These 3 Things Could Be The Source Of Your Body Acne
Acne is proven to be the most common skin disorder in the U.S., and it affects nearly 50 million Americans. With nearly 85% of people reporting to have had acne at some point in their lives, it's a universal quest to find the best skin care treatments that will help you prevent acne scars. But what about people who experience back acne? Before you can find the best body acne treatment, it's important to become familiar with some of the causes of body acne, so you have the information you need to avoid acne scars and further breakouts.
Hormones
One of the most common acne causes is hormonal unbalance. This could be caused by the process of puberty, or could be the result of a greater issue. Make sure that if your back acne doesn't respond to over-the-counter treatments, you let your doctor know immediately, so they can help you find the real cause of the breakouts and establish a care regimen for you.
Clogged pores
If you're experiencing persistent back acne, it could be a result of the products you use clogging your pores. This could be your usual body wash or conditioner, even if you've been using it for a while. Try switching your hair and body products, and make sure that you're thoroughly washing your body to remove excess dirt and oils.
Irritation
In order to prevent acne scars, you should never pick at or pop your zits. This could irritate the surrounding tissue, causing additional breakouts and increasing your likelihood of acne scarring. Make sure that you leave any existing breakouts alone, and let them run their course, or you pose the risk of causing additional breakouts and making the entire situation worse.
If your acne won't respond to the over-the-counter treatments or adjustments to your skin-care routine, make sure you see a dermatologist. These specialists will be able to help you find the specific causes of your acne, whether it's on your face or on your body, and can plan the best routine for you.
These Changes Can Help Clear Up Your Acne
If you have cystic acne, you're not alone. Currently affecting nearly 40 to 50 million Americans, acne is a condition that at least 85% of people will experience at some point in their life. By their teenage years, more than 40% of young adults have already experienced acne, back acne, and/or acne scars. It can seem like the best skin care routines are few and far between, but the truth is that there are simple ways for you to avoid additional breakouts. Small changes to your routines can make a big difference when it comes to your skin. Try these easy tricks today, and you'll be sure to see an improvement in your skin.
Wash your pillowcases
If you've been experiencing stubborn breakouts, even if you diligently wash your face, it could be your pillowcase. When you sleep on the same pillowcase for more than a few nights, you leave behind all of the oils and dirt that your face has gathered for all those days. This debris can re-enter your pores at night, and can lead to additional breakouts. Make sure you wash your pillowcase a couple times a week, so you can rest easy knowing there's a safe place for your skin to rest.
Wash your makeup brushes
When you use the same tools to apply makeup day after day, they get clogged up with the products, and also additional oils from your face. Make sure that you wash your makeup brushes regularly using a gentle brush cleaner, or a makeup-removing face wash. Let them air dry and repeat every couple of days. Not only will you notice a decrease in your skin's breakouts, but you'll also see a more even makeup application with a cleaner, softer brush.
Wash your glasses
Some people don't notice that their glasses can be covered in makeup, oil, and dirt. Specifically around the bridge of the nose and where the lenses rest near the cheeks, you could experience breakouts from clogged pores and oily buildups. Make sure that you regularly clean the frames of your glasses, so to reduce the extra exposure to contamination, and prevent irritation to existing cystic acne.
If it seems like you've tried everything, over-the-counter and behavioral changes included, pay your dermatologist a visit, and find out what the best path of care will be for you.
When Should You See a Dermatologist For Your Acne?
When you're part of the 85% of people who will experience acne at some point in their life, then you've probably dealt with plenty of acne treatment remedies. The amount of acne treatment products on the market today offer a wide array of choices you can make to find the best skin care routine for you. But when is it time to take your acne really seriously? Here are some of the signs that you should take your acne concerns to your dermatologist.
Acne treatment products don't work
If your acne gels, creams, and washes have stopped reducing your breakouts, then it could be a sign that your acne isn't going to clear up anytime soon. Usually, acne is caused by oil and dirt deposits clogging your pores from external contact. But you could also have cystic acne, which won't respond the same way to cleansers designated to remove oil. Visit your dermatologist if these products don't work for you.
