If you are wanting to cure acne then it is likely that you have visited your doctor and tried the many creams and potions available to no avail. Acne treatment is a minefield and the time has come to demystify it and enable people to enjoy a blemish free skin

So what is Acne and how can it be prevented? Acne or Acne vulgaris, which is the scientific name for acne, occurs when the glands produce too much oil. The pores are blocked by the oil and are further blocked by layers of dead skin. When this happens, bacteria get trapped under the pores, and the area becomes inflamed. This build up, leads to swelling, redness and the collection of pus, which is seen on the surface of the skin as a pimple; either as a whitehead or a blackhead

Apparently approximately 85% of the population are afflicted with spots and pimples at some point during their lives. Characteristically this is more prevalent during the teenage years, although women can often find that throughout there lives they are prone to eruptions during and around the time of menstruation, when hormones are heightened.

Although it would appear that the cause of acne is not complicated, there is very little research into the condition. Consequently those who suffer from acne get very frustrated as there seems to be a lot of trial and error is involved when treating the condition. Doctors seem uncertain as to which remedy to recommend and invariably, in more severe cases recommend the long term use of antibiotics.

Chronic acne can, and often does, cause permanent scarring of the skin. This is often due to the fact that when the acne is prolonged the skin doesn’t have time to heal properly before the next spots appear. This can result in the acne sufferer having permanent scars that can be very difficult to remove. The most important thing is to treat your acne before it really gets a hold. There are many successful preparations available that use natural products that won’t harm your skin.

Normal skin

Normal skin is the “perfect” skin type, the skin type we would all like to have. Normal skin is neither too dry nor too greasy, the oil glands produce sebum at a moderate rate, resulting in a skin that is vibrant and healthy

Dry skin

Dry skin is one of the more common skin types, caused by under active or inactive oil glands. If the oil glands do not produce enough sebum the skin will not be lubricated. Dry skin is prone to premature aging. The skin will appear thin with a texture that lacks plumpness. There may also be flaky patches of dry skin. Keeping hydrated with both water and healthy oils is essential if you have this type of skin

Oily Skin

Oily skin is caused by over active oil glands. Too much sebum is produced and the skin can appear to be very shiny. Oily skin is, prone to clogged pores and acne. This is caused by sebum being trapped under the skin. However oily skin does have the benefits of appearing more youthful than other skin types

Combination Skin

It is not unusual to discover that your skin is oily in some areas and dry in others.
Facial skin can be oily around the T-zone, forehead, nose and chin, but dry around the cheeks eyes and mouth. This often requires different treatment for the different areas of skin type – so can actually be quite hard work

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin can often be any of the above skin types. It is a more fragile skin type or more accurately a skin condition that can react adversely in many situations. The skin can be itchy and irritating or may even become swollen with a rash. Sensitive skin often reacts badly to certain cosmetics and skin preparations especially if they contain perfumes and other artificial or chemical ingredients. Special treatment is essential for this skin type

You may well be surprised at how many different treatments you can get at a spa or beauty salon, and you can encourage yourself to stick to a good regime by visiting a salon on a regular basis and allowing yourself to be looked after. If you give yourself that little treat, you will develop your own little effort and reward scheme that pays off in no small way, it may even encourage you to find more time to pamper your skin at home. A face mask is a wonderful way to way to unwind, it can help to draw out impurities and leave the skin feeling as fresh and amazingly clean. An exfoliating rub is also a good idea – it gets rid of dry skin that just lies on the top of your skin and causes your pores to get clogged. There are many other treatments available, all of which will leave you feeling extremely relaxed.

There is a tendency to think that these treatment are expensive – but that doesn’t have to be the case. If you have a spa or beauty salon near you, you may find that they have regular promotions offering free or discounted treatments on certain days if certain conditions are met. Sometimes you will get a two for one deal – so bring a friend and enjoy the company as well as the treatment. You can even add it to your Christmas or birthday list. It is well worth doing every once in a while – as a treat and as a reminder of the benefits of a good skin care regime.

What are you waiting for – book yourself some Spa Time now and enjoy the luxury of being pampered

Here are a few tips to help ensure that you avoid the pitfalls

Firstly, do not buy a product without reading in detail what it does and what type of skin it is suitable for. This may seem to be obvious advice, but there are too many people who purchase a skin care product and are subsequently disappointed because it doesn’t have the desired affect.

