Recommended ways to remove blackheads

Blackheads are the slightly different sibling of zits, and like zits, squeezing them can be addictive. Composed of the same oil, or sebum, that contributes to the production of pimples, blackheads result from a building up of this oil in pores – the difference in appearance is the result of the blackhead’s exposure to the air, the reaction of which with the oil causes the trademark black color of these blemishes. And while blackheads are more easily obscured by makeup, they can seem less offensive to the sufferer, and as a result, less damaging to squeeze. But the bad news is that this is not the best way of removing blackheads – the fun stuff is always bad for us! And while squeezing them might be fun, getting rid of them altogether sounds better. So what is the best way to remove blackheads from our lives? Here are some tips for removing blackheads for good.

So, how to get rid of blackheads? Like pimples, blackheads are the result of an underlying skin problem – the over production of oil by glands contained in our skin, exacerbated by the improper shedding of old skin – and rather than removing blackheads by squeezing, the best way to get rid of them is by attacking the source of the problem. A good cleansing routine is one of the best ways to remove blackheads, as it will help wash away excess oil and dead skin particles. A gentle cleanser is a good choice as it won’t dry out the skin excessively (which results in the production of even more of that nasty sebum!). Combined with the use of a gentle exfoliant, which will help remove old skin cells, this is all you need to help keep your skin blackhead free.

But we all know that blackheads can be persistent, so how to get rid of blackheads that are more stubborn? Aggressive manipulation of the skin is never good, and so tips for removing blackheads include above all else a gentle touch. Before attempting to squeeze a blackhead, open up your pores by steaming your face, and then use a blackhead remover or some clean tissue to remove the blockage. Remember – the best way to remove blackheads is to be gentle! An overly heavy hand will only force the blockage deeper into the skin, causing dreaded zits! Surely squeezing isn’t worth that!

Find out more about Acne as well as the Best Acne Treatments and adult acne, acne skin care products, the best acne treatments and more at Peter’s website, Acne All Gone.

How to remove blackheads ?

What are blackheads?

Blackheads are small “plugs” that develop in the pores of the skin. They are caused when the over active sebaceous (oil producing) glands in the skin become clogged with oil. This sebum then begins to harden in the pore. Since skin pores are open to the air, the top part of the hardened sebum or oil oxidizes, turning black. This black top of the oil plug is then forced closer to the surface of skin by the oil hardening beneath it. This then causes the blackhead to be visible.

It is not clearly understood why the sebaceous glands begin to become overactive. It is often noted that this situation begins at puberty, and may stop at the end of puberty leading to the conclusion that it is hormonally controlled. For some people this is not the case however, and they may continue to experience blackheads and whiteheads well past puberty and into adulthood. Whiteheads are formed the same way as blackheads with the exception that the pore is closed and the oxidation does not occur.

Acne results from infection of the oil gland due to the blockage by the blackhead. Preventing and removing blackheads helps to control acne.

Blackhead Removal

The following are some tips for removing blackheads:

- Keep the skin as clean and oil free as possible. Use natural or chemically prepared cleansers, astringent solutions or masks to accomplish this. Avoid harsh soaps that may irritate the skin or any creams that leave an oily finish.

- Use a gentle exfoliant to keep the dead cells off your skin and away from the pore openings.

- Avoid harsh squeezing or scraping at the blackhead. Excessive squeezing can damage the skin surround the pore and can actually increase the size of the pore leading to more blackheads in the future.

- A warm compress of water applied to the area of the blackhead followed by a very, very gentle pressure can help in clearing the clog from the pore.

- Commercial “blackhead strips” which are basically a tape like substance that is placed over the nose and then pulled off will remove some blackheads that are at the surface. Caution should be used with these products and it is important to read the directions completely before deciding to use the strips or not.

Check out http://www.stopping-acne-now.com for articles about getting rid of pimples and acne scars removal

Here’s how to get rid of pimples quickly and safely

It’s everyone’s worst nightmare. Waking up the day before a special event to discover a big, red pimple baring itself for all to see right on your face!

Here’s how to get rid of it quickly and safely:

1. Don’t ever pinch, squeeze or pick at a pimple. This only causes it to become more red and inflamed, and will spread the bacteria and oils that caused it in the first place, to other parts of your face! It can also lead to scars.

2. Every 30 minutes, apply an ice pack to the pimple and hold it there for about 2 minutes. This will decrease the swelling and redness and help shrink the inflammation and pain that sometimes comes along with it.

3. They don’t call it concealer for nothing! Covering the pimple with a light dose of flesh-tinted concealer can help mask it when you’re in a hurry. It also helps cover up that oily shine.

