Zits: Causes, Myths and SolutionsDec 30 '06 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Have skin problems? Never fear. Dr. Julie is here. Zits aren’t big but they bug us in a big way! Acne affects more than 20 million teenagers in the United States which is approximately 90% of the teenage population. 45 million Americans of all ages have acne. Acne cannot be given to anyone by anyone else. Blemishes occur 2-3 weeks before you can see them. They are cause by a natural skin cleansing process that gets stuck. Your skin has sebaceous (oil producing) glands that are at the root of hair follicles. Oil naturally drains out from these pours to cleanse the body and renew the skin. The glands are found not only in mass quantities on the face and scalp but all over the body except the hands and soles of the feet which have more sweat glands. Unfortunately, if there is clogging from dead skin cells or excessive oil production, bacteria grows and pimples are formed. Teens with hormones going crazy changes body chemistry and breakouts form. Dead skin cells get stuck together and trap the oil and bacteria inside. This can lead to congestion to the clogged pores and angry looking zits appear. Many teens would rather isolate themselves than go to a public place such as school or the mall because of breakouts. They happen to most people and you should use your friends as a support system. They will understand, or they soon will. Acne is a chronic problem that takes months even years of treatment and is many times frustrating. However you can improve the situation with doing the right things and avoiding potential acne aggravators. Some of the causes or culprits are the following: • Heredity (thanks to the rents) • Hormone changes (puberty) • Excessively oily skin • Monthly period • allergies • Poor nutrition or too much sugar • Environment pollution • Poor Hygiene Does stress cause Acne? Yes, stress creates a sympathetic nervous system response also known as “fight or flight” reaction. You start to sweat and oil covers all the pours in your body. Natural stress hormones of epinephrine and cortisol aid in oil clogging and reddening giving you more breakouts. Stressing over zits gives you more zits! Solution: Try using relaxation techniques when you feel stressed. Deep, slow breathing concentrating on one word in your mind or one spot on a wall taking the negative stressful thoughts away from your mind for 15 minutes a day can aid in controlling stress. Does diet Cause Acne? Yes and No. Sugar and processed nasty carbohydrates are not good for your skin. Sugar is the major culprit in breakouts because the surge of insulin and epinephrine that are chemicals in your body that activate to break down sugar can create skin redness and swelling. Concentrated processed carbohydrates can make your insulin not work to break down sugar and leave it floating free. Floating sugar or glucose which is the simplest form of sugar in the body can create more bacteria and will clog the system. Some bad foods include but, is not limited to: Doughnuts, cakes, twinkies, sugary cereals, and junk food. It is not true that oily foods will create oily skin! As long as when you are eating you aren’t touching your face in between bites it is fine. Oil for general nutrition however should be eaten sparingly. Solution: Eat well rounded meals following the food pyramid with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables. Cut out the junk food or at least minimal use. Is Acne hormonal? Yes, Acne is created from your Androgens “sex hormones”. These hormones establish your gender and change throughout your life. Puberty or the teen years are usually when your glands are in over-drive and the changes and system problems are being worked out. Sex hormones are the spark of oil production which may stick to shedding skin and causing clogging. For guys the surge of testosterone in the system causes the major acne breakouts. Unfortunately, testosterone causes increase in the oil production rates and guys are affected more severely. The ladies low progesterone will create more oil production in addition to testosterone searches that do occur in women. Solution: Unfortunately, it is what is. Do’s Do clean your face twice daily avoiding harsh products with alcohol. Note: pores are cleansed better when performing upward strokes from chin to forehead. This technique will also not allow the spread of hair build up to your face. In addition, you do not want a harsh facial cleanser it may irritate your skin. Wash your face in the morning and at night. During the night the skin over produces to clean and regenerate skin so there is more surface cleaning that can be done in the morning. Do remove make-up every night to reduce blemishes and aid in having healthy smooth skin. During sleep skin needs to breathe and take a break. Pores should be clean so skin can regenerate. If make-up is not removed the pores become closed. The oils that are naturally cleansing your skin and moisturizing are