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Healthy Acne Skin Care Habits

Posted on July 1, 2010
Filed Under Acne Skin Care

Dealing with acne, a condition that aggravates the skin, can become a daily challenge; a challenge that can lead to feelings of embarrassment, discouragement, and anxiety. However, implementing appropriate and healthy acne skin care as part of a daily routine can help to fight against existing acne and control or minimize any future outbreaks.

Acne is a skin condition that derives from the production of excessive oil leading to blocked pores. The appropriate washing of the skin is one key step in handling acne outbreaks and decreasing the amount of oil held within the skin. Some people mistakenly believe that scouring the skin can help in eliminating acne.

Rather, appropriate skin care depends on washing the skin gently, twice a day, with a mild, doctor recommended cleanser. Careful and thorough rinsing of the skin, after washing, is important to ensure that no cleanser is left on the skin.

A doctor or dermatologist can recommend a topical over-the-counter acne medication or a prescription strength acne medication as part of a healthy skin care regime. Doctors also recommend the ongoing monitoring for moderate or severe acne cases. Combining an effective acne medication with ongoing treatment with a dermatologist can prove successful in controlling acne outbreaks.

For women, choosing appropriate cosmetics is a fundamental part of a healthy acne skin care plan. Many cosmetics contain oil and can lead to clogged pores, which can increase skin irritations and blemishes. When it comes to choosing moisturizers or makeup, all products should be oil-free and noncomedogenic. Noncomedogenic products discourage the closing of the pores and mitigate the build up of oil beneath the skin.

For men, shaving during an acne outbreak can be a daunting task. Washing facial hair with soap and water before applying shaving cream can soften the hair and ease the chances of grazing the irritated skin with the razor. The type of razor chosen depends on the individual, but shaving as a part of a plan should always be done gently and only completed when absolutely necessary.

Hair products can also trigger possible acne outbreaks. The oils in the hair follicles, as well as the products used to cleanse the hair, may only serve to hinder acne skin care. Oil-free products should be chosen to lessen the chances of further outbreaks.

Many people feel that obtaining a suntan can alleviate acne outbreaks. In actuality, the sun will only serve to mask the outbreak temporarily. Many of the prescription acne medication cause the skin to easily burn in the sun. A suntan may lessen the appearance of a blemish but poses a much larger risk to the skin through premature aging and the risk of developing skin cancer. Ultimately, a suntan does little to help skin care.

Living with acne outbreaks can seem frustrating and at times insurmountable, but having an acne skin care plan in place can minimize the anxiety and stress of dealing with an outbreak. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, working with a dermatologist, and sustaining a consistent acne skin care regime can help to manage acne breakouts and minimize future occurrences.

Riley Hendersen
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/healthy-acne-skin-care-habits-139820.html

Comments

5 Responses to “Healthy Acne Skin Care Habits”

  1. Bob Chair on July 1st, 2010 1:34 am

    Tips on getting rid of acne and getting the healthiest looking skin?
    Im going to try and explain my whole circumstance so i apologize if it gets long so if you take the time to read and try and help i very very much appreciate it!
    Okay, so I am an 18 year old male and ever since I got into the age where you begin to get acne I have had a fair share of pimples. I wouldnt say I have bad acne but I have my moments where its a little worse then others. I dont usually get pimples anywhere else on my face expect my chin area. It is very rare for me to look like I have no pimple at ALL because I usually at least have a few and if I don’t it just makes me more self conscious of my post pimple scars. Now I have tried many face cleaning products and while some of them have help none have really don’t anything to special for me to stick with them. Also every once in a while I will get one or two bad under the skin type pimples that can really upset me. I have fairly white, pale skin espeically in the winter so when I get a pimple the redness can really show. I guess I would say I have some what pretty sensitive and somewhat oily skin ( at least in the chin area). Ive asked my parents about their acne when they were younger and both have said it was not very bad. For me I wouldnt classify it as too bad most of the time,its not something youd look at and be like " oh my god" but it is definitely noticeable. I have asked my mother before if I could go see a dermatologist or someone to get some kind of special cream or ask him this kind of stuff but she always claims thats for people with a lot more sever acne so I have never really got around to it.
    Now I realize a lot of it has to do with stuff like eating habits and stress level. As for my eating habit I have to admit I dont take the best care of myself in that department. I have the tall / somewhat skinny bottom type and have with a very high metabolism so at this age I eat my fair share of chips and unhealthier foods but am definitely willing to try and change that. One thing I do is drink A LOT, id say at least 6-8 glasses worth a day but that isn’t doing to much on its own. When it comes to stress, I get pretty stressed out pretty easily and thats a whole different issue then this one ha.
    So the things Im curious about and am looking for advice on is
    1. Do you think its could possibly just pass ( I just turned 18) or is it something I should look more into
    2. What kind of store bought/ home remedy face cleanser has worked the best for you??
    ( I have herd of egg white mask and have tried it a few times)
    3. What are some things that help the best with pimple scarring??
    4. What type of food and diet types work better the others?? what type of fruits and other food are better known then others to really help
    5. What are any other things I could try or do that would help it out?? ( I have herd stuff like more exercise but I always kind of thought if your sweating alot more from the face and such it would cause more? Also is there more things by any chance?)
    6. Also I have pretty pale skin and usually have some pretty decent bags under my eyes even when Im getting lots of sleep, I was just curious as to hear of way to make my skin overall look more healthy

