Pimple Facts

www.DermTV.com Become a fan of DermTV on Facebook www.facebook.com There are some simple ways to prevent acne breakouts in adults. Dr. Schultz shares them in this episode of DermTV.

I have been extracting and applying real, pure aloe vera gel from the aloe vera plant every other week for the past month or so, and the results? Well, I have not needed to wear any foundation or concealer for the past week!!! My skin has been breakout-free and smooth as a baby’s butt recently! However, I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I run out of leaves, because no new leaves have grown from the cut off parts!!! Maybe I gotta buy a new plant everytime I have used up all the leaves? We …

MAYBE YOU’VE COME across the term on a skincare product – and mores specifically – an acne prevention product. Maybe you read it on a medical website or heard it on a news program – but what exactly does “comedogenic” mean? And how can understanding it help improve men skin care and prevent acne? MenScience Androceuticals tackles these questions and provides the answers you need to insure you choose the right products to keep your skin looking its best – without acne breakouts.

What Does “comedogenic” Mean?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a “comedo” is an “acne lesion”, a hard blockage created from an excess of sebum in a pore. This blockage can lead to whiteheads, blackheads and pimples, so “comedogenic” refers to ingredients or products that have a tendency to block pores and promote comedones (plural of comedo), or acne.

Acne often forms from an overproduction of sebum (the oily substance on the skin) and bacteria (known as P. acnes), but when pores become clogged with sebum, bacteria can rapidly grow and whiteheads (clogged pores that have reached the surface), blackheads (clogged pores which have reached skin’s surface and darkened due to bacteria’s oxidation), and pustules (clogged pores which remain below the surface) begin to appear.

Although non-comedogenic skincare products may not prevent acne, they do not promote pore-clogging and acne production, either. Non-comedogenic ingredients and products are recommended by dermatologists and medical professionals for people who have oily or acne-prone skin, but all men should use non-comedogenic products to keep pores clear of acne causing bacteria and skin blemish free. MenScience takes acne seriously – which is why all products are formulated to be non-comedogenic.

Comedogenic Ingredients

Medical experts have a hard time classifying ingredients that are comedogenic because what may clog the pores of one man’s skin and cause breakouts may not affect another man’s skin at all. However, there are some ingredients that have a higher tendency to product acne comedones than others, and we’ve provided a few of them below. If you already suffer from oily or acne-prone skin, keep an eye out for these comedogenic ingredients when purchasing products:

- Cocoa Butter

- Pigments & Dyes (red in particular)

- Coal Tar

- Lanolin

- Isopropyl Myristate

How to Choose Non-Comedogenic Products to Help Treat Acne

No matter what type of skin you have, it’s always a good idea for men to stick to non-comedogenic skincare, shaving and grooming products to help control acne. When purchasing products, be on the lookout for specific comedogenic ingredients to help treat acne and choose products that are lightweight and non-greasy. Keep in mind the following tips when choosing these common men’s shaving and skincare products:

Moisturizers: Look for products that are described as oil-free and lightweight. Consistency should be thin, but still substantial. Once the product is applied, it should absorb quickly into the skin and not feel like it is layered on the surface. Choose products like the MenScience Advanced Face Lotion that have water-binding agents and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and glycerin.

Cleansers: Your daily cleanser should be pore-clearing and contain deep cleaning ingredients such as salicylic and glycolic acid, which help control acne. These clear away oil and grime, without clogging pores or upsetting the face’s natural moisture levels. Cleansers that contain aloe vera extract are beneficial for men with acne-prone skin since they help soothe irritation and redness.

Sunscreens: Although many sunblocks tend to feel heavy, research has shown that many UV-blocking ingredients are not comedogenic. However, it’s important to use a sunblock that is non-greasy and absorbs immediately into skin like MenScience’s TiO2 Sunblock SPF 30. Also, be sure to completely wash away old sunblock you’ve put on throughout the day to further prevent acne comedones from forming!

Shaving Products: Shaving can aggravate blemishes and acne, so choose products that contain soothing, lubricating, water-based (not alcohol-based) ingredients such as aloe, allantoin and tea tree extract. This will keep pores clear, bypassing shaving irritation and acne.

