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New Consumer-Focused Acne Treatment Website Launches (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)

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Acne information on the Morning Show (FOX 28 South Bend)

Yes, there is a bacterium – first name Propionbacterium and last name acnes (P. Acnes, in short) – that lives in all skin types and is harmless on its own. However, the problem begins when a follicle is clogged. P. Acnes really comes into its own and starts breeding at an alarming rate under such conditions. As it breeds, it causes chemical changes that cause acne eruptions.

After the initial redness and swelling, the white blood cells start attacking the bacteria and try to get them out of your system, causing pustules. See, you’ll know what I mean when I point out that not a single acne remedy recommends that you kill P. Acnes in order to enjoy an acne-free existence. Rather, what you are asked to do is keep the follicles free by cleansing the pores and take steps to decrease sebum production. So it’s no point blaming the bacteria for something that it doesn’t do.

And now for some further good news: in 2004, European scientists sequenced the complete genome of P. Acnes, and even as you read this, research is on to find new treatments based on the new knowledge. “We have identified this target, and we want to see if we can block its enzymes that degrade tissues, and also block enzymes that interact with the immune system,” said Holger Brüggemann, lead author of a report on the sequencing, back in the July 30 issue of Science magazine. Cheers Holger!

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Okay, I may be biased because I’ve experienced such reactions first hand, but ask any acne sufferer and s/he will tell you how acutely damaging acne can be socially. Angelique Hennart, a French girl who went to school with me and was one of the few schoolmates who could look beyond my pustules to the person within, once wondered why more research was not conducted on the psychological and social impact of acne.

 
I couldn’t answer her then, but I can now. I think the reason is that acne is not rare enough to warrant research. I mean, almost everyone gets it, and it isn’t threatening to your overall health, if you come right down to it. And yet, people with acne can be socially withdrawn, lack self-esteem, depressed or angry or frustrated, and even jobless, because they can’t face the world. Worse, because acne is widely – and incorrectly – associated with dirt, people assume that those with acne are ‘unclean’. See? I told you the comparison was valid.

 
First up, for those who have relatively light scarring, try some of the branded creams and ointments for acne scar removal available at druggists’. Most of them work fairly well for all skin types, but if you are absolutely not sure, you should consult a skincare specialist before buying. And to be doubly sure, perform the old elbow test. You know, the one in which you rub some cream on your elbow to see how your skin reacts to it.

 
For those with heavy scarring, the outlook is a little gloomier, sadly. To begin with, you’ll definitely have to see a dermatologist. The good doctor will then prescribe some heavy-duty medication – oral or topical – and ask you to come back a month later. For really heavy scarring, such as my friend Jacob had, you need to undergo laser therapy or peeling therapy, and the jury’s still out on whether these cause any lasting damage to the skin.

 
Jacob, though, underwent laser therapy and is pleased witless about it. His scars – which made him look like Quasimodo from certain angles – have completely disappeared, and his gloating has been hard to take. From what I have seen, and read, laser therapy is fine if applied within certain parameters. Once again, ask the doc what these should be for you.

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Using make up to hide your acne isn’t difficult, but you need to follow some essential steps. So the three things you have to use are concealer, foundation, and finishing powder. I am talking about women here, but men are welcome to try these too! Okay, when buying these three things, make sure they’re oil-free and they match your skin tone, same as you would if you were buying regular cosmetics.

I’m not going to waste space teaching you exactly how to apply the make up, I’m assuming you know that already, but I am going to tell you that you have to invest in branded products if you are going to get anywhere with your acne make up. Cheap stands for deadly in ths area, and I speak from personal experience (OK not mine ! but from my sister experience).

And like always, drink lots and lots of water, avoid oil-based cosmetics, and eat all the fruit you can. Just imagine what it will do for your unborn baby. The best thing is that all this may actually become a habit, so you develop a healthier lifestyle altogether. Now that’s a great reason to get pregnant. 

Essentially, all acne treatments focus on dealing with the causes of acne. Obviously, what medication your dermatologist prescribes will depend on how severe your acne is, but it will also depend on its cause.

In brief, the most widely available acne treatments are tried and tested ones. I have heard and read quite a bit about alternative acne treatments, but frankly speaking, have not had the courage to try any of them yet. The things that ain’t broken don’t need fixing. So I sticked to the topical creams and gels that my doc gave me(ohh.. and pills to). You may also have to take oral medicines such as antibiotics (i did it to). In rare cases, some people may require surgical procedures. Thankfully, I have not had to resort to light and laser therapy, but I hear they have worked wonders for some.

However, the commonest and most popular methods to treat acne are topical ones. So your best bet is to use a benzyl peroxide and salicylic acid combination, preferably not over the counter, but authentically prescribed. It is only when your acne does not respond to such treatment that you will require oral medication, or perhaps even surgery, God forbid.

Basically, stress worsens acne in two ways. First, it stimulates the adrenal glands (yes, the ones located right above the kidneys) to produce more hormones and second, it slows down the healing process. Under stress, the adrenal glands secrete norepinephrine and epinephrine, while the adrenal cortex secretes male hormones, those villains (had to be male, of course) that encourage the sebaceous gland to produce excess sebum, which causes the formation of acne. And the healing capacity of immune system, it is reliably learnt, reduces by almost 40 percent under psychological stress. And the adrenal glands are not finished. Under stress, they also over produce cortisol, a steroid that also makes the sebaceous glands produce excess oil to make the skin oily.

Another study conducted in 2003 found that under stress, the part of the brain known as the hypothalamus released a chemical called corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH, to you and me). Since our oil glands produce both CRH and CRH receptors, when these CRH receptors meet all the extra CRH, sebum production increases in leaps and bounds.

So now you know – avoid stress. When you’ve found out how to do that, please let me know

The point is that dirt does not cause acne, but might aggravate it. As is so often the case with us, we miss the wood for the trees when we say dirt causes acne. You think dirt clogs the pores of the skin and gives rise to blackheads. You’re dead wrong. Blackheads are not caused by dirt, but by the melanin present in sebum that turns black in contact with open air.

So why do people with acne keep washing themselves? Well, by washing yourself (with MILD soap and LUKEWARM water), what you are actually doing is removing the excess oils from the surface of the skin so your pores are no longer clogged. And of course, you are also removing dirt, which can infect the pores if it accumulates on the skin, along with sweat.

For best results, and I speak from personal experience, use facial cleansers that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicyclic acid. This drains out the excess sebum, and is in fact an excellent long-term control for acne.