ensure that the information is accurate, unbiased and up-to-date. This information is not intended to replace a consultation with your own physician.

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