To many of us, especially teenagers, with sexual stirrings under way, and hormones racing in directions never before experienced, acne can potentially be the biggest downer known to either sex.
What bigger agony than to be getting ready to go to a Summer Ball, only to find a row of red prominent zits appearing all over our face?
It can make you feel worse inside than you actually look. Many shy and embarrassed youngsters between the ages of twelve and twenty four suffer from acne in some form or another. It’s uncomfortable and embarrassing, although not strictly life threatening. Boys tend to fall victim to it more than girls at the onset of puberty, probably because of the increased level of the hormone testosterone in the body. Acne is generally caused by bacteria filling up clogged pores, resulting in zits breaking out.
The zits usually spread over the face, back, shoulders, chest and neck. Some doctors think it may be hereditary. There is a whole industry dedicated to finding cures for acne, and there is a plethora of advice when it comes to supposed acne cures.
To some people, the acne condition seems so bad to them emotionally, they seek medical help and advice from their own doctor, or even specialist dermatologists to try and find a cure. Some sufferers use over the counter treatments, some have prescription treatments and others prefer to use natural methods. There is a lot of anecdotal promotion of the merits of one treatment or another and it all gets very confusing. You just have to see which acne cures work for you and it may be a case of trial and error. There are some experts who say there is no such thing as a cure and that you should disregard such claims. One thing is for certain with that advice – if you can grin ( and hide the zits) then you will certainly save your pockets with all the ‘Quack’ cures that do the rounds every year. In fact, it is a superb market to be in, as every year, and constant stream of newcomers march in search of a cure for acne.
Whatever the claims and counter claims of different sorts of treatment, prevention is certainly preferable to acne cures. It’s definitely worth a try, as most prevention stems around eating habits and cleanliness. Attention to diet is important and avoiding fried fatty foods (sorry – burgers and chips or fries are definitely out while the zits are popping all around your mouth, also with refined and processed foods in general is a good start. Also, try to cut down on caffeine, alcohol, soft drinks and tobacco. I know, just the stuff you are starting to survive on!
Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, and drink plenty water. Eating irregularly can cause constipation and this can promote acne because the toxic material has to break out somewhere.
It may not be possible to prevent the acne but you may be able to lessen its effects. If all measures fail, it’s time to decide on which of the acne cures to try. There are numerous gels, lotions, creams and solutions on the market. Benzyl Peroxide is a common ingredient in over the counter medications and some people have found that it works very well, especially when combined with regular cleansing and moisturizing. Other acne cures are antibiotics, salicylic acid and sulfur.
Unfortunately, some of these so-called cures can leave a strange smell lingering around the sufferer’s face, so they get hit two ways socially. You should always ask a good friend to check if any sulfer based products for instance are causing any lingering whiffs.
For other people, they prefer to try remedies that work from the inside, and prefer to try vitamins or natural herbal remedies. You can find all of these easily available as acne cures. Vitamin A and Niacin is recommended, and also Zinc tablets. There are a number of home remedies that you could try.
Some sufferers apply orange peel crushed with water or lemon juice. Another acne cure is coriander or mint juice mixed with a little bit of turmeric powder. Others apply grated cucumber leaves or crushed garlic cloves. You could also try an overnight face mask made from mashed up fenugreek leaves, to be washed off when you wake next day. Tea Tree Oil is said to be another acne cure. You can also bathe in a soothing hot tub of Epsom Salts.
Whichever method you decide to use, don’t undo the benefits of your acne cures by picking at the skin. Also, don’t make it worse by scrubbing at the acne with any harsh material. Be kind to yourself! And don’t, whatever you do, take part in the messy ritual of squeezing the extra large zits.