4. Cleanse your skin 2-3 times a day with mild, unscented soap or a specialized acne cleanser that has no harsh chemicals (such as lye). Scrub skin gently with an exfoliating pad or washcloth, but don’t rub too hard, otherwise you’ll sap your skin of its own natural oils, which help to repel buildup naturally.

5. Apply a cream or ointment containing benzyl peroxide or salicylic acid (many over-the-counter acne medicines contain these ingredients) to the blemish or around the entire facial area. Note that these ingredients both have a tendency to dry out skin if used too much and are not recommended if you have sensitive skin.

6. Wear oil-free makeup whenever possible. These types have less of a tendency to cause the pore buildup that results in blemishes. Remove your makeup nightly and cleanse with an acne-fighting medicine to remove dirt, oil and makeup from deep within the skin.

7. If you’re in need of a quick fix, a dab of toothpaste on the affected area right before bed can help soothe irritation and reduce redness. Pressing and holding a wet tea bag or a cotton ball with a dab of lemon juice against the blemish for five minutes can also reduce swelling and redness.

If you follow these tips, chances are you’ll notice a significant difference rather quickly – often within a day or two. If pimples become a recurring problem or worsen, your doctor or dermatologist can suggest a daily skin cleansing routine that will suit your skin type. Other long-term remedies, such as facial masks, diet adjustments and increasing the amount of water you drink can also help combat outbreaks.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

The Importance of Washing your face

When you start to get acne there are a few things that people tell you. Don’t eat junk food? Lower your stress level? Put creams on your pimples? Take tetracycline? Well all of these ideas are great but the one core is to make sure that you keep your skin clean. Washing and keeping your skin to keep it clean is not going to clear up all of your acne but it can go a long way to taking good care of your skin. Here are some things to think about when you are washing your skin.

Wash early and often. It is important to wash your face and if you have acne on your chest and shoulders to keep these clean by washing them first thing in the morning and also at noon, after school, and in the evening before bed. This may seem a little often but you do want to make sure that your skin never has excess oils or that your pores can become clogged.

Wash with very clean soap. It is almost good enough to clean your skin just with water to protect against acne because many soaps can irritate your skin more than they help and your want to care for your skin, not dry it out. My favorites are hibitane for its antibacterial features or just plain, unscented glycerine soap. Remember that even if your skin is really oily it is still a very good idea not to dry it out.

Pat your skin dry. We seem to be taught at some point to rub our skin to dry it but this is very hard on your skin. Instead make sure that you are just patting your skin dry instead of ever rubbing. I have been doing this for many years now and am convinced that my face looks a lot younger than it should because of patting my face and not rubbing it.

Washing your face for acne is one of those important things that you can do to take care of your acne problems. Try following these rules for a few days and be sure to notice if your skin gets too dry. If your skin gets dry or if it is too dry in the first place then you will want to splash water on your face instead of washing your face during the day and just use mild soap for your acne morning and night.

Acne is a very stubborn and embarrassing problem. To learn more about how to prevent or cure your acne problems you should become as educated as possible about acne. Read some more articles about acne by visiting Acne Articles. To learn about a great acne cure visit my blog.

More facts on Acne Scars

Acne leaves scars like any other injury to the skin. Cystic acne always leaves a scar while in some people even mild inflamed acne leaves scars. The scarring depends upon the individual's response to an injury. As we age, these scars become more visible because of loss of collagen in the skin. Let us look at the scar formation in acne.

When acne begins resolving, you first notice a dark spot on the site. Most often it is PIH or Post inflammatory Hyper pigmentation. This fades away in about a year. If it does not resolve during that period, you may have a scar that needs treatment. Acne scars can be either depressed or raised. Raised scars are formed only in those people who form kelloids. Depressed scars are commonly found in everybody else. The depressed scars form because of loss of tissue from the acne site. These depressed scars may look like ice picks, boxcar or rolling. These are the names given to different scars depending upon their look. Such scars do not fade away with time. They need medical intervention to remove. Doctors commonly use surgical and physical procedures such as dermabrasion, chemical peeling, microdermabrasion, surgery, soft tissue filling, laser, etc. to remove the scarring.

The best method is to try and control acne in the initial stages. Once it gets inflamed, it becomes difficult to prevent scarring. If scarring occurs, wait for a year to find out if it was PIH. After that you need to consult your doctor about the procedures that should be followed to get the scar treated. The factors that are considered in deciding about the procedure are- cost, time, pain of treatment, results expected, and your health. After considering these factors, your doctor will decide about the kind of treatment that should be used to remove the scars.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

For more information about how to have good skin that looks young and blemish free, please visit http://www.acnedoctor.us/ This site is dedicated to make you look good. For keeping yourself looking good find out more about the acne that causes damage to our skin. To treat acne scars please visit acnedoctor.us

What is Acne Vulgaris ?