unable to surface getting stuck and causing blackheads Do wash after exercising. Your body not only produces oils from sweat glands but also urea a substance found in urine. Yeah, believe it or not found in pee. So if you don’t wash the sweat away your body is dirty and will cause breakouts. Do moisturize, over drying your skin with harsh products is not good. Your face needs oil and if you do not have enough your body will work over time to make sure it does. You have to figure out what kind of skin type you have to try to match a good moisturizer to you. Moisturizers also protect the skin from the environment and protects against infection and bacteria that cause breakouts. A good moisturizer has SPF 15 or better in it. Do Shampoo your hair regularly. Oil glands are produced in the scalp at the base of the hair follicles and can cause forehead breakouts. Do drink lots of water. Being hydrated inside makes your skin beautiful on the outside. You should be getter 8 glasses of 8 oz of water a day more if you are active and exercising. Do eat a healthy diet. Stay away from sugary foods, over processed carbohydrates, caffeine, hydrogenated oils, and soft drinks. Labels are important things to read. Food companies are required by law to list ingredients. Sometimes a vitamin imbalance can cause break outs such as not enough vitamin A, B5 or Zinc. But do not start taking supplements without talking to a doctor. Vitamin A especially is fat soluble which means it stays in your body and can be dangerous. Raw vegetables and fruits are beneficial. Do brush your skin before showering. Use a clean soft bristled brush and spend 5 minutes to stroke the skin from chin to forehead. Long strokes and circles with a brush can stimulate blood flow and draining through the lymphatic system. It is also relaxing, and removes some dry dead skin cells that may cause clogs. You must wash this brush regularly. A make-up blush brush when clean works great. Again it must be clean and cleaned regularly using a little hypoallergenic shampoo. Do wear your hair up and away from your face. Hiding just makes the breakouts worse! Do use hypoallergenic products and gentle to skin products. It is common to have allergies to scented and harsh products. Your skin may freak-out because of the product that you bought to help your skin. Do consult your dermatologist if you have severe acne and before taking supplements Don’ts Don’t use bar soap! The bar soap is chillin in a dish that bacteria culminates in. This bacteria is then spread over your face and body, talk about nasty and not helpful! Stick to body washes and gentle liquid soaps. Make sure everything you use is gentle! Don’t use drying cleansers and harsh scrubs. It can change the pH (body balance) or the chemical barrier for the skin and can cause infection. Cleansers with alcohol should be only used on very oily areas, but this can be irritating so be careful! Do not dump all over your face it can dry out your skin and cause your glands to go wild and increase oil production if done excessively! Absolutely no alcohol should be used at the eyes and it is better to use oily textured remover for ease of use to remove mascara without irritating eyes and causing redness Don’t use make-up every day. Sometimes your face needs a break! Everyday make-up use doesn’t allow for your face to relax and regenerate naturally. If you need to wear make-up it should be water-based. Don’t squeeze Zits. It is tempting I know to try to eliminate those nasty looking puppies, but it can lead to scaring and can further aggravate and infect your skin. This makes for a nasty little cycle of bad skin. Don’t scratch or rub skin. Friction is created by scratching and rubbing which can infect clear areas. FYI tight fitting clothes can also cause friction from consistent rubbing. So try to avoid wearing tight clothes excessively Don’t hide. Hiding behind your hair in your face, a cap on your head will increase acne at the hair line and may even increase breakouts in the face if your hair is there Don’t put your hands on your face! When you are in class or studying it is easy to lean your hands on your cheek or hands. Lord only knows how many germs are on your hands and oils too! EWE!!! Even one finger can bring up an eruption. Don’t tan. Sun exposure can not only age your skin but it will aggravate acne if done excessively. Many acne products create a thinning of the skin and increases sensitivity especially to the sun. UV light kills your skin by drying out the layers. Instant tan is getting more and more popular and nicer looking so try that as an alternative. Don’t use harsh cleansers or harsh sponges/ washcloths which may damage your skin *******It is hard to say don’t feel self conscious but the majority of your peers are going through it so don’t stress it causes more breakouts! Over the counter medications can be effective at treating mild to moderate acne but are unpredictable for each person.  |
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