Acne Magazine : Skin Care, Tips, Treatment Reviews

Here is part II of our special series on the types of acne cysts and general kinds of acne that can invade one’s skin, no matter what age you are.  We started with a generally large description of the acne skin condition in general, as well as mild acne, which is typically just a light scatter of bumps on the chin and forehead. Now let’s get into a little more depth on the topic.

Hormonal Acne

Teenagers usually experience this type of condition although increasingly more adults are as well – this is not exclusive to men or women, both can get it at any age and typically it is exacerbated by stress and diet.  It can be contributed to the increased production of hormones and usually is also mild. During puberty the oil glands activate from hormonal stimulation. Dead skin cells clog the pores, blocking the skin openings. Clogged pores cause a build- up of oil under the skin.

Bacteria feed off the oil and multiply causing the surrounding tissue to inflame. A papule of inflammation then forms on the skin. Severe cases of hormonal skin conditions it may be necessary to seek treatment from a dermatologist. Treatment for severe cases can include oral antibiotics.

Severe Acne Vulgaris

Severe Vulgaris is a condition caused by over-active oil glands. This condition can occur in teenagers or young adults. The overproduced oil gathers under the skin. This oil can cause inflammations throughout several layers of skin. Treatment by a dermatologist is necessary and can include oral and/or topical medications. Dermabrasion is the removal of scar tissue by laser and chemical peels are also a typical treatment.

Cystic

Cystic types of inflammation occur when the oil duct becomes clogged or infected by bacteria. Cystic inflammations are most common in teenagers. Steroids or antibiotics may be necessary for the worst cases. Extreme cases of cystic skin inflammations are also known to cause permanent scarring.

Boils

Boils are caused by clogged sweat glands that become infected. Boils start as red, tender areas and become firm or hard. The center softens as the boil is filled with pus. The pus forms a head and will eventually spontaneously drain.

Boils should be treated as soon as possible by applying a heat compress to the infected area. For smaller boils treatment can be done at home. Larger boils are extremely painful and lancing, or surgically opening and draining is usually necessary.

Hey guys, this is going to be a two parter, because it simply cannot fit all in one without boring the reader (or maybe it’s just me that has the attention span of a gnat).  At any rate, I wanted to share with your this educational piece about the various types of acne cysts and generally, the types of acne that can occur on the skin.

It is likely that you may have experienced one or all of them if you are reading this blog, so it should be good reading material if not to reinforce what you already know, then to educate you a little more on WHY these types of acne typically occur in so many people today.

Let’s start with the foundation of what all acne is for a general overview of what acne stems from in general. 

Acne – A General Overview

Acne is a disease of the hair follicles, usually located on the face, chest and back. Congested pores also known as a whitehead or a blackhead, tender red bumps known as pimples or zits, pustules and occasionally cysts or boils appear. Whitehead and blackhead are also known as comedos. A whitehead is an open comedo.

The hair follicle dilates with skin debris, oil and bacteria and has an obstructed opening to the skin. A whitehead may rupture and cause a low-grade skin inflammatory reaction. A blackhead, like a whitehead is a dilated hair follicle full of skin debris, oil and bacteria. A blackhead has a wider opening to the skin and has been capped with a blackened mass of skin debris.

After an inflammation forms the body sends white blood cells to fight the infection. The liquid combination of oil, skin debris, bacteria and infection fighting white blood cells become pus. A papule is a small, solid round bump rising from the skin and is basically a pimple or zit before the pus forms.

A pustule is a papule that has a collection of pus in the center of infected area and is on the top layer or two of the skin. A pimple is an infected papule that is deeper than two dermal layers. Several types of inflammation can occur and are the result of different types of conditions.

Mild Acne

The most common form of these types of breakouts is mild and appears in most males and females. Mild breakouts are usually in the form of pustules, papules and comedos and can be hormonal. Treatment includes using an over the counter topical cream. It is not usually necessary to seek medical treatment. Further breakouts can be prevented by practicing good personal hygiene, cleaning the face and hands often with antibacterial soap and avoiding pore clogging skin irritants like cosmetics.

You may have heard already about the California guy that is in a lot of trouble now for practicing illegal plastic surgery out of an office in California. The man actually posed as an assistant to a real plastic surgeon, and claimed that he was able to offer cheaper prices to his clients because he did it under another sugeon’s supervision.

Well, that all ended up being a farce, because first off, he used the guy’s name and second, the guy did not give him any authorization to practice under him, nor did he supervise him.