Believe it not, there is nothing vulgar about Acne Vulgaris though people through the centuries have vaguely tried to associate this irritating skin condition to intent sexual activity or frequent masturbation. However, one thing is sure that it first raises its head when someone is at puberty, which is when young people experience the thrill of sex. Acne presumably is associated with hormonal spikes in the younger generation standing at the threshold of youth. Incidentally, Acne Vulgaris denotes common acne, colloquially called pimples, spots or zits.

Now, basics of the common acne or Acne Vulgaris and how it creates problems that are not only physical but to a great extent, psychological too.

We all have hairs on our body, through which we perspire. But skin-softening oils or sebum that is produced by the glands located in the epidermis also come out through the same pores. Things look fine as long as long as the oil or traces of it can see the light of the day through the pores but all hell breaks loose when the pores get clogged, preventing the release of the oil.

The pores are usually blocked by naturally occurring dead skin cells. Yes, as a matter of fact, new skin cells are generated all the while, replacing the old dead cells in the body and that’s precisely how we are regenerated every minute. Coming back to the clogged pores, a lot of mischief has already been done there. A veritable quagmire has developed in the form of an oil embargo under the skin, providing superb breeding ground for bacteria’s and Malassezia multiplying in the confines and ready to explore the outside world.

Next comes the outbreak. Unable to withstand the epidermal pressure, the skin inflames, producing pus-filled boil-like tender swellings in the shape of lesions. These mostly appear on the face, throat, chest, shoulders, upper arm and sometimes on the back as well. Typical acne lesions comprise pustules, papules, comedones, nodules, etc. as also inflammatory cysts.

These conditions prevail during the puberty or a few years thereafter, seldom manifesting later and is often related to a typical response to standard levels of hormones. Also unanswered remains the question as to why it diminishes as people grow in years. Since acne vulgaris affects a large percentage of humans at some stage in life, it is extremely prevalent.

Apart from the hassle caused by this irritable disorder, acne victims suffer from an inferiority complex, resulting in severe depression and disheartenment that occasionally may even lead to suicide or other method of self-debasement. Studies made by a team of psychoanalysts have recently suggested providing more psychological support to acne sufferers than medical relief. The worst part of the whole story is that it affects people during early adolescence when the need for being socially acceptable reigns supreme in the young heart.

Jen Carter is team member and writes regularily about acne treatment, skin tags and other common conditions for Amoils.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Carter

What is the relationship between diet, hygiene and acne ?

Is there a relationship between diet, hygiene and acne? This debate has been going on for many years now and because of the fact that millions across the world are affected by acne, this is a very popular debate. Though there is no scientific proof to show that there is indeed a relationship, but many still continue to believe in the contrary.

One common misconception is that a diet that is rich in potato chips, french fries, sugar and even chocolate can make acne worse. Conversely, a diet that is low in GI does not also cure acne. Both these conditions have been proved to be wrong by scientists and researchers through various studies conducted on thousands of subjects. If anything, a relationship between milk and acne has been found, but about the exact nature of this relationship there is still a lot of doubt.

Another popular misconception is that dirt causes acne or pimples. This means that if someone is exposed to increased dirt, that person is more prone to getting acne. Does this mean that more people who stay in polluted cities suffer from acne compared to others in cleaner places? There is no data to prove this. No, dirt cannot cause acne.

The American Academy of Dermatology as also the Journal of the American Medical Association are of the opinion that no diet can promote acne, and also, there is no food that can prevent a person from getting the pimples. But the guys out there do agree that a healthy diet will help. That is because with the proper diet the natural immunity remains strong, and this itself can be a fighting mechanism to ward off ailments. On the other hand, common nutrients that are absorbed from the foods people eat can aid in acne treatment.

Diet rich in the following are beneficial…

Vitamin A (but mind it – high doses can become toxic), Vitamin B-2 (keeps the body and mind fresh by removing stress and rejuvenating), Vitamin B-3 (apart from lowering cholesterol levels, it also leads to healthy skin), Vitamin E (protects the metabolism of the human body) and Zinc (improves the immunity).

Though no direct relationship has been found between hygiene and diet, but can anyone say anything against staying clean, or hygienic living? But this doesn’t mean that cleaning the face seven times a day using a soap will make the person cleaner and prevent him or her from getting acne. If anything, over washing may cause more harm than good, as soaps may dry up the skin and make it irritable. Use the soap no more than twice daily.

Though it may be itch and be extremely tempting, picking the acne pimples is never a good idea. They can bleed and the bacteria may even go deeper into the skin, worsening the situation. Plus, of course, it can lead to scars.

Jen Carter is team member and writes regularily about acne treatment, skin tag and other common conditions for Amoils.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Carter