There are many forms of acne, with cystic acne thought to be one of the most harsh and difficult to improve. It is commonly known that acne is more profound within teenagers who are going through puberty, but people of any age, sex or race can be affected during their lives. Another name for cystic acne is Modular acne and this name comes from the cysts that form on the skin during the early stages of infection. Without an informed dose of cystic acne treatment, it is very unlikely that symptoms will improve and the effects could be very long lasting.

Scar tissue is rife for sufferers who have chosen not to research properly into cystic acne treatment or who have tried to pierce pimples themselves in an environment that is not sterile or without the correct tools. There are many forms of cystic acne treatment but cystic acne is known to be the most painful strain of acne, so any treatments must be considered carefully alongside an expert within the field, such as a qualified dermatologist. Without treatment, a small blackhead caused by a blockage in a pore or hair follicle, can grow and become filled with puss. If these are not treated, they can burst and spread infection further leaving open wounds on the skin.

Cystic acne treatment options available

Depending on the cause of your acne, varying cystic acne treatments could be prescribed by a skin specialist. Hormonal imbalances are often blamed and these can happen during many stages of a person’s life. Teenage puberty is the most common and educated cause, but imbalances can be caused by medications, pregnancy, stress and the menopause. Some skin experts have even recently commissioned research to look into the possibility that cystic acne could be hereditary. If it is, it could go a long way into determining the cause of a child’s acne outburst later in life.

Due to the severity of this form of the skin disease, cystic acne treatment should be very carefully considered and talked about with your doctor. If they are not trained specifically within this field, then they may refer you to a skin specialist or a dermatologist, for a full examination. They can take samples of the cells from the acne on your face or infected area and will be able to quickly determine exactly what type of acne it is that you have. This procedure is important, as this knowledge will allow you to be prescribed with the most appropriate cystic acne treatment available for you. The Dermatologist will be able to analyse your skin cells and give advice on lifestyle changes that could also assist with the health of your skin in the future.

Do you have Cystic Acne? What treatments have you tried? We welcome your comments.

The Guilty Hormone

Although the above examples of causes are within women, they are caused by androgens, a male hormone. It is normal for females to have some male hormones, and vice versa. The hormones over produce oil within the skin and this causes pores or hair follicles to block, clogging up the pathway for fresh air and creating hormonal acne.

Women tend to suffer from hormonal acne at more times in their life than men, due to the natural changes that a female body can take on. For example, the regular teenage pimples may be seen, and then later in life, pregnancy often occurs. Menstruation and menopause also causes chemical imbalances and even birth control pills, which men cannot take, can create adverse effects. If you find that your form of birth control pill is causing an outbreak of spots, then speak to your Doctor and request to be prescribed with lower doses of Oestrogen within them.

Can it be treated?

Yes, as with regular acne, hormonal acne can be treated successfully and without the need for any further pain or inflammation. Topical treatments, which can be obtained over the counter at a pharmacy, are generally very effective for those whom do not suffer from a particularly bad case of hormonal acne. Regular cleansers that contain Benzoyl Peroxide or Glycolic acid are also known to be effective and readily available on the shelf.

If you suffer from premenstrual acne, there are specialist products available to you. They contain an anti-inflammatory agent, which although affective, should not be used by those who are allergic to Aspirin, due to their similar properties. Lowering the level of Oestrogen in your birth control pills could also assist, and your Doctor will be able to advise on a suitable new brand for you when prescribing.

More information on Hormonal Acne

A visit to a qualified Dermatologist might be required if your case of hormonal acne is not alleviated with any of the above home medications. More so than a regular Doctor, they can advise you on effective ingredients used to treat hormonal acne. The more common names of prescribed drugs that you will hear talked about are Tetracycline and Differine. They do each have their own benefits and side effects, which is why they must be properly prescribed.

What sets off your acne? What do you treat your acne with? Please comment below.

Forms of acne laser treatment

There are two main types of acne laser treatment, scar removal and skin resurfacing. The former scar removal procedure is carried out with what is called an Ablative procedure using a special laser. It carefully removes the upper layer of the skin to reveal the new, incomplete but fresh skin underneath. During the acne laser treatment, scar tissue is simply burnt away and causes the skin underneath to naturally tighten and can greatly reduce the clarity of any scars that you have.

The second form of acne laser treatment is done with a skin-resurfacing laser and the very latest model of this has been named the Smoothbeam. The sebaceous gland is the focus for this laser and is targeted because it is the gland which creates sebum, the number one cause of acne occurring. As the natural collagen within your skins heats up, it tightens and reduces scarring along with its appearance.

