If you are one of the people who suffer with acne (Zits) then you are well aware of the distress and problems it causes; but things are gradually improving for sufferers. A great deal of money is being spent researching the condition; as a result there are a variety of new products available to help prevent and treat skin conditions. Although there may seem like a huge range of acne skin care products, they can be broken down into three broad categories:
- Internet or Drugstore: Treatment that helps prevents condition
- Those available at a drugstore or over-the-counter
- Prescription only treatments
General acne products are used as a preventative measure and include cleansers, make-up removers and other similar products that can help prevent acne. We should all use products like this to maintain our skin and prevent future problems from occurring.
More specialized cleaners are designed in the same way as acne skin care products; they clean out the pores to help stop sebum or oil which clogs up the pores. These products prevent the oil from getting trapped in pores and can hamper the growth of bacteria, this can lead to the bad skin condition.
This type of skin care treatment also includes those which exfoliate such as skin peels. These can be bought over the counter or on the internet. They work by reducing oil plus other contaminants from the skin and in the pores; this can reduce harmful bacteria and stop their chance of growth.
There are specialized acne skin care products available over-the-counter, they do not require the need of a prescription. Products that contain the chemical benzoyl peroxide and the naturally occurring salicylic acid are used in vanishing creams. They work by removing the excess oil from the skin and halt the growth of acne.
It is preferable when you first start using this type of product to keep the concentration of it low, around 5.5 percent is best. You can always try a cleaner or cream containing alpha hydroxy acid if this doesn’t work. Because we all have different types of skin, more than one type of acne skin care product may need to be tried. This is quite normal, however, if it is proving to be a problem then consult with your doctor, or skin care specialist.
Only doctors or skin care specialists can prescribe some medications, including the use of antibiotics and certain ointments. In some case your doctor may suggest the pustules are drained of harmful contents under local anesthetic, this is a minor procedure which if carried out by yourself could result in skin damage.
Your doctor may even suggest a course of hormone therapy as a skin care treatment. Hormone changes are sometimes responsible for acne and can be very effective when used under prescription. With all the treatments available, tackling acne is not that difficult as there are many new products available to help.
Vanity plays a large part in the use of popular anti-ageing skin care products and treatments; as we are living far longer than previous generations it is a good idea to look after your physical appearance. This is done using skin care products that encourage the growth of the protein collagen which happens to be the main source of the protein used in the connective tissue of skin; collagen is so abundant, it makes up about a quarter of the total protein content of structural protein found in skin. This category of skin products is in fact related to another group of everyday products that help reduce the signs of aging; these are known as antioxidants which remove toxins from the body.
Although the benefits of vitamin C (an anti-oxidant) are well documented, it is still debated as to what our daily amount should be. Vitamin C formulated skin care treatments suffer with a particular problem of oxidizing on contact with the air which causes a problem for users and manufacturers.
More stable skin care treatments are now available that are almost as efficient and actually cost less to manufacture. However, these anti-ageing skin care treatments are not as effective vitamin C based products, although vitamin E and lipoic acid are also anti-oxidants and have similar effects.
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant and is found in human blood, it helps build resistance against infection like cancer. Lipoic acid which is found inside every cell of the body helps generate the energy that keeps us alive and functioning. It is known to combat the signs of ageing very effectively by reversing skin damage caused by the ageing process.
Phytochemicals aren’t produced by the body but are extracted from a number of plants and used in many anti-ageing skin care products to combat the signs of ageing. Phytochemicals prevent occurrence of certain types of cancer; these include prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer.
Other vitamins from the B group are also used in anti-ageing skin care like vitamins B5, B6 and B12 for example. The use of anti-ageing skin care products is a huge scientific field to research and has far greater potential than just producing goods that reduce the visible signs of age.
A great deal about the ageing process has already been learned and the products available today are already far more advanced than ten years ago but there is still a long way to go. There may be many challenges still to overcome but in time scientists believe they will succeed in producing more effective anti-ageing skin care products that are less expensive and available to more people.
Fortunately there is a number of natural anti-ageing regimes that can be carried out that do not rely on science. You know all these things but how many do you practice? Regular exercise, restful sleep, drinking plenty of water, eating a healthy diet and keeping your stress levels low are all necessary.