So, this California man essentially posed as a professional and didn’t have any credentials to perform the work he was doing.  He didn’t follow sanitary guidelines, and he even reportedly injected young acne patient’s scars with an unknown substance, perhaps silicone, which is not supposed to be directly injected into the skin.

The man was even accused of smoking a cigar during one of his “procedures”.  Needless to say, this guy is in quite a bit of hot water over these accusations, and has thus far plead not guilty to the charges.

What’s the lesson in all this?  Well, if you are thinking about getting anything done, say to your acne scars, like fillers or other procedures like dermabrasion or laser therapy, just make 100% sure that the man or woman performing it are licensed and have good reputations.

The internet is really a perfect place to do your research, however, you can also just do your own investigation while you’re in the office, before you’ve even gotten the procedure.  Look for credentials – they are always displayed somewhere prominently on the wall.

Any licensed practitioner is going to want to make sure his customers can easily verify that they are in fact who they say they are, and that they have the proper educational and experience background to be able to perform the kind of work they are paying for.

Not only can you look for their credentials, but just talk to them. Get a feel for whether you have  rapport with this practitioner, and whether you trust them with your skin.  I remember going to Dermatologists as a kid who I had absolutely no trust in.

I felt they were just putting me on drugs and not really caring about whether my acne cleared or not, or even taking an interest in me as a patient. Of course, as a kid, you don’t have a lot of choice in your doctors, nor do you speak up if you don’t like your doctor, but as an adult you have a choice of who you trust and who you think is going to give you the best skin.

Fortunately for sufferers of acne, today there are a large number of smoothing treatments that can be used to smooth out skin layers and for clearing the appearance of acne scarring. There are two kinds of scars: pigmented and ice-pick.  Having acne for years can give your skin a rough texture in the areas where you had multiple lesions.  This bumpy texture is hard to get rid of, but there are some great treatments that naturally smooth the skin out in those areas.

Pigmented scarring treatment options range from over-the-counter products to treatment practices performed by medical professionals or aestheticians.

Home remedies can often be effective in the treatment of scarring. Soaking the face in a non-comodogenic oil will loosen dead and pigmented cells. The loosened cells can then be scrubbed off using a gentle exfoliant. You can increase the rate at which cells are regenerated by applying a solution of vitamin C to the face, which will also help with clearing the pores and improving the skin balance and tone.

Over-the-counter bleaching products containing hydroquinone can be used with glycolic acid-based creams to smooth the appearance of scarring. If the acne scars are particularly severe, or does not response to this treatment, another option may be retinoid creams.

These prevent further breakouts, but more importantly, will exfoliate skin-cells in the dermis, the site of scar formation.

Dermabrasion is one of the smoothing and clearing treatments that has rapidly grown in popularity in recent years. It entails the use of a brush or other instrument which vibrates at a very high speed, smoothing and resurfacing the uppermost layers of the surface and helping to remove scars or reduce the depth of the scars.

Patients undergoing this treatment usually require several days’ recovery time. A related treatment is micro-dermabrasion, a less intense and invasive form of dermabrasion. The dermatologist or aesthetician will use a spray comprised of microscopic crystals rather than a brush to remove the upper layers of the dermis.

While the delicate nature of dermabrasion treatments means that more than one procedure may be required, the benefit of this treatment is that recovery time is much reduced.

Chemical peels are also used to lessen the appearance of acne scars. It may be administered by a medical professional such as a doctor or nurse, or by a spa aesthetician. The peel removes the outer skin layers, smoothing the face’s surface.

The strength of the peel may vary depending on the severity of the scars, and some people experience irritation and peeling for a few days afterward.

Acne is a very irritating skin condition to begin with, especially for adolescent girls and boys with particularly sensitive skin already. This skin condition greatly lowers their self esteem most especially when the case is severe. Such people tend to use any treatment, even if it is just too rough for those with the sensitive skin type, just to get rid of acne.

However, this is never a right choice to make. These treatments vary in terms of how strong they are and the possible effects on the skin, whether negative or positive. It is therefore important to know your skin type. People with sensitive skin should get acne treatment for sensitive skin.

The best acne treatment for sensitive skin is a natural product. Compounds like sodium lauryl sulfate which is often included in acne skin cleansers are very strong and hence inappropriate for sensitive skin.

This type of acne treatment will destroy the skin and in the long run make it susceptible to other skin infections. It is therefore important to invest in sls free acne treatment as it is gentler on the skin.

