Acne is a skin condition that may affect various parts of the body. Acne is most prevalent in the areas that include the face, neck, chest and shoulders.
When the pores in the skin are closed with dead skin cells, body oils or other materials, they cannot excrete the oils that are meant to keep the skin moist and subtle. Sometimes a bacterial that lives on the skin can cause infection of these cells that can cause even further problems.
Hormonal changes in the body seem to trigger acne. Therefore it is prevalent in teens, women at different parts of their menstrual cycle or during pregnancy or when starting or stopping birth control pills. This is sometimes known as pregnancy acne or hormone acne.
If the affected area becomes infected can leave permanent acne scarring. Facial scaring may affect a person’s self confidence.
You can find many treatments for acne. Some are based on scientific study, while others are simply old wives tales. Products that contain benzyl peroxide have been shown effective for many teens. An antibacterial cleanser can also help to remove dead skin cells and bacteria to prevent further outbreaks.
Adults should avoid using benzyl peroxide, and the preferred over the counter treatments for adults contain salicylic acid.
When you have an outbreak of acne, you should avoid squeezing, picking or touching the skin that is already irritated. This can cause the scaring to become even worse.
If you are using the preferred over the counter medication for your age group, but your problem is not clearing up, you may need a prescription for a mild antibiotic. When taken as directed, the antibiotic lowers the possibility of infection and the scaring that is associated with it.
While it is not always possible to prevent outbreaks of acne, there are steps that can be taken that will lessen the chances of permanent scaring. While these steps may seem like a hassle in an already busy teen’s life, in the long run this preventative care will be worthwhile for the rest of your life.
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