Saturday, February 28, 2009

How Can You Treat Acne Effectively?

By Dan da Silva

Acne is an extremely prevalent skin condition affecting many people globally but does not just affect the young. In fact nearly 90 percent of people suffer from acne sometime in their lifetime and while acne is dreaded, it usually shows up during our teenage years and fortunately, many people outgrow it.

While the naturally occurring oil we produce called sebum does in fact clog the hair follicles, it is not the only substance to blame for the condition of acne and neither is oily skin either. Acne seems to be a condition that is not necessarily a natural one and something that past generations did not suffer with.

Although it is possible that clogged pores that cause acne might be due to the hormone changes every teenager faces or even from cosmetic products that have not been removed fully from the skin. Other causes that have been discovered are the reprocessed foods we eat and the high level of sugars that re contained in almost everything we consume.

When people have more stubborn cases of acne it is left to a dermatologist to prescribe a stronger remedy which may require a longer period of use. Having a dermatologist treat the condition is not such a bad idea as he or she will be able to better check on how well the treatment is he prescribed. The fingernails are the acne sufferer's biggest problem as bacteria can cause further infection of the already sensitive area so it is important that the acne is not aggravated any further.

This means that fingernails need to be kept clean and not dismissed because they look clean as almost all bacteria and germs are invisible to the naked human eye. To be on the safe side it is always wiser for an acne victim not to touch any of their pimples with their hands just in case.

As very few people have completely blemish free skin, there is a good chance that if you haven't had acne that you may well experience it at some stage especially if your parents suffered with it as well. The most likely scenario is that you will contact acne while you are young probably around puberty.

Acne can cause emotional problems for sufferers, especially when they are young so it is advisable that the opinion of a dermatologist be sought for further treatment. If you are unsure about you own situation then contact your local dermatologist of family physician as the information provided here is for guidance only and not a replacement for the opinion of a medical professional. - 16083

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