Essential oils like jojoba and tea tree are very good acne treatments. These are gentle on the skin and are sls free. The oils are just the right amount on the skin and therefore chances of having clogged pores are minimal. The oils are also easily absorbent in the skin. This makes them less sticky than other oils which trap dust.

Tea tree and jojoba oil are usually combined to provide faster and better results. The two are combined in a ratio of 3:10. These are 3 parts of tea tree and 10 parts of jojoba oil as tea tree is stronger than jojoba oil.

Tea tree mainly works as an antibiotic. It kills the bacteria that cause acne. These bacteria are also responsible for the formation of pus in the bumps. If they are eliminated early, chances of the acne developing into severe type are minimized.

Jojoba is important for its non-greasy and absorbent aspects. Aloe Vera is also a good natural treatment for acne. This works by killing the bacteria and at the same time moisturizing the skin.

Natural treatments should be used on the affected area at least twice a day. This should mainly be after a bath when the skin is fresh. It is very important to ensure that you do not use harsh soaps on the affected skin area while you use these treatments.

In conclusion, before you embark on any treatment for acne, ensure that it is good for your skin.

For many individuals itchy, dry skin is a natural occurrence during the winter months. However, when dermal tissue begins to develop rough, scaly patches it may signal the beginning of a more serious skin condition. In fact, this condition is serious enough the many doctors agree that keratosis could eventually progress into certain types of cancer.

In general, keratosis is a skin condition that is characterized by small patches of rough, dry skin. This patch can be completely flat or slightly raised and exists on the outermost dermal layer. In fact, these patches may often resemble warts in appearance, yet they are slightly larger.

Patches of dry skin may appear pink or brown in color; however, they may also simply match the color of the surrounding tissue as well. Common symptoms that patients report include itching and/or burning around the affected area.

The specific spots that form are known as keratoses and can be commonly found on the facial region, arms, scalp, neck, and back. In essence, these spots usually form on dermal areas that are frequently exposed to the sun.

While they may eventually go away on their own, keratoses often return after prolonged sun exposure. Individuals who are more susceptible to this condition include those over forty years of age, have histories of multiple sunburns, have lighter hair and eye colors, and have weak immune systems.

As with any other condition, the first step in receiving treatment is to visit your family physician. Healthcare professionals can answer any questions you may have regarding how to treat the condition and may ask further questions in order to understand how they can best meet your specific treatment needs.

Many doctors acknowledge the risk that keratoses can always turn into cancerous cells, so they usually treat patients by removing the tissue and performing a biopsy. This can usually be done in-office with the use of a local anesthetic.

Other treatment options may also include freezing the tissue off via the use of cryotherapy, scraping the cells off using the process of curettage, chemical peeling to blister tissue and encourage it to slough off, or laser therapy, which is used to remove the keratoses and underlying tissue.

Ultimately it is up to the patient and physician to decide upon the treatment method. In addition, patients should understand insurance may not cover all procedures, because they may be considered cosmetic in nature.

When it comes to your skin, there is really no product that is a one size fits all, especially when acne is involved. Since there are so many variations and levels of severity for the skin condition, the products that treat it must be adjusted accordingly.

Even good acne products with great reputations may not work for everyone who uses them. That’s because everyone’s skin comes with a slightly different profile. Some people have sensitive and easily reddened and irritated skin, for which only the most gentle acne cleansers will work.

Some people have thicker, more resilient skin that can stand up to heavier products that really go deep into the pores.  When you have thicker skin, not only does your skin tend to show the signs of aging later in life, thanks to extra resiliences against wear and tear like wrinkles and fine lines, but you also have the luxury of using some harsher exfoliants and deeper penetrating acid peels – things like that.

But when you have “thinner” skin, you have to really be careful not to buy products, no matter how good they are for other types of skin, that will irritate the delicate nature of your skin.

I make it a policy now to not buy any acne or skin care products with certain chemicals. My biggest one is SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) and parabens. Both are bad in different ways.  SLS is a harsh surfactant detergent that lathers up really well – but with that lather comes dryness and a deep disturbance of the skin’ delicate acid mantle, which protects it from enironmental damage.

Parabens are a chemical preservative that is used to extend the shelf life of skin care products to ridiculous proportions.  They have been implicated in hormonal imbalance, and are therefore one of the ingredients to avoid in your acne skin care products. 

All products, even when applied topically, eventually enter the blood stream where they can interfere with your body’s natural processes, the efficiency and helath of your organs, and they can even cause cancer in certain cases. 

