Sunday, July 02, 2006

All About Acne












What Is Acne ?

Acne is a skin condition where our skin's oil glands produce too much sebum (an oily substance) that leads to clogged pores and outbreaks of lesions commly known as pimples or zits .Besides that, the rapid production of bacteria can also create acne . Acne lesions usually occur on the face,neck , back , chest and shoulders. Although it is not a serious health threat, severe acne can lead to permanent scarring , which may eventually impact on our lifestyle and quality of life.

3 Stages Of The Acne

Life Cycle Stage 1 : Acne begins when hair follicles are plugged up by sebum, causing cellls to clump and form a plug -this indicates the phase one of a blemish.

Stage 2: Occurs when bacteria , which desire the air tight environment created by the plug , start feeding and breeding inside the pores.

Stage 3 : When the body responds by sending white blood cells to fight these bacterial invaders, inflammation -small pink bumps , pimples, and sometimes nodules and cysts - commences. This inflammation results in scarring , dark marks, discolouration.

On Treating Acne

Unfortunately, acne is more than just a temporary concern . Acne is an inflammatory condition that can result in scarring and discolouration from past acne that eventually lead to a future acne. A total approach to fighting acne includes addressing issues presented by past , present and future acne :

  • Past Acne
Treatment should address the effects of past acne , such as textural damage , hyperpigmentation, and acne scars. To diminish these remnant marks, powerful antioxidants like alpha lipoic acid is added as a free radical fighting ingredient to stimulate the skin's nutrient intake , promotiong healthy skin cell renewal and scarred tissue repair .

  • Present Acne
Treatment should address the issues of present acne , such as redness , irritation , breakouts, oiliness, and black heads. This is accomplished by opening the pores and reducing bacteria , oil production, and inflammation . Ingredient such as Salicylic acid penetrates oily , enlarged pores to eliminate most blemishes. As for minimizing the redness associated with most blemish-prone skin , licorice extracts is excellent in soothing skin.
  • Future Acne
An effective acne treatment program not only works to clear the signs of past and present breakouts, but also helps to ensure the future healthy look of your complexion . Other then keeping the skin clean to prevent oil build-up and future breakouts, the prevention of future acne breakouts,scarring , and inhibiting discolouration are also crucial . In the current markets, very few acne product address these concerns. To ensure the future health of the skin , active ingredients such as Hexapeptide-2 and Lactic acid are very effective . Hexapeptide-2 helps to reduce the potential development of dark spots while supporting the skin's natural resistance to the aging effects of environment . Lactic acid , a form of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) speeds up the skin's natural process of exofliation to remove excessive dead skin cells to reveal a smoother, clearer skin .