Do Not Let Acne Dominate Your Life

Acne is a skin condition that may affect various parts of the body. It is most prevalent in the areas that include the face, neck, chest and shoulders.

Acne is caused when pores of the skin become plugged with dead skin cells that mix with the oils of the skin. There is also a bacterial that lives in the oils of the skin, which can aggravate the problem.

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 acne becomes infected, it can leave scaring. Facial scars from acne can affect a person for a lifetime.

There are many treatments recommended for acne. For teens, products containing benzyl peroxide are often effective at drying outbreaks and preventing more outbreaks from forming. Washing the face with a good antibacterial soap can also help to prevent further outbreaks of acne.

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, avoid touching, squeezing, scratching or picking at the skin which is already irritated. This increases the likelihood of infection and more scaring.

If you have tried the over the counter products and your acne is not getting better, see your doctor or dermatologist. They will know further treatment options that can help to keep the acne from becoming infected and causing more scaring.

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.