Why Do I Get Hormonal Acne? Is It Due To Hormonal Changes, Or Something Else?

Experts have always known there was some sort of link between hormones and acne. Hormonal acne typically presents itself around age 20-25 and is most persistent in women over the age of 30. This over 20 group is gaining more attention and a multi-dimensional look at both causes and treatments.

If you have sudden onset of adult acne for the first time, you should check with your doctor whether the culprit could be a cause other than hormonal changes. Pregnancy and menopause are also times when hormones dramatically shift creating the potential for sudden onset or increased acne breakouts.

A recent survey of hormonal acne sufferers revealed that early half of all women experience acne flare-ups during the week before their period.1 Why? Estrogen levels reach their peak at mid-cycle, then decline as you approach your period, when the progesterone levels produced by your ovaries increase, stimulating oil production in the sebaceous glands. Pores become blocked, creating a perfect environment for acne bacteria to multiply, creating an inflammatory blemish. Hormonal breakouts usually evidence themselves on the lower face, especially the chin and jaw line, although sometimes they will also show up on neck, chest and shoulders as inflamed lesions, blackheads or cystic-type acne. Hormonal acne is typically moderate and may cease for a time between monthly cycles - but it can be devastating when it pops up right before that important dinner party!

Big contributors to hormonal acne can be the foundations, moisturizer and sunscreens that you use on your skin. Products geared toward the needs of aging skin do not put as much focus on being non-comedogenic (tested to not clog pores). Sunscreens, although a necessary part of skincare, are big culprits for breakouts. Keep experimenting until you find one that works without breaking you out. Also, mineral foundations and blushes that incorporate the ingredient Bismuth Oxychloride can cause cystic breakouts on cheeks and jaw line. Check your ingredients very carefully when choosing a mineral make-up.

If you think you have hormonal acne, regardless of your stage of life, it's always best to consult your dermatologist first. Find a natural acne treatment that uses salicylic acid (the most gentle that works by opening your pores through removal of dead skin cells from the pore) or benzoyl-peroxide, (if you can tolerate it, as it is more harsh on the skin, and don't mind using a chemical treatment). Importantly, look for a regime that also includes non-comedogenic hydration for your skin, as these treatments tend to be drying. Your dermatologist may recommend the addition of a prescription treatment as well.

Besides daily, low dose acne treatment, diet and exercise can be important factors in keeping your skin clear from hormonal acne. A healthy, low-fat diet of fresh foods, and an active lifestyle, can do wonders in helping your skin cells stay healthy -- reduce stress too. All of these factors are key in preventing hormonal acne breakouts.

1. Kraning KK, Odland GF: Prevalence, morbidity and cost of dermato- logic diseases. J Invest Dermatol 73:395-401, 1979 (suppl)

There is a way to treat hormonal acne without harsh chemicals and side effects. Relogy Skincare was designed as the perfect solution for your skin which combines next gen science with natural, fresh ingredients. To shop our products, or learn more about your skin and acne, visit http://www.relogynow.com. Thanks for reading!

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9 Bad Skin Habits That Lead To Acne

Clear, healthy, blemish-free skin is a dream for many - and though you can't do anything about your hormones or hereditary, two main causes of acne, you can alter your daily routine to improve your skin's appearance. Break your skin care bad habits to prevent acne and enjoy the healthy glow of clear skin.

Acne, the term for what's commonly called pimples or zits, occurs when oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells clog hair follicles. People with oily skin may be more susceptible to pimples because of their acne-prone skin, but breaking bad habits can still help them - and everyone else - prevent acne.

Break These Acne-Causing Habits

Here are the top bad habits that can take a toll on your acne-prone skin, resulting in pimples and blemishes:

Bad Habit No. 1: Washing your skin too often
Though it's important to keep your skin clean, washing it too often will only make acne worse. Instead, wash your face in the morning when you wake and at night before bed.