Comedogenic Behavior

Even if you do use non-comedogenic products to keep your pores clear and reduce acne breakouts, you may find that you are still breaking out with acne pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. This could be because you may have some comedogenic habits. After all, acne thrives on bacteria, and there are many instances during the day when bacteria can be easily transported from your hands to your face. To keep bacteria levels down and prevent acne, consider the following tips:

According to a study by the American Society for Microbiology and the Soap and Detergent Association, one-third of all men don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom. This means there’s a lot of men walking around with germ-ridden hands. Since acne is caused by bacteria, every time you touch your face with your unclean hands, you’re spreading acne-causing germs. Keep your hands clean by washing them regularly with warm, soapy water, and don’t touch your face too often.

Have frequent bouts of acne around your jaw line? Your phone could be the culprit. Germs from your hands can easily be transmitted to hand-held devices, and sebum from your face can rub off on them as well. To prevent the spread of acne causing bacteria and kill germs, wipe your phone (office, cell phone, and home) down every week or two with an antibacterial wipe or a cotton ball dampened with rubbing alcohol. This also works for remote controls and computer keyboards.

If you still have trouble with acne, try an acne regimen, like MenScience’s Acne Treatment System

The essential methods of acne control are to keep pores from getting clogged, unclog infected pores, attack the bacteria causing the infection, and reduce the redness associated with acne. There are many preventive measures that you can take to reduce the chance of having an acne breakout in the first place.

Caring for your face with a gentle washing once or twice daily using just soap and water can make all the difference in keeping your pores clear. In addition to this, applying benzoyl peroxide will aid in drying out the skin as well as cleaning it even further. Benzoyl peroxide is the active ingredient in most over the counter facial wipes such as Oxy Pads. One of the truly nice things about using benzoyl peroxide is that it can be coupled with other acne treatments.

Using exfoliation has become a common technique in acne control. The removal of dead skin cells through exfoliation can help prevent them from clogging the pores of the skin, which in turn aids in preventing acne. The skin revealed by exfoliating is new, smooth, and much more healthy looking. It is important to know, however, that many of the agents found in exfoliating products can be very irritating to your skin. Before using them on your entire face, a small area of your skin should be tested to check for any negative reactions to these agents.

You’ll find that many acne products perform a dual function. They both exfoliate your skin and contain anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory medicines. Not only will this clear your skin of the dead cells, but it will also fight the bacteria associated with acne outbreaks and helps to lessen the redness due to inflammation.

Checking your acne products will reveal sulfur and azelaic acid as commonly used ingredients. It is always best to test acne products on a small patch of skin prior to using it everywhere, just to check for any adverse reaction. If you find that salicylic acid listed as one of the ingredients in acne product, you should be careful; even though salicylic acid works well in keeping your pores unclogged, it has been found to be very irritating to facial skin.

A consultation with a dermatologist may be required for the most severe cases of acne. He or she can assist you with putting together a cleansing program for you to follow. A dermatologist may also use lasers in the treatment of acne as well as prescribe acne medication. If your dermatologist does prescribe medication to aid in fighting your acne, be aware that most acne medicines are quite powerful and can even be toxic. You need to warned of any possible side effects and be alert to them if they do occur.

Not everyone needs to see a dermatologist for their acne condition. For some people the over the counter treatments are just fine and work great. If they solve your acne problem you will avoid the expense and dangers of taking prescription acne medications into your body, and suffer possible negative side effects.

Here are 4 tips to help achieve acne free skin to clear acne fast :

Eat A Healthy Diet

A diet rich in vegetables, low Glycemic Index carbohydrates and lean protein can go a long way to helping clear up your skin of pimple.  It was once a point of debate whether diet could help clear up acne or if it was an old wives tale.  However, recent studies done by researchers at RMIT University have shown that diet does indeed have a link to clearer skin and helps reduce any further acne breakouts.

Water, Water, Water

You hear it all the time – DRINK MORE WATER!  It’s cliché, but it’s true.  Water is not only good for your body, but also good for your skin.  To help become acne free, it’s essential that you drink plenty of water.  That means 6 to 8 glasses a day. 

Why drink water?  Because water helps the kidneys filter toxins from the body.  The more hydrated the body is, the better the kidneys can do their job.  Also, the skin helps in this purification process through perspiration.  If the body is not properly hydrated, the pores can become clogged and whiteheads or blackheads (comedonal acne) can form.  By drinking more water, the body can flush out better and is less likely to clog the skin.

Exercise

Exercise to become acne free or clear acne?  Yep.  It all goes back to removing toxins from your body.  Exercise improves your circulation.  Better circulation helps get those nasty toxins out of your body quicker, thus reducing the chance of buildup and clogging.  Ideally, you should exercise five days a week for around a half hour.  This will also help reduce stress, another common pimple trigger. 

