TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: Oh, Those Dreaded Zits! Understanding Your Skin Common Facial Blemishes 12 So What Causes Acne? 18 So Just Cleanse and Cleanse and Cleanse Some More, Right? 24 Acne Medications and Treatment Options 30 Making Your Own Natural Cleansers and Masks 34 Your Diet, Your Physical Activity Level, and Acne 37 The Connection Between Teenagers, Hormones, and Everything Else That Causes Their Acne 43 The Proper Way to Take Care of Your Skin 47 The Worst Things to Do For Acne and Breakouts 53 Other Treatments for Acne 57 Conclusion: You Can Improve Your Acne 61 INTRODUCTION: OH, THOSE DREADED ZITS! Zits Pimples Splotchies Pizza face Okay, that last one was a bit cruel but chances are, if you have acne or have ever been faced (no pun intended) with this condition, you've heard that and probably much worse It's easy for those without acne to make light of the condition; after all, aren't there more serious health concerns that one could have? The cold hard truth is that this may be true; a person would probably rather have acne than cancer, heart disease, an amputated limb, be paralyzed, and so on, but that doesn't mean that one should make light of this condition either Acne can be very unsightly and leave permanent scars UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF ACNE Acne is actually a condition that can greatly affect one's self-esteem and confidence and can even interfere with one's everyday life Persons without this condition may have a hard time understanding that, but think of it this way Suppose you were in a severe car accident that left huge gashes and cuts across your face The resulting surgeries did little to correct this, so now every time you look in the mirror all you see are those deep, horrendous scars How would you feel every time you greeted someone or just left your home? You would no doubt be incredibly self-conscious, assuming that every person you came into contact with was immediately turned off by this defect People with severe cases of acne can feel much the same way Every time they look in the mirror, all they see is their acne regardless of what other features they may have They often assume that other people view them the same way they would that person that is disfigured in a car accident - as if all anyone can see is their defect and nothing else This is rarely true of course Usually those with acne are far more aware of it than those around them, but those feelings that an acne sufferer has should be taken into account If they feel their condition is important enough or severe enough to warrant intervention, then it should be just as important to those around him or her and those responsible for their care WHEN A CHILD HAS ACNE Parents sometimes assume that their child will just grow out of their acne and easily dismiss the condition as yet another dramatic event that teenagers are blowing all out of proportion, but if you are that parent, put yourself in his or her shoes How would you feel if you were in that car accident and your doctor just dismissed your concerns? Or if your spouse just rolled his or her eyes every time you talked about how you felt about your disfigurement? It may be true that in some cases, a child or teenager will outgrow the acne but even if they do, to them it's a reality that needs to be dealt with right now They may also be facing ridicule and teasing from classmates about the condition, so getting no support from someone at home doesn't help the situation at all EVEN MINOR ACNE CAN HURT And certainly your acne doesn't need to be that bad for you to be concerned about it Even just a few minor breakouts here and there can be frustrating and make you very self-conscious, especially if they happen right when you want to look your best! That important date or presentation in front of colleagues or class reunion is not the time to have pimples all over your face! You're under enough pressure during these times and don't need the distraction of trying to figure out how to get rid of those splotchy bumps Often we obsess about any little pimple or zit, or any imperfection for that matter, whether others are aware of it or not Even just one small pimple can be enough to send us into a tizzy, wondering if people are staring and laughing at us behind our backs TREATMENT AND PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE Treating acne and preventing it from happening in the first place is not that difficult and really can be done by anyone It doesn't necessarily require doctor visits or expensive creams and topical ointments, although a trip to the dermatologist's office shouldn't be ruled out either Sometimes there are good things in those treatments you see on pharmacy shelves or advertised online that can really help your skin to clear up and to stay that way But at the same time, a person can easily make many mistakes when trying to treat their acne, mistakes that actually make the condition even worse and that aggravate any breakouts you may be having Clearing up your acne is just half the battle You want to have skin that looks nourished, fresh, clean, soft and supple While some people are naturally born with good skin and can thank their parents and grandparents for this, others have found that they can actually get good