How to Prevent and Treat Acne Scars

Acne sufferers face more than one concern. There is of course the constant nuisance of the acne itself. There is also the anxiety caused by the acne scars and lesions which will render the skin an aesthetic disaster. The reason for this is that most people believe that acne is a temporary situation whereas you are stuck with acne scars for the rest of your life. Undoubtedly there are numerous acne scar treatments in the market today which work quite well. But the downside is there are some types of acne whose scars cannot be eliminated because they run too deep. Therefore you must ensure that no scars form in the first place because you wouldn't want to take on the emotional and financial burden of dealing with permanent scars. What we will be discussing here are the many forms of acne scars which exist, the ways to treat them and last but not least, how to prevent them by tackling the internal causes of the condition. Types of Acne Scars, their causes and their diagnosis Studies show that severe acne which develops in the deeper layers of the dermis, causing nodules and cysts to form, is what mostly causes acne scars. There are other causes also like infection, cystic acne which works its way deep into the dermis and an overgrowth of skin tissues. Squeezing or popping acne can also cause scars. It has been seen that, no matter what type of acne they have contracted, some people are more prone to get scarred than others. And occasions arise where the body itself makes a mess of its wound healing process: whether in the process of formation of new capillaries or by improper collagen deposit or in its response to the swelling or anabolic and catabolic phases; errors in any of these healing equations could lead to scarring. Whatever may be the causes, to avert the possibility of permanent scarring, start treating your acne scars as soon as you can. Acne scars can be of two varieties: those which come about because of skin tissue loss and those which form because of an increase in skin tissue formation. Formation of scars because of skin tissue increase The acne scars which form because of increased skin tissue are usually Keloids scars. Keloids scars, which tend to strike people with dark complexions, emerge when excessive collagen is produced by cells during the healing process. These scars tend to be irregularly shaped and firm and are usually smooth. Acne scars which emerge due to skin tissue loss: Acne spots: a discoloration of the skin to brown or red characterizes these acne scars. Acne spots usually fade away with time or with the help of topical scar treatments. Similarly, post inflammatory hyper pigmentation, which often follows acne breakouts, fades away naturally, but to quicken the process you should try MSM. Ice-pick lesions: the name says it all. Such acne scars resemble ice on which repeated cuts have been made with an ice pick. They usually appear on the cheeks. The scars can be either deep or superficial and are more difficult to get rid of than discoloration scars. Depressed fibrotic scarring: deep nodules leave behind this type of acne scars. They are white and rigid and are characterized by sharp margins and steep sides. Atrophic scar macules: Acne scars of this type are small and white and are generally soft and distensible. Boxcar scars, characterized by vertical edges and round indentations and rolling acne scars which are the result of the surface of the skin getting stuck to the subcutaneous layer are other types of acne scars. Acne Scars and their treatments Mostly, acne scars fade away slowly, as do Post inflammatory pigmentations but there are some which resist removal. The only way to smoothen them away is through topical treatment or surgical cosmetic intervention. Each acne scar needs to be tackled in its special way. There are also scars which require to be treated through a combination of several eradication methods. Very many treatments exist for getting rid of scars and these include: pulsed laser technology, dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, punch techniques, collagen injections and creams. Collagen injection is a method whereby collagen or fat is injected under the skin. This method is mostly suitable for soft scars, whether they are deep or shallow. However, it has to be kept in mind that this is a short term solution and these injections have to be administered every 6 months. Moreover, collagen injections produce some unpleasant side effects and allergic reactions may also develop. Microdermabrasion is a scar treatment in which tiny particles are passed through a vacuum tool. The intention is to scrape the external top layer of the skin. The method stimulates and enhances the growth of new cells but is only effective in cases of mild scarring. Laser resurfacing is a method by which the skin layer is flattened and resurfaced with the help of laser. This is done so that scars become more even with the surface of the skin and are therefore less noticeable. It has been found that newly formed acne scars respond better to laser treatment than do the old ones. However, this process can cause disagreeable side effects such as infection and an unusual reddening of the skin. At times, it can even aggravate the scars. Punch grafting is a technique which involves the slicing of the acne scar right down to the layer of fat and then stitching it up by using a small skin graft. Different types of scars have to be treated differently. Let us tell you about the recommended treatments in respect of the various types of acne scars. Alpha lipoic acid acne cream and MSM are excellent for use on post hyper