Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by dirty pores or eating chocolate. Acne is actually caused by overactive sebaceous glands. Hormones in you body cause acne to appear. Acne is extremely common in people ages 12-24, when our hormones are very active due to puberty, but many people continue to have acne outbreaks throughout their lives. Acne can show up on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders. While it is not life threatening, acne can cause scarring and emotional distress to those that suffer from it. This is why acne skin care is so important.

Many things can cause outbreaks of pimples and zits. Allergies, heredity, stress, weather, menstruation and even over washing can cause acne. There are lots of ways to treat acne. For mild to moderate cases, experts recommend washing your face twice daily and after any exercise. They also recommend over the counter acne products that contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. These products can have some side effects of burning, redness and irritation, but often decrease or even disappear with continual use. The acne treatment industry is a multi-million dollar industry, and scientists come up with new ways to treat pimples regularly.

For moderate to sever acne, it is advisable to consult with a dermatologist. A dermatologist can diagnose the problem and has many treatment options for acne to choose from. Some treatments include used prescribed topical medications for the treatment of your acne, and even oral antibiotics, which help reduce acne outbreaks. Not everyone will receive the same kind of acne treatments, and your dermatologist can tailor the treatments to your specific needs.

Taking care of your skin is the best way to reduce pimples. Choose cleansing products that are not overly harsh and are oil-free. Wash your face after sweating heavily. For young women, the use of makeup can exacerbate acne problems, so it is a good idea to pick cosmetics that are non-comedogenic, because they do not clog pores. Never go to sleep at night without washing your face. It is also imperative that you do not squeeze or pinch zits. You may be tempted to do it, but it can lead to scarring. Don’t spend a lot of time scrubbing your face, because it can make acne worse. It is also smart to avoid putting your hands on your face a lot, because the oil on your hands gets transferred to your face and can cause further outbreaks.

Pimples are a part of life for most of us. While that may not be much consolation to someone who is suffering from acne, it may help to put it in perspective. Acne happens to everyone at some point in his or her lives. The good news is that there are many products available to treat acne, and severe acne can be improved by seeing a dermatologist. Acne skin care does not have to be painful or embarrassing. By taking care of your skin and tackling pimples as they appear with common sense and some good acne products, you can improve the overall look and feel of your skin.

Bob Hett offers simple and concise advice on the causes and treatment of acne. Get the answers to all of your questions at
acne

AHAs are becoming very popular in the fight against ageing skin and are getting added to most of the beauty and skin care products. AHAs are one of the ingredients that help us keep skin looking young for a longer time. Let us find out about common AHA molecules and how they help in skin care.

Glycolic acid- this is one of the most commonly used Alpha Hydroxy Acids in skin care. It is derived naturally from sugar cane juice. Glycolic acid has a very low molecular size. This low molecular size allows glycolic acid to penetrate skin faster. The dead skin cells that bind with the skin are removed by glycolic acid by loosening the glue that sticks the dead cells with the skin. As the glue loosens, the dead cells exfoliate giving a cleaner look to the skin. Shedding dead cells faster also allows growth of new cells. Glycolic acids also smoothen fine wrinkles. This acid also helps in treatment of blackheads and dries out the excess surface oil on the skin. It is also thought that glycolic acids stimulate collagen production to some extent. This acid also keeps the skin moisturized by keeping water bound to the skin and prevents drying of skin. It can also bleach some spots on the skin. One added advantage of glycolic acid is that it helps other skin care ingredients reach deeper in the skin and makes them more effective. Glycolic acid is on the frontier of skin care.

Lactic acid- it is derived from milk. Milk baths have been popular since ages to get fresh skin and better skin care. That is because of the lactic acid. Lactic acid is a good skin moisturizer as it helps retain water in the skin. It is also a good exfoliater of dead skin cells. It is generally used in combination with other AHAs in skin care products.

Citric acid is also an Alpha Hydroxy Acid. Citric acid is derived from citrus fruits. It accelerates collagen production and also removes spots on the skin. Citric acid is not a good exfoliator. It is considered a good anti oxidant, as it neutralizes free radicals that age the skin. Citric acid has been used for skin care since long in household remedies.

Malic Acid and tartaric acids are other popular Alpha Hydroxy Acids. They are not commonly used alone for skin care treatments but are added to make a combination of AHA skin care products to derive multiple benefits.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

The author C.D. Mohatta writes articles on skin problems, skin treatments and skin care. You can visit http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/ for more information about how to have good skin. You can also quiz your personality, relationships and carrer on http://www.funquizcards.com/
For sending free ecards, you can visit http://www.ecarduniverse.com/. This site has free ecards on holidays, birthday, love, friendship, family, expressions, celebrations and all events and occasions.

The skin is the biggest organ in our body and absorbed whatever we put on it. Skin care, lotion, make up, chemicals and toxins get absorbed by the skin the same way, if we do not show some precaution. The skin function is to protect our body, support the immune system and provide a barrier against exterior aggressors. To fulfill its vital functions we need to take care of our skin and provide high quality nutrients in form of skin care.

Most skin care, beauty and personal care products contain harmful components that can cause damages to our skin, body and health. The food we eat is labeled and we have a fairly good idea of what is in our food. With a little bit of research it is fairly easy to make conscious and educated choices when we do our grocery shopping. Read the labels, stay away from trans fats and processed foods, eat fresh foods and vegetables as well as lean proteins is a good step towards healthy eating.
With cosmetics, beauty and skin care products it is really no different. However the cosmetic and beauty industry is not as regulated as the food industry. They are a lot of grey areas. For example a bottle of natural shampoo might only contain 1% of natural ingredients.! There are very little regulations as far as putting organic or natural labels on the containers. So how do you find skin care products that are healthy and truly nourishing for your skin, hair and body?

The following are five tips for buying skin care products.

1 - If there are no ingredients listed on the label . Do not purchase the product

2 - If you cannot pronounce the ingredients .. Do not purchase the product

3 - Do not let Natural or Organic labels deceive you Always check the labels

4 - When looking for skin care products, look for whole ingredients, natural with the least processing and preferably sell directly to consumers. Less traveling time and stocking will reduce the amount of preservatives used in the beauty products. Whole ingredients insure you that the healing and health are close to the natural state of the plants or herbs

5 - Buy in small quantities. Made with fresh alive components, truly natural skin care products have a shorter shelf live. Keep your skin care products in the fridge or follow the recommendations on the labels

You can find a list of harmful ingredients in skin care products by following the link at the bottom of this article. It will take you directly there.

Catherine Potin is the publisher for Best Of Natural Skin Care.
You are invited to Healthier Skin with skin care expert revealing secrets and tips every week for a smooth, young and radiant looking skin.
Here is the link to Ten Harmful Ingredients. you want to avoid in your skin care products.