Bad Habit No. 2: Vigorously scrubbing your skin
Scrubbing your skin with a washcloth, loofah, or harsh exfoliant will cause significant irritation - and may worsen your acne-prone skin. To prevent acne, always wash with only lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser.

Bad Habit No. 3: Not cleaning sweaty skin
After you've had a tough workout or been outside in the hot sun, your skin may be covered with sweat. Don't let it dry on your skin - instead, always bathe or wash your skin promptly after sweating.

Bad Habit No. 4: Picking at your skin and popping your pimples
While it may be irresistible to pick or pop pimples, these behaviors can cause increased redness from squeezing the pus deeper into the skin and sometimes even scarring. Instead, keep your hands off your face and let pimples go back down to size with the help of an anti-acne lotion or cream.

Bad Habit No. 5: Skipping the shampoo
If you've got oily hair, that oil can seep down onto your face - and cause pimples. Make sure you wash your hair each day to keep excess oil off of your forehead, face, and back to help prevent acne.

Bad Habit No. 6: Getting hair products on your face
It's important to keep hair spray, gel, mousse, or other hair products off your face to prevent them from clogging up your pores. Cover your face when applying these products to keep them on your hair and off your skin.

Bad Habit No. 7: Eating greasy foods
While the food that you eat doesn't cause acne, greasy foods can make acne-prone skin worse because of the excess oil and grease that can get on the skin from the food itself. So stick to a healthy diet without greasy, fried foods to spare your skin - and your health.

Bad Habit No. 8: Using cosmetics that contain oil
If you've got acne-prone skin, the last thing you want to do is introduce even more oil. When you buy makeup and other skin products, look for oil-free options labeled with the terms "non-acnegenic" or "non-comedogenic" to help prevent acne.

Bad Habit No. 9: Stopping your acne treatment
If you're using prescription acne medications for your pimples, it's great news when your skin starts to clear up. But that doesn't mean you're free to stop using your medication. To keep a recurrent breakout at bay, finish all of your prescription acne medications as recommended by your doctor unless directed otherwise.

Replace your bad skin care habits and practices with good ones to help bring acne under control. With a few simple changes, your skin - not your pimples - will be glowing.

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The Truth About Acne - 5 Common Myths About Acne

If you're trying to find out what's behind your acne breakout, first get the facts about acne.

Clare A. Pipkin, MD, a dermatologist and an assistant professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine, clears up some of the confusion about acne.

Acne Myth No. 1: Poor Hygiene Causes Acne

A lot of people have heard this one - that acne is caused by dirty skin.

"Some patients believe this and end up washing their face numerous times a day, sometimes scrubbing vigorously and using harsh astringents," says Dr. Pipkin. In fact, washing your skin too frequently and too aggressively can make an acne breakout much worse.

"Ultimately, this can lead to irritated, traumatized skin that looks worse after treatment," Pipkin says.

Instead, wash your face only once or twice a day with lukewarm water, a mild cleanser, and gentle motion - no scrubbing or harsh abrasive products needed. Make sure one of those times you're washing your face is in the evening, to remove makeup and dirt and sweat from the day.

Acne Myth No. 2: Squeeze Those Pimples

When that pimple sprouts, you may not be able to resist the temptation to squeeze it out to try to bring it down to size.

"Some patients will squeeze pimples in an attempt to try to open up a clogged pore," says Pipkin. "However, this usually leads to further inflammation, which makes the acne look worse and last longer."

Keep your hands off - and leave that pimple alone. Instead, try using an over-the-counter acne treatment gel, ointment, cream, or lotion to help it shrink. Look for products that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid - they're the most effective, over-the-counter acne remedies.

Acne Myth No. 3: Junk Food Causes Acne

You may have heard that eating greasy foods and candy can cause an acne breakout. Though there are some links between diet and acne, the relationship isn't quite what you may think it is.