pigmentation marks. Laser resurfacing or dermabrasion are the recommended treatments for ice pick scars. However, these scars do not respond positively to Collagen injections which should only be used on flat or thin scars. The Keloids acne scars can be smoothened with steroid injections, crytotherapy, silicone gel dressing and with pulsed laser treatment combined with carbon dioxide laser vaporization (where there is not too much thickness or too much redness on the keloid scars). Acne Scar prevention In the final analysis of course, the cheapest and best way of getting out of the nuisance factor of dealing with acne scars is to rid yourself of the acne condition. And the only sure and permanent way of curing your acne is by putting in place methods which would redress the internal cause of your acne. Conventional medications, topical or over the counter acne treatments or steroids really don't help. When you are able to correct the deep rooted internal factors that really are the cause of your acne formation, you will automatically be free of any acne scarring and also free of the never ending expenses that you incur in taking treatment for its removal. You must understand that although acne develops on the surface of the skin, as do the scars that appear as a result of the acne, acne is not a skin problem. It forms because of flaws in your internal balance deep inside. Acne and consequently acne scarring are both caused by problems which are wholly internal. You yourself can do away with the acne scars and do this even before they form by going to the root of the problem deep inside you. This way you will stop the very process of acne formation and be able to live your life free of acne and consequently, of acne scars as well. It will give an impetus to your existence as you will not be burdened by the emotional load of having to carry disfiguring scars on your face. Mike Walden is a medical researcher, certified nutritionist, health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Acne No More- Open The Door To an Acne Free Life". Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. To Learn More About Mike Walden's Unique 5-Step Holistic Acne Cure System Visit: Acne Treatment Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1532791

Acne Treatment - 9 Myths and Real Facts About Acne

Anyone who suffers from acne already knows the truth about this one. A minor breakout is probably because you have been burning the midnight oil or are a bit hormonal. Acne is a dermatological condition that needs treatment as early as you spot it (no pun intended). There are 5 different kinds of acne, ranging from moderate to severe and while the most common (acne vulgaris) can be treated with hormones, not all types can be. Some can even be made worse, so make sure you see a dermatologist who can treat your acne effectively. 2. Acne is just for kids Myth A quarter of male acne sufferers and half of female acne sufferers are adults. Most had the condition in their teens but many had clear skin all through their teens and only developed acne in their twenties, thirties and even forties. 3. Washing more will help Half-true One study of acne found that not washing at all made acne worse but washing four times a day had the same ill-effect. The best approach was to use a mild cleanser twice and day, morning and evening. Adult acne in previously clear-skinned people may be caused by not keeping the skin clean. Dead skin cells mix with skins natural sebum and block the pores. While the acne may not improve through cleansing alone, keeping your skin gently clean makes sure that you don't exacerbate the condition. 4. You're just being vain Myth Not only can acne leave physical and emotional scars, it may be a sign of a more serious hormonal imbalance. Adult acne sufferers who had clear skin as teenagers are advised to be tested for abnormally high levels of testosterone (the hormone thought to be primarily responsible for acne). 5. Sunlight gives you clear skin Half-true In some cases it can, but not when dealing with acne. Psoriasis has been known to respond well to UV light, but sunlight is only a temporary relief from acne. After prolonged exposure to the sun, the skin may backlash and make acne worse. There are also the small matters of skin cancer and aging to consider, so make sure you keep using sun screen. There are some that are better for acne sufferers than others (see our tips on acne treatments below). 6. Sugar gives you acne Myth Sugar won't help you make friends with your dentist, but it won't make much difference to your acne treatment. Common sense suggests that a healthy diet, plenty of rest and exercise will lower your stress levels and improve your fitness, which never hurt. Also, excessive consumption of some preservatives and additives that are often found in sugary foods have been linked to hormonal imbalances, but sugar by itself is not the enemy. 7. Keep your hair off your face Myth Mums say this because you like the way you look and wish you wouldn't hide your face. The oil from your hair won't make acne worse as long as you are keeping your skin gently cleaned. Just make sure you're not hiding behind your hair - it sounds like a cliche but confidence really does make people more attractive than any other quality. 