Your Daily Cleaning Routine Can Make A Difference

In the morning, you want to wash your face to remove any dead skin and built up oil that has accumulated from the night before.  Next, make sure to apply a good quality toner and moisturizer.  The toner should be alcohol free, so as not to dry out your skin.  After this, you can now apply your makeup.

In the evening, remove your makeup with an oil-free makeup remover.  After all of your makeup is off, you’ll want to rewash your face with a good quality cleanser that is oil-free and won’t block your pores.  Make sure when you dry your face; you pat it dry and don’t rub it.  Finally, apply a good quality moisturizer.

A couple of times a week, you’ll also want to use a good exfoliator.  This will help remove the dead skin cells that bacteria feed off of to form whiteheads and blackheads.

With the proper routine, it isn’t hard to become acne free and prevent further acne breakouts.  You just need to be consistent, use good quality products such as moisturizer, toner and exfoliator and follow these four tips to have clearer more beautiful skin free of pimple.

Acne breakouts afflict millions of people every year, and they’re not limited to teenagers. Over 25% of adults suffer from this skin condition as well. Acne has a crushing psychological impact, lowering self-esteem and making us feel unattractive. Although there is no known cure, there are easy tips you can follow to prevent pimples and future flare-ups.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is true for acne, too–the secret to fighting it is to prevent the conditions that cause it. By adding some simple measures into your daily skin care regimen and lifestyle, you can greatly decrease the likelihood of ever seeing whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples, and this means fewer scars, too.

Here are three proven tips you can follow today to get clearer skin.

1) Drink more water.

Do you consume 8 glasses of water every day?  Many of us do not. By drinking plenty of water, you will hydrate your skin from the inside out. This will help flush your system of byproducts, bacteria, and other toxins that can clog pores and damage skin. Also, hydrating with water will help your skin retain beneficial moisture that can contribute toward a healthy complexion.

2) Wash your face twice a day.

How often do you wash your face? If you’re cleansing more than twice a day, you’re overdoing it. Contrary to popular perception, dirt does not cause acne breakouts, so washing several times a day will not prevent pimples.

In fact, excessive washing can actually dry out the skin, stimulating your sebaceous glands to produce more oil as a defensive response–leading to flare-ups. For best results, limit yourself to cleansing your face in the morning, and at night before you go to bed.

3) Use the right facial cleanser.

Your choice of facial cleanser is important. Alcohol-based astringents and toners can strip away your skin’s natural acid layer, making you vulnerable to the bacteria that can cause acne. Avoid any facial skin care product that contains ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and SD alcohol.

Look, instead, for gentle natural ingredients that work in harmony with your skin to promote even tone and good health. Some natural ingredients beneficial for skin: natural vitamin E, avocado extract, and active manuka honey.

The most important tip of all to prevent pimples and acne breakouts?  Stick to a daily skin care regimen. If you suffer from mild acne, many over the counter products can dramatically improve your complexion if you persevere and use them regularly in conjunction with the simple tips offered here. Don’t get discouraged–clearer skin is coming soon!

Ready to discover more great tips for how you can revitalize your skin? Visit my web site now.

What causes acne breakouts?, Worldwide, is estimated that 60 million people suffer from acne. Acne is a major skin problem that affects people all over the world. Please keep reading to learn more about causes of acne and pimples. I did some research and here are the answer that I came up with.

Common Causes Of Acne and Pimples

1) Food We Eat -Some people are likely to have acne outbreak with some diets like carbohydrates and sugars. Consuming a diet high in oils, fats and sugars can interfere with your hormonal balance. These types of foods are known to cause acne breakouts. A good diet for your skin should include fruits, vegetables, skim milk, cottage cheese and lean meats. Oily foods are also what causes acne breakouts.

2) Androgen Body Hormones -These are sex hormones and research shows that they rank to be the top of what causes acne breakouts. These hormones begin during puberty and this is the reason why most individuals who are affected by acne are young people or teens. During menstruation or pregnancy, women tend to have more of these Androgen hormones and this explains why pregnant women or a woman who is on her menstrual cycle is more likely to have pimples on her face or sometimes called facial acne outbreaks.