"Many people with acne have oily skin, so for a time people thought that greasy foods should also be avoided," says Pipkin. However, a number of studies have shown that downing foods like French fries, cheeseburgers, and chocolate doesn't have any impact at all on your skin's health. But getting that grease on your skin can make an oily complexion worse, clogging pores and leading to an acne breakout.

Greasy foods may be off the hook, but there could be other diet culprits behind your acne breakouts.

"Milk consumption has been associated with an increased risk of acne. Other studies have shown that a low glycemic index diet that's high in fiber and fruits and vegetables is beneficial for acne," notes Pipkin. "So, if someone is suffering from acne, avoiding milk or sticking to a low glycemic index diet may actually be helpful."

Acne Myth No. 4: Acne Goes Away on Its Own

You don't have to suffer silently with acne - there are treatments available to clear up acne breakouts and help prevent future pimple problems.

Acne is caused by clogged pores in the skin - and they're often clogged with the skin's natural oils, says Pipkin. If your pores become clogged, the skin's natural bacteria can cause inflammation - and worsen acne.

Don't just leave a pimple to swell and mark your skin. There are plenty of treatments - both over-the-counter and prescription - available to help unclog those pores and clear up an acne breakout.

Acne Myth No. 5: Tanning Beds Clear Up Acne

If you're looking for a reason to justify using harmful tanning beds, acne treatment isn't it. This myth started years ago, when tanning beds became a popular acne remedy, says Pipkin.

"However, studies have shown that UVA light, which is the light typically used in tanning beds, does not benefit acne," she adds.

Not only does tanning not offer a benefit for acne, but it can damage your skin. "The World Health Organization has found tanning beds to be a risk factor for the development of skin cancer. There is absolutely no reason that anyone should ever use a tanning bed for acne or any other purpose," stresses Pipkin.

There are other acne myths out there as well. Ignore them, and talk with your doctor about acne treatments that will work for you.

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Coping With Teen Acne - The Social and Emotional Fallout of Teen Acne

More than just your child's complexion is affected by acne. Studies have shown that teens with acne often suffer emotional and social distress and sometimes even depression.

"Teen acne can have a devastating effect on self-esteem and body image, and can really do a number on kids," says Ted Grossbart, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant clinical professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

The Tolls of Teen Acne

Teens with acne can experience:

Embarrassment

Shame

Depression

Anxiety

Problems with socialization

"I have some teen patients who refuse to go to school because of their acne," says Richard Antaya, MD, medical director of Yale Dermatology Associates at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.

Dr. Antaya says that teen acne has even played a part in some teenage suicides: "It can be that trying to kids." In fact, one study of teenagers in New Zealand found that teen acne was associated with a significantly increased risk of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicide attempts.

Keep in mind that each teen responds differently to having acne. Some kids are tremendously bothered by their acne, says Antaya, while others with moderate to even severe acne are not bothered by it at all.

Says Grossbart, "A kid who is particularly confident and secure will have a better time weathering teen acne." But he warns that emotional distress and acne can become a vicious cycle. "In addition to producing emotional turmoil, acne goes the other way as well, and stress is a trigger for acne," explains Grossbart, emphasizing how important it is for teens with acne to get stress under control to help avoid breakouts.

How Parents Can Help

Parents of teens with acne should keep the following in mind:

Take your teen to a dermatologist if necessary. "Getting the best medical treatment is essential," says Grossbart. Antaya adds that it is particularly important for teenagers who seem embarrassed or ashamed of their acne to receive treatment. Over-the-counter acne treatments, such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, may be enough to clear up acne. In more severe cases, prescription medication may be required. Either way, don't delay.

Encourage gentle skin care. Antaya says that many parents think their child's acne is caused by a lack of face washing or bad hygiene, but acne is actually caused by hormonal fluctuations, bacteria, and natural oils in the skin. Too much face washing can irritate the skin, making acne worse.

