Wednesday, February 3, 2010

What Are Your Acne Treatment Choices?

By Piers Valkind

Anyone who suffers from acne knows that it's difficult to deal with. Many things can make acne worse, like certain foods, stress and even facial cleansers, but it can be hard to find the things that will make it better. Much of the focus is on trying cleansers and treatments and discovering if they work.

Luckily, there are treatments that have been proven effective; once you know what kind of acne you're dealing with, you can easily and effectively treat it properly.

Mild acne is generally defined as a cluster of whiteheads of blackheads and simple pimples. Treating mild acne is fairly easy and shouldn't be overdone. Many people make the mistake of over treating mild acne, which can only serve to make the problem worse. The best treatment for those with mild acne is to wash the face with a mild soap and to follow with a benzoyl peroxide treatment. This is often followed by the application of a product with salicylic acid. If these simple treatments don't work, a doctor will usually prescribe lotions that have a bit more intensity.

Moderate or severe acne is usually defined as nodules or cysts that can be painful or very large. If left untreated (or if over treated) this kind of acne can leave scars. If you have moderate to severe acne, the treatment gets more intense. If you go to the doctor with acne that's severe at the time, he or she might prescribe oral antibiotics to kick start the healing process.

Treatment for moderate acne is usually a combination of treatments and products. A doctor will usually customize a treatment regimen based on the patient's overall problems.

Some treatments that might be prescribed for moderate or severe acne include prescription gels, creams and lotions which contain antibiotics, and prescription retinoids that are applied via a lotion. Some other treatments include taking oral retinoids, the most common of which is Accutane. Sometimes a doctor will treat severe acne by draining cysts and pimples, or having the patient apply azelaic acid.

It's important to know that some treatments might take several weeks (from six to eight) to work and some might even make the acne worse before it gets better. Other treatments might include a change in diet (though, contrary to popular belief, chocolate and greasy foods do not cause acne), a change in hair products or skin products and even an avoidance of the sun, which is often found to help reduce the severity of acne.

Acne can be uncomfortable and embarrassing to live with, but it's not incurable. There are many things people can do to make acne less of a lifestyle problem and more of a simple nuisance that requires regular care and attention.

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Sunday, January 31, 2010

What Tips Can You Use to Conceal Blemishes?

By Delia Melandoi

The primary purpose of concealers like benefit cosmetics concealer is to create an illusion. It creates the illusion of perfect complexion, a petite nose, luscious lips and large, wide eyes. However, when makeup is used aimlessly as beauty equipment, it can bring out wrinkles, accentuate scars, and make your poses look like craters no the surface of the moon. With these three simple steps, you can harness the true power of makeup and use it in a helpful manner, such as concealing acne-damaged skin.

When you work with makeup, consider yourself an artist and your skin your canvas. Before you begin your artistry, your first step is to ensure that your canvas is clean and moisturized. One trick of the trade used to make makeup as smooth as possible is using a moisturizing mist of rosewater and vitamin E oil.

Fill a two ounce aerosol bottle with rosewater and add five to ten drops of vitamin E oil. Recap the bottle, shake for thirty seconds so that the vitamin E oil is thoroughly diluted and it is ready to go. Everything that you need may be purchased for less than $10 at any local drug store.

Makeup foundation gets its name for one very important reason. If you get that first step wrong, your makeup will still look bad no matter what else you do. You must match your foundation to your skin tone, but it also needs to work with your skin's texture and condition.

There are matte foundations that provide full coverage. You should choose this type of foundation if you tend to "cake on" makeup to conceal blemishes. Using a full coverage product lets you apply one thin layer of makeup but cover all your skin imperfections.

At the end of a day of successfully hiding your blemishes, you need to remove the makeup completely. You will know that your skin is thoroughly free from makeup if you can "feel" it breathing again.

You can use a simple square of cotton with witch hazel to remove your makeup without over-stripping your skin. First, saturate the cotton with witch hazel and gently rub it over your entire face. When the cotton square is no longer collecting makeup, you are done. This type of cleansing also helps prevent future skin blemishes.

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Getting Rid Of Zits The Right Way

By Arnold Waterborn

Do you have so many pimples on your face that it looks like you're wearing a graphic relief map of some alien planet? Are you wondering whether there's a way to get rid of all those zits quickly and effortlessly? This article will explain that there really aren't any easy answers.

A lot of people will try anything to get rid of their pizza face. They waste their money on cures that really don't do a whole lot of good. In fact, if there really is a way to get rid of zits without any effort at all, no one in the world has ever found it yet, and this is the first thing you should learn and understand.

Sometimes it seems that more and more people fall for quack cures only to discover they've actually made their condition worse. The truth is, however, that there really is no way to get rid of zits without any effort whatsoever. If you have any doubts, just ask anyone who suffers with pimples what kind of effort they put into gaining at least some relief from their problem.

It is not easy to achieve healthy, clear skin with no effort involved. If you want to be rid of your zits than there needs to be some work done on your end as well. People with clear skin do not necessarily just naturally have this type of skin condition.

People who have been affected in the past with acne did not just wake up one day with clear skin. If you know someone who has suffered from acne and now has a clear skin condition then you should ask him or her what they did to improve their skin condition.

Moreover, it's as likely as not that you'll get several different answers to your question. Why? Because what works for your brother, friend or steady date won't necessarily work for you.

Just as there are no quick, easy over the counter cures, you shouldn't expect miracles from prescription treatments. They too require time and patience. Only through persistence can you get rid of your acne.

It is your actions that will determine how long it will take to get rid of zits. There is no trick out there just your own responsibility that can work to eliminate your acne.

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