A commononly shared obstacle to beautiful skin is acne. Some people view it as a minor problem because of its commonality and leave it untreated. Leaving acne untreated can lead to long lasting effects, for example, hyperpigmentation and scarring. There are also deeper consequences such as social embarrassment and lower self esteem. These negative consequences can be avoided by treating your acne and acquiring a clear complexion.

Acne Formation

Acne develops deep in the skin's surface at the base of hair follicles. These spaces are surrounded by skin cells and sebaceous glands that are responsible for producing sebum, a type of oil. Dead skin cells are secreted from healthy hair follicles by the movement of sebum. A blemish is caused when this process is interrupted by a blockage caused by a group of skin cells that cannot be secreted from the follicle. This situation causes a micro comedone, which is effectively a mass of oil and dead skin cells. The blocked follicle creates a perfect environment for bacteria to grow and feed on the oil and dead skin cells. If this continues, it will cause a whitehead, a closed comedone, or a blackhead, an open comedone. In more serious cases your body will naturally send other types of cells to fight the infection, causing the mass to grow larger, become inflamed, and result in a painful bump or cyst.

Causes of Acne

This process can be initiated by a number of different factors. Stress related and heredity factors are the most significant, however diet can play a strong role as well. The responses of some might be doing more harm than good. For example, women may choose to cover their acne with heavy make up which certainly can worsen the condition. Washing your face too often or scrubbing too hard might also have negative effects. You also should be careful with hair products that might contain oil and cause problems around the forehead and temples.

Acne Tips and Treatment

1. Leave blackheads and whiteheads alone to heal naturally. Popping them or picking at your skin leads to further infection and future scarring.

2. Do not overdo your skin care routine with excessive washing. Blackheads appear dark because of oxidized sebum, not because they are filled with dirt and grime. The truth is that cleaning your skin too often can actually exacerbate the condition. Gently wash your face with warm water and adult acne products and pat dry.

3. Noncomedogenic products are important to use as they do not worsen cases of acne.

4. Read over your acne products carefully. Most over the counter products cause skin to be sensitive to the sun. It is important to use UV protection.

5. If you are a regular at the spa, consult your doctor before continuing treatments like facials. These might exacerbate your acne.

6. Avoid oily skin by not touching your face with your hands. More oil and dirt equals worse acne. Also try to keep your hair out of your face as it also contains oil.