A trained professional with certificates and qualifications should only ever perform procedures such as acne laser treatment. Improper or incorrect use of a strong laser such as this could cause severe pain and side effects if not used properly, so always check your doctor’s credentials before signing on the dotted line.

There are other uses for the acne laser treatment machines for people with skin issues such as Rosacea. Similar procedures have been used on sufferers to attempt to reduce the redness within their skin, and have proved to be very successful, depending on the severity of the case. The yellow pulse dye laser is the tool of choice when removing redness and the appearance of any keloidal scars. With removal of these, side effects such as itching and dryness should also reduce in the contaminated area.

Due to the long-term categorisation of Rosacea, no fixes for it will be very quick or indeed permanent. Laser treatment can be very harsh so is performed in short bursts of one hour at a time, to give the skin time to recover properly, before being submitted to the laser once more. A Dermatologist will be able to advise how long the course of treatment that you require will be. Acne laser treatment must be fully investigated from many sources before booking any appointments with a Doctor or Dermatologist of course.

If you have acne scarring, have you ever considered Acne Laser Treatment? What type of treatment did you opt for? Did you carry out the treatment or did you decide against it? Please share your experiences and comment.

Sugars and sweeteners are top of the list for, acne causing foods and are highly guilty of worsening an already bad situation with your skin as harmful bacteria thrives on them. They can convert these false nutrients into toxic waste and thus omits it through your skin, causing spots. Even foods that you might consider to be fairly healthy carry high levels of sugars, such as natural fruit juice and gum. Within, acne causing foods, the sugar might not be fake, but occurs naturally in high levels within citrus fruits especially. Artificial sweeteners are the owners of many chemicals and can be equally as bad for the health of your skin. Avoid any acne causing foods with high levels of either sugar or sweeteners wherever possible.

The dairy found in milk products are also unfortunately high on the hit list of acne causing foods. It is not only cows milk that is to be avoided, but that of any animal at all. This is because digestion is slowed down and allows bad bacterias to multiply inside you without any interruptions. Pasteurised milk, although cleansed of toxins, can form a coating around the lining of your small intestine and blocks nutrients from being absorbed through its walls. Wherever possible, if you have to eat or drink dairy products, try to buy organic products. Non-organic animals are fed foods containing chemicals, which can then pass into your own body via these, acne causing foods.

What are the Acne Causing Foods!

Protein, although thought to be beneficial, can be hazardous acne causing foods when eaten in high excess. Proteins acidify very easily and this promotes the growth of parasites in the skin. Packed meats are full of protein but also contain substances called sodium nitrite and sulphur, both of which are negative acne causing foods. Your gut has a natural sulphur reducer that breaks it down into ammonia and phenyls. This is good for your body but if this function has to work too much, it can break down the gut lining and leave it open to further harm.

Have you noticed any foods that set your acne to flare up? Have you cut out any food groups to help control your acne? Share your thoughts and comment below.

Acne Conglobata is a skin disease that is highly inflammatory and can cause great discomfort to those whom suffer from this variety of acne. Generally, those within an age range of 18 to early 30s will be most likely to contract the disease, which can present itself on the skin in nodules and abscesses most commonly.

Unfortunately, this disease although treatable, is a long-term skin infection but usually tames itself by the age of 40 to 50 years old. It is rare to see a pensioner with such a rife skin disease still, as skin needs certain levels of hormones to be able to be kept alive. Rather than Acne Conglobata being a regular type of acne, it occurs within either people whom already suffer from acne or those whom have since recovered from it. Acne, even though you might not be able to visually see it anymore, still lies within the skin.

How does it Begin?

The first signs of seeing Acne Conglobata are with blackheads, usually on the face, arms or buttocks, similar to regular acne. Other spots can then form around the blackheads and then begin to fill with puss. It is these new fluid filled pimples that are the Acne Conglobata present within your skin and they will very quickly become swollen and painful to touch, even delicately.

They will either swell to a point that they will burst themselves or a doctor can pierce them, never do this yourself; it is very difficult to create a sterile environment at home. Without proper treatments of the utensils used to pierce the Acne Conglobata then further bacteria could spread and worsen the situation. Unfortunately, if not properly cared for, the lesions can again fill with puss and the circle could keep rotating. When the healing process has finally completed, scars usually remain and they can often be very deep.

What Treatment is Available for Acne Conglobata?

Where possible, do not itch or scratch the acne as it could become more inflamed and will spread the skin damage further, thus making any treatment more hard work. Instead, see a Doctor and request a treatment such as Isotretinoin. The Doctor or Dermatologist to help fight the infection before it spreads too far sometimes prescribes an antibiotic named Tetracycline. Sometimes, smaller nodules that have burst can join with other small nearby nodules and create very large lesions, which will then fill with puss. Where this occurs very regularly, your Doctor may advise you have surgery, to fully rid you of the Acne Conglobata disease.