You have scarring
Acne scars can form when a pimple pops, due to the impacted tissue surrounding it. To avoid acne scars, it's important not to pop, pick, or squeeze your zits. This could lead to further damage and contamination of your breakouts, or complete reformation of the ones you tried to pop in the first place. To avoid the creation of acne scars, be sure to keep your hands off your breakouts, but if you already have substantial scarring, seek out a dermatologist to figure out the right care routine for you.
It affects your day-to-day life
Anywhere from 40 to 50 million Americans are affected by acne, so you can be sure you're not alone. Even still, it can feel as though unwanted and severe acne controls your life, just by controlling your face. Take a stand against your breakouts, and find a dermatologist that can work with your skin type to establish the best care routine for you. You'll thank yourself when your skin is clear, vibrant and blemish free.
5 Common Skin Conditions Treated by Dermatologists Today
Let’s face it — it’s easy to talk about acne treatments, prevention, and causes simply because it’s such a widespread issue. But acne isn’t the only serious skin problem that your local dermatologist is capable of treating, and it certainly isn’t the only common skin condition that people deal with on a daily basis.
With that in mind, let’s take a quick break from talking about acne, and instead, look at a few other skin-related conditions that can be treated by your local dermatologist.
- Psoriasis: About 7.5 million Americans are currently living with psoriasis, which is a chronic skin condition related to immune system dysfunction. Psoriasis flare-ups typically include flaking, inflammation, or red patches of skin. More than just a patch of dry skin, psoriasis may require prescription-strength topical creams, pills, injections, or even light therapy (phototherapy) to treat.
- Eczema: Eczema is another chronic skin condition that is sometimes linked to immune system disorders, but also to genetics. This condition doesn’t allow moisture to absorb into the skin and it leads to patches of itchy, dry, red, and irritated skin.
- Rosacea: Named for the bright red color that an affected area of skin will turn, rosacea typically appears on the face on the cheeks, chin, and/or nose. This sometimes causes breakouts that look like normal acne, but it might also just cause patches of skin to turn a bright reddish color.
- Varicose veins and spider veins: There are a variety of reasons why people develop varicose veins, ranging from genetics to having a profession that involves a lot of standing. Pain and cramping in the legs accompanies twisted, raised veins that are very visible through the skin. There are many varicose vein treatment options, including laser treatments, injections, and small lifestyle changes that may alleviate the pain and cramping associated with this problem.
- Warts: These are very common growths on skin, most often affecting children. Warts are noncancerous and usually don’t hurt. Nevertheless, warts are still caused by a virus and can spread from person to person, and it’s not hard at all to treat. Cryotherapy is probably the most common treatment for benign growths on the skin and it uses a freezing agent, like liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, to remove the growth.
See, your local dermatologist treats tons of conditions that aren’t related to acne at all! Luckily, there are plenty of treatments available for these conditions which are affordable, safe, and simple.
If You Want to Avoid Acne Scars, Avoid Doing This
It's hard to know exactly what the best skin care treatment is for your skin. You could have problems with excessive oil, or dryness, or maybe a combination of the two. But with nearly 85% of all people suffering from acne at some point in their lives, there's a probable chance that you've struggled with acne scars. Acne scars can be caused by quite a few behaviors; here is a quick guide to spotting which behaviors will be the most damaging to your skin.
Popping pimples
More than 40% of teens have acne scars, most likely because they have a tendency to pop their pimples. You should never pick, scratch, or pop your zits, no matter how tempting it may be. The excessive oil and dirt buildups on your hands can transfer into your pores, creating additional breakouts and infections that will only make the problem worse. When you pop your pimples, you also risk impacting the tissues around the breakout, which is one of the causes of acne scars.
Improper cleansing
If you don't wash your face frequently enough, you could put yourself at risk for more acne scars. A greater number of breakouts will mean more irritated skin. This additional inflammation can alter your skin's ability to properly heal, leaving you with even more of a chance for scarring. The best way to prevent breakouts and to avoid additional scars is to gently wash your face daily to remove any excess oil.
