Acne Treatment – 7 tips to treating acne

Here is Tip One of Seven.

Acne afflicts 85% of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 24. 25% of those will have permanent scarring that can be relatively light to quite severe. Acne is one of the most common skin diseases in the United States. However, acne is not just a teenage malady, 20% of adults have acne and 60 million Americans have it. With statistics this staggering, it is surprising that only about 11% of acne sufferers seek any type of help or treatment for their acne. Many acne sufferers try over the counter medications to get relief, but many go about it blindly, with no direction or education of what works. Treating acne can not be contained to just one method or lifestyle change; it often is dependent upon several different methods combined.

An Ounce of Prevention
The best way to treat acne is to prevent it. Children as young as 8 years old are now breaking out and studies show that the earlier a person experiences breakouts, the more likely he or she is to have more serious and even scarring acne in later years. Instilling healthy, proactive habits in early childhood can pave the way for a child who will have no acne or at least less severe acne. An adult can use good health practices to obtain and maintain good skin. It is never too late to prevent health maladies or conditions that can be prevented with good health practices. Combining preventative measures while treating an active condition can help twofold in that it begins to instill the healthy, preventative practices and often prevents he condition from worsening, thus making it more easily treatable.

Go Natural
There are many natural remedies that can be used to treat acne.  Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and has been shown to help acne sufferers.  When applied directly to the acne lesions, tea tree oil reduces inflammation and is a gentle but effective antiseptic.  A blend of herbs that has helped with acne is a mixture of equal parts of herbal extracts: sarsparilla, yellow dock, burdock and cleavers.  Take this mixture by one half teaspoon up to three times a day and combine it with a healthy, balanced diet.

Cleansing is the Key
Cleansing is crucial to keeping good skin, but there is a delicate balance between not cleansing enough and cleansing too much.  Either extreme can aggravate acne.  When you cleanse your face, use warm, not hot, water.  Select a gentle cleanser, not something that is very stringent or harsh.  Splash a little warm water on your face, then apply the cleanser using the pads of your fingers rubbing gently in a circular motion.  Rinse your skin well and pat dry.  Do not scrub or treat your skin harshly.  This will only make your condition worse.  If you wear makeup, make sure that you cleanse your face well each night, removing all traces of the makeup.

You are what You Eat
If you want to be healthy on the outside, you need to be healthy on the inside.  Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet that incorporated fresh fruits and vegetables, will go a long way in helping you have good skin.  Dark green, leafy vegetables are very good for your skin as are foods that contain beta carotene and copper.  Most of these are elements are found in vegetables.  Fatty foods do not directly contribute to acne, but they can cause your body's functioning capacity to be reduced and that can ultimately lead to skin that is acne prone.

Give it a Rest
Sleep is vital to how your entire body works, not just your skin.  When you give your body adequate rest, it is able to rebuild tissue and revive itself.  Adequate rest will reduce your stress level, improve your mood and keep you healthier – all factors in having good skin.

Drink Water
Your body needs water to function properly.  When you do not drink enough water you can experience a variety of problems including headaches, muscle cramps – and acne.  When your body is dehydrated, so is your skin.  In an effort to moisturize itself, the skin tries to replace the missing water with sebum.  Sebum can become trapped in pores and hair follicles and become infected.  This results in a pimple.  When the trapped sebum becomes oxidized, it becomes a blackhead.  If you drink enough water (about 8 glasses or 64 ounces a day minimum) your skin stays hydrated naturally and there is less production of sebum.

Medicate and Moisturize
If you decide to use over the counter remedies, 1) combine the treatment with a healthy diet, drinking water and getting adequate sleep, 2) choose a treatment that is gentle and right for your skin, and 3) moisturize.  Find a moisturizer that is formulated for acne prone skin and is water based.  If you use makeup, choose a base that is water based or try one of the new mineral makeups.