by pooja aggarwal

Most people deal with acne at some point in their adolescence or adulthood but not everyone knows what really causes it or how to treat it.Acne is not life threatening. However, breakouts that are not properly treated can cause scarring. Breakouts and scarring can damage a persons self esteem. So, it is important that it be properly treated. In order for that to happen it is important to understand what really causes this skin condition and consider some tips for effective treatment.

Common Misconceptions About This Common Skin Condition

You may have heard all kinds of stories about what causes acne. Stories have been past down from parent to child and circulated in the hallways of most middle schools. However, the following four stories are simply myths and do not contribute to skin outbreaks. They include : Poor Hygiene- Acne is not caused because people do not wash their faces. In fact, frequent face washing may contribute to it. The best plan is to wash your face gently twice a day.Poor Diet -There is no evidence to support that eating pizza, French fries or chocolate contributes to pimples. Eating a well balanced and healthy diet is always a good skin care option, however.Stress -Again, there is no scientific evidence to support the fact that stress causes acne.Sun Will Improve your Skin -This is just not true. However, there is a lot of documentation about the harmful effects of the sun on skin. A tan may mask acne symptoms but it does not cure it.

Baby Steps

The first thing you have to start doing is a skin care routine. You have to develop a good skin care routine that use daily. It should include cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturizing.In addition to these steps you also need to have spot treatment plans. You may need to do spot treatment for dry skin, oily skin and when you have a breakout.Dry skin needs to be moisturized with a non-oil based moisturizer. Dry skin encourages the skin to produce more oil and therefore can easily lead to acne.Oily skin occurs when excess oil is produced and is the breeding ground for acne. Using the correct products in your daily skin care routine can really help to cut down on excess oil production. Acne can be treatment with topical creams. Be sure to follow the directions on the package closely. Many of these OTC treatments contain ingredients that dry out the skin and can cause more trouble than good should you experience drying.

Additional Advice

There are many treatments on the market and finding the right one to use will involve some trial and error. Whichever treatment that you find works for you, can be made more effective with these simple tips: gently wash your face with a mild cleanser, do not touch, pick, squeeze or otherwise play with the blemishes and, use cosmetics labeled noncomedogenic. Also, whichever treatment you choose needs to be used as directed and for enough time to determine if it works. If you do not see an improvement in about 8 weeks, it is time to look for a different solution.So, now that you know what really causes acne and how to get the most from your skin treatment you can look forward to clear beautiful skin.

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