Saturday, June 26, 2010

Acne: Common Causes and Ways to Prevent it!!


Acne is the most prevalent skin problem not only for adolescents but also for adults. People of all ages and backgrounds have had to deal with acne at some point. This section addresses some of the common causes of acne and ways to prevent it-

Hormones

Scientific studies showed that androgens like testosterone which is a male hormone but present in women too is responsible for causing acne. Generally hormonal changes are more often in women than men. Women may suffer acne breakouts during puberty, ovulation, menopause, menstruation, and pregnancy Furthermore people with thyroid problem have higher chances of suffering from acne.

Stop Smoking

Researches showed that the chance of acne breakouts is 4 times higher in smokers than non-smokers. Generally smokers suffer from a non-inflammatory acne which is termed as “smoker acne”. This non-inflammatory acne is characterized by bumps with no swelling or redness commonly known as blackheads and whiteheads. So it better to stop smoking not only to reduce the risk of acne breakouts but also to maintain good health.

Choose Appropiate skin products

Always be alert while choosing skin products like shaving creams, cleansers, moisturizers, cosmetics and makeup. Stay away from the products which have an oil-base resulting in acne breakouts. It is better to use noncomedogenic products

Drugs Side-effect

There are certain drugs that can either worsen your acne problem or results in severe acne breakouts like Phenobarbital (medication used for seizures), steroids (prescribed and illegal use in bodybuilding), lithium (medication for bipolar disorder), isoniazid and rifampin (medication used in tuberculosis), DHEA supplements etc. Furthermore treatments like hormone therapies, birth control methods can cause acne.

Eating habits

Foods which have high-glycemic indices ( sweets, sugared drinks, white bread, carbohydrate rich foods) may aggravate acne. Furthermore the intake of plant based products, low fat and high fiber diet can reduce the chances of acne breakouts as they are rich in natural anti-oxidants. Here given below is the list of acne fighting foods-
• Essential fatty acids (flax seeds, fish)
• Vitamin A (carrots, green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes)
• Zinc (whole grains, spinach)
• Vitamin E (green leafy vegetables)
• Vitamin C (citrus fruits, green peppers)
• Vitamin B-complex (brown rice, bananas)
• Chromium (whole wheat breads, broccoli)
• Selenium (fish, lean meat, garlic, barley)

Stress-management

Stress may reduce immune system ability of healing thereby activating hormones like androgens and cortisol causing acne problem.

Climate

Hot and humid weather increases the chance of acne due to excessive sweating. It causes mixing of sweat with oils and polluted air which provides a good environment for acne breakouts. Furthermore in winter the skin becomes dry and pores get shrink leading to more clogging of pores causing acne breakouts.

Dehydration

Always keep your skin hydrated by increasing the intake of water and limiting the usage of caffeinated drinks such as soda, tea and coffee.

Dirt

Clogged pores are responsible for causing acne. Acne breakouts occur when bacteria, excess oils and clogged pores are present.

Natural Acne Supplements

Acne can be avoided or treated with the help of natural supplements which works on the root cause of acne and stops it. FitoDerm is the natural anti-acne supplement which acts to clear blemishes and acne breakouts. It fights wrinkles and removes impurities from the blood. FitoDerm natural anti-acne supplement makes your skin clear, glowing and beautiful. It reduces the risk of other skin-related problems naturally. Fitoderm anti-acne supplement is 100% safe and has no nasty side-effects. To know more about this effective skin care acne supplement, visit www.fitoderm.com

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Popular Acne Myths!!


Myth 1: Poor hygiene is the main cause of Acne

Poor hygiene may not be the sole cause of acne however it may worsen it. Acne breakouts occur due to hormonal factors, genetic causes etc. Furthermore oils, dirt and other contaminants can clag pores and results in acne.

Myth 2: Severe acne occurs due to sexual activity

There is no scientific evidence that acne occurs due to sexual activity. The misconception was that increased testosterone levels associated with sexual activity makes acne worse. It increases acne breakouts.

Myth 3: Acne can be infectious

Acne is not an infectious skin disease however touching or rubbing the acne by itself may leads to pore blockage resulting in more acne breakouts

Myth 4: Sun exposure or tanning improves acne

There is no scientific evidence that sunlight exposure may leads to acne. Instead mild sun exposure cures skin inflammation.

Myth 5: Makeup causes acne

Earlier the cosmetics were oil based and resulted in acne breakouts. However today special anti-acne oil-free products are available in the market which prevents acne breakouts. These Oil free anti-acne products are devoid of ingredients that can clog pores. Thus they help in improving the appearance of your skin.

Myth 6: Acne is caused by chocolate or other foods.

Chocolates, fast and processed foods has long been blamed for causing acne however there is no scientific evidence supporting the myth. However it is said that a healthy diet, lifestyle promotes skin health and prevents acne breakouts.