Acne - What it is and how to get rid of it

Acne - Be Gone!​

*First Guide Ever! Open to all advice/suggestions!*​

Hello Sythe Community!

As we all know, acne is a serious pain in the ass. It stings, it's noticeable, and it's just not fun. I myself have had to deal with acne for over 2 years, so for you out there who think I won't understand the circumstance you have, I do. This guide will help explain what acne really is and how they appear... and disappear!

What is ACNE?

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Acne is a build up of bacteria in your pores when your natural skin oil cannot exit the pore and out of your skin. This happens when they are blocked by things like dead skin cells, oils and the like; acne is the ending result of these blocked pores.

What causes blocked pores?​

There are different ways that your pores may get clogged, two of the most obvious being:

1. Improper Cleaning/Moisturizing
The most common reason for blocked pores is simply not washing your face after a long day at work or any activity at the end of the day, touching your face with your hands leaves many bacteria that stay on your face even if you don't feel particularly unclean. If you have dry skin, make sure that you use facial moisturizer to renew the skin on your face to give it the moisture it needs to prevent over-drying. Make sure the moisturizer you use is non-oil based.

2. Cosmetics
Another problem many girls (or guys...?) face with in having a clean face. Heavy make up, if not washed off or left on for long periods of time leave your skin heavily clogged with chemicals and grease and will almost certainly clog your pores. Sweat and grime builds up under the cosmetics and the only place it can go is into your poor skin. If you find yourself getting acne by using cosmetics, it would then be a good idea to stop using the product.

Types of Acne
I do warn that the pictures that only help explain the different types of acne can be unsettling.​

Though acne comes from the result of clogged pores, there are different types of acne that arise from this, split into two categories: Non-inflammatory acne, and Inflammatory acne

Non-inflammatory

1. Black heads
These appear when your pores open and a build up of oil and grime slowly surface, oxidizing and turning into a brown-black color. These persist for a long time as they are slowly surfacing from your pores and cannot be washed off.



2. White heads
Similar to a black head except the pore has not opened and the bacteria is trapped under a layer of skin. They appear as white spots and sometimes cannot be seen unless looked at very closely.



Inflammatory

1. Papule
This occurs when there is a build up of bacteria in your pore which causes the cavity containing the bacteria to "break" and white blood cells fill up and expand the space.



2. Pustule (Usually known as pimples)
One of the most common, essentially the end result of a papule after a certain time frame. The build up of white blood cells and bacteria make their way to the surface of the skin.



3. Nodule
Happens when there is a break in the follicle that results in a large bump that often hurts when touched.



4. Cyst
A particularly serious form of acne that results in a pus filled lesion



How To Make It Go Away?​

Many people get discouraged when they see acne forming and do anything in order to hide it or get rid of it. Whatever you do DO NOT pop them! Forcing the pores to expel the bacteria prematurely can and will cause heavy scarring that take even longer to get rid of! Here are some steps you can take to help your acne go away properly without any scarring.

1. Proper hygiene. Use facial cleansers to exfoliate the dead skin cells on your face and unblock the pores, do this daily and I can guarantee you will see improvements.

2. Don't stress out! Though it is not an actual direct cause for acne, it can make your acne much worse if you are; reason being the extra hormones your body produces from the adrenal glands.

3. Exercise. It is good to be active not only to be healthy, but to rid your bodies of any impurities by sweating it out! Make sure you clean yourself properly after doing so.

4. Water! H2O has amazing skin regenerative properties and consuming a lot of water on a DAILY basis will help your body recover skin cells on your face much faster.

5. Leave it alone! Try not to touch your face or your acne at all costs as your hands have lots of bacteria that can make it worse. Though I do not recommend poping the pimple, here is a reference for if you simply must.
Here to find out more

6. Go to a dermatologist. These people are professionals in skin and they will be able to help you by either giving you advice or medical prescription to help you with your acne.

If anything, three key factors to help reduce your acne are these

Natural Methods of Reducing Acne

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There are many different methods of getting rid of acne using natural methods, most dealing with fruits and vegetables.

