Acne Treatments That Are Successful

The most frequent type of acne appears when we enter puberty. This is because the creation of our skin oil (called sebum) is governed by the sex hormones (androgens). The more testosterone, 5-testosterone (DHT) and 5-androstene-317diol we produce, the more sebum our bodies make. Normally the sebum is excreted by our pores to keep our skin moist, supple and waterproof.

When our body produces too much sebum it can combine with bacteria and dead skin cells to obstruct the pores. The bacteria multiplies which puts pressure on the plugged pore and the result is a blackhead or zit. The theory of acne treatment can be uncomplicated and straightforward. Try to minimize the body’s production of sebum and keep the skin free of oil and bacteria.

The practice is, of course, a little more complicated because you have to do these things without creating more, and possibly worse, problems.

It can be unwise to mess with hormone production, particularly at such a crucial time of development, and using harsh astringents to dry your skin will leave it cracked, red and sore.

The solution lies in small changes to your diet, the careful selection of vitamins and the use of specially formulated soaps and cleansers.

Acne is not a life-threatening condition and it will be with you for many years to come. Harsh prescription drugs may eliminate the noticeable signs of acne but they are seldom justified in anything but the most acute cases.

Getting control of your acne starts with your diet. First you have to fix your inside before you can treat the outside. You’ve probably heard it before, but our modern high fat, fast food lifestyle is really bad. Avoid processed, packaged food and eat only fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly the leafy green ones. Lean meat and nuts in moderation are fine and drink mostly water. Avoid sugary juice and carbonated drinks and cut way back on dairy products like milk and ice cream.

You should consider taking supplemental vitamins but overdosing on certain vitamins can do you more harm than good. It’s a good idea to look for a vitamin program specifically designed to target acne.

Keeping your skin clear of excess oil and free of bacteria is a significant portion of your acne regimen. There are many soaps and cleanser formulated escpecially to keep your skin clean without reducing the natural oils that keep your skin smooth and supple.

Lastly, as tempting as it is, try to avoid squeezing or popping your zits. Doing so could result in and infection and possibly scarring that would stay with you for the rest of your life.

You can’t cure acne but you can control it. Proper diet and a consistent cleansing regimen will reward you with a clear complexion free of blemishes.