Acne Treatment: Which Over the Counter Drugs Really Work?
November 15, 2009 by
Filed under Acne articles
There are also many over the counter acne treatment products that are sold over the internet. If you are one of those who are on the lookout for an effective acne treatment however, it will be best if you first examine the product based on its ingredients.
What causes acne?
Your sebaceous glands secrete “sebum”, the body oil that moisturizes your skin. If your body produces excessive amount of sebum, this can plug up your pores and hair follicles. When this happens, the follicle wall may burst. This can cause more oil to get stuck on your pores. As oil accumulates, skin bacteria will also build up. More oil and bacteria will infect your skin and cause inflammations and lesions. These skin imperfections lead to an acne breakout.
How most over the counter products work?
When you use over the counter acne products, the acne-producing bacterium known as “Propionibacterium acnes” or simply “P. acnes” is targeted by the powerful cleansing ingredients of the product. Aside from killing the acne producing bacteria, some acne treatment products get rid of pimples by regulating the productions of enzymes and removing the excess oils in the skin. Others just speed up skin cell growth. According to experts however, the best solutions come from products that perform all of these functions.
Ingredients and efficiency
By looking at the ingredients of acne treatment products, you will be able to tell how the medication will work against your acne. Below are some of the most common ingredients used in acne treatment.
Benzoyl peroxide: This is probably the most efficient ingredient in the treatment mix. This chemical solution kills acne-producing bacteria and it also helps the body minimize oil-production. Moreover, it also hastens the process of removing dead skin cells. However, if used excessively, this can have adverse effects on the skin. It can cause dry skin, redness, and swelling. It also increases the body’s sensitivity to UV rays.
Salicylic acid: This acne treatment ingredient works by slowing down cell process in the hair follicles. By preventing rapid skin cell deterioration, the chemical also prevents the pores from clogging up. In correct concentration, salicylic acid also cleans up the clogged pores. However, this chemical may cause skin irritations like mild stinging and itchiness. Most acne products have 0.5 to 2 percent of salicylic acid.
Sulfur and resorcinol: These components come as a pair in most acne products. They function much like the salicylic acid. They remove the dead cells in the skin and reduce the body’s oil production levels. According to some experts, these chemicals can also break down blackheads and whiteheads. However, just like other chemicals, excessive amounts of these chemicals may cause peeling and redness especially for those who have sensitive skin.
By: W. Darren -
About the Author:
3 Signs That Your Acne Treatment Product Works
October 28, 2009 by
Filed under Acne articles
In this article, you will find some of the common signs to watch out to check if the acne treatment product suits you. If you did not see any of these signs while using the product or if you feel that things are getting worst, it might be the time for you to switch to another product or to ask for a consultation from professionals since they are the ones that are knowledgeable in recommending the treatment for your skin type.
The first sign that you will notice if the acne treatment product is working is that the redness and plumpness becomes minimal. One of the reasons why acne is so annoying is that the redness is very visible you become conscious about it. It seems that the acne stands out in your face. After applying the product on your face for about two to three days, there should be an improvement already. The redness should lessen and the acne should appear smaller than it was before. It should appear like it is starting to dry up. Also, you should feel less pain or any form of skin irritation caused by the acne after several days of using the product since it should have been killed the bacteria causing the acne.
The second sign to see if the acne treatment product is working is that you will not see new acne appearing on your skin. Most of the acne treatment products out there in the market promises that it will help eliminate or reduce acne breakout in your skin and there are really good brands in the market that does that.
The third sign that you will notice if the acne treatment product is really effective on your skin is that you will see an improvement on the quality of your skin. Acne treatment products these days are equipped with the ingredient to help you with your acne problems and improve the condition of the skin. This is to help your skin cope after the damage that the acne inflicted on your skin.
These are some of the signs that you need to check if you are trying out a new acne treatment product. These signs may not be present in a certain product all at once but if you are experiencing one of these signs, it could only mean that the product really works in a certain way.