3) Personal Stress Is What Causes Acne Breakouts -Yes stress causes acne outbreaks. Stress is related to production hormones like cortisol which has been known to cause acne. When a person is stressed out, their body develops different hormone levels. With these hormone changes, the body starts to produce more oil to the skin. White heads, black heads and pimples types of acnes are caused by these oils on the skin.

4) Heavy Makeups, Oily Makeups/Cosmetics -Heavy makeups are not good for your skin. They cause clogging of pores and adds more oil to your skin. Is even more worse when someone put heavy makeups on their oily existing skin! Moisturizers or cosmetics contains more than one chemical like vegetable oils, alcohol, petrolatum and acids which contribute to causes of acne and pimples.

5) Steroids and Specific Medications -It is wise to stop overusing vitamins. Vitamins are essential to our skin but overusing them can cause acne. Examples of such vitamins are B1, B6 and B12. Abuse or inappropriate use of steroids, especially anabolic steroids can lead to acne breakouts because they stimulate sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands present in the skin secrete a substance called sebum into hair follicles and most of the skin.

6) Doing Harsh and Rough Cleansing -Avoid harsh and rough cleansing to your skin especially on the face. The facial skin is extremely sensitive to rough cleansing, it can easily be damaged. This kind of cleansing can damage the skin layers and spread infections. When cleansing your skin, use lukewarm water. Water that is too hot can dehydrate your skin and too cold can dry your skin. This is also what causes acne breakouts, Take it easy when doing skin cleansing.

7) Picking and squeezing of the skin plus squeezing and Environmental issues -High humidity causes the skin to swell and pollution of the environment can cause clogging of your pores. Avoid picking and squeezing pimples or acne outbreaks as this can send infections deeper into the skin and cause scarring.

8) Hereditary Factors Is What Causes Acne Breakouts-As I said earlier some causes of acne are inevitable. This is a good example of a cause of acne that we can’t avoid. Acne can be inherited and some serious acne causes such as Cystic acne do come from heredity like through family members such as our parents and grandparents.

9) Extra Sebum in the Follicle -When androgens stimulates sebaceous gland, it produces extra sebum which mixes with dead skin cells and skin bacteria. This is a normal process but excess sebum in the follicle increases the chances of clogging and acne. There are things that can lead to production of excess sebum like anabolic steroids.

Causes of acne and pimples both include external and Internal factors. There are many other causes of acne and pimples but these are just the major reasons. The best way to deal with what causes acne breakouts is skin hygiene and a good diet. Medications that you take also must be watched out in case of sudden acne breakouts. If you have serious acne problems, I highly recommend that you see a dermatologist. So these are the major causes of acne and pimples. Remember that prevention is better than cure and if you have to treat your acne, Don’t forget to prevent it from coming back.

If you are like most acne sufferers, you might get obsessed with the whole wash your face regularly and avoid certain foods thing. Although the main cause of your acne is not due to poor hygiene or eating certain foods, in so many instances some factors tend to worsen you acne conditions, leading to more pimples (zits) on your face.

Proper acne skin care helps in reducing the amounts of breakouts on your skin. A number of skin experts and health practitioners are of the opinion that natural acne treatments are the best for reducing the intensity of acne lesions on the skin and tend to recommend the following acne skin care tips.

One factor that could worsen your acne condition is clogged pores, which results in more pimples on your face. Before you go scrubbing your face a million times a day, you should know that you have to be gentle with your face. Wash your face at most thrice a day, and you should use lukewarm water. Avoid soaps that contain chemicals and ingredients that damage your skin. Try using a mild cleanser. Remember to pad your face dry and avoid scrubbing.

I know you can’t help it. But hey!!! Keep your hands by your side, stop touching, squeezing, rubbing or picking your pimples and other lesions. Incase you don’t know, doing that can cause severe acne scarring and more acne flare-ups. So simply put “get your hands off your face”.

If your are a guy, then you should be careful how you shave. Try and find out which razor type is best for your skin. Although I used to use electric razors when I had a lot of pimples on my face, but now I use “twin blades” shaving sticks to shave. Always shave gently to avoid scrapping your acne lesions, which could result in acne scars.

There is a type of acne that is termed “cosmetic acne” which is usually more prevalent in girls. Using certain type of cosmetics can worsen your acne problem or could even be the major cause of your breakouts. Oil-based (comedogenic) cosmetics are the major culprits in worsening your acne condition and you should stay clear of such. Try using water-based (non-comedogenic) cosmetics, which do not clog your pores.

