There are millions of people around the world who suffer with acne (Zits); but that doesn’t mean it’s something that cannot be tackled. It is one of those areas where research has continued to make advancements; now, some of these skin conditions are gradually being conquered. We can classify acne skin care products into 3 broad categories:
* Over-the-counter: Preventative
* Internet or Drugstore: Treatment to help relieve the condition
* Prescription only treatments
Preventative products are formulated to treat the skin in an effort to control the occurrence of acne; these products can be anything from skin cleansers to makeup removers. Many people use products similar to this every day as part of their skin care regime; often used by those who want to prevent future skin problems from occurring. Some of these products are designed to act like an acne skin care product and act against the causes of this complaint; they ensure the facial pores (and other areas) remain free of oil. Excess oil needs to be stopped from clogging the pores as this oil make it easier for bacteria to grow, exacerbating the condition.
Exfoliation skin peels have proved quite effective as a skin care treatment and at controlling the problem; these are easily obtainable in any drug store. These work towards removing dead skin cells, reducing the possibility of pore-clogging and bacteria development. The growth of the skin care market has allowed even more specialized acne skin care products to be available without the need to visit the doctor. Most of these creams etc. are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne); these ingredients are used to remove the additional oil in the pores of the skin.
Generally it is best to start using this type of product with only a small amount of benzoyl peroxide (less than 5.5 percent is recommended), just to see how the skin reacts; alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are a safer skin care regime alternative if there is a problem. Because we all have different types of skin, more than one type of acne skin care product may need to be tried; however, if nothing you try seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist. Products that your dermatologist or doctor will recommend will only be available on prescription, they may include a course of antibiotics or topical ointments.
Your dermatologist may suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules; never try to squeeze your zits however, as it can lead to permanent damage of your skin. Your doctor could prescribe a hormone-based treatment to treat your skin problem; hormone changes are known to be one cause of acne. There is no longer any reason to despair if you have this skin complaint or are prone to its effects.
It is quite normal to expect people to want to look attractive and this might explain why anti-ageing skin care products are so successful; it is not unreasonable to want to continue looking youthful for as long as possible when you consider how much longer most of us are living! The skin care industry uses beauty products that increase the synthesis of the protein collagen, the main protein in skin which becomes less elastic as we age; approximately one quarter of the protein contained in skin is collagen. Collagen is a member of another family of substances that aid in reducing the signs of ageing. these are known as antioxidants which remove toxins from the body.
Probably the best known of these anti-oxidants is vitamin C although no-one really knows just how much we should have each day. Skin care treatments that are based on vitamin C, pose the problem of becoming oxidized themselves as they come into contact with air during their usage.
To overcome this problem, manufacturers use alternative skin care treatments that still provide the same benefits but not the high manufacturing costs. These new anti-oxidant products are not quite as good as vitamin C although other naturally occurring compounds, vitamin E and lipoic acid can achieve the same effect.
The body uses vitamin E as an antioxidant and to increase the natural defense we have against sickness; it has been linked to resistance to a number of conditions including certain types of cancer. On the other hand, lipoic acid or alpha-lipoic acid is necessary for energy production which keeps us alive; it can help reverse much of the damage caused to the skin by ageing.
Phytochemicals form the other category of anti-ageing skin care products which are special chemicals that are extracted from plants with a variety of that are used in skin care today. A further benefit of these phytochemicals is their ability to prevent the onset of certain cancers; such as:
* Cancer that attacks the Prostate
* Breast Cancer
* Cancer of the Colon
These types of cancer are also becoming some of the most prevalent worldwide.
Surprisingly, the group of vitamins; B5, B6, and B12 have also shown that they can be used to help reduce the effects of ageing. The field of anti-ageing skin care products is vast and needs a great deal more research. Gradually, new discoveries will be made to advance our understanding of the aging process; there is still a long way to go however, before methods that successfully reduce the effects of age are commonplace.
The amount of research going on in this field will undoubtedly bring results in time, hopefully bringing down the cost of these anti-ageing skin care products in addition to increasing their reliability. A person should never accept that everything science devises in relation to skin care and anti-aging is always going to be the best; it is doubtful if science can replace natural skin care remedies. Regular sleep patterns, exercise, a good healthy diet and less stress will all contribute to reducing the signs of ageing, for instance!