Negligent care
If you have really severe acne, whether it's face or back acne, it's a good idea to go to a dermatologist. The best acne treatment for your skin is something that only a dermatology specialist can really diagnose, and leaving the problem to fix itself can make your chance of getting acne scars even worse. Don't take a passive role in your skin care routine. Visit a dermatologist to learn about what's causing your acne, and learn what you can do to help it to heal.
Cancerous Moles: What to Look For and When to See a Doctor
When a new mole appears, a brief panic sets through your mind as you consider the possibility of it being cancerous. Moles are tiny growths on the skin that develop when pigment cells, known as melanocytes cluster together, rather than being distributed across the skin. As years pass, moles can change, or even disappear. However, if you have a mole that changes color, size, or shape, you may want to have it checked out.
Most moles are between the size of a pencil tip and the size of an eraser, and are pink, brown, or tan in color. If your mole is dark, uneven in color, or asymmetrical, it can be a sign that it is cancerous. Other important signs to look for are dry skin around the surface of the mole, or the mole becoming hard or bumpy. If the mole begins to itch, bleed, or ooze, contact your doctor immediately.
Keep an eye on any new growths on skin that you may find, as they could be signs of skin cancer, such as Melanoma. Melanoma is characterized by the growth of pigment-producing cells, and is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. While Melanoma is highly curable if detected early, unchecked Melanoma can spread to the lymph nodes and internal organs, and some cases have resulted in death. If you have more than 50 moles, large moles, or atypical moles, you have a substantially increased risk of developing melanoma or other forms of life-threatening skin cancers.
If you are unsure whether or not an atypical mole is dangerous, it’s best to go make an appointment with a dermatologist right away, especially if your family has a history of cancerous moles. While most growths on the skin turn out to be benign moles, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Stop Acne By Stopping These Habits
If you're one of the 85% of people who will have acne at some point in your life, you've probably tried everything to get rid of pesky breakouts. About 40 to 50 million Americans are discovering that finding the best acne treatment isn't easy. Many home remedies boast the quickest solutions, but can mean disaster for your skin (I'm talking major acne scars). The best skin care treatments are really up to your dermatologist, but here are some things you need to avoid when trying to banish your breakouts.
Do not pop your zits
Squeezing or popping your pimples can cause serious scarring, but also may be one of the reasons why you still experience breakouts. Though it feels like a quick acne treatment solution, touching your face is one of the worst things you can do for blemish-prone skin, because your hands are covered with their own natural oils, as well as the oil and dirt from anything they've touched. Not only will popping your zits cause tissue trauma and unnecessary bleeding, but it also exposes that fresh wound to contaminants and other clogging oils.
Do not over-wash your skin
Sometimes it feels like the best acne treatment is to scrub your zits away. But too much cleaning can have the opposite effect. Washing your face too many times can be abrasive on your skin, causing inflammation, which leads to additional breakouts. Wash your face once in the morning and once at night, and channel all of your cleansing urges into keeping your hands oil-free and away from your face.
Do not eat greasy food
Lots of people think that a greasy diet is directly responsible for acne. The truth isn't so far off, though. When you eat greasy food, you get that grease on your hands, and when you touch your face, that grease gets on your skin. Therefore, if you avoid touching greasy foods, you can avoid these extra oils getting trapped in your pores.
The moral of the story is: don't touch your breakouts! It may be difficult not to pick and poke, but avoiding interaction with and contamination of your skin will be the difference between a beautiful complexion and a serious pain-in-the-face.
85% of People Get This in Their Lifetimes
Acne is a common skin condition that affects approximately 50 million Americans. Beginning in puberty, acne is well-known for affecting adolescents and teens, and acne and acne scars affect about 40% of teenagers today. However, people well into their adulthood frequently have to deal with acne. People in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and even 50s can have it! Incredibly, 85% of people suffer from acne at least once in their lifetimes.
