Stress Related Acne

Is your lifestyle causing your acne? Certainly not. But the way you live affects your whole body, including its largest organ: the skin. The place you work, the hours you keep, the ways you play — all of these can take a toll on the epidermis, especially in those who are prone to acne. Following are a few everyday acne triggers you might not be aware of, and a few things you can do to avoid them.

Comedones on the job. Since some part of your skin is always in contact with your environment, it’s important to pay attention to the substances with which you come into contact on a regular basis. You may be exposing yourself to comedogenic (pore-clogging) substances on the job without even knowing it; while these substances are not the cause of your acne, they can aggravate it. For example: the airborne grease in a fast-food restaurant can create an invisible film on your skin, clogging your pores. Most industrial oils — the kinds used in cars, in factories, on bicycles — are comedogenic as well.

Acne & Sleep - Sleep and your skin. The simplest good deed you can do for your skin may surprise you: sleep! Scientists and mothers around the world agree that a good night’s sleep — at least eight hours — can do wonders for your complexion. How? A healthy, well-rested body has the resources to build a strong immune system. While a robust immune system won’t prevent acne altogether, it can help fight infection so your lesions clear up more quickly. Luckily, your body isn’t picky; uninterrupted sleep in the daytime is just as beneficial. So if you work late, sleep late — and try to maintain a regular schedule.

Acne & Sun - Savvy sun worshipping. While it’s true that small amounts of sun exposure may initially improve acne, don’t be fooled; the benefit is temporary. Consistent sun bathing will dry your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Also, skin that has been exposed to the sun has to slough old cells more frequently; when you combine the extra oil and extra dead cells, you create the ideal environment for comedones, or blocked pores. So if you work (or play) in the sun, it’s important to protect your skin with sunscreen. Look for oil-free products that provide at least an SPF 15 protection level from UVA and UVB rays.

Acne & Stress - The stress connection. Not surprisingly, stress often has a starring role in the ongoing acne drama. “Ninety percent of my patients complain about what stress does to their skin. It has a huge impact, and it’s becoming a bigger problem every day,” says Katie Rodan, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford University.

How can stress — emotional anxiety caused by any number of factors in your life — show up on your face? The connection is purely chemical. When you become tense, your adrenal glands go work, flooding your bloodstream with the hormone cortisol. This triggers the sweat glands in your face to produce more oil. When your sebaceous glands go into high gear, there’s a higher probability that this excess oil will mix with dead skin cells and clog your pores, trapping bacteria inside. The result? More acne, primarily inflamed papules rather than blackheads or whiteheads.

What can you do? Of course, you can't eliminate stress from your life — it's part of being human. But you can minimize its damage by leading a healthy lifestyle. A balanced diet and at least seven hours of sleep every night will help you build a stronger physical foundation; if you're well fed and well rested, you're less likely to feel irritated by the events of your day. Try to get some exercise every day, even if it's just a walk around the block at lunchtime. It's also important to take time out of every day to relax — read a book, take a bath, practice yoga, or do whatever makes you feel happy and calm. It's an important step towards overall good health, and therefore the health of your skin.

Shaving Bumps and Acne Breakouts

The acne-like breakouts we know as "shaving bumps," or Pseudofolliculitis barbae, are the result of inflammation in the hair follicle brought on by shaving. As hairs begin to grow back after shaving, waxing or plucking, they get trapped inside the follicle, resulting in irritation and swelling. Anyone can get shaving bumps, but they're more common in people with curly hair. Fortunately, anyone can take steps to prevent them. By following a few simple steps, you can learn to "shave smart" for fewer breakouts.

Acne & Shaving - Warm it up. Before you begin shaving, prep the area with warm water. The hydration makes your skin more pliable; the heat will dilate your blood vessels, bringing blood flow to the area. Some people find that shaving in the shower brings better results.

Acne & Shaving - Lather well. Pseudofolliculitis barbae can also be diminished by using the right shaving cream. Thinner, more filmy shaving creams help the razor glide over the skin, reducing irritation.

Acne & Shaving - Use the right razor. If you can, use an electric razor. The shave won't be as close, but you probably won't break out. If you prefer blade shaving, use a new single-blade razor each time you shave. Why single? Double-and triple-edged blades lift the hair out of the follicle for a shave that is actually below the epidermis. As part of the skin's natural healing process, the epidermis grows over the opening of the follicle. Then, as the hair grows back, it has to fight to get out of the closed follicle — causing an inflammatory response.

Acne & Shaving - Go with the grain. The closer your shave, the more likely you are to get shaving bumps. So try to get into the habit of shaving with the grain — for both men and women, this usually means shaving down rather than up. This will cut down on irritation and may help with nicks and cuts, too.

Acne & Shaving - Tone up. When you're done, you may want to apply a mild alcohol-free toner (witch hazel is a gentle alternative) or antibacterial gel; this will kill bacteria before it gets into the open follicles — and help you stop Pseudofolliculitis barbae before it starts. Both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are available in gel form as well.

For most people, these simple practices go a long way toward the prevention of Pseudofolliculitis barbae. If your shaving bumps persist, consult your dermatologist; he or she may be able to prescribe a more aggressive topical acne treatment.

Natural Remedies in Acne Treatment

In recent times, it has been proven that the number of people who have acne has increased drastically. The reasons for his have not been proven and as result, there is not official pronouncement on the reasons for this. However, we can make some assumptions that are susceptible to corrections. The reason there is a rampant case of acne today can be largely attributed to our diets and possibly the environment. In the past, reported incidents of acne treatments weren’t exactly common. However, things have changed today. There is no clear account of the number of people suffering from acne. But the sale of medicines for acne is on the increase and this suggests that there is an increase in the number of people having acne. Acne which is mainly caused as a result of the clogging of the skin pores by the oil generated by the sebaceous gland in the skin. He clogging of the skin pores are s a result of certain bacteria. It is for this reason that most acne treatments are never effective. They concentrate more on eliminating the symptoms and not the root cause. So, instead of focusing on how to eliminate the bacteria, these solutions work for scar removal and pimple drying. Because most of these ointments and treatment methods hardly work, attention has shifted from over-the-counter-prescriptions and doctor recommended diagnosis to alternative therapy and medicine.These alternative therapies like Acnezine which can be found at www.acnezine.com have been consistently proven to work and produce the desired results. While most of them do not over hype their products like others do, it is said that they can easily get rid of any acne given a 30-day trial period. If this seems too far, then you can go on dealing with the same issues every time. But these products offer one of the most important solutions and cure to acne which is the elimination of the root cause instead of just symptom treatment. In conjunction with using natural remedies like Acnezine, it is always best to also change your diet from one of junk meals and foods to that which is filled with all forms of fruits. The plentier the fruits, the better. So, change the diet. Avoid all forms of foods oil rich foods like hotdogs, sandwich, cheese and anything related to cheese and a host of other forms of junk.