    I have never really asked anyone about all this stuff in person before because as a guy I feel some what embarrassed to ask anyone especially girls since they usually tend to know more on this subject. But it has become a very big issue for me and something that is always on my mind and has caused a loss of confidence over the last little while. Now I am sure there are some girls as well as guys on here that have some suggestions and advice for me. So if you have any tips or secrets or things that have worked for you on any of those questions PLEASE help me. I use to be a lot more confident but over the years have become more and more less and shy because of it and want to get back to the old me
    For anyone who takes the time to help thank you so much, I really do appreciate it!!

    PS. I am mainly looking for suggestions for questions 2 and 3 but like I said any will be greatly appreciated!

  2. 4thaBetter on July 1st, 2010 6:36 am

    Hi, I am so sorry to here about your situation as I am a female who has been through acne trials as well. I know how devastating it can be. I became really insecure and afraid to leave the house because of my skin, but things have gotten a lot better. One product that has worked for me is the Clean and Clear Advantage Acne control Kit. It can dry out the skin, but it should be ok, since you have oily skin. It includes a face cleaser, a spot treatment and a moisturizer. For acne scars, you could try natural lemon juice as it is a natural bleaching agent as welll as apple cider vinegar for both the acne and acne scars. You can also try a bleaching cream or gel from a company called makeup artist choice online. This has worked for me. They also have chemical peels and different weekly face masks that you can try. You can also try a sugar scrub to exfoliate your skin well. You can mix about a 1/4 cup of brewed green tea, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, about a half cup of honey and about 1/2 cup of sugar. Mix well and massage onto the face for about 2 to 5 minutes and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse well and pat dry. You can also mix some apple cider vinegar and green tea for a toner after you wash. Dip a cotton ball into your apple cider vinegar and green tea mixture and wipe across the affected area and leave it and wait for it to dry and then moisturize. You could also try Neutrogena pore refining cleanser and toner. Oh yeah, and diet and stress can be a big trigger. I hope that you get that under control soon and drink plenty of water.
    References :
    Hope I helped. My personal Experience. Yes I use all of these products. You just need to know how and when to apply them and how often.

  3. Tinkerbell on July 1st, 2010 6:38 am

    1. It definitely has a chance of passing, you’re still young. You could have gotten your skin type from another member of the family (yay genetics) so you may want to ask other members of your family, such as grandparents, aunts uncles etc, if they had acne like yours and when it went away.

    2. I used to have pretty bad acne, ever since I started the oil cleansing method it has really cleared up. The scars you have can fade (depending on what kind) with this method. It may seem really crazy to put oil on your skin to HELP acne, but it really does work! My skin is smoother, softer, looks healthier, and isn’t nearly as greasy as it used to be (yes, it helps with grease). Go to the following link and follow the instructions. You should only do it in the evening, just splash water on your face in the morning, and for acne I’d say use jojoba oil instead of olive oil. It helps with acne more, you could also add a drop or two of tea tree oil to your mixture. You can get castor oil from most grocery stores in the laxatives section, tee tree oil and jojoba oil you can probably find in a health food store.
    http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/
    http://archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=5612

    3. This is a GREAT mask, all natural and cheap. It makes your skin feel very smooth and soft. You can also use the toner if you want to but I don’t as I don’t really like the smell and I find it hard to use with the oil cleansing method
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e–d_n073pc

