Acne or acne vulgaris is one of several skin conditions which results in red bumps, whiteheads, blackheads and redness or blotched skin areas. Acne causes a great deal of distress for those affected. Often emerging during early teen years, the severity and longevity of acne varies from person to person. Acne is often referred to in slang as 'zits'.
Causes of Acne
Acne starts when oil and sweat clog the pore of the skin.
If germs get into the pores of the skin, pimples or red spots and bumps may form .
The hormonal shifts and changes of puberty often trigger the onset of acne in teens. Medical experts now believe that chocolate and French fries are not causes of acne, however, fatty foods can increase the oil production which leads to acne.
Prevention of Acne
Since the causes of acne are multi-fold it is not possible to prevent acne but it is possible to minimize the triggers and conditions which aggravate acne.
According to WebMD the following will help to keep acne from getting worse:
- Clean skin is essential, wash and dry skin daily.
- Don’t over scrub skin. .
- Heavy sweating may increase acne.
- If heavy sweating occurs, wash quickly after it occurs. .
- Wash your hair often if your hair is oily.
Try to keep your hair off of your face.
- Hair products that contain excess oil can make acne worse. .
- Avoid touching your face.
- Protect yourself from chin straps and other sports equipment as it can rub skin making acne worse.
- Avoid exposure to oils and harsh chemicals, such as petroleum.
- Sun exposure does not reduce acne development.
- Always protect yourself from the sun with sunscreens.
Home Remedies for Acne
There are multiple approaches to treating acne; consulting a dermatologist is always the best place to start as different types of skin outbreaks respond to different acne treatments.
Cleaning Skin
Many of the home remedies are focused on cleaning skin, to eliminate oils and reduce potential for germs to get into pores.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is thought to remove the bacteria prone to creating skin eruptions. Cleansing the skin with a tea tree oil based cleanser is thought to prevent future breakouts by removing germs and deep cleaning the skin. Always test tea tree oil on an area of skin (such as the inside of the elbow) first before using.
Lemon Juice and Rose Water
Equal parts of lemon juice and rose water create a natural astringent and mild antibacterial agent which again will clean the skin, remove bacteria and reduce the potential for future outbreaks.
Oatmeal and Honey
Prepare a serving of oatmeal, add ¼ cup of honey; once it cools add to face like a mask. Leave on for about 10 minutes. The oatmeal will absorb oil and exfoliate skin.
Zinc
Zinc is thought to restore tissue development and it has been found that people with acne are often low in zinc. Caution should be taken not to overdo zinc as an overload of zinc can cause serious complications. Oysters are rich in zinc as are red meat and poultry.
High-protein foods contain high amounts of zinc. Beef, pork, and lamb contain more zinc than fish. The dark meat of a chicken has more zinc than the light meat.
Other good sources of zinc are peanuts, peanut butter, and legumes.
Fruits and vegetables are not good sources, because zinc in plant proteins is not as available for use by the body as the zinc from animal proteins. Therefore, low-protein diets and vegetarian diets tend to be low in zinc.
References:
American Academy of Dermatology online @ http://www.aad.org/education/students/acnevulgaris.htm
WebMD – Acne online @ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-vulgaris-topic-overview
WebMD online @ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-vulgaris-prevention