We welcome any comments you may have on Acne Conglobata, please use the comment box below.

When studying signs and symptoms of acne, you might find that instead
you have contracted the inflammatory type. This is similar to the reverse, but
the white heads and blackheads can become inflamed, raised, and cause the skin
to stretch. When experiencing the signs and symptoms of acne, you will see that
the enlarged skin can then fill with puss and become extremely uncomfortable,
if not very painful for the person who has it. In the most severe case, pitting
can occur on the skin even after the acne itself has long disappeared,
resulting in a dimply face. This happens as the acne goes very deep into your
skin and can form cysts, which are more difficult to treat. Often, a Doctor or
Dermatologist will prescribe drugs or a course of anti-inflammatory pills after
studying the patient.

The Signs and Symptoms of Acne on Your Skin

Can it be treated?

For less aggressive signs and symptoms of acne, a topical treatment
can be used that does not always need to be prescribed by a doctor. When
searching for an off the shelf medication to treat your signs and symptoms of
acne, look for ingredients such as Benzoyl peroxide, sulphur and resorcinol,
all well known additives known to be effective in treating mild acne.

Never squeeze spots. Although it might expel the puss, it could cause
damage to the skin where it bursts and the puss can spread elsewhere on hands.
The area can become further inflamed and make the entire situation much harder
to resolve. Likewise, never scrub your skin and choose exfoliaters carefully.
If they are too abrasive, they will pull at the skin, which is extremely
sensitive already. The friction involved in rubbing will make the areas very
red and could cause the acne to become very painful.

Should the signs and symptoms of acne be determined by a Doctor to be
very harsh or progressive, they may refer you to a Dermatologist. Topical
treatments are usually amongst the first type of treatments to be tried,
followed by oral antibiotics and even specific types of hormonal medications.
They can help to rebalance your hormones and reduce the rate at which your
sebum produces oil.

It is not contagious nor catching but most people who are diagnosed with Rosacea tend to try and find an appropriate acne Rosacea treatment, if only to relieve the pain. Sometimes very severe cases can cause the skin to crack and chap. Due to the sensitivity of effected skin, it is becoming more common to see natural or herbal treatments used, rather than those prescribed by a doctor. They can be just as safe and always check with your doctor before going ahead with any alternative types of treatment.

Common acne Rosacea treatments are often very strong and contain many chemicals, which are not suitable for treating acne Rosacea as it could lead the skin to flare up considerably. Certain natural acne Rosacea treatment remedies could also cause some irritation, depending on the severity of the condition. There are some tried and tested solutions that you can make for yourself at home to try. Remember; always test it on a small and hidden part of your body first, before treating your entire body with the acne Rosacea treatment.

A simple solution of one part white vinegar and six parts water could help. Apply this daily using a cotton pad and dab your skin with the solution, rather than rub it in – this will only cause further unnecessary irritation. The vinegar in this acne Rosacea treatment acts as a natural disinfectant and reduces the amount of bacteria and yeast that is held within your skin, which cause flare-ups. White vinegar is less harsh than regular table vinegar, which is why it is preferred.

Green tea is known to be good for your health in a multitude of ways, including for treating skin ailments such as blackheads, pimples or scars and also as an effective acne Rosacea treatment. Rather than dabbing your skin with it, make soaking pads with cotton wool pads and leave them on your skin for up to ten minutes. Lay back and relax whilst it soothes the pain and helps to decrease any inflammation that has arisen on your skin. You might notice that many expensive shop-bought treatments also contain green tea due to its natural healing properties.

When outside in the sun, special care needs to be taken; to burn Rosacea affected skin could become intensively painful. Speak to your doctor about an acne Rosacea treatment that you can use in addition to your regular sunscreen lotion; apply that first and then the lotion on top, once it has soaked in. Never use a product on your skin that contains alcohol, this will increase the natural redness within your skin. Try to use entirely natural products wherever possible to help increase the health of your skin. Always put a lot of research into your choice of acne Rosacea treatment.

There are also plenty of books available on how to care for and treat Rosacea follow the link below to Amazon for a comprehensive list;

Rosacea Skin Care Titles

Rosacea can be quite a difficult condition to care for, if you have any tips you could share with our readers, please leave a comment below.

Take a look at this video from http://storyofstuff.org – then take another look at the cosmetics and products you use on your skin. . .

This video is talking about the US market, but the products mentioned in the video are available in the UK and other countries. These chemicals also aren’t exclusive to US manufacturers.

