Acne Remedies

Bill Baker just noticed his first zit before shuffling off to his Physical Education class. Just imagine his feelings as he thought he saw that everyone was checking on him. Fortunately for Bill there are good remedies available for his acne.

Acne is an equal opportunity destroyer, affecting you without regard to race or gender. Most that {suffer|suffers| from acne, though, are teens and young adults. Experts have calculated that about 80% of people who are this age get some acne and of those 25% will suffer from extended scarring that can be anything from very little to severe.

Those over 24, though, are not guaranteed freedom from the effects of acne. The American Dermatologist Association reports that 20% of all those over the age of 24 have active acne. This the fact that 60 million Americans, adults and teens have active acne and 20 million Americans have acne that is bad enough to cause scars. Surprisingly, only an estimated 10% of those with acne will ask for help, but this is due, in part, to the way people look down on those with acne.

There is cause for hope, though, for acne sufferers. Once you know what causes acne, the things that work and the things that won't help and how to prevent most acne, you can make the necessary changes to get skin that is glowing.

What Causes Acne?

While acne is not contagious, there are some known things that do increase your chances of having acne lesions. To make it easy, acne is caused when the sebaceous glands produce excess oil. Other causes might include:

* An inherited tendency towards acne or genetics * Humidity * Some prescribed medications * Physical irritation * Hormones and hormone imbalances * Pollutants in the environment * Stress and anxiety * Poor cleansing of the skin * Some illnesses

Don’t Waste your Time (or Money)

While some acne remedies work, many don't. When picking out an over the counter remedy, be wary. Many of the acne remedies on the shelves today have harsh ingredients that can dry out your skin, and can even make your acne worse. Choose your cleansing and acne treatment products carefully and look for products that are not too harsh.

What Really Works

Four things are guaranteed to help acne. Together they pack a powerful punch to make acne disappear.

* Healthy diet * Water * Adequate sleep * Proper cleansing

To treat existing acne, use natural products such as tea tree oil which has strong antiseptic properties and is really effective. Witch hazel is an effective skin toner and it can give you a healthy glow. Mint is a good spot treatment, especially for cystic acne. It has properties that cool and sooth the skin and kill germs in the process.

A good firming and cleansing mask that you can make with minimal effort is a corn starch and egg white mask. Make a paste with the egg white and corn starch. Apply it to clean skin and allow it to dry. Take it off later with a moist washcloth and rinse well. You will be rewarded with great skin.

An Ounce of Prevention…

Prevention is an easy way to avoid acne in the first place. The best way to prevent acne is to take care of yourself. A sensible, low fat diet that includes a good variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains will help keep your skin clear. Dark green leafy vegetables, like broccoli, are great acne fighters. You should also drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated. Adequate sleep is another proven beauty tool. Physicians will tell you to get about seven hours of sleep a night.

One more thing, proper washing of your skin is very important for keeping it clear. You should clean your skin at least once a day. If you wear makeup, remove it each nightbefore retiring. When you cleanse your skin, use a cleanser that is gentle and make sure that the water is not too hot. Don’t over cleanse because that can make your acne worse. Rinse your skin completely and blot dry with a clean towel. When you work to prevent acne, you won’t have to spend time getting rid of it.