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Wednesday, 7 September 2011

How to Prevent Acne and Acne Prevention Tips

How to Prevent Acne

There is hope! While acne is not curable, we now know more about controlling acne and there are many effective acne solutions available. The key is prevention — helping to stop spots before they appear.
It's crucial to begin controlling blemishes as soon as the first signs appear; the sooner you start good skin care, the less likely you will be to suffer permanent skin damage.
The key to your success will be staying committed - sticking to your blemish control skin care regimen day in and day out to get clear - and staying with your routine once you are clear.

Why me?

The most important thing to remember about acne is: it is not your fault. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by what you eat, how often you wash your face or workout - it is caused by a combination of factors at work beneath the skin’s surface that are beyond your control, such as:
  • How often your skin sheds skin cells.
  • How your hormone balance affects the amount of oil your skin produces.
  • Genetics - your family history can have a bearing on whether you are acne-prone or not.

What can I do?

The secret to controlling acne is PREVENTION - stopping pimples from forming before it appears as a visible breakout on the skin’s surface.
Even after pimples disappear, you should continue to use an effective acne regime to prevent new pimples from forming.

Acne Prevention Tips

One of the most common misconceptions about acne is that it's caused by dirt and diet. Wrong! Acne is caused by a combination of factors beyond our control, like hormone balance and the natural pace of your skin's renewal system.
While acne is definitely not your fault, - it’s important to know that you're not helpless either. You can help your body win the fight against breakouts by giving it what it needs to stay strong and healthy.
Follow these simple daily rules, and your skin will love you for it!

Daily Cleansing Routine – Don’t over-wash

  • Gently wash your face twice a day to remove excess oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. Remember: since acne isn't caused by dirt, over-washing won't help - it's more likely to dry out your skin, causing it to produce even more oil. So limit yourself to two daily cleansings.
  • Once you've found a routine that works, stick with it!
  • Skip harsh scrubs.
  • It's okay to exfoliate, but make sure you use a gentle formula with small, smooth grains.
  • Avoid products with almond or apricot shell fragments; they can irritate and even tear your skin and further aggravate your skin.

Say no to alcohol

  • If you use a toner, avoid products with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or common rubbing alcohol.
  • Alcohol is a strong astringent that strips the top layer of your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. The result? Dry, red skin — and potentially even more blemishes.

Don't squeeze or pick

  • Squeezing or picking your zits — with fingernails, pins or anything else — can force bacteria deeper into the skin, causing increased inflammation and infection.
  • You'll also increase the damage to surrounding skin tissue, making a permanent acne scar much more likely.

Hands off!

Excessive touching of your face, including rubbing or even resting your chin in your hands, can drive bacteria into your pores increasing the likelihood of pimples.

Healthy eating helps fight acne

  • While diet doesn't cause spots, a balanced diet can help give your body what it needs to fight pimples.
  • Don't skip breakfast - breakfast jump-starts your metabolism to give you energy throughout the day.
  • In general, choose fresh fruit over french fries, and eat balanced meals with foods from all four food groups.
  • Drink at least eight glasses of water every day – and even more if you exercise.

Protect Skin with Sunscreen

It’s important to wear sunscreen (at least SPF 15) every day, even if it's cloudy. While it's true that small amounts of sun exposure can initially improve acne, don't be fooled, the benefit is temporary. Ongoing sun exposure will dry your skin, causing it to produce more oil and shed old cells more frequently. The excess oil and extra dead skin cells create the perfect breeding ground for pimples.

Rest

A good night's sleep (at least 7-8 hours) can do wonders for your complexion. How? A healthy, well-rested body has the resources to build a strong immune system. While a robust immune system won't prevent spots altogether, it can help fight infection so your pimples clear up more quickly.

Exercise

Movement improves circulation and helps you relax, reduce stress and increase your energy levels. Your skin also benefits from the increase in blood flow that results from a higher heart rate and oxygen level in the bloodstream.
On the other hand, when you exercise, your movement generates heat, and clothing and equipment cause friction. Until you shower off, heat and moisture are trapped against your skin, creating an ideal breeding ground for the spread of bacteria.
So:
  • Remove makeup before you exercise.
  • If you are prone to body blemishes, wear loose-fitting cotton clothing when exercising.
  • Whenever you can, shower off immediately after exercising.