1. Lemon Juice! Either consumed or applied directly onto the face, this natural method has been a popular and well known method for reducing acne and acne scarring.
Here to find out more

2. Potatoes have been known to reduce acne scarring for people. Slicing a raw potato and rubbing it against your skin, leaving the juice to dry on your skin before washing it off.
Here to find out more

3. Garlic, when cut into cloves and rubbed onto the skin has been known to treat acne for some. There is no scientific proof that confirms this but many people who have used it have found it to work
Here to find out more

*Remember these are just natural remedies that people over the ages have used with results.

Acne Myths and Misconceptions


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1. Tanning. Though some people have found during the summer their blemishes/scars appear to be less noticeable when they get tanned, this only makes the scars appear darker and even more noticeable once you lose the tan.

2. Junk food. After looking into this topic, there have been debates as to whether eating certain food causes acne and the like. The ending result is kind of a mixed one, the food you eat doesn't have much affect on your acne and you shouldn't worry about that. However things like sugar and caffeine can increase the amount of hormones your body produces which has a direct effect on your acne.

3. Washing your face alot will reduce your acne. This is not true and though proper hygiene and a clean face is important, washing your face more than 2-3 times a day can lead to over-dry skin and forces your body to produce even more oil to compensate for the dry skin.

4. Popping your pimples will solve your acne problem and make them go away faster. Getting rid of acne forcefully can only help spread the bacteria and can cause even more acne around the affected area. Both from the bacteria inside the pimple and the bacteria on your hands.

*There are so many myths and misconceptions that I could keep listing them off, these are just some of the most well known ones. Researching online will give you more results

Proactiv & Other Commercial Products


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For those of you who have seriously looked hard into trying to rid your acne will know what this is. I personally have used it and it has not helped me at all, other than seriously damaging my skin and leaving my face bone dry and flaky. Most of my friends who had used it also said that even if it does work for you, once you stop using it the acne comes right back. It is really up to you, but I can be certain the natural methods I posted before will not only be cheaper, but they will have definite results.

Conclusion

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Acne is something most teens go through and its just your body trying to cope with the fluctuating hormones that comes from puberty. Don’t get discouraged if acne persists even after you have tried all the methods above, it will go away in time I can assure you. You are beautiful the way you are and you should never undercut yourself just because you have acne. I had it pretty bad when I was going through it and I thought it would never go away. True friends won’t care what you look like no matter how bad it is and they care about who you are as a person and not what they see on the outside. Years from now you will be laughing at the thought of acne and realise it was just a phase and not some eternal punishment placed upon you!

References:
Pictures taken from http://www.acne.org/ only meant to be used for visual examples.
Hair follicle - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_follicle
Lesion - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesion
How to properly pop a pimple - http://www.ehow.com/how_2299822_know-pop-pimple.html
Lemon Juice - http://www.your-best-acne-treatment.com/lemon-juice-remedy.html
Potatoes - http://www.educopark.com/life-lessons/view/potato-miracle-to-combat-acne-and
Garlic - http://www.ehow.com/how_2119700_use-fresh-garlic-cure-acne.html
Images from Google Images
Own personal experiences
Quote by malakadang and Vi3 *thanks!*

 

Acne is a skin condition that occurs due to the overproduction of oil by the oil glands of the skin. The oil that normally lubricates the skin gets trapped in blocked oil ducts where bacteria forms. Puberty increases the production of oil and therefore results in teens getting acne.

Not true, even though bacteria from outside sources can contribute to acne formation it isn't the most common reason nor does washing your face prevent or eliminate acne. The former is true, frequent washing may actually irritate pores and cause them to become clogged. A washcloth can add even more irritation.

Properly popping pimples can be beneficial to the healing process but is still not suggested due to the risk of scarring.

No studies have shown the correlation between food and acne.

Still no studies, even though it is still a good idea to be healthy.

No studies though once again drinking a lot of water is a good idea.

Bacteria on hands doesn't contribute to acne. You can touch your face without fear.

Hygiene has no link to acne at all. People who have acne do not have bad hygiene.


