Dealing with Zits! (acne)

The psychological harm acne or Zits causes it's many sufferers should not be underestimated; although it undoubtedly causes distress, a number of topical remedies are available. Owing the widespread nature of this condition, scientific research into this area is intense; the result of this effort is a growing range of effective treatments. For those people that require treatment, the acne skin care products required fall broadly into a number of categories including:

• Drugstore: Preventative treatment
• Over-the-Counter: Treatments for conditions that do not require prescription
• Prescription only: Requires visit to doctor

Many skin care products are used as a measure to prevent acne; these products can be anything from skin cleansers to makeup removers. This is a market where many people use this type of product every day to condition their skin; often this is irrespective of whether or not there is a problem condition. More specialized cleaners are designed in the same way as acne skin care products; they are formulated to reduce and limit the amount of oil in the pores of our skin. These products prevent the oil from getting trapped in pores and can hamper the growth of bacteria, this can lead to the bad skin condition.

Skin care treatments such as exfoliation skin peels, clean the skin and help control the spread of the condition; most can even be purchased over the Internet in addition to normal outlets. Dead skin cells and other atmospheric pollutants are removed cleaning the pores which reduce the chance of any bacterial growth. Many other acne skin care products have become available over the counter and on the internet; they don't usually require a prescription. Most of these creams etc. are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne); they are designed to extract the excess oil that bacteria need to promote the development of acne.

It is often a good idea to start with a product that has lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. 5 percent) to see how the skin responds; alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are a safer skin care regime alternative if there is a problem. As with any type of zit cream, you may need to try a few acne skin care products until you find one that will suit your skin; however, if nothing you try seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist. Only doctors or skin care specialists can prescribe some medications, including the use of antibiotics and certain ointments.

Your dermatologist may suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules; although this is a minor procedure, if it were performed by the person themselves it could result in skin damage. Hormone treatment might be suggested as hormone changes can cause skin problems; studies show that hormone based skin care treatments often prove effective. Tackling this skin condition is not the problem it once was and if treated properly permanently marked skin does not have to happen.

Cellulite - a brief overview

Around the world, women suffer with an unsightly condition known universally as cellulite; the lower half of the body is the most likely, but not exclusive, area that will be affected. It would be unfair to say this is a condition exclusive to overweight women because that couldn't be further from the truth; the cottage cheese appearance so familiar with this condition can affect slim women as well.

Cellulite forms just below the surface of the skin in the thighs and buttocks region, where areas of fat collect and force themselves against the tissue creating a puckered look to the surface of the skin. In reality, nobody knows the real reason why some people accumulate these fats and not others, but there are some factors that health experts are considering such as the structure of the fat cells or toxins that enter the body.

One thing is for certain though ad that is this problem increases with age which is partly due to the reduction of collagen and elastin in the system which is why we tend to have more lines as we get older. It is classified as a hormonal imbalance experienced by women and seldom appears on males as normally fat stored in the thighs and buttock is the same as fat stored all over the body so no difference is observed.

Often the cellulite goes unnoticed and it is only when a person's muscles are compressed or the skin is pinched that it can be seen and felt but women should not feel depressed about the problem as most suffer with it to a greater or lesser degree. Just how much a person has will depend on a number of factors like, age, gender, genetics and even the thickness and type of skin they have will affect how easily it can be seen.

As the reasons for the formation are still a mystery, no complete treatment has been devised to rid the condition from people who suffer with is badly even though there are many creams that claim to rid someone of it. A large number of cosmetic clinics are now offering a massage service which they say rids the cellulite but it in fact hides it by puffing up the skin in the areas affected.

Perhaps the most drastic therapy is liposuction where fat is literally sucked from the body or the more expensive procedure of injecting certain chemicals in a process called mesotherapy. The problem with liposuction is that it is not really the correct therapy for removing this type of fat but is for deeper fats, not those stuck in connective tissue, so it cannot claim to be a best treatment for cellulite.

Whilst the creams that claim to burn the fat deposits away may not be very successful, the latest generation is designed to hide the condition although once again this is a short term answer. It can only really be reduced as part of an overall weight reduction program through adopting a healthy eating and living plan, together with increasing exercise, so that body fat is reduced rather than connective tissues.

Water too is useful as it has the effect of flushing out toxins that accumulate and are thought to be partly responsible for the cellulite; in addition to this smokers are urged to quit or reduce their smoking which is an effective way for toxins to enter the body.