Acne is a skin disease that involves the oil glands found at the base of hair follicles. These glands come to life during puberty due to both male and female hormones produced at that time. Because of these hormones, this is the time acne usually occurs. Acne occurs when the oil glands at the base of hair follicles get blocked and oil accumulates under the skin.
Acne isn’t medically dangerous, but it can be frustrating and embarrassing, especially for teens. It is estimated that nearly ¾ of the population between 11 and 30 will get acne. When acne flares up, it usually occurs on the face, but often can be found on the back, chest, shoulders and neck.
Research shows that susceptibility to get acne may be genetic. If the child’s mother had acne, then the child is likely to have it. There are also medications that may cause acne, mainly those that contain androgen and lithium. If you’re susceptible to acne, using greasy cosmetics can cause it to flare up. During pregnancy, hormone changes may cause acne to either develop for the first time, or to recur if you had it in the past.
Types of Acne
You go to the movies and see beautiful people on the screen with glowing perfect skin. Perhaps you’ve even envied those people. In reality, however, their skin might not be as “perfect” as you think. Many famous people such as Jessica Simpson, Kelly Clarkson, and Katy Perry have all confessed to being plagued with acne. Sure, stage makeup gives them that “glowing” skin, but underneath they had the same skin care problem many people around the world face—dreaded acne.
As previously stated, when puberty hits, so do the zits. Hormones rage and many hormones can actually cause acne to occur. At that age, even one pimple can seem devastating. For some, their acne problems are just a small amount of acne that goes away rather quickly. For others, however, it can be a nightmare. Acne seems to take over their face, and nothing they buy seems to work. Some are even troubled with it through adulthood. Often, these individuals have it so badly that they are scarred for the rest of their lives. Acne can not only be a burden, it can be extremely embarrassing for those who have it. This is especially so during your teen years when self-esteem is so important. Face it, sometimes kids can be cruel, and those with severe cases of acne can be a target. They get harassed and/or made fun of. This really stresses them out, which makes the acne even worse. It can be a vicious cycle.
When you’re one of those people tormented with acne, what can you do? You see so many commercials telling you to buy this product or use this cleanser and rid yourself of acne. It can be confusing trying to figure out what to buy. Some people spend hundreds of dollars trying to find the right product. They end up buying a lot of products that never seem to work.
Treatment for acne can include over-the-counter creams or gels which usually include benzoyl peroxide to remove dead skin cells and prevent clogging or salicylic acid to unclog pores.
Prescription medications can include oral antibiotics or topical antimicrobials that help reduce acne-causing bacteria. For women, prescription medication can include contraceptives that calm sebum producing glands and reduce oil.
If these don’t work, then physical procedures can be performed by your doctor. These usually include chemical peels that unclog pores and remove dead skin cells.
If you go this route, be careful when choosing a dermatologist. Not all of them are experienced with acne. Check them out and ask them to show you photographs of patients who have used the treatment they recommend for you. They should be able to show you before and after shots.
If you’ve never had acne problems, you probably have no idea how expensive medical treatment can be. Here are just a few of the costs you can incur if you go the medicinal route to acne skin care:
After the acne clears up using the medical treatments, you have to continue the medical treatment so it won’t flare up again. Sometimes, these medical treatments are considered cosmetic and are not covered by insurance.
Doctors will sometimes provide discounts for skin resurfacing treatments for their new patients. They may also offer package deals if you need multiple treatments. You can also often find prescription drugs that are generic. These can cost you up to 50% less.
Here are a few specific medical treatment options and their costs:
As you can see, acne sufferers can spend a lot of money. Often, it’s wasted because the creams and pills don’t work. You may have tried many of them yourself and feel like you’re spending all your money trying to clear your skin to no avail.
What if there was a way you could rid yourself of acne and you wouldn’t have to spend a penny, would you try it? You may find this to be the case. In fact, you just might have something in the kitchen or bathroom cabinets that will work just fine.
It’s frustrating when you feel you don’t have control of what is happening to your face. People try everything over-the-counter and take every medication their dermatologist gives them and still have terrible acne breakouts. Sometimes, however, the answer isn’t in dermatologists or medications. Instead, the answer is found in nature. Natural remedies have been found to help clear up acne. They’re less harmful to your skin, and can be just as effective, or even more effective, as the products you spend a lot of money on.