Don't you hate it when you wake up, drag yourself out of bed, and look in the mirror to find a huge pimple on your face? Not again...Guess you'll have to cancel that date
with the hottest guy/girl in school because of that one little mark that screams, "LOOK AT ME!" You try to find relief by thinking about something else. Maybe by reading a magazine or watching tv. But, as you're flipping through some of your favorite magazines, you wonder "how is it that these celebrities have flawless skin?" "What the hell happened to me?"
Before being completely jealous of a celebrity's skin, you must remember many magazines use airbrushes to hide those nasty blemishes that we all have. Even your parents may have to face the A-word at some point in their life. At some time or another, you're bound to have a little bit of acne. As bad as it may seem, don't worry. There's plenty to do to conceal and treat these daily inconveniences. First, let's meet the nasty villain in order to familiarize ourselves to attack the pest with a full frontal attack.
Acne is a result of your oil glands. No, you haven't struck any Texas oil to make you a millionaire. Instead, you get a visit from a small bump on (blackheads) or under your skin(whiteheads). After your body goes through puberty, it begins to secrete more hormones and oily substances begin to form. One of these oily substances, sebum, which blocks pores and therefore creates a pimple.
Remember how your mother told you to stop picking your face or to carefully read the label on certain cosmetics or hair products? She's looking out for you. These are two of the top ways to create more acne on your face. Birth control and stress are another two factors along with headbands/hats, and an increase in hormones before a menstrual cycle. All of these factors can possibly trigger more acne. But don't worry, chocolate and greasy food aren't responsible for the nasty blemishes.
Now that we are properly familiarized with acne, it is time to attack. Using a mild facial cleanser seems to be one of the best ways to get rid of acne. Products such as Aveeno acne bar, Neutrogena Acne Wash or Benzoyl Peroxide 5% bar are highly recommended. Oil is not a good thing to put on your face so use oil-free products when dealing with cosmetics or hair products. Still have acne? Go to your local dermatology doctor. He will most likely fill a prescription for you of Retin A, an antibiotic, or the most powerful of them all, Accutane. Retin-A opens up those blocked pores. The antibiotics treat the acne that's red and not clearing up. And finally, Accutane is used for the most severe cases of acne. It's used for people with uncontrollable acne or severe scarring. Accutane is not suggested to females since it does cause birth defects to pregnant women.
Find what's right for your skin and fight the villain otherwise known as Acne.
by: Julie Wagoner
