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A blemish begins approximately 2-3 weeks before it appears on your
skin's surface. Deep within each pore (or hair follicle), your sebaceous
glands are working to produce sebum, the oil that keeps your skin
moist and pliable.
As your skin renews itself, the old cells die and slough off. When
cells are shed unevenly, they clump together with natural skin oil
to form a plug - much like a cork in a bottle.
This plug, or comedo, traps oil and bacteria inside your pore. As
your skin continues to produce oil, the pore swells because of the
plug, and bacteria flourish. Your pore becomes infected and possibly
inflamed.
Clearing
Up Acne Misconceptions
Acne
is not caused by anything you're doing – what you eat, how
often you wash your face or work out – but by a combination
of factors at work far beneath the surface of your skin. Answers
to common misconceptions:
• Dirt does not cause acne - acne is results
from as imbalance in the
process by which your skin sheds dead cells and produces its own
nourishing oil.
• Food does not cause acne
• Anyone can get acne
• A regular skin regimen is more effective than spot
treatment
Anyone
Can Get Acne
About
90% of all teenagers develop acne, which can last an average of
7-8 years. But acne may also start as late as your 20's or 30's,
especially in women whose hormones are constantly fluctuating. Adult
acne can persist for up to 20 years and it’s estimated that
1 in 4 adults between the ages of 25 and 44 experiences acne. Nearly
half of all adult women experience mild to moderate acne. Research
has also shown that genetics play a big part in the development
and persistence of acne, so your family history is a valuable prediction
tool as well.
The
Secret: Control and Prevent
There's
still no cure for acne, with or without a prescription. The secret
to controlling acne is PREVENTION – stopping the formation
of acne before it becomes a visible pimple. To avoid the risk of
permanent scars, it's important to treat acne as soon as the first
signs appear. Even after blemishes disappear, you usually must continue
to use an effective acne treatment to help keep new blemishes from
forming. Just like brushing your teeth helps prevent cavities, a
daily skin care routine helps prevent breakouts. Some rules for
maintaining face fitness:
• Nourish - A balanced diet with fresh, unprocessed
foods from all four groups and plenty of water can help your skin
fight breakouts.
• Cleanse - Gently wash your face twice a
day to remove excess oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. Avoid overwashing.
• Protect - Avoid excess sun exposure and
wear at least SPF 15 sunscreen every day, even if it's cloudy.
• Rest - A good night's sleep (7-8 hours)
can do wonders for your complexion and immune system, so your lesions
clear up more quickly.
• Exercise - Your skin benefits from an increase
in blood flow and blood oxygen level achieved by exercise.
• Prevent - Wear as little makeup as possible,
because it can clog pores. Remove all makeup before you exercise,
or before you go to sleep.
• Relax - When you become tense, sweat glands
in your face tend to produce more oil. It's important to take time
every day to relax.
Choosing
a Treatment
Most
forms of acne are treated with topical medications. Some more severe
cases may require prescriptions and oral medication, but many of
these treatments may cause side-effects.
Proactiv®
Solution is safe and effective for almost everyone, and it can help
prevent blemishes from becoming a larger problem. Its mild formulations
gently exfoliate your skin, remove excess oil, and deliver powerful
acne-attacking medicine. Proactiv® Solution works alone or in combination
with a dermatologist's prescription.
Learn
how Proactiv® can help |