skin by taking care of it It's much like how you may not have been born with good muscle tone and a flat stomach, but anyone can exercise and lift weights and be mindful of their diet and wind up with a good figure or great muscle tone, if they work at it Your quest for clear and healthy skin is not one you need to take alone We've talked to many experts in the field of skin care and have done all the research for you In this book we will: ƒ Explain just what causes acne in the first place, including the myths about hormones, diet, and the dreaded teen years as well ƒ Talk openly and frankly about what mistakes you might be making that are causing you to break out or that may be aggravating your acne as well ƒ Clue you in on the best way to take care of your skin, and this means not just for clearing up acne but for keeping it healthy, clean, and moisturized as well ƒ Explain the different ingredients in various acne treatment options so that you can better understand which ones work and which are typically useless, and can also understand when they actually may be doing damage to your skin Acne is no fun for anyone, children or adults But it doesn't need to be a fact of life either It can be addressed and treated once and for all, and you can live your life acne-free If you're ready to just that, then let's get started! UNDERSTANDING YOUR SKIN Do you know what the largest organ in your body is? That's right, it's your skin Your skin is actually one large, living organ that serves many different functions in your body's overall health and protection While skin can be absolutely beautiful to look at - imagine someone glistening in the sun or the innocent radiance of a baby's rosy cheeks - the skin can also have problems all of its own Some of these problems are minor irritants, such as a few patches of dry skin here and there or calluses on the bottom of one's feet But sometimes skin can have other problems that are more than minor irritations; they can be painful, dangerous, and downright unsightly One of those common problems when it comes to skin is acne While we typically think of acne as being a teenager's concern, it's true that acne can strike anyone at any time, and can be the result of factors other than those dreaded teenaged hormones But before we start discussing acne, its cause, and its treatment options, let's take a closer look at the skin itself and find out more about this amazing organ Once we that we can be in a better position to understand the root causes of acne and the options one has to address it FUNCTIONS OF THE SKIN The skin has many more functions than to just look good and to hold our clothes in place; as a matter of fact, without skin we couldn't exist Let's take a look at the many different functions of our skin to get a better understanding of why it's important to take care of it and how problems with it can arise Keeping stuff where it belongs The most obvious function of the skin is to keep all of our innards where they belong Without skin we'd need to use rolls of duct tape or plastic bags to keep all our intestines and other organs inside! The human body is one self-contained functioning machine and the skin is imperative for that process of containment Just like a car needs its outer shell to keep the engine, transmission, and other parts of it in place, the body needs the skin to keep everything in one place as well This isn't to say that all of our internal organs and other elements inside of us are just resting in the skin the way garbage rests inside of a plastic bag Muscles, tendons, and ligaments are attached to bone and of course all of the intestines are attached to one another and folded up neatly to stay tucked in Everything else is attached to something, but in truth, the skin keeps everything in place and upright It acts as one final safety feature to keep all those organs and everything else right where they're supposed to be Insulation Imagine going outside in the freezing cold without a jacket, or keeping your house windows open in the cold weather You need that insulation of a jacket to keep your body heat in and keep you warm, and you need to close your windows to keep your home's heat right where it belongs Your skin is much like that jacket; your body produces its own heat and warmth the same way a furnace produces heat for your home, but without your skin your body heat would just quickly escape the way your home's heat would escape if your windows were open Realizing that the skin acts as insulation for your body heat should give you a first clue as to how thick your skin really is While it can get cut or gashed somewhat easily, it's not just a thin wafer resting on your bones The skin has several layers to it and these layers on top of one another are thick enough to keep body heat in on a regular basis and even in the coldest of weather Protection Do you know why cars have windshields? The answer is somewhat obvious; to keep bugs from getting into your teeth and dirt into your eyes and face That windshield is a protection for the driver and passengers in the car from all those outside elements In much the same way the skin acts as a protection against all those outside elements that could easily bombard us every day It keeps out not just bugs but dirt, dust, germs, and bacteria