Acne prone skin is a condition that affects thousands of people in their early teens and through adulthood. Modern advances in treatments and products for this skin condition have made it possible to control breakouts and help prevent scarring. This article examines the cause and treatment myths concerning acne prone skin, the real causes of acne, and products and treatments that are helpful in combating breakouts.

Acne Myths

First, let's talk about the common misconceptions about acne. The minute pimples start showing up, everyone-from your mother to your best friend-has a suggestion about what is causing your breakouts. Admonishments such as "You eat too much chocolate!" "You have to give up French fries!" and "You need to wash your face more!" are probably still ringing in your ears. Forget them all and read on.

What Really Causes Acne?

There are basically four reasons why comedones (blackheads) or papules, nodules or pustules (whiteheads) form on the scalp, face, neck, shoulders, back or upper arms. They are an increase in sebum production, hormonal changes, changes inside the hair follicle and bacteria.

Sebum Overload

Have you ever noticed that on particularly hot days or maybe after working out your skin acts very oily? This oil, produced by the sebaceous glands, is called sebum and is your skin's natural defense against dryness and environmental irritants. Think of it as a shield your skin puts up to protect itself. Normally the sebum travels up the hair follicle and out onto the surface of the skin. On its way to the top, the sebum also cleans out the hair shaft by carrying dead skin cells and bacteria to the surface. In acne prone skin, the sebaceous gland is over-stimulated and produces much more sebum than the skin can eliminate. This increases the chance of the hair follicle or shaft becoming clogged with skin cells and trapping bacteria, which will cause lesions to form.

Hormonal Changes

Acne usually appears for the first time when we hit puberty from age 11 on up. At this stage of development, the body begins producing hormones called androgen causing the sebaceous gland to enlarge. This enlargement is normal, however in people who develop acne, the sebaceous glands have been over stimulated. This is especially evident in young women at the beginning of their menstrual cycle, when the sebaceous glands are particularly sensitive to androgens.

Hair Follicle Traffic Jams

As mentioned, sebum plays a major role in bringing dead skin cells to the surface where they can be washed away. This normal process can sometimes be interrupted, especially by hormonal changes. For example, at the onset of puberty, skin cells are shed much more rapidly, and occasionally the sebaceous gland doesn't produce enough sebum to keep up with the traffic flow. When this happens, the dead cells start to stick together and-crash! A major pile up occurs, the pore gets clogged and-you guessed it-the comedone appears. At the end of summer you may notice an increase of lesions due to excessive sun exposure. After a sunburn, the break-outs which may have been temporarily controlled can sometimes reappear with a fury when the skin is healed.

Bacteria Overdrive

As we know, good and bad bacteria exist on our skin and in our bodies and are a daily part of our existence. In our hair follicles, there lives a little fellow named Propionibacterium Acnes-or P. Acnes for short. This bacteria actually ingests a portion of the sebum that the sebaceous gland produces and helps to maintain a balance between too much and too little oil. However, when the glands are producing too much sebum and the follicle gets clogged, P. Acnes goes into overdrive and multiples rapidly, producing chemicals that cause the follicle to become inflamed and irritate the surrounding skin as well.

How to Treat Acne Prone Skin

Now that you know what's gotten under your skin and caused it to misbehave, let's talk about internal and external treatments that can help you prevent and control breakouts.

Internal Treatments

Although it has been recognized by many dermatologists that acne is not affected by diet, stress and hygiene, this does not mean you should pile on the junk food, overtax yourself and never wash! In some cases, skin irritation can be caused by certain foods, stress can effect the chemical balance of the body, and poor hygiene will definitely do bad things to your skin. Common sense dictates that if we take care of our body by eating a sensible diet, drinking lots of water and combating stress, then our body will take care of us.

Other treatments such as Accutane and antibiotics are also helpful, can be prescribed by a physician and should be combined with a sensible daily skin care regimen. Be sure to understand fully the side effects of these two treatments.

External Treatments

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Push the myth that acne prone skin needs to be dried out and stripped of all oil in order for eruptions to disappear out of your mind for good! Remember; skincare is all about achieving and maintaining a balance. If you dry your skin out, the sebaceous glands have to work extra hard to produce more sebum to lubricate your skin and carry away all of the dried out cells. However, applying a moisturizer formulated for acne prone and oily skin will keep it supple. The sebaceous gland won't work overtime, which can cut down the number of clogged pores you encounter.

Other topical treatments such as Retin A™ can be prescribed by a Dermatologist. With Retin A™ you should wear sunscreen daily and refrain from facial hair removal by waxing. During your Retin A™ treatment and at least 3 months after you have stopped using it, facial hair should be removed by tweezing or " threading" only.

Some Ingredients To Look For

Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acids, Alpha Hydroxy Acid and some specific plant extracts will generally be your best allies in your daily skin care regimen.

Benzoyl Peroxide inhibits the anaerobic bacteria by releasing oxygen in the follicle. The most effective approach-depending on how severely affected your skin is- is to apply Benzoyl Peroxide locally, preferably before the lesions become large. Benzoyl Peroxide can bleach clothes and bedding and is more practically used at night. Be sure to wear white cotton nightclothes. Salicylic Acid is a mild drying agent and can be used twice daily in some cases. Alpha Hydroxy Acid products exfoliate dead cells, which increases the sebum and oil elimination capability of the skin.

If you prefer to use potions from Mother Nature's medicine cabinet, look for aromatherapy products that include the following plant extracts in their active ingredient list: Cedarwood, Geranium, Juniper Berry, Petit grain, Rosemary, German Chamomile, Sweet Thyme, Tea Tree, Lemon and Lemongrass.

And Now, A Word From Your Esthetician

Professional skincare treatments can be successful at treating acne prone skin. Deep cleansing facials performed by an esthetician will help the skin shed dead cells, open up clogged pores, extract surface comedones and provide nourishment to promote healing. Facials and massages help reduce your overall stress levels -- thus affecting your chemical balance -- which in turn can help your skin clear up. Alpha Hydroxy Acid exfoliating treatments can also be performed at the spa to treat acne prone skin.

A note about forcibly popping pimples: Don't do it! Every time you squeeze a pimple, you are forcing as much oil and bacteria back into your pores as you are forcing out. You could even cause the condition to spread and create lifelong scarring. Leave extractions to the experts.

At home

At home treatment is a very important part of controlling breakouts. Consistently using a new wash cloth each time you wash your face, changing your pillow case daily, cleansing twice daily with a gentle cleanser, and applying a non-irritating toner (with a pure cotton pad) will yield optimal results.

Once you have decided what will work best for you, it is important to be faithful and consistent with your program. It may take time to see results, but with proper care, you can control and even prevent acne breakouts. Make sure to consult your dermatologist and esthetician for the proper treatments that will deliver optimum results for your skin type. Proper treatment along with positive dietary and lifestyle changes may not only help your skin, but they will definitely make your whole body feel better!

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