Acne and Treatments
Acne is more than just a few spots and pimples. It can affect the face, neck, centre of the chest, upper back and shoulders.
Acne is most common in the 14-19 year age group although people in their 20s and 30s may also have acne. It can appear at menopause for women or if you start taking certain medicines.
So, What causes Acne?
Acne is caused by an increased level of hormones (androgens) during puberty. Because of the higher hormone levels, the sebaceous (oil) glands in the hair follicles start to produce excessive sebum (oil). Sebum normally helps to move dead skin cells out of the hair follicle and also spreads over the skin to lubricate and protect it. When too much sebum it produces, it blocks the opening of the hair follicles. This blockage will lead to mild forms of acne causing whiteheads or blackheads.
Some people believe that certain foods, such as chocolate cause acne. However there is no evidence that foods cause acne.
Do’s
1 Cleanse your face in the morning and at night with a mild cleanser
2 Use a water based moisturizer (avoid using any oil based preparations and make up on your face)
3 Apply treatment all over the area - not just on spots
4 Keep hair clean - wash it often
5 Keep hair off your face, especially your forehead
6 Wear loose clothing, especially if you have acne on your back or chest.
7 Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and exercise regularly to keep a healthy body.
8 Stay out of the sun or use a water-based sunscreen if you are taking oral medicines to treat you acne.
Don’ts
1 Rub your face dry - pat it gently when drying it.
2 Touch your eyes and lips when applying any topical treatments - they can sting!
3 Squeeze or pop pimples - this may damage the skin and cause scarring .
Acne treatments
The right treatment can control acne and reduce the risk that your skin will be damaged or scarred.
There are a variety of topical treatments such as creams, lotions, washes and oral treatments (medicines taken by mouth) are available to treat acne. Different products work in different ways - talk to your doctor about the best acne treatment for your skin. have a good range of cleansers and treatments.