Our skin is designed in such a way that it also acts as something of a bumper against things Your car has bumpers so that when it hits something else, the bumper absorbs a lot of that impact and your car's vital components, including the engine, transmission, and even the passengers, are protected Your skin is like that bumper in that it can come into contact with things and protect the vital organs from being hit and damaged Your muscles and bones are protected against tearing, rupturing, bruising, and breaking because of your skin and its protection The skin also protects internal organs and other elements from the sun, wind, and rain The skin is designed to absorb or be impervious to these things; the sun on your face or arms is relatively harmless for small amounts of time, as is wind and rain But if your heart or lungs were to come into contact with sunlight or wind, they would no doubt be irreparably damaged! Traction and movement Have you ever had grease or lotion on your hands and then tried to pick up something? It probably slipped right through your fingers Or maybe you tried to open a jar and couldn't get a firm enough grip The skin acts as "grippers" for not just picking up and holding things but for all sorts of movement If we didn't have those indentions on our hands and feet that we call "prints" we would slide around in our shoes and be unable to lift a glass or anything else for that matter While the skin in most parts of our body is somewhat smooth, it still provides some form of traction inside our clothes and against other materials It keeps up from slipping out of chairs and allows us to move freely, hold things, sit in a seat, and so on COMPOSITION OF THE SKIN So maybe you're convinced by now that the skin isn't just some wafer resting over our bones and innards but is much more complicated than that If you're interested in how to fix problems that arise in the skin including acne, blackheads, and so on, then it's good to know what the skin is made of By understanding its composition you have a better idea of what can go wrong with it and how to fix those problems; you might liken this to getting a basic understanding of how your car works so that you can better understand those minor problems that go wrong with it You don't need to be a dermatologist to understand basic problems with your skin any more than you need to actually be an auto mechanic to understand how to take care of your car Just a few basic facts can go a long way to realizing how to take good care of your skin Layers of the skin Are you familiar with the Greek dessert baklava? It's made with what's called filo or phyllo dough, which is a paper-thin type of dough that is stretched almost to the breaking point and then folded and folded over and over again Because it's folded into layers it becomes very thick even though each individual layer is incredibly thin The skin is something like this; although it's not exactly folded, it has many different layers to it that make it as thick as it is Each layer is incredibly thin but when stacked on top of each other it's much thicker overall Understanding the layers of the skin is important in understanding why we get certain flaws and imperfections in our skin, since many of these imperfections originate in different layers If we can understand why there are different layers and what each one accomplishes then we can better address those imperfections and flaws at their source There are three primary layers of the skin: the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin; the dermis, and the hypodermis The epidermis or outer layer of the skin is very unique in that it contains no blood vessels but is nourished by capillaries underneath it This layer of the skin keeps water in the body, constantly acts as a barrier from chemicals and harmful elements in the atmosphere and protects the body from infection Underneath the epidermis is what is called the reticular region, in which is located the roots of the hair, sweat glands, nail beds, and blood vessels Many skin problems including acne originate in this particular region of the skin 10 THE PROPER WAY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN Proper skin care is important when it comes to acne control and prevention While sometimes acne does spring up from hormones or other factors but there are many things you can for your skin to keep it healthy and radiant Taking care of your skin means how you clean it, how you moisturize and feed it, and other things you to take care of it Let's take a look at what your skin care regimen should look like and what you should be doing in order to have the best skin possible CLEANING Keeping your skin clean is important for acne prevention and treatment But unfortunately cleansing too often, with products that are too harsh, or not cleaning properly will not only fail to prevent acne it can actually irritate your skin and even cause breakouts Cleaning products Some years ago just about the only product available for cleaning your face was bath soap; some time later there was a small selection of cold creams available as well Bath soap is meant to clean areas of your body that are very germy and that have extreme bacteria buildup The delicate areas of your face are just too sensitive for this type of