Are you looking for the best way to get rid of acne? Acne is most prevalent during teenage years when hormones are raging and blemishes threaten to leave more than one type of scar. The embarrassment that many teens experience from a sudden outbreak can leave lasting effects on their sense of confidence and self-esteem. Discovering the causes of acne, understanding how to keep acne in check, and learning the best way to get rid of acne fast can help prevent a single pimple from turning into a major crisis. With a little knowledge and some easy skills, skin problems can be minimized and embarrassment can be avoided.
Let me clear up one mistaken concept right now: Acne is not some rare and strange disease. People will admit to having pimples, pustules, blackheads, and scars, but they insist that they do not have acne. To set the record straight: Once you have blackheads you have acne—it is not a separate disease and the only difference is in the degree of severity. This may range from a few blackheads and pimples to a face covered with red papules, yellow pustules, dried crusts, and deep pitted scars. To some people the word acne conveys a social stigma rather like that associated with lice or scabies. They think it is caused by a lack of cleanliness, or worse, but in fact a blackhead is not dirt. Nor is it make-up. If you squeeze one out you can see that it is a long white plug with a black tip. If it were dirt or make-up, how did it get white? It has not come from the outside into your sebaceous ducts; it has come from the inside.
First, let us define what we are talking about. Acne vulgaris is a condition in which there are plugs in the ducts of the oil glands of the skin (sebaceous glands). When analyzed, these plugs are part oil and part keratin (the cast off outer layer of the skin). These plugs may be visible in the mouth of the oil duct as blackheads. They may be deep down and not visible at all, or visible only as whitish nodules under the skin, which we call milia or whiteheads (and which are different than white or yellow pustules). The earliest stage of acne consists of just these plugs and often occurs in children from the age of seven on. Milia are easily seen by pulling the skin tight, as when you push your tongue against your lower lip. Other early plugs can be identified by the typical darkened tops of blackheads or by unusually enlarged pores. As the glands get larger at puberty, the plugs form deeper down closer to the tender sebaceous gland itself, and then they tend to get infected. This produces the pimples, pustules, and scars of what most people recognize as acne—but the first blackhead is really its start.
A little pus produces a little scar; a lot of pus produces a large scar. Don’t wait to see how bad it will get! Every new lesion creates a new scar, and every new scar on the face increases the probability of scars on the personality. Do not try to pass it off by saying it will go away. Perhaps it will, since most cases do not last for more than two or three years, but many cases last ten years and the scars are there for life. It is a cruel thing to have to go to school or work, day after day, behind a mask of pimples. It is easy to tell someone else to “forget them,” but it’s a different story when they are on your own face. A happy life is interrupted by worry, shame, and futile attempts to find relief.
A normal social life is almost an impossibility. When your face is covered with cysts, yellow pustules, and bleeding crusts or speckled with scars and blackheads, how can you even think of winning the boy or girl of your dreams? How can you plan your future and aspire to be a public figure, a schoolteacher, a lawyer, a doctor, or the mayor of your town? Many a brilliant mind has given up resignedly and switched to a job instead of a career. Many youthful ideals have been warped by the cruel injustice of having a pimply face just when one ought to be the most attractive. Many of the criminals and youthful misfits of our cities are scarred and disfigured and have struck out at the world that has dealt so cruelly with them. Our culture’s emphasis on female beauty makes the horror of severe acne even worse for girls than it is for boys. Many a young woman has married below her station simply because the garden in her face needed weeding.
Many happy homes have been disrupted by this enemy. The child is ashamed of his face and the parents are ashamed of their child. The parents keep scolding, insisting to everyone that “If only he would wash the way I tell him, he would not have this trouble.” The child becomes resentful because he knows that he has washed more vigorously than any kid on the block, and it only gets worse—not better.
Acne is not normal—acne is not to be accepted—acne is not the will of God. It is the result of our ignorance and error. Once you learn the best way to get rid of acne, you will not have to suffer or be embarrassed.
Causes of Acne
The first step in understanding the causes of acne (and to learn the best way to get rid of acne) is to understand how skin works. There are thousands of tiny pores on the surface of the skin. These pores release toxins and facial oils, known as sebum. When pores are clogged, toxins can create an infected area that will turn into a blackhead or a whitehead. If the area is left unattended or the infection flares, the result is generally a full-blown pimple.
