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Pimple/Acne During Teenage Years
1. Pimple/Acne effects more than 90% of teens and becomes active between the ages of 10 and 13.
2. This is precisely why acne is so commonly associated with puberty.
3. ‘Acne vulgars’ is the latin name for this type of acne; vulgaris being the Latin word for “common.”
4. Acne is not limited to your teen years. It’s not uncommon for acne to last well into your 20’s, if not longer.
5. Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent acne from lasting into adulthood.
6. However, teenage acne doesn’t have to be a rite of passage.
7. Teens can look for alternative or conventional treatments to help achieve clear skin.
8. Teen skin varies greatly from adult skin and from person to person, and should be treated as so. Sure, you can take the usual precautions, but when pimples breakout in full force there’s usually only one thing to do – consult your dermatologist.
Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding Pimples and Zap ‘n’ Clear – the Complete Pimple Therapy. Q1. How can I prevent pimples/acne from occurring? In order to prevent pimples you need to know the different forms in which pimple/acne appear and how they effect you and your skin.
a. Most teens experience pimples on the face but they can develop nearly anywhere on the body.
b. The usual forms include blackhead, whiteheads, and inflammatory lesions.
c. Inflammatory lesions (pimples/acne) are common amongst teens and adults and include cysts, papules, pustules, and nodules.
d. These lesions are the pus-filled ones and become red, sensitive, and painful.
e. Blackheads and whiteheads on the other hand are usually only found with cases of teen acne. Q2. Why does this happen to me? a. No one knows for sure exactly what causes breakout of pimples and acne.
b. But researchers do know that a hormone called androgen plays a role in pimple/acne formulation. Among other things, androgen stimulates the sebum-producing glands.
c. Heredity plays a big role. If one of your parents had pimples, there's a good chance you'll develop it. If both of them had serious pimple problems, then your chances are even higher.
Q3. What Causes Pimple/Acne? a. Pimple/acne most often starts at around age 11 for girls and 13 for boys.
b. Pimple develops when glands that produce an oily substance called sebum begin to work overtime, possibly due to hormonal changes that are at their peak in the teen years.
c. The function of the sebum is to carry cells shed by the glands to the surface of the skin.
d. Because the excess sebum is blocking the openings of the glands, called ducts, both cells and sebum accumulate, forming a ‘plug’. If the plug stays below the surface of the skin, it is light in color and called a whitehead. If the plug enlarges and pops out, the tip looks dark, it is called a blackhead. This isn't dirt and it won't wash away. The darkness is due to a buildup of melanin, the dark pigment in the skin. If the process continues, a pimple forms.
Q4. Are there certain things that can be contributing and/or aggravating my pimple/acne?
a. Do not pick your pimples. Picking your pimples can cause the follicular wall to rupture thereby inviting greater inflammation and greater scarring.
b. Do not stress yourself. To avoid acne flare ups, get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night on a consistent basis. When we sleep our body is rejuvenating and repairing itself it is for this reason that we must rest.
c. Drink 7-8 glasses of water a day. 10 glasses would be optimal. Remember your skin is the largest organ of your body and is the first to lose moisture and become dehydrated.
Q5. What is Exfoliation? a. Exfoliation is a common component of acne treatment programmes.
b. Since exfoliation removes dead, hardened outer skin cells, it improves the penetration of subsequently applied topical treatments.
c. Common exfoliating agents used in pimple/acne treatment include alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta-
hydroxy acids (BHA). d. Overall, BHA, particularly salicylic acid, appears to be more useful because they also reduce sebum production. Q6. What is phototherapy
a. Some forms of visible light, in particular intense blue light, have been shown to reduce the number of pimple/acne lesions by 50 percent or more.
b. This intense light interacts with porphyrins, a class of chemicals produced by pimple/acne-causing bacteria.
c. This interaction results in the production of noxious free radicals that are toxic to the bacteria.
d. The side effects of such treatment, if any, are generally mild because porphyrins are not present in skin cells and so the damage they produce is limited mainly to the bacteria.
e. It appears that a combination of red and blue light is even more effective than the blue light alone.
f. Anywhere from one to three months of at least 2 treatments a week are generally required to achieve substantial improvement.
