Affordable Acne Treatments

Pimples can make you feel awful about yourself.Whether it’s one or several together, pimples have the ability to make the sufferer self-conscious and miserable.  All you can think about is finding a way to get rid of the pimples and go back to having clean, clear, smooth skin.

It is important to understand what causes pimples before you try and get rid of them. 

The question is, what causes pimples?

To start with we need to understand how your skin functions.Millions of very difficult to see pores cover the surface of your skin.  Some pores also have very small hairs growing up through them and onto the surface.Your skin’s natural oils are produced by tiny glands found deep inside these pores.These glands are known as the sebaceous glands and the oil they produce is called sebum.

Sebum is produced by your body as a natural moisturizer for your skin.Another function of sebum is to carry impurities like dirt and dead skin cells up to the surface of the skin, allowing them to be removed, thus keeping the actual pore clean.This is how your body naturally keeps your skin healthy and moist, by removing this dirt.

Most people will agree, puberty has a lot to answer for, with many different chemicals, including hormones, being produced by your body.Unfortunately, both you and your body take time to get used to these fluctuations.Your skin has trouble dealing with such extreme fluctuations which provide an ideal environment for acne and pimples to flourish. 

An unfortunate consequence of extra hormones in your body, is it seems to trigger the sebaceous glands to produce much more sebum than is normal or required.Your skins pores ability to get rid of dead skin cells can be adversely affected by hormonal changes.Bacteria love the environment of a clogged pore. All that extra sebum with an endless supply of dead skin cells means that infection and inflamation will very soon follow.The end result we are left with, is known as a pimple.

How you can help your acne pimples

The natural hormonal changes occurring in your body are pretty much beyond your control, however the number of pimples you get is something you can influence

1.    Keep your skin clean – It helps to keep your skin clean by using a mild cleanser each morning and evening.If your skin is irritated you are more likely to develop pimples. Therefore, choose a gentle facial cleanser and refrain from scrubbing your skin too harshly.
2.Use medication – Improving your skins ability to get rid of dead skin cells and limiting the amount of sebum produced are the main functions of any anti-acne medication.  Two of the best medications (available over the counter) are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
3.Keep your skin moist - If your skin dries out, more pimples are very likely. Using a very light moisturizer on your face can pay dividends.Optimum results are obtained by choosing a moisturizer that is oil-free.

The more you understand about the causes of pimples the easier it should be to find an effective way to treat existing pimples and prevent the occurrence of new ones.You have taken the first step by finding the correct information to help yourself. The second step is to make sure you apply the information. Your skin won’t become pimple free until you do!