Because acne is so widespread, there are plenty of acne treatments on the market today. Dermatological research has yielded many effective treatments against acne. Dermatologist acne treatments can be bought both over the counter as well as through a prescription from a dermatologist. Acne is certainly unpleasant to have. There's no reason not to seek treatment — especially since it's so common!
There are a few things you can do, however, before taking acne medication. Here are a few helpful tips on how to keep your skin healthy in the face of acne (no pun intended):
- Leave Your Pimples Alone: It's very tempting to pick at your pimples, rashes, and other symptoms of acne. However, it is not recommended. Not only does "popping" your pimples not reduce your acne at all, it can lead to long-term scarring of the skin tissue even after the acne goes away. Just leave your zits alone!
- Wash Your Face and Hands on a Regular Basis: One reason why acne proliferates is because harmful bacteria makes contact with your skin, causing it to form acne. To prevent this, be sure to watch your face a few times a day and wash your hands after handling something dirty. This will make a big difference in the health of your skin.
- Keep Your Face Moist: Dry skin is bad enough. Dry skin with acne is even worse. In addition to watching your face, make sure it stays moist. Having dry skin can aggravate existing acne.
The 85%: Acne and Other Skin Diseases
Dermatology treats the largest organ of the human body: the skin. The skin serves, first and foremost, as the body's first line of defense against injury and disease. However, the skin has skin diseases of its own that require special medical attention. Some skin conditions, of course, are milder than others. Arguably the most well known skin condition, acne, is relatively mild in that it doesn't cause serious harm (with a few exceptions). On the other hand, melanoma, a form of skin cancer, can be terminal if not treated early on. It's important for everyone to know about the conditions and diseases that can befall the skin.
There are quite of few skin conditions to be aware of. Here are three you should definitely be familiar with:
Acne
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions out there. Nearly 85% of people have acne at least once in their lifetimes. Currently, up to 50 million Americans have acne. Acne causes mild to severe irritation in the skin, and tends to be present in oily areas. Acne scars are the result of people scratching and picking the skin, something you should avoid. There are many acne treatments available, both over-the-counter and prescription-level.
Seborrheic Keratoses
Seborrheic Keratoses (KS) is a common skin growth that cause small to medium sized brown lesions. Although unsightly, they are benign and tend to affect people during old age.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer characterized by the uncontrollable growth of pigment cells. Unless treated in its early stages, it can spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body and can result in death.
If you notice any of these conditions, you should see a dermatologist doctor immediately. Dermatologist doctors provide the best skin care treatments available.
Ancient Acne Remedies (Put WHAT On My Face!?)
Did you know that Ancient Egyptians used to think that acne was caused by telling lies? I won't lie to you, that's got nothing to do with your skin. Almost 85% of people have acne at some point in their lives, and it is the most common skin disorder in the U.S., affecting 40 to 50 million people. That's an awful lot of liars!
Though it isn't caused by deceit, acne can be very deceptive. People have been trying to get rid of it for centuries, but it keeps coming back for more. Check out some of these bizarre acne treatment methods:
Wash your face with urine!
Wait, is that right? That can't be right. The Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine says that “rubbing [a] baby’s face with a recently wet nappy was practiced in the Highlands of Scotland to prevent the child developing acne later and give it a good complexion.” Apparently, there are antibodies present in the urine that are believed to have healing properties (I wouldn't try this one right before work).
Cover your zits in sulfur!
Now, this is from the Egyptians again, so take this remedy in stride. But they and the Greeks would use a mixture of sulfur and molasses to zap their zits. This might not be the best skin care routine; I can only imagine that the sulfur acts as a burning agent, so if you don't want acne scars, I definitely wouldn't try this one at home. Not like you were planning on trying the urine one... were you?
Go get a tan!
Now this one is a little less ridiculous. UV rays are one of the most commonly acknowledged successful acne remedies. A blast of UV radiation was an especially popular treatment in the 1930s, when people would refer to acne as "chastity pimples." This is also an easy thing to try if you have back acne, which can be hard to reach with other methods.
The best skin care option is obviously up to your dermatologist. But check out some home remedies if you're really curious. Just remember not to experiment with anything that's going to burn or scar.