cleaning product Using bath soap on your face is just going to dry your skin and irritate it Cold creams have actually been around for centuries; it's believed that the ancient Greeks actually invented the mixture of animal fats, beeswax, and water to soften the skin and remove makeup products The fats would mix with the makeup products and lift them from the skin and the only residue left behind were traces of these same fats, actually leaving the skin soft and smooth During the 1950s and 1960 the use of cold cream by women to remove makeup was very popular, as makeup brands at that time were much heavier than they 47 are today and so needed something heavy to remove them It wasn't long before makeup manufacturers realized that there was a market for products that removed makeup and soon the market was flooded with other cleansing products However, many believe that cold cream is still one of the best products for removing makeup as it doesn't contain a lot of unnecessary ingredients or drying agents It can easily dissolve all makeup products from the face without harming the delicate areas around the eyes What to look for in a cleanser Wander into any department store or pharmacy looking for a facial cleanser and you could spend literally all day picking and choosing through the many options Remember that you may have a special sensitivity to certain products but in general here are some guidelines you should be remembering ƒ Cleansers should be water soluble This means that they will rinse away completely with water and leave the least amount of residue on your face ƒ Avoid any cleansers with perfumes or added scents; they should be fragrance and perfume free ƒ Your cleanser should also be soap free You may think that a good soap is going to kill everything that causes acne but there are many other cleansers that will the trick without the drying agents of soap Organic and natural cleansers Scientists and dermatologists have done quite a bit of research and work over the last few decades to produce some amazing products that are very good for your skin, but many people still have a strong sensitivity to anything unnatural especially when it's put on the face So while there are many skincare products that are very good for removing makeup and keeping your face clean, sometimes organic and natural products are just plain healthier and less harsh HOW TO CLEAN Acne is an irritating fact in your life, there's no doubt about that It's not unusual for those who suffer from it to be angry and resentful of its presence Because of that they're often angry when they clean their face, and this results in them actually abusing their skin or being too harsh with it 48 Realizing that acne happens deep under the surface of your skin also makes many people think that they need to really dig up all that bacteria and those germs, and this too can mean harsh treatment When you clean your skin it's important to treat your face delicately There's no need to pull or tug or dig deep during cleansing Cleansers are typically strong enough to get all the makeup, dirt, and other residue without having to scrape your face If you're using cold cream or foaming cleansers, apply in a circular motion using firm but gentle movements For other cleansers that require a cotton swab or cotton ball, move the swab very gently across your face in an upward motion Again, there's no need to push down harshly on your skin or to tug on it EXFOLIATE The purpose of an exfoliant is to remove the topmost layer of skin, taking with it dead skin cells and other impurities that make your face look dull and unhealthy There are many products on the market that you can use to exfoliate, but there are some necessary words of warning needed as well Removing the top layer of skin means removing necessary oils and moisturizers as well! Exfoliating too often or with products that are too harsh means that you're going to be constantly stripping your skin of this necessary oil, and your skin will just get dry It's not unusual for those with acne to exfoliate far too often and then have dry skin on top of their acne It seems like a cruel oxymoron, that you could have dry and flaky skin over acne prone skin, but it does happen What to use to exfoliate There are loofah mitts and other such products you can use but usually these are very harsh on your skin Imagine rubbing your face with the same scrubber pad you use for your dishes! And that's what you're doing with these loofah mitts and products Some exfoliate creams also have ground up peach pits and other natural ingredients that work to slough off this top layer of skin but these too can be very harsh on the skin Remember, you don't want to punish your skin for having acne or for being dry; instead, you simply want to remove that one layer with the least amount of secondary damage as possible 49 A better choice for an exfoliant would be a mild coating for the skin that rinses off clean You need to choose one that is gentle and delicate, and water soluble Exfoliating too often is another common mistake that many people make They think that as long as they have dry skin or flakes, they need to exfoliate In reality it's much better to address your dry skin problem at the cause rather than constantly exfoliate If you are prone to dry skin patches