Natural Skin Care Product to Treat Acne

Acne causes unsightly pimples and lesions on your skin, but what causes acne and how can it be prevented? Although the causes of acne are sometimes misunderstood or unknown, there are many natural skin care products designed to help acne. There are many myths and natural skin care techniques which target the treatment of acne.

First, one myth is acne is caused by eating fatty foods or chocolate. In fact one of the principal treatments for acne is best taken with fatty foods. Acne is not directly related to the foods you eat but more to the chemical reaction the food causes in your body. It is not a disease but a skin condition, though bacterial activity is a significant factor. This means it can be treated topically with a natural skin care product.

Natural skin care treatments are most effective when you understand more of the skin condition. Acne can be broken into three specific areas. Acne is basically caused by a sticky plug of oily sebum and dead skin cells blocking up your follicles and skin pores, and becoming infected by bacteria.

The bacteria triggers your immune response to kill the bacteria and also sets off the inflammatory response that causes the inflammation, swelling and redness. All of these reactions are intended to kill off the bacteria, but they also cause you pain and distress as a result. Using a natural skin care product can help to reduce the bacteria and inflammation associated with a break out.

To understand acne you must first understand each of these three components (sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria).

Sebum
Sebum is a natural skin oil, which is generated by the sebaceous glands, and it both protects and waterproofs your skin and hair. The sebum can mix with dead skin cells inside a hair follicle and forms a plug in the follicle (pore). At puberty the increase in sebum accelerates the formation of plugs in the pores, and also speeds up the multiplication of the bacteria on your skin. Natural skin care will help to balance the oil on the skin and reduce the natural bacteria growth. Specifically natural skin care products like grape seed extract will act as an anti-inflammatory antimicrobial treatment.

Skin Cells
Skin cells have a short life, and your skin surface renews itself every two or three weeks. The dead skin cells generally get washed off, but they can also form in the pores of your skin and mix with the sebum to form a gooey mass. You can help to avoid this through regular use of a natural skin care exfoliating body scrub, using a mild natural facial version for your face. You can also use natural skin care products with Vitamin A to flake your dead skin off, again helping to prevent it from mixing with the sebum.

Bacteria
Bacteria grows naturally on your skin, and normally do no harm as long as they are not of a dangerous kind. The bacterium responsible for acne is known as Propionibacterium acnes, and produce substances that initiate your immune system. A good natural body wash or antibacterial soap will help to prevent this from happening.

Although the actual reasons for the onset of acne are unknown, the reason why acne causes the symptoms that you experience are well known. Natural skin care products have been developed as an effective natural treatment for acne. With proper natural skin care and understanding the causes, there is a good chance that your acne condition can be managed successfully.

Milia and Acne Baby Skin Care

Sometimes you can see white bumps on your baby’s nose or chin. These are called milia, and are different from baby acne. Milia are caused as tiny flakes are trapped under the upper layer of your baby’s skin, and are likely to affect boys and girls equally.

Milia are not as common as acne, and are cured on a few weeks, whereas acne may take longer. Some babies have both the problems. Take care that when you wash your baby’s face, use the towel very gently and pad the surface. Both – milia and baby acne do not require any treatment or medication except that if either of these exceed beyond six months. Also, if you notice that there is a change in baby’s complexion while suffering from acne or milia, or both, consult your baby’s doctor.

Common Skin Care Conditions

Skin is the body’s largest organ, and skin problems can affect everyone from newborns to older adults. If your infant, child or teenager shows signs of skin problems, consult your pediatrician as soon as possible to determine the problem and treat it properly.

Here are just a few of the common skin conditions and problems affecting children and adolescents:

Birthmarks
Many babies have birthmarks that gradually fade away without treatment, although some may grow larger before they disappear. Some birthmarks may be permanent. Your pediatrician will advise whether a birthmark should be treated or left alone.

Rashes
Infants may develop a variety of rashes in their first months. Diaper rash, an infection caused by yeast or bacteria, is the most common rash affecting infants. The best way to avoid diaper rash is to change wet or soiled diapers promptly, clean the baby with plain water, pat dry, and apply a cornstarch-based powder. Expose the diaper area to air as much as possible and avoid plastic or rubber pants. If the rash doesn’t improve or gets worse, call your pediatrician. If your baby has a persistent or widespread rash, bring it to your pediatrician’s attention.

Eczema
Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a life-altering disease affecting people of all ages. It is a chronic condition of the skin typified by red, inflamed, swollen, dry and itchy skin that can significantly affect quality of life. The majority of eczema cases are diagnosed in early childhood. While 40 percent of children suffering from eczema outgrow the disease, others live with it throughout their lives.

Eczema should be diagnosed and treated by your physician. The traditional treatment has often been steroid creams, in conjunction with moisturizers and antihistamines to control itching. A non-steroidal topical ointment is also now available – again, check with your pediatrician to determine which treatment is best for your child.

Sunburn and skin cancer
The dangers of sun exposure are well known today. The most significant danger is skin cancer, a disease most often associated with over-exposure to the sun, especially at an early age. About 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States each year.

Children, including infants, should wear sunglasses designed to block at least 99 percent of the sun’s rays and hats with a brim. Children and adolescents also should wear sunscreen at all times when involved in outdoor activities. For infants younger than 6 months of age, sunscreen protection is also advised when adequate clothing and shade are not available. Avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants and children in lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts are still the top recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics to prevent sunburn.

Acne
Almost everyone suffers from acne at some time, especially during adolescence, but the condition is treatable. Most people can control pimples by taking good care of their skin at home. Over-the-counter creams and lotions are also helpful. A variety of acne medications are available.

See your pediatrician for help when your child or teenager’s acne does not get better with home care.