There are several ways that pores are clogged. Sometimes skin produces an overabundance of sebum at a rate that is difficult to fully emit. The leftover sebum gets stuck in the pore and creates a small plug. Another common problem for pores is dead skin cells. Every day the human body replaces old skin cells with new ones. The old cells die and are sloughed off the surface. If the body overproduces the new cells, the body, especially in the facial area, has difficulty getting rid of the dead cells quickly enough and they can get caught in pores. The final challenge for pores is dirt and oils. Dirt is ever-present in the air in the form of dust. It is also found on hands along with natural or artificial oils. When hands come in contact with the face, dirt and oils are transmitted and can cause problems for the skin.
Symptoms of Acne
Most people are familiar with the common pimple, or pustule, that is associated with acne. However, there are often signs of an eminent outbreak before it has fully surfaced. Skin that feels rough, uneven in texture or bumpy is a sign of non-inflamed acne. With this condition, blackheads or whiteheads may surface, but rarely do people with non-inflamed acne suffer painful reddened breakouts.
Inflamed acne is a more severe condition. With this type of acne, the skin is irritated, reddened and swollen. There may be oozing, scabbing or crusting of the pustules. Some people experience blockages that result in large cysts that are usually accompanied by moderate to severe discomfort or pain.
Best Way To Get Rid Of Acne: Preventative Steps
So, what preventative steps constitute the best way to get rid of acne? While some people have a predisposition to the overproduction of oils or skin cells, there are several preventative steps that can be taken to minimize outbreaks and naturally get rid of acne. The first is to wash the face twice daily, in the morning and at nighttime, with warm water and a mild cleanser. The skin should be softly massaged, not scrubbed. Exfoliating the skin regularly and using a clay mask weekly will help reduce the backup of skin cells and dirt, releasing any clogs as they begin to form.
Friction can cause the skin to produce more sebum. Exposure to anything that rubs on the face such as a backpack strap, cellular telephone or hat should be limited. Hands should have the least amount of contact withWays to Get Rid Acne the face as possible to avoid the transference of oils and dirt. Eating a well-balanced diet, maintaining a regular exercise routine and getting sufficient sleep have all been attributed to healthy skin.
The Best Ways To Get Rid Of Acne: Treatment Options
So, what are the best ways to get rid of blackheads? Treatment options depend on the type of acne a person is experiencing. There are many home remedies that are suitable for mild outbreaks or the occasional pustule, but most will not be strong enough to battle a case of cystic acne. Cystic acne should be referred to a dermatologist for the most appropriate treatment. Some cases will respond to oral medications while others require topical creams or lotions. In rare cases, surgery is needed to drain the cyst and correct the problem. Most often, however, non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne will respond to any number of home remedies or over-the-counter medications.
For an easy way to get rid of acne fast, make a paste of water and baking soda, gently spread on the affected area, leave on for five minutes and rinse off with warm water. Another common home treatment is to apply toothpaste to the affected area and leave on overnight. Honey can be smeared on a blemish, left to sit for 15-20 minutes, then rinsed off with warm water and a gentle facecloth. Crushed garlic rubbed into the skin can clear up the problem, although the smell of the garlic permeates and persists, potentially causing a new challenge altogether. Investing in an aloe vera plant can be beneficial. The all-natural juices of the plant will clear acne with a more pleasant odor than garlic and a less sticky consistency than honey.
Not every home remedy will work the same for every person, nor are natural remedies always the best way to get rid of acne. Since everybody is different, finding the most effective home remedy might take a little trial and error. If acne still persists after trying several methods, over-the-counter topical creams or lotions should be considered. If these fail in producing clear skin, a dermatologist should be consulted for stronger medication.
Acne is an embarrassing condition that can leave a teenager feeling isolated and humiliated. Learning the causes of acne, determining how to control outbreaks and finding the best way to get rid of acne fast can help lessen the emotional burden that accompanies the reddened, bumpy skin. Remember that acne is a medical condition and although home remedies have been found effective for many people fighting breakouts, people with persistent cases or cystic acne should seek professional help from a licensed dermatologist for the quickest, most successful results. With proper care and the right tools in place, teens can take control of their outbreaks and live with clearer, healthier skin