Pimple/Acne Treatment Approaches
Q1. I wash my face several times a day. Why do I still get pimples? a. Many people still believe that acne is caused by dirty skin.
b. However, washing alone will not clear up or prevent pimple/acne.
c. Washing does, however, help remove excess surface oils and dead skin cells.
d. Scrubbing vigorously, only irritates the skin further and worsen pimple breakout.
e. Washing the skin twice a day gently with water and a mild cleanser is usually all that is required.
f. However, pimples are actually caused by a variety of biologic factors that are beyond the control of washing.
g. Hence, you should use appropriate treatments for the your pimple/acne. Q2. Does anything help – What are the treatment options?
a. Mild outbreak of pimples on the face can often be cleared up simply by washing your face once or twice daily and avoiding any food or drin k you think triggers the outbreak.
b. If these measures alone don't work, you may have to try one of the acne medicines that you apply directly to the skin and that are sold without a prescription.
c. They may contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid, all of which the Food and Drug Administration have been found effective for treating mild acne in some cases.
d. However, it should be noted that all of these drugs are "peeling agents," which cause irritation and drying that loosen plugs and shed dead cells. However, these modalities have significant side effects – remember, they are strong chemicals.
e. Moreover, the improvement usually does not last for long after the treatment is discontinued. Q3. So which treatment is safe, with long lasting effectiveness? a. Use only natural products on your skin.
b. Stay away from over-the-counter and prescribed skin care products containing chemicals and preservatives that can aggravate pimple-prone skin.
c. They literally strip the skin's natural oils. When this happens the skin will produce more oil to compensate – in turn causing more blocked pores and more pimples!
d. Instead use products that contain natural ingredients such as organically grown herbs/plants known for their antibacterial nourishing, moisturizing and healing properties and marked antioxidant action.
e. However, the best way to deal with pimple-infected skin is by using as few products as possible so your skin gets a chance to heal on its own.
The Best Foot Forward Q4. What can I do to get a clear complexion?
a. The best foot forward towards a clear complexion is a clean face. Washing face regularly with a mild face wash really helps; but be aware that pimples are not due to dirt and oil on the skin’s surface. It is the oil production below the skin’s surface that causes pimples and acne. However, establishing a good skin care regimen is helpful to a great extent.
Q5. How should I cleanse my face?
a. Do not wash face with harsh products. Using harsh and strong chemical-based products will over dry the surface of the skin.
b. The best way to wash the face is to wet it first, lather the facewash gel in the hands and apply it on wet skin with a gentle, rotating action. Rinse the facewash and pat dry the skin. Be careful not to scrub or dry vigorously.
c. Herbal pimple remedy in the form of skin cleansers gently cleanse the skin without allowing skin to get dry.
d. These herbal products, remove clogged dirt and sebum from skin pores and soothe the inflamed skin. Q6. Which herbal anti-pimple/acne remedy is most effective and safe? a. Natural pimple remedies have enabled teenagers and adults to fight acne with great success.
b. A natural acne remedy becomes a perfect solution for pimple when it acts as pimple/acne scar remedy too.
c. They can assist in clearing and nourishing the skin and help to re-establish proper pH balance.
d. Healing without the threat of major side effects. Hence, Zap ‘n’ Clear Ozone Ayurvedics, has formulated Zap ‘n’ Clear a unique and complete natural pimple/acne home remedy kit which has proved to be the best home remedy for acne, pimples, marks and scars. The anti-pimple and anti-pimple/acne marks treatment can be easily done at home within minutes and without any tedious process. The herbal preparations included in the Twin tubes of the Pimple Therapy Pack have been specifically formulated for your pimple/acne condition based on observation, experience and scientific proof of efficacy and safety. Q7. How does the complete pimple therapy of Zap ‘n’ Clear work? For the first time ever, you can zap your pimples fast without leaving any marks.
a. Do this with Zap ‘n’ Clear.This pack contains two tubes, the ‘Zap’ tube and the ‘Clear’ tube.
b. ‘Zap’ contains lemon and clove oil that rapidly kill pimple causing bacteria during the day.
c. ‘Clear’ contains aloe vera and onion extracts that soothe your skin,regenerate skin cells and gently erase the pimple marks.
d. Together they ensure that you zap pimples without leaving any marks.
e. Zap will take care of bacterial infection, inflammation, and pain with the kind of ingredients which Zap contains.
f. Clear will clear the post-pimple marks and give a clear look to your face as if there has been no pimple as such.
g. Zap ‘n’ Clear is a unique and rare combination pack which makes it superior to all other formulations available in the market.
h. ZAP-zaps pimples and CLEAR clears post-pimple marks. This 100% natural pimple/acne treatment has been clinically tested by dermatologists across India. Their findings have shown that Zap ‘n’ Clear is a safe and efficacious pimple therapy that works in totality – treats and prevents the occurrence of pimples/acne and clears the post-pimple marks.