and flakes, you need to consider how to moisturize your face MOISTURIZE If you have acne because your skin is too oily, why would you moisturize? When you strip your skin of essential oil, it has a tendency to overcompensate by producing even more oil than before You think it's a good idea to get as much oil off your face as possible in order to treat your acne but then notice that the oil keeps coming back After cleaning it's important to moisturize and this includes acne prone skin as well as dry skin But when it comes to moisturizing, this is where it's important to pay attention to the product you use and its ingredients Heavy creams are going to build up on your face, whereas moisturizers that are too light are not going to be absorbed into the skin and their job Tip from the experts: Try vitamin E oil A tub of it is usually less than ten dollars at any pharmacy and it's natural enough that it won't irritate even the most sensitive skin Many women find that they can use it even in the morning underneath their makeup INGREDIENTS TO LOOK FOR When it comes to any skin care product, it's important to look for natural ingredients and oils Vitamins A, C and E are very important for skin's health and so they should have these as well Unfortunately very often these ingredients are called Retinol, Retin A, or another such name Products that have vitamins usually advertise as such so look for this on the label Fruit enzymes also work as natural exfoliants so check for these as well 50 CLEANING ROUTINE It's surprising how people neglect their facial care and cleansing routine, or go in the opposite direction and clean far too often Virtually everyone's cleaning routine should consist of: ƒ Light cleaning in the morning Usually a gentle toner is just enough to get rid of any oil buildup during the night Using soap or harsher cleansers in the morning is usually not necessary ƒ Moisturizer should be lightly added; for women, this in enough time for it to set before you apply makeup For men, keep in mind that moisturizer can keep your skin protected from dirt, oil, sweat, and pollutants, so don't be shy about using it ƒ An additional cleaning during the day should not typically be necessary unless you live or work in a very dirty or dusty environment or have worked up a sweat for some reason If this is the case then you need to give your skin a good cleansing when you get home or are done working out ƒ Nighttime cleansing is when you should be taking your major steps in facial care This means removing all of your makeup with cold cream or another water soluble cleanser A toner should be applied to protect the pores that are now exposed After the toner has dried it's time to moisturize, and this means both men and women and even if you have oily skin or a very severe case of acne ƒ Exfoliating should be done once or twice per week and no more than this Taking this step too often will mean dry skin and exposed pores Always moisturize after an exfoliant NIGHTTIME IS THE RIGHT TIME Most people know to take off their makeup and to clean their skin at night, but it cannot be emphasized enough how important it is to clean and moisturize your face at night when battling acne Why is that? When we sleep the body uses this time of rest to rejuvenate and to repair every part of us, including our skin Any repair that's needed is usually sped up while 51 we sleep; muscles are fed, dead skin cells are removed, and so on This vital time is when our body works the hardest to feed the skin and to perform any repairs that are needed So if your body is repairing your skin at night, how appropriate that you help it along by removing the dead skin and surface dirt, and give it that added benefit of moisturizing cream or lotion Using moisturizers during the day is very important but at night it's even more so The body needs this added nutrition and help to keep the skin healthy, and nighttime is the most important time for this 52 THE WORST THINGS TO DO FOR ACNE AND BREAKOUTS With all the things you can to protect yourself from acne and breakouts, there are many things that people to actually cause or aggravate their acne It might seem hurtful to think about these things but remember, if you're doing something to cause your acne and to aggravate it, then you have the power to change this situation by changing your habits OVER-CLEAN Getting angry at your acne and wanting to just scrub it away is understandable, but this is like getting angry at an open cut on your knee and wanting to just wash it away The harsher you are, the worse you make the situation Even if you use the gentlest of cleansers, you're going to be washing away important oils and moisture from your skin every time you use it These oils are different than the ones that get caught in those little areas that become pimples; your skin needs oil to be healthy and soft If your body senses that it's not getting enough or that it's being taken away, it's going to rebel by producing even more So it's a strange oxymoron, but the more you cleanse the more acne you may have Solution: It's much better to practice a good, balanced cleaning routine A very light cleaning is all that's needed in the morning and during the day, and your nighttime routine should still be gentle but thorough When you cleanse you need to moisturize, no matter how oily your skin is naturally And when you cleanse you need to use the right products A very gentle facial cleanser meant for sensitive skin, or even just a toner can the trick Use harsh cleansers with elements that are meant to exfoliate every single day can just irritate your skin even further and cause more breakouts than before USE TOO MANY PRODUCTS If one acne cream is good then four or five must be great, right? 