    4. Try just eating healthy in general, lots of fruit, veggies, etc. Avoid sugar! Sugar is known to cause acne AND it can cause premature aging. You also may want to consider buying fish oil pills. They have omega 3 fatty acids which are great for your skin, hair, mood, and more. They themselves can help clear up acne. You can buy those in most grocery stores as well. I take two a day along with my daily vitamin. Also, make sure you get enough zinc and silica! Here’s an article which can explain these to you in greater depth:
    http://www.naturalnews.com/021773.html

    5. Exercise definitely helps! You sweat, but that is good for your skin. It helps the skin draw impurities out of it. If you take a shower after and wash your face off then you should be fine. Sitting in a sauna can also help because of the sweat. If you read the oil cleansing method article I linked then you will know that it is a vital part of it! Also, try keeping your stress level as low as possible. Something else to do is make a photo log of your progress. When I was recovering I would take a picture of my face every morning. If I would get depressed about my skin I would look at the log and see how much progress I made! Make sure you get enough sleep too, your skin regenerates the most when you’re sleeping. This is why I suggest using the oil cleansing method at night.

    I hope this helps you! Just please understand that when beginning the oil cleansing method it IS possible to have an initial breakout period. This is temporary and can last a few weeks. This is because it is drawing the impurities out of your skin to the surface. This doesn’t happen to everyone, but I figured I should warn you :) . If you break out it could be due to other issues as well, so make sure you’re following the instructions! Read through the thread I linked as well, you may find a lot of good suggestions there. Good luck!
    References :

  4. Marie on July 1st, 2010 6:40 am

    I found a lot of skin care tips on this website http://ricebunny.xanga.com/ and bubzbeauty on youtube.They have a lot of natural skin care tips and their skin is beautiful
    References :

  5. Vani on July 1st, 2010 6:42 am

    First of all, I would change your diet. Eat wayy less fatty/greasy/salty foods and eat foods with higher nutritional value. Also, stop drinking. It’s toxic for your body if you drink that much! You really need to make some sacrifices if you want to obtain good skin. Alcohol is dehydrating, so I would recommend replacing your alcohol intake with water. This will keep you hydrated, which improves cell turnover, helps flush out toxins, and improves the overall elasticity and health of your skin.

    I recommend adding foods with "good for your skin" vitamins and qualities. i recommend foods with vitamin C (oranges), lycopene (tomatoes), vitamin A (carrots), and zinc (almonds and walnuts).

    We both have pale skin. So, what works for me is using Cetaphil daily face moisturizer with an spf 15 to prevent sun damage and sunburns from regular sun exposure. Since you’re pale (like me), you need to be extremely conscious about protecting your skin. If you ever plan on spending the day in the sun, make sure you wear a face spf of at least 30. And re-apply. If you’ve ever heard that the sun helps get rid of acne, it’s just a myth. Sun exposure actually stunts oil glands temporarily and then results in an increase of oil production later, causing even more acne. So always remember to wear a daily spf in your face lotion to prevent redness and acne.

    For adressing your post-pimple scars, I would suggest very gentle care. Always moisturize them (make sure you also moisturize very evenly and gently rub in your face lotion) to ensure that they are getting enough moisture necessary for cell turnover. Products with retinol can help reduce acne-scars. What retinol does is (once again) aids in cell turnover, renewing dead skin cells with new, healthy skin cells.

    Using products with salicylic acid also helps aid regular cell turnover. I’ve extensively researched the causes of acne and I have a theory that acne is caused by an irregularity in the way your skin sloughs off dead skin cells. This is why salicyclic acid works so well. However, it makes your skin very sensitive and susceptible to sunburns for the time you’re using it. So, don’t use it frequently (only use it at night if anything, and in face cleansers) and when you do use it, apply it evenly and in a think layer.

    Adressing #2, I use Biore blemish fighting ice cleanser. And it’s been working pretty well for me. Just remember that with any skin cleanser, wash and rinse gently (any harsh scrubbing only further aggravates the skin). Also remember to exfoliate once a week. I recommend Burt’s Bees citrus facial scrub.

    Also, I discovered a great line of skincare products this summer, and they work very well. I use the "expert anti-blemish night moisturizer" from the British skincare line, Boots (available at Target) and the "expert anti-redness serum". Try not to use either too often. I use the anti-blemish treatment (it contains salicylic acid which helps aid in regular cell turnover) when I have a breakout or only when my skin is starting to look a bit worse. The anti-redness serum helps repair skin.
    References :

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