It may take time for acne treatment to work. "Acne treatments are all preventative," says Antaya. Most treatments don't clear acne that is already there, and it usually takes about three months for an acne treatment to achieve its maximum effect. So it's important to be patient and encourage your child to continue with treatment, even if it doesn't appear to be working right away.

Consider psychological help. If your child seems to be withdrawing socially - not participating in social activities that he or she once enjoyed and refusing to go out with friends - it may be time to talk to your child's doctor about professional counseling. As you work to help your teen cope with acne, Grossbart says to remind him or her that they are not their skin.

While teen acne can be a challenging problem to treat, there are a number of treatment options that may be able to help clear your child's skin. With medical attention and your support, they will get control over the problem of teen acne.

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How to Get Rid of Acne and End Future Outbreaks

There are several things that you can do, that you don't have to go buy anything special for that you can do to help clear up and fight acne breakouts.

We have all seen the creams and pads, which actually can help in getting rid of and preventing acne. You still have quite a bit more you can do while also using the regular treatments.

One thing you can do that will benefit you more than just helping keep acne away is working out. When you workout you sweat, when you sweat it helps to flush stuff out of your pores. It helps to keep them clean and open, although it doesn't do any good if you don't shower after, because everything that gets flushed out of your skin just sits on top and dries up, clogging pores even further. A half hour, three or four times a week is great, but any time is better than none.

A second thing you can do is to keep your stress in check. Relax a little, take some yoga, workout, do something to take some stress off. When your body is stressed out you have elevated levels of hormones that cause elevated levels of oils, that unfortunately cause outbreaks. The great thing is that by cutting back on stress, it will help out more than just acne.

The third thing you can do is shower. After you workout, sweat, or just through the day, your skin builds up dead skin cells, oils, and dirt. When you wash you remove everything that has built up during the day, or workout. Be careful though as scrubbing your skin too much can cause damage too, generally if you wash your face twice a day you should be good.

One more thing that most of us probably don't think about is how often we or other things touch our faces. You use your hands for everything, that includes picking up all the bacteria and germs on the surfaces we touch. When we then touch our face, itch, rub, touch, we transfer those germs and bacteria on to our faces. This also happens with things like cell phones that our face comes into contact with on a regular basis. The best thing you can do is to regularly wash your hands, try not to excessively touch your face, and regularly clean things like cell phones by using simple wipes.

If you want to find a solution to end your acne problem just go to http://2weekcure.wordpress.com/ and read more.

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How to Get Rid of Blackheads

Blackheads can well be described as the little, bad, black faced blocking agents that clog your pores to devoid your skin of that natural glow and smoothness. Along with being a beauty problem, black heads are a skin problem too; not only your flawless look but the health of your skin is at stake. If you don't learn how to get rid of blackheads they can develop into bigger blackheads that would leave a visible hole in the skin when removed, or they can get infected and cause acne which is painful and require a more time consuming treatment.

Before we start looking at how to discard and treat blackheads, it's important to look at the problem itself, understand it and know its causes.

Technically, a blackhead is an open comedo. A comedo is a skin follicle (pore) full of excess keratin (a kind of skin building protein) and sebum (greasy oil-like substance secreted by sebaceous glands). Oxidation makes the blockage appear black at the top and hence the name 'blackheads'.

The question is why the skin produces excess sebum and keratin. The excess keratin comes from the un-removed dead skin cells and the excess sebum (oil) production can be a result of hormonal changes that the human body undergoes during puberty, pregnancy, while taking certain drugs or while going through certain health problems like Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome. Another factor that might be causing blackheads or acne is genetics. This problem is hereditary, and learning how eliminate blackheads may be a family remedy.

Since it is a blockage, in order to get rid of blackheads the first step is to cleanse the skin and rinse off all the matter that may clog the pores. Using a good face wash that suits your skin type will help improve your skin hygiene and minimize such problems. A good skin cleansing routine will take the excess oil and dead skin off and thus prevent the buildup and clogging.

