Acne Skin Care

What Causes Acne?

Acne is caused by dead skin cells and excess sebum clogging the pores in your skin. The condition is thought to be hereditary. If your parents suffered from acne, you’re more likely to be bothered by reoccurring blemishes than someone without this family history.

While acne is most often associated with teenagers, many adults suffer from this embarrassing condition. In fact, adults typically have a more difficult time treating their acne because they are more likely to have skin that is easily irritated by the harsh ingredients in some acne skin care products.

Contrary to popular belief, chocolate, pizza, French fries, and ice cream do not cause acne. However, eating a well-balanced diet rich in lean protein, whole grains, and fresh produce may help improve the look of your skin by reducing sebum production, enhancing tissue growth, and improving circulation.

While a tan may temporarily minimize the appearance of acne, the sun does not cure acne. Sun exposure ultimately does more harm than good by leading to wrinkles and premature aging. In addition, some acne medications can make you more likely to sunburn in a short period of time.

Acne Skin Care Tips

Since acne is not caused by dirt, merely scrubbing your face will not improve your complexion. In fact, excessively rubbing, squeezing, or picking at your skin will only make your acne worse.

Treating acne often requires a skin care regimen consisting of several different products. For example, you may use a cleanser to remove dead skin cells and an anti-acne gel to control excess sebum production while fighting bacteria. There are also acne treatment masks that can be used on a semi-regular basis to open pores and clear debris.

When you’re shopping for acne treatment products, look for medications that have been dermatologist approved. These products are less likely to cause irritation, flakiness, or redness in your problem skin.

Patience is a key component of acne skin care. Generally, it takes at least two weeks to see results from an acne treatment product. In most cases, a significant improvement requires several months of regular use. Don’t give up your acne skin care regimen until you’ve given the products a chance to work!

Common Acne Treatment Options

Did you know that Americans spend more than $100 million each year on over-the-counter acne skin care medications? Clearly, acne sufferers have a wide array of choices to treat their condition. However, there are two just common ingredients found in most nonprescription acne skin care products: Benzyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid.

• Benzoyl Peroxide works by killing acne-causing bacteria. However, it often causes irritation and dryness in people with sensitive skin.
• Salicylic Acid helps remove the debris that clogs pores while destroying the bacteria that causes acne. It also helps improve collagen production and skin thickness.