53 Putting treatment on top of treatment is going to nothing but irritate your skin This means not just creams and ointments but using an acne cleanser, an acne cream, an acne moisturizer, an acne exfoliant, and so on All of these products are going to contain benzoyl peroxide or something else very strong, and using all these products one right after the other means that you're probably overmedicating your skin and over-treating your acne Solution: It's a much better idea to use a gentle cleanser meant for sensitive skin, a good moisturizer or vitamin E oil, and then just one acne product if any at all Using product on top of product is not going to fix your acne and just cause excessive drying and force your skin to produce even more oil than before DON'T CLEAN REGULARLY Cleaning your face is like brushing your teeth - you can't it vigorously once a day or every other day and think that this is as good as doing it regularly every single day You absolutely must clean your face and remove all that built-up dirt, oil and other elements if you intend to be free of acne and to have soft, healthy skin overall It's probably no one's idea of a fun activity to set aside ten minutes to clean your face at night, but isn't that ten minutes worth it? If you this on a regular and consistent basis you're more likely to have skin that is glowing and that is less prone to breakouts, if you suffer from acne at all This is especially important if you live or work in an area that is dirty and dusty Oftentimes factories, manufacturing environments, and their surrounding cities have a higher concentration of dust, dirt, pollutants, and other skin irritants in the air You can tell if this applies to you by looking at your cotton pad or cotton ball after you clean your face - is it grey or black? This signals dust and pollutants from the air, and regular dirt and oil that gets caught on one's face is rarely this color DON'T MOISTURIZE Men especially have a hard time with the idea of moisturizing their face, as they often assume this is something only women or need to But as we've said, if the face doesn't get enough moisture it will overcompensate by producing an abundance of its own 54 It's true that there is a wealth of options when it comes to moisturizers on the market today, and of course they all claim to make your skin soft and supple So how can you be sure which product to use and which are just a waste of money? The best moisturizers are going to contain natural ingredients, including vitamins You should always opt for one that advertises as containing vitamins; if they don't advertise this then they're not going to have it inside Often the less expensive brands you find at the pharmacy are going to just as well as the more expensive brands, although you can certainly invest in the pricier options if you want Your moisturizer's first ingredient should be water Anything else will probably be an oil-based product, which would probably be greasy and heavy USE CHEAP MAKEUP Wait, we already said that makeup doesn't cause acne cautioning you against it here? So why are we Well the fact is that most makeup today doesn't contain ingredients that clog your pores and that many actually have ingredients that are beneficial for your skin, but of course this isn't true for every single brand on the market Some brands unfortunately still have pore-clogging materials and ingredients that are going to make your face break out and damage to your skin Ingredients that are typically bad for your skin and that cause breakouts include: talc mica fragrance titanium wax zinc formaldehyde propylene glycol glycerin parabens Usually it is just the cheaper brands of makeup that have these ingredients in them as the more expensive brands are willing to pay more for better ingredients 55 Of course this too is not a hard and fast rule; check the ingredient label of your favorite makeup You may also want to check on the makeup you're already wearing, as they often advertise whether or not they're non-comedogenic You can check the manufacturer's website or just the label on the bottle 56 OTHER TREATMENTS FOR ACNE So you've tried everything you can think of to take care of your acne; your diet is good, you get plenty of exercise, and your cleansing routine is modest but thorough And yet you still have acne So now what? You're not completely out of luck yet There are many procedures and treatment options that your dermatologist can recommend or perform himself or herself that can offer a lot of hope and promise for even the worst cases of acne LASER AND LIGHT THERAPY Laser and light therapies are becoming more and more popular as options for both existing acne and acne scars And as they are constantly improved upon every single year, they are becoming more and more effective and less harmful to the skin overall Laser treatment addresses the oil