Relax

When you become tense, your adrenal glands flood your bloodstream with the hormone cortisol. Cortisol triggers the sweat glands in your face to produce more oil, which can result in zits.
It’s important to take time out every day to relax - read a book, take a bath, practice yoga, or do whatever makes you feel happy and calm. Being relaxed is an important step towards overall good health…and beautiful, healthy skin.

Do You Know What is Acne?

Do You Know What is Acne?
Acne is a very common skin condition affecting more than 90% of all teenagers, nearly 50% of all adult women and 25% of all adults. Both males and females of all nationalities are affected by acne, making it one of the most widespread conditions in the world.

From the moment we are born, our skin begins a lifelong process of shedding dead cells and producing oil. This shedding process is affected by our hormone balance, which fluctuates throughout our life. Clogged pores and pimples (i.e. acne) arise when these natural processes are disrupted by a range of factors.

All acne begins with one basic lesion: the Comedo, an enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. Invisible to the naked eye, the Comedo lurks beneath the surface of your skin waiting for the right conditions to grow into an inflamed lesion.

As the skin produces more oil, bacteria flourish within the swollen follicle. The surrounding skin becomes increasingly inflamed as white blood cells fight against the intruding bacteria. The result is a pimple.

Who Can Use Proactiv?

Who can use Proactiv

Proactiv is suitable for men, women, teens and adults of all skin types who have blemish prone skin - In short, everyone!
The recommended age to begin using Proactiv is 12 years and older, however the products may be effective for adolescents and adults of all ages who experience breakouts.

If you are pregnant or a nursing mother, we strongly recommend that you consult your healthcare professional before using Proactiv or any topical acne product.
For teens, we recommend that you start slowly, by using the products every second day. If you feel unsure, talk to your doctor or paediatrician, before you start using Proactiv products.

Testing for Allergic Reactions

Some people may be sensitive to Benzoyl Peroxide (although fewer than three per cent have an allergy to Benzoyl Peroxide), so we recommend applying a small amount to the soft, sensitive skin on your neck behind your ear lobe. Do this for three days then wait.
No reaction: You're good to go!

A little red and dry: Proceed with caution and take on your new routine slowly, until your skin adjusts - maybe once a day or every second day.

Itchy, red bumps or slight swelling: You've proved you're allergic to an ingredient in the product, so look for alternatives.

Skin Redness

If you develop any red skin blotches when you start using Proactiv products, you may be sensitive to Benzoyl Peroxide in which case we recommend following these steps:
  • Stop using the Proactiv products for 2 days - if the skin redness improves, start using Proactiv again.
  • Use soap and Proactiv Tone - Step 2 daily.
  • Use Repair - Step 3 twice per week at night to help your skin gradually get used to the Benzoyl Peroxide.
  • As your skin improves, increase the number of nights you apply Proactiv Repair - Step 3.
  • If the condition of your skin gets worse, and redness increases, stop using Proactiv immediately and consult a healthcare professional.

Proactiv Results

Because everyone is different, results can vary from person to person. Some people see results as early as 3 weeks, but on average, visible results start within 6-8 weeks. Many Proactiv customers find that a complete clearing of their complexion takes between 3-6 months with recommended, consistent use (twice a day). While there is no ‘cure’ for zits, it is controllable with continued daily use of products such as Proactiv Solution

How Proactiv Works?

How Proactiv Works

Proactiv is a range of blemish control and skin care products that combine powerful ingredients that work to prevent and control blemishes, as well as keep skin clear and beautiful.

The secret to what makes Proactiv so incredibly effective at clearing and preventing spots is the Proactiv system, with our exclusive Benzoyl Peroxide microcrystal technology. It penetrates fast to deliver rapid pimple-fighting action.
Proactiv's Benzoyl Peroxide is more finely milled, so it can penetrate deep into the pore where it belongs. Watch as forehead blemishes vanish! Stubborn breakouts on the chin and jaw line disappear! Proactiv clears blemishes on your back, neck and shoulders too.
Proactiv is different because it is designed to fight existing pimples and control future breakouts before they even surface on your skin. Proactiv is designed to be used on the entire blemish prone area every day and because it’s formulated with soothing botanicals like allantoin, panthenol, aloe and chamomile, it leaves your skin feeling smooth, healthy and hydrated.
Our exclusive Proactiv system means rapid zit fighting action. With Proactiv, it's micro, and it works.