Remember what goes into your body has to come out. Your skin absorbs what it comes in contact with, and what goes in must come out – one way or another. Toxins and other unwanted waste usually leaves the body via bowel movements and via urine, but if the body is unable to cope with it all in this way, it will find other ways to try to get rid of it, such as through your pores.

Hair follicle inflammation or Folliculitis as it is known in the medical world is a very common skin irritation and in extreme cases, can cause puss-filled spots around the hair follicles. This does not only affect the follicles on your head, it can be around any hair on the entire body, including arms and legs. Many people suffer a very occasional bout of this but others who see a long-term irritation will need to seek medical treatment. Often, it is not the person with the infection that spots it, but a stylist in a beauty salon whilst creating your new hairstyle.

Staphylococcus Aureus is the name of the bacteria, which causes the most cases of hair follicle inflammation and is guilty alongside some other very common bugs. It is very easily passed through water or through the touch of skin on skin but can be treated quickly, if it is caught in its early days of development. Many fungal infections are also infectious, but are far less common causes of such an outbreak. If a more common treatment does not work, then a fungal infection will be suspected; they are much harder to treat. People whom have suffered from infections that have affected their immune systems will be more likely to contract a viral infection, which could lead to hair follicle inflammation.

A pustule is the proper name for the pussy area around a follicle and when the hair follicle inflammation is in its early stages, will most likely be found on the scalp, bottom or arms and legs. Understandably, these are the areas more likely to suffer from attacks of sweat, so will be more prone to infections. As with many infections, early treatment is advised in order to keep it to a minimum and to eradicate it quickly. For many skin conditions, a doctor will prescribe a topical antibiotic, but with a case of hair follicle inflammation, a mixture of this and an antiseptic wash will be prescribed instead. This way, it will be able to treat the cause and sooth the pain at the same time.

Tea tree oil is already used for hundreds of health applications and again it becomes useful when treating boils or spots around follicles causing hair follicle inflammation. If you are buying or making your own remedy for hair follicle inflammation, look for ones that contain this natural and proven ingredient. Home treatments such as hot water compresses may help in the short-term, or on days when the pain is particularly bad. For the long-term, a doctor or dermatologist may prescribe you an oral antibiotic for your hair follicle inflammation. Where cases are extremely developed and the lesions contain a lot of puss, appointments can be made to have them drained. This will quickly reduce the pressure and pain, but treatment will still need to be taken. For sufferers of more long-term and extensive lesions, a term of laser hair removal might be offered. This takes away the cause of the pain entirely, but can be expensive.

Other Related Articles:

• 6 Quick Acne Prevention Tips
• Effective Acne Scar Removal

What Can Testosterone Do For You!

It is widely known that hormones cause acne, but can this be controlled? Generally the rule is no, but certain measures can be taken to either slow down the production of the hormones involved or simply help to slow their effects. The guilty hormone that causes such grief to acne sufferers is the male hormone, testosterone. Equally, very high levels of the female hormone, Oestrogen can cause excessive skin problems also. Once you have established that hormones cause acne outbreaks in yourself, you can learn how to treat it.

It might not only be from the natural levels within your body where hormones cause acne, hormones can be absorbed by your body in other ways also. For example, women who take certain types of contraceptive pills will be allowing a hormone named progestogen to alter their natural balance of hormones. In some people, this imbalance can cause small spots to rise from under the skin and in more extreme cases, can cause a full outbreak of acne to occur. In the same way that some hormones cause acne, some other can actually help your body to rid itself of the skin disease.

If you notice after beginning to take a contraceptive pill that hormones cause acne for you, then you are recommended to advise your doctor of this. There are over 30 different types of common contraceptive pills available to you, each with different ingredients and levels of hormones, so you can be switched to another more suitable one very easily. A chemical imbalance in one person might be acceptable by the body of another, hence why there are so many concoctions of oils available on the open medical market for those where hormones cause acne on their skin.

For those whom have higher levels of testosterone, acne can become rife very quickly. The reason for this is that, the glands within the skin produce more sebum. These glands sit just below the surface of your skin and if they produce sebum too quickly or in high dosages, this will cause spots to appear on the surface. At normal levels, you will not find that hormones cause acne, only when they are very excessive. When the balance is correct, the sebum will correctly moisturise your skin and will keep it very supple.

It is not only men that have testosterone within their body, women have it naturally too and vice-versa. When hormones cause acne, the sebum causes skin to shed near the surface and blocks up pores, again causing further stress to the skin and the formation of whiteheads or blackheads will be seen. Any build up around the hair follicles can be very painful and will require quick treatment, if you wish for the effects not to spread.

Other Related Articles:

• Acne Skin Care Guide
• Seven Tips for Healthy and Shining Skin