Acne Vulgaris is something nearly everyone suffers at one time or another. If you've ever found yourself staring at a huge red pimple on the tip of your nose the day of a big date, or gone into a meeting hoping no one noticed the dark clogged pores that dot your forehead, you've dealt with acne vulgaris.
The most common skin problem by far, acne vulgaris affects most teens and more than half of adults. It causes pimples, whiteheads and blackheads. In more severe cases, though, it can cause painful infected cysts and sometimes permanent scarring. Worse, acne vulgaris, especially bad cases, can cause great embarrassment and damage your self-esteem. Though the blemishes can appear on your neck, back and chest, acne vulgaris most commonly shows up on your face. Unless you walk around wearing a ski mask, other people will notice when you're having a breakout. So what causes this problem, and what is the best way to deal with it?
Chocolate doesn't cause Acne Vulgaris, but your genes might
Parents and doctors alike once told teens to avoid eating fried or salty foods as well as chocolate so they wouldn't get acne vulgaris. It's too bad so many people missed out on eating foods they enjoyed, because modern research has proven that acne vulgaris does not come from the food we eat. What we eat doesn't even make an outbreak worse.
Doctors and researchers agree that there is a genetic tendency to have problems with acne vulgaris, particularly with severe cases. Hormones are another huge factor. More boys than girls tend to suffer acne vulgaris during the teenage years, but the tables turn in adulthood, when more women than men will deal with it. This is because hormones have a big effect on your skin. Teen boys have rising testosterone production that leads to excess skin oil and makes acne vulgaris breakouts worse. Once they're grown up, hormones level off and the breakouts tend to be minor. With girls, even as adults, premenstrual hormone shifts often cause acne vulgaris to flare.
The exact underlying cause of acne vulgaris itself is not known. However, there are many known ways to make acne vulgaris breakouts worse, such as:
* Washing your face too frequently or too roughly. Very hot water, harsh scrubs and using "acne" facial cleansers too often can cause more harm than good.
* Hair gels, spritzes, conditioners and pomades, as well as cosmetics, can clog pores and give acne vulgaris blemish production a huge boost.
* If you sweat a great deal, you'll have bigger problems with breakouts.
* Anything that rubs against or rests on your skin creates an open invitation for acne vulgaris to flare. This includes things like sport pads and sweatbands, helmets and chin straps. Even bra straps and long hair that lies against your face can make breakouts worse.
* Certain medications, such as steroids, and medical problems like endocrine system disorders, can also aggravate acne vulgaris outbreaks.
How do you prevent acne vulgaris?
The bad news is, because medical science really hasn't figured out the cause of acne vulgaris, there is no way to completely prevent it. However, there are steps you can take and acne vulgaris treatment options that will help minimize outbreaks and damage to your skin.
What is the best acne vulgaris treatment?
Acne vulgaris treatment options range from home remedies to prescription medication to alternative therapies. Washing gently twice a day and using an over-the-counter cream may be enough if you have mild acne vulgaris symptoms. For more aggressive outbreaks, your doctor may prescribe an acne vulgaris treatment such as oral or topical antibiotics, or birth control pills for women. If you have severe problems, a drug such as Accutane can help, but it comes with serious risks.
New options for acne vulgaris treatment are being developed all the time. If you have moderate to severe acne vulgaris problems, you may want to look into light therapy, an acne vulgaris treatment which uses blue and red lightwaves to heal your skin, without the use of medications.
About the Author
Rodel Garcia was an acne sufferer one time in my life. WebAuthor of these websites and hoping in my own little way help the acne sufferers cure their acne..
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