8. It will just disappear one day. Myth Although some cases of acne eventually disappear by themselves, even the most aggressive treatments will take 6-8 weeks to show any results. Even after this amount of time you may not see any improvement as acne treatment is often a case of trial and error for dermatologists and their patients. Everyone is different and finding the perfect combination of approaches may take some time. 9. Acne is inherited Myth The only thing that is inherited is the amount of testosterone (and other androgen-type hormones) that a person produces. If you develop acne, no-one will be able to tell you why and be suspicious of anyone who does - they may just be trying to sell you a "miracle cure". So what can I do about it? There are a number of chemical and natural ways to combat acne. Try these after you've spoken to a good dermatologist, he or she will be able to help you decide the combination of treatments that suit you best. Topical Creams Available over the counter, you've probably used a few of these. They are designed to unblock pores so that your skins natural oils can move and be disposed of the way your skin intended. Pretty much anything containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid is good for mild cases of acne, in teenagers and adults. This is especially true when the cream is blended with an antibiotic. Make sure you use a sunscreen that is suitable for acne. You may need to drop the protection factor down from 30 to 15 or thereabouts to get away from the heavy greasy creams. Look for a sunscreen that comes in a gel or spray and contains an ingredient called Mexoryl (either the X or FX varieties) as these won't clog your pores. Prescription medications For more severe cases, these will either be hormones or antibiotics and are often used over a couple of years to control and improve acne. Men often suffer from worse cases of acne than women because they produce more testosterone and prescription medications are more commonly used for men than for women. Acne medications containing the ingredient Isotretinoin are commonly prescribed but if you are a woman considering this treatment, be aware that it has been linked to severe birth defects so ask your dermatologist plenty of questions and make sure you feel comfortable with the information. The Pill is one option for women and has been proven to effectively combat some forms of acne. Natural Treatments Natural is a word that must be approached with caution. Mother Nature gave us many cures but also many poisons. There are also many 'natural' therapies whose ingredient list reads like the inventory of a chemical laboratory! Listed here are a few commonly used natural acne treatments but use your common sense and if you don't know what it is, don't put it in your body. Witch-hazel: An all-purpose astringent used as a toner. This one is completely safe at the dosages found in most cosmetic products, but that may mean it's too diluted to be an effective acne treatment. It does feel lovely on the skin after cleansing though. Tea-tree oil: Can be great for treating occasional outbreaks of acne, but will probably be too harsh to skin to use for too long. Also, tea-tree oil can be damaging if you are taking acne medication as they may react and cause inflammation. Oats: Not only do they taste great for breakfast, but oats used in a facial scrub (gently, please) provide a light exfoliant and antiseptic properties. Vitamin A: Great for the eyesight but unfortunately toxic if taken at the dosage you need to combat acne. Cosmetic surgery An extreme approach to acne and acne scars, this usually involves dermabrasion or micro-dermabrasion with follow-up treatments that involve further sessions and take-home creams. Other options include laser treatment or light treatment. These may dramatically reduce acne, but all have potential side-effects as well as being expensive. If you choose this method of treating acne, research as many cosmetic surgery practitioners as you can, ask lots of questions and don't ever feel rushed. Get information and shop for acne treatment and acne soap http://www.cleopatraschoice.com/acne-soap.html including sulfur soap http://www.cleopatraschoice.com/sulfur-soap.html online at Cleopatra's Choice Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1080469

Acne Treatments Online - Curing Your Acne Easily With The Information Available Online

Never before has it been so easy to get rid of your acne today. Today you can find an abundance of information online such as Acne Blogs, Message Boards, and all those Acne Websites and Acne Products out there. But the only problem is... How do you sort out what will really work for YOU and what won't? Most acne sufferers start out by using acne creams, lotions, and ointments. If that doesn't work, you might end up visiting a dermatologist for prescription meds such as accutane, antibiotics, or more creams. Other acne sufferers turn to many websites touting various supplements available... B5, Omega-3 fish oil, anti-oxidants, and other pills for acne. And then there's numerous acne ebooks as well. Back when I had acne many years ago, I tried one over-the-counter product after another, followed by several acne home remedies. None worked for long. Eventually I stumbled upon a series of books which centered around health, nutrition and healing. It was only then that I began to see a profound difference in my skin. And it lasted too. Through the years I found out what worked and what didn't, and later went on to share my findings with others with equally exciting results. Here's 2 main points I often share that have helped acne sufferers get on the right track: ==> The FIRST thing you MUST do is DISRUPT THE STEP-BY-STEP, DAY-TO-DAY, CYCLE OF ACNE. If you're not doing that, then most likely you're not going to make much of an impact on your skin... no matter what you're currently doing. You have to intentionally INTERFERE with the ongoing, insidious cycle of acne that's happening right now, right inside your