Sunday, June 17, 2012

Acne Basics - It Is Not Just a Teen Disease



Teenagers are the group that is most likely to have problems with acne. The truth is though, that anyone of any age can have an acne problem. Other than the acne that affects infant, the treatment for acne is the same. The biggest issue with acne as a teen disease is that teenagers are more prone to issues with self esteem.

Before acne can be treated, you should know which type of acne you have. Keeping a log of your breakouts, the medications you’ve used unsuccessfully and a description of the problem will help a dermatologist or family doctor diagnose your type of acne.

Knowing all the facts about acne can help you avoid worsening issues surrounding the problem. If you think avoiding chocolate and greasy foods will help cure acne, you are wrong. Eating too much chocolate and greasy food can cause other problems - like obesity, but it doesn’t cause acne. Tanning in the sun does not get rid of acne, either. In fact, too much sun exposure can cause a worse problem: skin cancer.

Increasing your knowledge about acne will help you cope with it better mentally, too. If you are aware that this problem exists for millions of people, you won’t feel singled out and isolated.

Taking good care of your skin plays a role in fighting this teen disease but do keep in mind that it is not the be-all/end-all as has been claimed. If you are using mild cleansers on your face and other areas twice a day, you are doing what you need to keep your skin healthy.

Teen Disease by Gender

Knowing how acne presents itself in males versus females is important, too. Acne appears earlier for girls but when boys get acne, it can be more severe because their androgen levels rise higher than those in girls. Later, that situation is turned around. Young women in their 20’s and 30’s have more risks for developing acne than men.

Different approaches are needed to deal with this teen disease; treatment varies according to the gender. Some hygiene practices are gender specific. For example, men shave their face and women wear makeup. Medication also differs in the way it works because of variations in the hormones determined by their sex.

Skin cleansing habits and over the counter medications work pretty much the same in both sexes. Light and laser treatments are not gender specific, either and can be used for treating acne in people of just about any age.

There is always a possibility of scars when it comes to having acne. If this occurs you should be aware that there are treatments to help lessen and get rid of acne scars. These include laser resurfacing, dermabrasion and other techniques. Many people have been helped using techniques to reduce their scars.

Acne is not just a teen disease but it can be treated in a variety of ways. Recent advances in skin care technology are helping more people all the time. No matter what your age may be, do the research and you will find the perfect treatment that works for you.

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