It is important to eliminate as many of these harmful chemicals as you can, not only in your acne skin care products, but also in any product you happen to apply to your body, which is your TEMPLE.

Here are some other ingredients to avoid :

DMDM hydantoin

Phthalates

Heavy scents, or any artificial scent at all

Artificial colors

Mineral oil and petrochemicals

Just about everyone suffers from rough, dry skin at some time in their life while others may suffer more seriously and have rough brown patches that are noticeable by other people. This is particularly a problem for people in the winter time who live in drier climates or whose winter tends to drag out.

Not only does the freezing cold weather increase the symptoms of dry skin, but the lack of humidity in the winter time adds to the problem.  There are many products on the market today and it can be confusing on which one’s will give you the smooth look that you desire.

Living in a very cold region can make this matter worse and cause patches just about anywhere on the body but more on the parts of the body that is exposed to the elements. If not properly attended to can lead to worse conditions and may be harder to get rid of.

Some conditions are so bad that it may start to bleed and you may want to check with a dermatologist.  If you are one that suffers from these conditions such as dry, brown skin, there are natural things that can be done.

First thing is to make sure you are drinking plenty of water to keep the body moisturized. You really do “hydrate from the inside” when it comes to the softness and smoothness of your skin.  Do not take a hot bath or shower, use warm water.

Use a gentle soap and avoid perfumed products as these have chemicals that are even more drying to the delicate facial skin in the winter time. After taking a shower, pat the body dry and add a moisturizer while you are still damp.

Certain foods can help you from the inside out. Food products that contain Omega 3 can help. The nicotine from smoking cigarettes can pass through the blood stream and cause dryness.

Add some moisture to your home by running a humidifier, it is especially important to keep the humidifier clean too. Some natural oils like argan oil or coconut oil work great and since it is safe enough for a baby you will have the satisfaction of knowing it will be good for you too.  No baby oil – this is a petroleum product.

Even though this may not be a life threatening condition, it can sure make a person uncomfortable and may interfere with the simple things in life. So go ahead and start taking care of this now to avoid worsening conditions later.

Hello all! Hopefully you’re not getting walloped by a snow storm now as it seems we are preparing for here.  I must admit though, I kind of miss the fluffy white stuff. It’s so much prettier to look at in the long winters here in Ohio than the grey, brown, sloppy ground that inhabits the scape in the winter time.

Been such a mild winter I’m starting to wonder if we’ll even get to wear our new toques we bought (his and hers) so my hubby and I can shovel the driveway without freezing.  I digress. Clearly, this is to inform you about a new page we have added here at Acnemagazine.com that I wanted to make sure you know about.

It’s a page about back acne and the treatments and products that are available to treat it. Back acne is second only to  facial acne.  Often times if someone has severe facial acne, they will also have back acne to some varying degree.

It can be hard to treat properly simply due to its awkward location on the body and the fact that we are only made to twist so many ways to get to the various areas of our bodies.  However, there are several products that are vital to getting back acne addressed and minimized quickly.

We talk about these, and some techniques and tips on getting rid of back acne in our new informational page Products for Back Acne.  Enjoy, and remember, please feel free to make comments or suggestions about your experiences in this area.

Hello all my awesome Acnemagazine readers!  I wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year!  Hopefully like me, you don’t plan on doing much but lounging around and watching movies all day.  That’s the way to spend New Years day I say!

Seriously though, I wanted to say how much I appreciate each and every one of my readers, and how without you, I’d feel alone in this world with the ways I feel about having great skin, and all the years I struggled in my teens with having acne ranging from severe to moderate.

I feel like this blog has given me a voice, and allowed me to share my own experiences and viewpoints, screw ups and victories in my battle to get clear, beautiful skin over these years. After all, acne does not simply stop when you are an adult when you have very oily skin naturally!

I also wanted to make an announcement that we’ve added a brand new page to AcneMag about blackheads and how best to get rid of them without causing too much skin trauma.  It’s called Remedies for Blackheads. I discuss what I’ve found over the years to be the most effective and least damaging ways to get rid of blackheads.

Blackheads are something that everyone considers hard to get rid of, as evidenced by the thousands of internet searches done on “getting rid of blackheads” and other various searches regarding blackheads which show people are obviously looking for ways to remove them.

Again, all readers I want to wish you all a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. May this next year bring you and your family peace, prosperity and unbounded happiness