skin as we speak! A famous boxer was once asked what his secret was in winning nearly every fight of his career. Here's what he said: "I figure out my opponent's game plan as quickly as possible and then I do everything I can to DISRUPT that game plan of his. And once I've done that, then I use what skills I've learned over the years to finish him off." And then he added, "I never just came out swinging."And that's exactly what you'll need to do to conquer your acne as well. You're going to have to DISRUPT acne's 'game plan,' -- the acne cycle -- in order to have a chance at having clear, acne free skin. See, if you attack your acne that way, it has no other choice BUT To Die Out! It Can't Do Anything Else! It Can't Function Any More Inside Your Skin. The problem is, most people just come out and start 'swinging away' at acne ... hoping for the best! Remember This: Until you know ALL the angles about acne, you can take every pill, herb, drug, oil, supplement, use every acne cream, lotion, ointment, soap, gel, mask, drink green vegetable juices, eat apples and organic food, cleanse your liver and intestines all you want to, etc., etc., ... But Unless You Actually "Short-Circuit" Acne's Game Plan FIRST - Everything You Attempt To Remedy It With, Is Nothing More Than Just A Temporary Fix At Best! So how does one actually go about "DISRUPTING" this insidious cycle of acne?... By using creams, lotions, ointments, masks? ... Well, that's one way. I call that surface-to-surface contact. For a percentage of acne sufferers, it'll work. It does interrupt -- not disrupt -- the acne cycle somewhat, but only at the surface. For many acne sufferers however, it does little good. How about using antibiotics or accutane?... that's attacking acne on the inside, right? True, but instead of "disrupting" the cycle of acne, it actually "scrambles" it... temporarily. Again, it does work for some, but not all acne sufferers... Now supplements and herbs, ah-ha... that's the key... eh? Well, herbs can be 'iffy' and supplements are usually deemed safer than drugs but a word about supplements... Fish oils, GLA, B5, antioxidants, etc. These seem to be the latest weaponry against acne. But they usually artificially 'manipulate' the acne cycle, for the time being, as long as you take them... and can be costly in doing so. They do help some acne sufferers, and frustrate many others. In fact, they tend to work best if and when certain dietary changes are implemented. And that's where I've seen the most dramatic changes come from, in my experiences while interacting with acne sufferers... food or diet. And it's not really all that complicated, once you understand a few basics. And that's how I like to keep things... basic ... simple. ==> Step 2 is... You Got To Connect All The Dots... Now what do I mean by that? It's kind of like a checklist. Just like what a car mechanic does to figure out what's causing a certain problem with someone's car, you have to know all the areas to check out, in order to know exactly where the origin of the problem lies. Otherwise, you're just "swinging away," hoping and praying it'll work this time. Is it hormones? Is it your genes? Is it the wrong kind of foods for YOU? A food-intolerance? An adverse reaction from the wrong kind of supplement? Candida? Are you experiencing a stressful situation? A skin cream reaction? Etc. Acne... One Size Does Not Fit All. One thing about acne... ONE size certainly does not fit ALL. It's "multi-factorial," to borrow a phrase from one dermatologist. So don't let someone on some acne website boil everything down, and make you believe that acne has ONE, and only ONE cause. They'll usually give you some 'schpeel' about "the true cause of acne" which ends up being nothing more than an over-simplification of a few factors, i.e., "the liver," or "inflammation." Hey, that's like an auto-mechanic that gives each an every car he sees a run-of-the-mill, general tune-up, without ever trying to actually solve the real problem that some of cars might have. "Well, the last car just needed a tune-up... so why not just give every car that comes through the shop, a tune-up?" See... that wouldn't work, right? It might do the trick for maybe some of the cars... but not the rest. Now, it kind of works the same way with acne sufferers... what helps one acne sufferer, doesn't always mean it'll help all the other acne sufferers. That's why some creams and lotions will work for a certain percentage of acne sufferers, but not all. Same with using drugs to fight acne. For some, it'll work, but not all... Same with supplements...helps some, not all. But they're not going to tell you that! You end up, finding out the hard way. But it doesn't have to be that way anymore. Now, acne is more of an individual thing. Each case is a little different than the other, and should be treated as such. Again, 'one size should not fit all.' It all depends what stage you're at with your skin problems. Now, sometimes, all you might need is a topical treatment and your skin will be fine. But if you've already been through the mill of creams, lotions, supplements, diets, and ointments without much improvement, you may need specific, individual treatment. So ask yourself, where do YOU stand right now? Try Jim Iannelli's popular 'Acne-Free In A Weekend' Challenge. It's FREE to Download at [http://AcneFreeinaWeekend.com] No creams, lotions, or pills needed. Learn step-by-step how to clear your skin naturally, using streaming audio and video tutorials. And it even costs less than plain old acne ebooks. Go to [http://www.Acne-Free.com] to find more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1023103