Before Googling 'how to get rid of blackheads', Google your lifestyle and habits. Improving your lifestyle and modifying your habits can also play an important role in improving your general health, your skin and help preventing and curing blackheads.

Using substandard makeup products or using products that do not suit your skin type can take a toll on the health of your skin and stimulate blackheads. Not removing makeup can also lead to clogged pores and create problems like acne. So, love and pamper your skin with the right products and cleanse it regularly.

Consuming excessive amounts of caffeinated and alcoholic drinks can create a hormonal imbalance and also affect the quality of your skin in general; this can give rise to blackheads. Keep a check on what you put into your body and it will help check blackheads.

Not treating blackheads when they first appear can intensify the problem and the blackheads might turn really big and become more visible. Always be on the lookout and treat them as soon as you see them.

If you're sleeping less than what your body requires, there can be an imbalance in your hormones which can give rise to sebum production and cause skin problems like blackheads.

Consider these simple changes in your way of life and you shall see the glow of your blackheads free skin.

Blackheads are a nuisance. Painful, and in extreme cases can require medical attention. Everyone is afflicted with blackheads at some time in their life. Learn how to get rid of blackheads safely and with remedies that really work: http://getridofblackheadsnow.com

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How to Get Rid of Blackheads on the Nose

Blackheads are one of the most common of skin problems. They can show up anytime and almost anywhere on the body. However the skin on the face, neck, chest, and back is more prone to getting blackheads as it has a higher number of sebaceous glands. A slight increase in the production of sebum clogs the hair follicles in these areas and blackheads appear.

Of all locations, probably the blackheads on the nose or anywhere on the face are the most irritating. Not because they cause more pain or they are more serious, but because they are more visible and have a sense of embarrassment attached with them. Facial skin on and around the nose seems to be the most productive area when it comes to blackheads. Again, the nasal region has the highest concentration of the sebaceous glands so the skin pores in this area can easily get clogged and develop blackheads. The problem intensifies if you have oily skin. There are many people who do not get blackheads on any other part of their body, and only fret with learning how to get rid of blackheads on the nose.

Let us look at some easy ways of how to get rid of blackheads on the nose.

Use a good facial scrub to scrape off the dead skin from your nose. Wet your face with warm water and rub or scrub in a circular motion with the help of your fingers on and around the nose. Doing this on a regular basis will help in keeping the pores clear and keep the blackheads away. Also, this will pull some of the blackheads out.

Warm your nose pores by using facial saunas or simply by taking steam from a pot of boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Once the skin of the nose is warm and soft, exfoliate using a scrubbing sponge or a clean cotton towel is how to get rid of blackheads on the nose. You can even use a blackhead removing tweezers; pluck the stubborn ones out. They will pluck out easily as the hot steam softens the skin and loosens the pores.

If you are short of time and want a quick fix, go for the commercially available nose strips that easily get rid of blackheads on the nose and give you that clean and clear look. But remember that these nose strips are only a quick fix and they do not prevent the problem. Also, they can't pull out the deeper or very small blackheads that are stuck deep inside the skin.

If your skin is oily, clean it more often with a gentle face wash so that the excess oil does not clog the pores.

Keep a watch. If there are any make up products or facial cleansers that cause irritation to your skin, they might be causing skin infections or problems like blackheads. Avoid or discontinue using these products. Remember, sometimes prevention is the best cure.

If your blackheads are very stubborn and do not respond to any of these treatments then it is better to consult a dermatologist or a skin care professional. Never try to squeeze or press out your blackheads as this might worsen the problem. The infection can spread and become more severe. Also, squeezing the blackheads out would leave craters on the face and make it look even worse.

Blackheads are a nuisance. Painful, and in extreme cases can require medical attention. Everyone is afflicted with blackheads at some time in their life. Learn how to get rid of blackheads safely and with remedies that really work: http://getridofblackheadsnow.com

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