Acne and Pimples: Prevention and Treatments
Pimples are
tiny skin lesions or inflammations of the skin. They are commonly
caused by clogged or infected pores. They may appear as deeper lumps
(cysts or nodules) on the face, neck, chest, back and sometimes
shoulders.
Severe
acne can affect many facets of a person's life, causing a great deal
of embarrassment and stress. Some severe forms of acne like acne cysts may
rupture and cause scars that can result in psychological effects on
the sufferer. Having skin full of pimples and zits may significantly
limit one's social life. Although acne is not considered to be a life
threatening disorder, the psychological impact of acne can be quite
profound as it affects the most visible parts of your body.
If your acne
condition is severe it can cause disfiguring and require
years of treatment.
In such cases seeking the help of a qualified dermatologist
will be your
best option.
best option.
What Causes Pimples & Acne
Pimples usually develop after blackheads or whiteheads have become infected.
There
are oil glands on your chest, face and back numbering in the
thousands. In fact, between the nose and cheek areas there are as many
as two thousand oil glands every square inch. The function of these oil
glands is to lubricate the skin by producing oil, or sebum.
Oil that is produced in the glands flows through follicles or tiny ducts to the surface of the skin. It usually starts far beneath the surface of the skin.
A blemish (or internal lump) begins about 2 to 3 weeks before it appears on your skin's surface. Acne first begins to form in your sebaceous hair follicles.
You know this as "pores", the tiny holes on you skin. Deep within each
hair follicle, sebaceous glands generate sebum, the oil that keeps
your skin soft, moist and pliable. As part of your skin's renewal
process the old cells die and are shed off. Normally, this cell
shedding process happens gradually, and fresh new skin takes its place.
But sloughing (the
process where living tissue is separated from dead skin tissue) is not
the same for everyone. Some people shed cells evenly while others
don't. The result of uneven sloughing is that dead cells become sticky,
clogging together to form a plug, similar to a cork in a bottle. This plug traps oil and bacteria inside the follicle.
The
trapped oil begins to form a lump as your skin continues its normal
oil production. Your body's natural defense system then sends an army
of white blood cells to attack the bacteria. The whole process takes
around 2 to 3 weeks, resulting in a pimple.
Many
teenagers experience pimple outbreaks. It is at this time that the
skin attempts to adjust to hormonal changes that occur during puberty.
There is a tendency for most people when seeing a 'ripe' pimple try to
pick or squeeze it. This will cause further damage to your skin as
germs or bacterias from your finger tips can cause inflammation and
scarring as a result. The risk of infection is also increased. Most
times, when acne is ignored, it can leave visible scars on your skin.
Acne Treatment and Prevention
If left untreated acne can be a serious problem. Chris Gibson, who was once a chronic acne sufferer, found a scientifically proven way to permanently clear his acne problem. In fact he cured his acne in 3 days without any harsh prescription drugs or over-the-counter products. In this well researched book Chris revealed the fast and easy way to get rid of pimples.
Once
your acne improves or clears, you may need to continue your acne
treatment regime to prevent new acne breakouts. In some cases, you
might need to use a topical medication on acne-prone areas. You can
also prevent new acne breakouts with simple self-care measures, such as
washing your skin with a gentle cleanser and avoiding touching or
picking at the problem areas.
For
pimples that are persistent, consult your dermatologist for an
antibiotic solution to be applied to the surface of the skin or an oral
antibiotic. Using antibiotics as acne treatment functions to suppress
bacterial growth thereby reducing the recurrence of persistent acne.
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