By: 10acne.com -
About the Author:
Acne Breakouts Can be Triggered by Stress
April 30, 2009 by
Filed under Acne Treatments
You’ve got a big meeting in 2 days. You’ve worked on your presentation for over a month and it’s your one shot for the big deal. But what’s this? An acne breakout? Pimples? A sprinkling of whiteheads? What’s going on? You eat right, wash your face regularly with men’s skincare products and use acne treatment products. How could this happen to you? You need to have an acne free, polished and professional appearance to work your magic!
Strange as it may sound, your stress level might be aggravating the acne breakout. Once considered pure fiction, medical research has just begun affirming that the connection between stress and men’s acne is a fact.
According to a 2007 study reported on WebMD, teens undergoing high stress levels (think exam time), were 23% more likely to have an acne breakout than in non-stressful times. German researchers at the Free University in Berlin reaffirmed this in a study on adults, finding that subjects suffering from stressful conditions had more acne breakouts than those who didn’t.
A new field of research has been created to explore the relationship between the brain and skin conditions. It’s called Psychodermatology. Studying the impact of mental stress on the skin, these researchers consider a wide array of skin disorders, including eczema, hives, hair loss, rosacea, psoriasis - and of course, acne breakouts.
What is the connection? Scientists are still debating whether stress officially causes acne blemish breakouts, or simply aggravates existing acne by provoking breakouts. One reason acne may be caused in a stressful situation is the domino effect of the body’s ‘fight or flight’ reaction. It causes the body to up its manufacturing of male hormones, resulting in a greater production of sebum (the oily substance that lubricates skin). Increased sebum production means oily skin – and oily skin means clogged pores and acne breakouts. If you think this mind-body connection is all bunk, what about stress-induced migraines and ulcers? Suddenly the concept of ‘acne born of stress’ isn’t so farfetched after all.
Stress also hinders the healing process of men’s skin. Over time, stress has been shown to weaken the immune system, causing men’s skin to take significantly more time to repair acne stressed skin. Frequent bouts of acne can also lead to low self-esteem and a stressed-out mentality, furthering the vicious cycle of stress and acne.
Even if you don’t suffer from stress-related acne, stress can still do a number on your appearance. When you’re stressed, you sleep less. Lack of sleep dehydrates skin, preventing men’s skin cells from replenishing themselves. In addition to a fatigued appearance, men’s skin will sag and dark under-eye circles will appear.
If you’re like most busy, stressed out men, you don’t always have the time to prepare helpful meals and aren’t getting enough antioxidants in your diet. Antioxidants are known for their ability to improve overall skin quality, so taking MenScience’s Advanced Antioxidants nutritional supplement may help contribute to acne stressed skin repair and the prevention of acne outbreaks. Stress also wreaks havoc on a man’s diet by increasing appetite levels, especially cravings for high fat, carbohydrate rich ‘comfort foods’ that are lacking in adequate nutrients and vitamins. Besides making you sluggish, comfort foods will make you pack on the pounds, an added source of stress. If you’ve been eating too many fattening foods, take MenScience’s Advanced CLA Supplement Formula to boost your metabolism and transform your extra fat into energy.
Whether stress causes acne, or acne causes stress, it’s important for men to address both the physical and mental aspects of stress related acne. Treat acne- prone skin with a clinically developed, pharmaceutical-grade acne treatment like the MenScience Acne Treatment System to lastingly eliminate acne. Using the gentle Daily Face Wash cleanser, the acne-fighting, clarifying Advanced Face Tonic and medicated Acne Therapy Lotion, all by MenScience Androceuticals, can dramatically reduce men’s acne breakouts– with or without stress. Following a good regimen, getting adequate rest and engaging in moderate exercise will help you to face the head honchos with ease - without looking like you’re a pubescent, acne faced teenager who can’t handle stress. For more on MenScience products, visit MenScience.com.
