Thursday, December 8, 2011

Common acne treatment products do not address the root causes of acne

By Aileen Fitzharris


Many acne treatment products can be found in drugstores and drugstores. Find out how they differ, what main ingredients to search for and the way to use these products for most impressive results.

Many OTC (OTC) acne solutions are available to treat mild to moderate acne or periodic breakouts . But with so many acne products lining store shelves, how does one know which one is best for you?

Before you grab whatever package is nearest, discover how OTC acne creams work and what ingredients to search for. Then, develop a mild skin treatment regimen to treat and prevent acne.

Active elements in acne creams

Manufacturers and dermatologists claim acne solutions work in different ways, dependent on their active element. Some OTC acne products say they work by killing Propionibacterium acnes (P. Acnes). That's the micro-organism that lives in your sebum glands unobserved until pores are blocked and there's no oxygen, for then they reproduce too much and produce infection.

Other acne treatments remove excess oils from the skin or speed up the growth of new epidermis cells and the removal of dead epidermal cells. And in a number of cases, acne products say they work by doing a combination of these things.

Problem is those aren't the root causes of acne breakouts .

The cause of what we see as acne breakouts and subsequent acne scars is the powerful reaction of your own immunity mechanism to harms to cells of our organism, in particular to the cells lining the walls of the sebum channels through which sebum usually outflows to the outer surface of your skin to lubricate it and protect it from pathogens, as it kills pathogens or does not permit them to reproduce as it contains anti-microbial peptides .

If your cells are being hurt it is just standard that your immunological system attempts to dispose of what can cause those harms, like if it was foreign matters or a nail or splinter or ice pick, isn't it? And it does so by sending an army of immune cells that fire chemicals that destroy sebum with dead cells in the follicles and the oil substance that blocks the entrance of your pores.

Your immunological system also fights and kills the exorbitant number of bacteria that has reproduced after your pores got blocked.

Now you are probably getting the picture of what you want to be address for acne remedy to work, don't you?

Lets look at common so-called "active ingredients" found in acne solutions and how they claim to work to deal with acne.

- Benzoyl peroxide. Probably the most common"active ingredient" in acne solutions. It helps remove excess oils from the skin and removes dead epidermis cells that block pores. Available in strengths from 2.5 to 10 %, benzoyl peroxide can cause exorbitant aridity, scaling, rosiness, burning and stinging, particularly if you have delicate skin. Take care when applying benzoyl peroxide, as it can bleach hair and clothing.
- Salicylic acid. This ingredient slows losing of cells inside the follicles, which forestalls the pores from blocking. It might also break down whiteheads (clogged pores that have no opening) and pimples (pores that are open and have a dark surface). Salicylic acid may cause mild stinging and irritated skin. OTC acne creams are available with 0.5 to 2 percent salicylic acid.
- Alpha hydroxy acids. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are 2 types of alpha hydroxy acids that are used in OTC acne creams. They are artificial versions of acids extracted from sugar-containing fruits. They claim to deal with acne by helping to get rid of dead epidermis cells and helping to ease inflammation. Alpha hydroxy acids also damage your skin which triggers the expansion of new, smoother skin to replace the cells that are damaged, which helps to reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Sulfur. Often mixed with other ingredients, such as salicylic acid, sulfur removes dead epidermis cells that clog pores helping remove excessive oil. Products containing sulfur may lead to dry skin, and some products have an unpleasant odor.




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