Secondly, it is vitally important that you avoid at all costs any product that are simply made up of an army of chemicals. Your skin is the largest organ of elimination and conversely it will absorb what we put on it. If you wouldn’t eat the ingredients in your skin care product then don’t put it on your skin

Thirdly, do not expect a product to do all the work. It requires a little something from you, too. As often as not it will be simple – follow a good wholesome diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, drink filtered water on a regular basis throughout the day. Cot down on foods that stimulate such as coffee and alcohol and leave the rest to nature.

These are just three of the many tips that can help you to avoid the pitfalls when embarking on a skincare regime. If you sign up for my blog I will keep you up to date with other tips and hints in the future

This does not imply that appearance doesn’t matter. It is in fact, possible to have a male skin care regime that does not make you appear as if you feminine side has taken over and your macho image has gone to the dogs – if that’s what you are scared of. You can enhance and show some appreciation for the looks you have been blessed with and not come across as vain. It is all a matter of common sense and balance, and if you get it right the compliments you receive will make the effort all the more worth while, not to mention the confidence it make give you in the first place.

The Shaving Routine

As with all things preparation is nine tenths of the law. There are several good pre-shave treatments available, that will enhance your shaving experience and make it something to look forward to. They allow the razor to slide over the skin with a lot less friction simply using shaving foam – or gel. You will be amazed at how easy it can be to remove your whiskers without removing a few layers of skin while you are about it. Then when that is done, apply a good after shave balm. This will cool the skin and close the pores, and replenish the moisture that has been taken away.

You can then show your face to the world without the need for blood stained bits of toilet paper or a shirt collars with the telltale sign of a poor shave.

For example anti wrinkle creams claim to reduce the appearance of your wrinkles but in fact they simply appear to be reduced because the active ingredient in the cream causes the skin to expand and stretch out where the wrinkles are. And of course in order to keep the desired effect we have to keep adding their expensive creams, whilst lining the manufacturers pocket.

Beware of the products that say “can”. It is not unusual to see advertising slogans that say that a product “can” have amazing effects. There is obviously no guarantee and in the meantime you have spent your hard earned money on a whim and a promise. If a product claims that they have proved its worth in laboratory testing remember that legally, they are required to include substantive proof that this is the case, and very often what transpires is that one or two people found that the product was helpful, within a sample of people in the low hundreds.

It is like the old saying “if it looks to good to be true it probably is”. It is also worth remembering that beauty comes from within. Our diets have by far the greatest influence on our skin and the way we look. And as far as beauty treatments are concerned “if you wouldn’t eat it – don’t put it on your skin”

As a child I was always told that sweets and chocolate would give me spots and I certainly seemed to get another spot every time I had a piece of chocolate.

So what should you eat? Foods such as fish and vegetables such as broccoli or spinach and also carrots will supply your body with Vitamin A which helps keep the skin healthy. Vitamin E is an important contributor as well, and is present in nuts – specifically hazelnuts or almonds and also seeds such as sunflower seeds. These foods can be added to your main meal or may provide a snack if you are hungry between meals. Zinc is also good for your skin and can be found in meat and dairy products as well as in legumes. It is found most prolifically in pumpkin seeds.

Drinking plenty of pure filtered water is very important for your skin as it can help to remove the toxins from your body

First and foremost, your skin needs to breathe. That’s why you have pores. Without this your skin would clog up and you would break out in all kinds of blemishes. It also needs the space to keep itself cool, because if your skin doesn’t get the chance to cool off the result will that it will begin to flush and look blotchy – something no amount of concealer can really hide.

Before you go to bed at night it is important to remove all traces of makeup from your skin. There are so many reasons why this is important.

A good rule of thumb is to go easy on the make up – natural beauty wins out every time. You can ask anyone – the less make-up you wear the better you look and the less likely you are to have spots and blemishes

Many skin care products on the market contain ingredients such as mineral oil and petroleum. These ingredients tend to sit on the surface of the skin and block pores, leading to the possibility of spots and pimples.

Soap is often too harsh for facial skin. It can upset the ph balance leaving the skin feeling tight.

If you are cleansing your face as regularly as twice a day, it is best to use a gentle, natural product which does not interfere with the skin’s own natural defenses. Any nut or seed oil can be used to massage and cleanse the face, removing makeup and pollution from your face with comparative ease.

A family history of acne is a likely to be an indicator that you will be more genetically predisposed, especially as you go through puberty. But even after adolescence it is not unusual for it to reoccur.