If you are light-skinned (Caucasian), and you regularly sun-bathe, you might feel that a tan would look good on you by giving you a nice complexion and drying out your pimples, but you should try reducing the amount of sun exposure. When you expose your skin to high intensity sunlight, Ultraviolet rays from the sun would dry the outer layers of your skin resulting in it peeling off. Regular exposure to high intensity sunlight makes you prone to having skin cancer.

A very common argument among dermatologist, doctors and health care practitioners is whether diet affects acne or causes acne. Well there is one thing that is certain, a large number of acne sufferers know that there are certain types of foods that increase the amount of pimples (breakouts) on their face. I have noticed that there are some foods that when I take in large quantities I expect breakouts (pimples) in the next 5 to 6 days.

To prevent skin problems such as acne, white and dark spots and pimples, you should consider changing the content of your meals by including more nutritious foods. You can improve your acne condition by eating foods that are rich with antioxidants. These help in keeping you healthy by fighting heart diseases and slowing down cell regeneration. Fruits and leafy vegetables contain enough of these.

Doctors have always recommended that you take at least 10 to 12 glasses of water a day. Your water intake affects your skin’s health. Taking the recommended amount of water a day would make your skin healthier. Try reducing your sugar intake by drinking less sodas, and fruit juices. Instead take fruits; this will definitely prevent age spots and discoloration of your skin.

In addition to the following acne skin care tips that you’ve just read, you should try using an a system, which combats you acne problem from the inside and the outside. An excellent acne skin care product is the clear pores system which consists of a deep cleansing facial and body wash, protection cream and a herbal supplement that is guaranteed to fight acne inside the body.

Another very good product is Revitol’s acnezine system which also consists of a skin anti-Oxidant Capsules and a Moisturizing Crème, all to ensure that your skin is clear of acne. The acnezine system was what made my skin free of pimples. It seems the healthy pores system has so many testimonials to its effectiveness; it is also a wonderful product you can use in ridding your skin of zits.

Most acne sufferers would talk of tales of what acne did to them in terms of their social life and how clearing those little monsters off their skin has made life more enjoyable. If you suffer from adult or teenage acne, it is guaranteed that following these acne skin care tips and using an effective acne skin care product, you would have the smooth and clear skin that you deserve.

For more information on how you can permanently get rid of Adult Acne from your life and look more youthful and beautiful visit adult acne treatment a brand new blog that gives information, tips and advice on how to solve the problem of acne.

Acne can be very frustrating, the scars left by acne can be superficial, but if left untreated the scars can be deep. There is no age exception when it comes to acne, whether you are a teenager or an adult, if you have acne you should start treating it early, because the longer you wait for the worse it will become.

1. Drink water to moisturize your skin. When your skin is dry, a hormone called androgen will produce tons of sebum, also known as oil, and the oil produce by androgen will lead to clog pores, and that means more pimples.

2. Shrink your acne with ice cubes. Cover two or three ice cubes with washcloth, and hold it against your acne-affected skin for about 8 or 10 minutes, this will minimize the swelling and prevent breakouts.

3. Eyedrops. Use eyedrops to reduce the redness of your acne-affected skin. Two or three drops will do.

4. Zinc and vitamin c. Eating food that is rich in zinc and vitamin c like meat, beans and fruits strengthen and protect your skin from damage caused by acne. These foods will also help the skin to heal more quickly.

5. Minimize caffeine intake. Caffeine tastes good, but it can dehydrate your skin, and if your skin is dry, you will have more pimples. Furthermore, caffeine is a stimulant; it stimulates everything in your body including the androgen that is responsible for producing sebum.

6. Exfoliate your skin. If our pores to become clogged with the dead skin cells, the oil and the bacteria get trapped inside our pores, and this forms a pimple; exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells before they clogged our pores. Exfoliation will stop a pimple before it starts.

7. Medications. Anti-acne medications that contain benzoyl peroxide are a good way to heal acne, prevent future breakouts, and reduce inflammation caused by acne.

8. Laser treatments. Using laser to treat acne is used by dermatologists, it can take a couple of weeks to cure the acne, but it can be expensive, also laser treatment can get rid of acne for a long time.

9. Remove makeup. Before you go to sleep remember to remove your makeup, because makeup can clog the pores if left overnight.

The most important thing you should always remember is to treat your acne while it is still early.

Different cases of acne can be healed, with the right combination of elements; you can stop acne, stop future breakouts, and remove scars.