gland, actually Laser or light therapy can greatly reduce damaging it so that it the look of acne or scarring produces less oil This means less chance of breakouts as the skin will produce less oil Light therapy targets the bacteria that get caught in the follicles or pores and that causes inflammation By killing bacteria it won't get built up and cause the eruption we call acne For acne scars If you have severe and deep acne scars, you can use light or laser therapy as treatment options These treatments typically destroy or slough away the 57 outermost layers of skin, so that as this wound heals new skin is formed, meaning fewer or no scars Light treatments are usually safer and more comfortable than laser treatments, although both forms of treatment for acne scars are being consistently improved upon Here are the most popular forms of light therapy: ƒ Blue light therapy exposes the skin to a very low-intensity blue light source, which destroys the bacteria that build up to become acne Blue light therapy is rather painless but needs to be repeated as bacteria build up again The procedure is relatively painless and involves only redness and dryness of the treated area ƒ Pulsed light and heat energy is used together to destroy or damage the oil glands of the skin, so that less oil is produced ƒ Diode laser treatment destroys or damages the glands in the dermis, the middle layer of skin, without harming the outer layer of skin COSMETIC PROCEDURES More involved treatment options for acne may include chemical peels and dermabrasion techniques Chemical peels are exactly what they sound like - a chemical is applied to the face like a facial mask and then peeled away As it comes off it takes up the topmost layer of skin with it, revealing healthier skin underneath These treatment options have been used for years to treat wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, and other minor scars and blemishes They of course take a few days to fully recover from but are typically very routine procedures Dermabrasion is something that is usually done for more serious cases of scaring A rotating wire brush is used to remove the top layer of skin, and with that the acne scars on this layer Dermabrasion can be very uncomfortable for some and may require a longer healing and recovery time than other procedures It is opted for less and less these days as laser and light treatments are becoming more popular options Microdermabrasion is much like dermabrasion but rather than using a wire brush, a handheld device blows tiny crystals across the skin This works to polish the skin's surface; a vacuum tube then removes the crystals and the skin cells For 58 some, microdermabrasion doesn't offer much by way of results, so for deeper scars there are other options Soft tissue fillers refer to a procedure where collagen or fat is injected under the skin where scars are present in order to stretch out the skin and make those scars less noticeable Unfortunately soft tissue fillers are just a temporary treatment so they need to be repeated on a regular basis CHOOSING THE PROCEDURE FOR YOU Some of these procedures sound a bit invasive and of course they all may involve a degree of discomfort, redness, swelling, and other side effects, but usually these side effects can be treated with topical ointments or analgesics A doctor or dermatologist can recommend the best treatment for you, depending on the extent of your acne and resultant scarring While they are rarely covered by insurance, most doctors and dermatologists offer a payment plan for clients and many procedures are rather affordable when paid over time Only you can decide if any of these procedures are right for you, but when visiting the doctor's office, be sure to ask: ƒ What type of results can you reasonably expect from the procedure? Remember that rarely they result in perfectly smooth skin, but may offer some improvement ƒ Will you need to have the procedure repeated over time? ƒ Will the procedure stop new acne from forming? ƒ What side effects can you expect, and how long will they last? Can they be treated with painkillers or topical ointments? ƒ Will you need to miss work or otherwise have your schedule interrupted? ƒ How many of these procedures has the doctor performed in the past? Can they offer any photographs or testimonials from past patients? ƒ Are your expectations for the procedure realistic and reasonable, or are you assuming too much from the procedure? 59 You need to carefully weigh all the answers you get from these questions against the cost of the procedure, as well as the level of discomfort or side effects you can expect Remember that rarely these procedures make your skin perfect, so your expectations must be realistic 60 CONCLUSION: YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR ACNE Acne is no fun for anyone, and can actually be traumatizing and downright devastating, wreaking havoc with anyone's self-esteem no matter what age, race, or gender But acne doesn't need to have that kind of power over you It doesn't need to interfere with your everyday activities, your confidence level, or anything else for that matter You can take control of your acne and your skin's health and appearance overall You may not look forward to the cleansing routine that's needed to take care of your skin, and you may not look forward to making an appointment with a dermatologist But in the end it can all be worth it Facing the world with confidence and clear skin is worth the minor inconvenience needed to read treatment option labels, to start moisturizing your skin regularly, and to undergo such minor treatments that your doctor may recommend Others have had success in this regard, and you can too You can have clear, beautiful, radiant skin that you're proud to show off, if you're willing to take the steps necessary You can it, so don't wait Start taking of your skin today and you could be acne free tomorrow! 