Acne?

If you're a teenager, you can't wait to get rid of it. If you're an adult, you can't believe it's back. Fortunately, improvements in acne treatments over the last two decades mean you don't have to put up with it anymore. Who Gets Acne? Nearly every teenage boy and around 80 percent of teenage girls will suffer from acne. (Blame those male hormones.) Boys are also more likely than girls to have severe acne during adolescence. In contrast, women are much more likely than men to report acne in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Some doctors say it's because of cosmetic use and birth control pills. But at least some of the apparent gender difference may actually be due to the fact that women are more likely than men to visit a dermatologist. In other words, they may not experience acne that much more frequently than men, they may simply be more likely to "report" it by seeking professional treatment. Causes of Acne Although there are several theories about what causes acne, authorities generally believe that acne is a by-product of hormonal changes during puberty. Production of hormones (particularly the male hormone testosterone) increases and stimulates the sebaceous glands in the skin to produce sebum (an oily secretion). Most excess oil produced by these glands leaves the skin through the hair follicles. Sometimes, oil clogs these tubes and creates comedones (blocked hair follicles). Comedones are what form the initial lumps in acne. Adult acne is also common. Here are some of the risk factors:

• Hormones. Pregnancy, changes during the menstrual cycle, menopause, and birth control pills can cause fluctuations in hormone levels and subsequent outbreaks of acne in women. In some women, low-dose oral contraceptives improve acne; in others, they make acne worse. If you have acne along with menstrual irregularities, you may want to see a physician to see if abnormal hormone levels are to blame for both.
• Stress. Dermatologists agree that high levels of stress can affect hormone levels, which can in turn trigger acne breakouts.
• Cosmetics. Wearing heavy, oily makeup may clog pores and cause acne.
• Occupational exposure. If you're a mechanic or you're standing over the deep-fat fryer at the local fast-food joint, your face may be getting assaulted by oils, some of which may cause acne. Numerous chemicals in the workplace can also cause acne.
• Certain medications. Some drugs, such as Dilantin (used to treat epilepsy) and lithium (used to treat bipolar disorder), can cause acne.

Preventing Acne

• wash properly

Wash only once or twice a day. For the delicate facial skin, use a soap or nonsoap cleanser labeled "mild" or "for sensitive skin" (Dove Unscented, Tone, Basis, and Neutrogena are some options). Rub lightly with your fingertips and warm water; do not use a washcloth. If your skin is oily, try using a soap that contains benzoyl peroxide for its drying properties.

• watch out for oily product

That goes for oily pomades on your hair, heavy oil-based moisturizers, and even oily cleansers such as cold cream.

• forego the facial

Facials, particularly those given by over-enthusiastic aestheticians who haven't been taught how to handle acne-prone skin, can do more harm than good.

• use water-based makeup

Check the label to find out if makeup is water- or oil based. If the label is unclear, use this guideline: If it separates into water and powder when left to sit undisturbed for a while, it's water-based, and if it stays mixed, it contains oil. Better yet, use powder blushes and loose powders instead of liquid. Eye makeup and lipstick are okay, because you don't generally get acne in those areas.

• Don't touch your face

Try not to touch your face. It causes trauma to acne, just like picking pimples does. Tight sweatbands and chin straps from baseball caps and sports equipment can have the same effect.

• screen out the sun

Too much sun can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. Protect your skin without promoting more acne by using an oil-free sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Unfortunately, many waterproof sunscreens are too likely to clog oil glands to use on the face; so if you'll be sweating heavily or plan on swimming, you'll have to stick to the oil-free variety but be diligent about reapplying it often (as recommended on the label

• watch out for iodine

This piece of advice is still somewhat controversial, but some doctors believe that high levels of iodine, found in some multiple vitamins and in iodized salt, may encourage acne.

The above article is extracted from website.

Contributed by Timothy Gower,Alice Lesh Kelly,Ivan Oransky