Zap ‘n’ Clear works by three mechanisms each: ZAP: 1. Works on the root cause of acne by controlling excessive sebum (oil) production.
2. Acts on the pimple causing bacteria-prevents their further growth; thereby preventing any further growth of acne.
3. Reduces inflammation and pain. CLEAR: 1. Works effectively on the post pimple marks.
2. Heals the skin controlling inflammation due to acne.
3. Restores skin moisture and vitality by nourishing the skin with naturally occurring vitamins and essential oils. Q8. What are the directions for use of Zap ‘n’ Clear?
Wash your skin before applications. Apply directly onto the pimples. Do not apply with fingers use the ‘Zap’ whenever convenient and follow up with ‘Clear’ after six hours. Use everyday till the pimple and its residual mark completely disappear. Five Questions that Target Common Pimple/Acne Myths and Misconceptions Q1. What role does diet play in acne? a. Acne is not caused by food.
b. Following a strict diet will not, clear your skin. While some people feel that their acne is aggravated by certain foods, particularly chocolate, colas, peanuts, shellfish and some fatty foods, there is no scientific evidence that suggests food causes or influences acne.
c. Avoid any foods which seem to worsen your pimple/acne condition; and for your overall health, eat a balanced diet--but diet shouldn't really matter if the pimples are being appropriately treated. Q2. Does stress cause acne?
a. Stress can have many physiologic effects on the body, including changes in hormone levels that may theoretically lead to breakout of pimples.
b. In some cases stress may actually be caused by the presence of pimple/acne lesions.
c. However, if acne is being treated effectively, stress is not likely to have much impact on the majority of people. Q3. I have pimples on my face; what kind of cosmetics and cleansers can I use? a. The choice of cosmetics and cleansers should be made with consultation of your dermatologist or pharmacist.
b. Some pimple medications cause irritation or pronounced dryness particularly during the early weeks of therapy, and some cosmetics and cleansers can actually worsen this effect.
c. Heavy foundation makeup should be avoided.
d. Most pimple/acne patients should select powder blushes and eye shadow over cream products because they are less irritating and noncomedogenic. Q4. I have large number of pimples on my face. Is it harmful to squeeze them – because I wish to remove them completely?
a. Yes. In general, pimple/acne lesions should not be picked or squeezed by the patient. In particular, inflammatory acne lesions should never be squeezed.
b. Squeezing forces infected material deeper into the skin, causing spread of infection, additional inflammation and possible scarring. Q5. If the lesions on my face have healed leaving behind scars; Can anything be done about this scarring? a. Scarring is best prevented by early treatment of pimple/acne completely and safely.
b. The treatment must always be individualized for the specific patient.
c. It is important that the pimple/acne be well controlled before any procedure is used to alleviate scarring. Q6. What causes acne scarring?
a. In the simplest of terms, pimple/acne scars are visible aspects of tissue injury and tissue repair.
b. When tissue suffers an injury, the body rushes its "repair force" to the injury site. This specialized force includes white blood cells and an array of inflammatory molecules that work to fight infection and heal damaged tissue.
c. Once the infection is controlled; however, the tissue can't always be restored to its former state and this presents in the form of a scar. Q7. How can pimple/acne scarring be avoided? a. The best way to avoid scarring is to prevent pimple/acne.
b. It's important to treat the condition early in its course, and for as long as necessary.
c. The more inflammation you can prevent, the less is the likelihood of scar formation.
d. It is important to treat pimples with the proper medication rather than squeeze or pick at them.
d. Handling the skin - squeezing with your fingernails, poking pimples with a pin, or whatever - significantly increases damage to surrounding tissue, and thereby increases the chance that the lesion will leave a permanent scar. Q8. Do pimples clear on its own once a person reaches adulthood? Sometimes this is true. However, in many cases acne persists as late as the middle age. Q9. Is Teenage Acne Different from Adult Pimple/Acne?
a. One key difference between teenage pimple/acne and adult acne is that most teenagers usually experience pimples that are accompanied by oily skin. Adults can have either oily or dry skin.
b. It is that excess oil production that contributes to their pimple/acne. However, acne that is accompanied by dry skin is even more problematic because of the misconception that you don’t have to moisturize your skin if you have acne.
c. Teenage pimple/acne can also be much more emotionally taxing than adult acne.
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