61 [...]... and this results in scarring of the skin It's also important to understand how thick the skin is and where certain imperfections and problems occur because often we wonder why creams, ointments, and other topical medications just aren't doing the job we expected them to do This is often because these topical treatments just don't reach far enough into the layers of the skin to do any good the way they're... cells, and other such elements get caught in this area and result in that inflammation or dreaded pimple Skin is a living organ and needs oxygen and blood circulation to keep it healthy, but unlike other organs it also needs to "breathe" or to keep itself free from these irritants These blockages of the follicle and capturing of oil, dirt, and other elements is not natural and not healthy, and this... would be like leather and would crack and bleed more often But when there is too much oil in any one space, this oil also acts as a trap for these other elements including dirt, dead skin cells, and so on When dirt and oil and these other elements get trapped in a hair follicle or skin pore, it can continue to collect and grow if the skin layer on top of it does not naturally break away and allow it to... things such as these can damage the skin very easily Think of how bad your skin looks when you scrape your knee or bang your elbow - the skin of the face is even more delicate than these areas, and yet often we subject it to the harshest of treatment! Broken capillaries can result in red areas and 16 harsh chemicals from facials and other treatments can mean dry skin, rough or blotchy patches, and problems... behalf of their clients to fix these problems once they happen or help them to avoid them altogether, keeping the audience and fans in the dark about what those flaws and blemishes are! Learning more about common facial flaws and blemishes is good for anyone that's trying to clear up acne, as often these flaws and blemishes are related or have the same root cause If we can better understand all the problems... dirt and other elements to be washed or rinsed away 22 Everyone has dirt, oil and bacteria on their face but not everyone gets acne It's true that some are more prone to oilier skin than others, but this too doesn't mean that they're not cleaning their face properly anymore than someone with dry skin is not taking care of their skin either! These preexisting conditions may be caused by diet and other... runny, and a cup of 35 strawberries Mash or blend this all together and apply to your face, let set for ten minutes, and then rinse with a warm cloth TIPS FOR USING THESE MASKS AND CLEANSERS Usually those with acne and oily skin also have very sensitive skin Even though these masks and cleansers are made from natural ingredients they are still very potent and can cause redness, peeling, stinging, and. .. actually moisturizes the skin and keeps it soft They also provide some sunscreen properties, keeping the face protected from the harmful rays of the sun As a matter of fact, many women with acne are actually told to use cosmetics every day so that it can form a protective barrier between the dirt and dust in the atmosphere and their skin' s pores As long as makeup is removed every day then it really shouldn't... acne and other conditions such as rosacea it's important to really understand the differences between the conditions If rosacea happens because the skin is too sensitive then products that treat acne are just going to irritate it even further While rosacea may look like acne it is actually a very different condition and so needs to be treated differently so that there is no further damage to the skin and. .. the skin Fruit Extract The juice and extract of most fruits are perfect for the skin, especially the sensitive skin of the face 28 Yarrow Extract Yarrow helps to stimulate blood circulation which helps the skin to heal itself It is often recommended for overly sensitive skin Mistletoe Extract This extract has very mild and gentle antiseptic properties that are good for greasy and overly oily skin Other ... much the same way Every time they look in the mirror, all they see is their acne regardless of what other features they may have They often assume that other people view them the same way they... both on the skin and internally These growths are not cancerous and often doctors not know what causes them or how to treat them, other than to have them removed Obviously any growths on the skin. .. This layer of the skin keeps water in the body, constantly acts as a barrier from chemicals and harmful elements in the atmosphere and protects the body from infection Underneath the epidermis