Truth about commercial (over the counter) products:
They contain the same chemicals found in some prescription medications but in very low concentration. People have had success with commercial products but there is an easier way.

The best way to get rid of acne is go to a dermatologist. They will prescribe effective prescription medications. These medications are usually preventive and work after long periods of use in clearing up and preventing acne. Everyone has a different reaction to each medication and my best suggestion would be to never give up.

There you go my 2 cents. You could also include a part on Accutane (Isotretinoin) if you wanted.

 

I suffered acne for around a year, and it was the most frustrating time of my life as I was rendered helpless because of my age.

I was taken to the doctor who prescribed medicines who mitigated but did not remove my acne. My parents gave my a multitude of cleansers, face scrubs, anything they could to try and help me with good intentions resulting in consequential ramifications.

I did research told them to buy me the products I wanted, and my acne cleared up in 1 month.

I'll focus on the 'How to make it go away' and onwards.

1. Dermatologists cost a lot, and are a last resort, and I don't think you should of put it as the first choice.
2. This is subjective, for the most part food doesn't cause acne.
3. Subjective also, I know a friend who breaks out after he goes to the gym.
4. Water is exceptionally important, yes!
5. Yes and no, for the most part it is best to leave them alone; irritation is a primary cause of acne. Don't believe me? Rub sandpaper on your face and watch yourself break out. However sometimes popping pimples is better than leaving them on there as sometimes they can give you a really bad look.
6. Facial cleansers alone will not stop acne for 90% of people. These need to be used in conjunction with certain products. Also most cleansers have irritating chemicals in them, and thus nullifying any effect they may have. It is also a common misconception that dirt causes acne.


For ProActiv. I personally haven't used it however I did use a specific ingredient in ProActiv called, 'Benzoyl Peroxide' Cut it short this chemical is the foundation ProActiv is built on and it almost always will make your face red and very dry initially for the first 2-3 weeks before then clearing it up. This is because it pushes acne under the surface outwards, thus giving a false impression of worsening the situation. Again it's your personal experience offer reasons as to why certain things happen, eg. Allergies.


I think this is a rather basic guide, however it contains some exceptionally basic misconceptions that actually do not rid of acne. Try and rectify these.
For the most part you need 3 steps to be on your way of ridding acne.

Cleansing your skin.
Medicating your skin.
Moisturizing your skin.

Looking forward to seeing you finish it!

 

ProActiv isn't so good, I agree with you, every single person I know that has used it has said the same thing; as soon as you stop using it, you'll break out, and not to mention it makes your skin dry for the first week(s).

I'm personally using a Clean & Clear cleanser and it's been working wonders, I typically don't have much Acne though so that's a plus.

I like the guide, but you could expand a bit on it. Maybe try adding natural ways to get rid of acne? Like rubbing lemon juice on your face (That was just an example)

 

@malakadang - Thanks so much for the feedback, I even quoted one your comments if that's alright with you. First guide so I knew it was bound to have some issues.

@Coinshare - Thanks for the suggestions! I fixed around some stuff and added some natural remedies for reducing acne.

@99lightning - Ouch, sorry you feel that way bud.

 

Woh I added a big ass post last night but had a feeling it didn't actually post. Posted it now.
But in reality you do you a ton of misinformation. I read articles like this when I first had acne (drank water, washed face, etc.) and really wish I didn't as prevention in the key and those methods just don't work. If you want any information I have done tons of research on acne.

 

Hey no problem, I fixed up alot of stuff recently so things you quoted in the first post have been changed. I had it pretty bad for a couple years and its not like taking steps such as exercise and healthy eating won't hurt you in the long run. However...

This was fixed prior to posting

How can it possibly be beneficial?

This too, has been fixed prior to posting

Here

Here

Bad hygiene can cause the acne to get worse.

The promised clear skin that Proactiv states is clearly not true to everyone

This is a prescription drug and causes severe dryness of the lips as well as a slight chance of liver poisoning. Up to the doctor to see if this medicine can be taken by you. (via blood tests once a month) There really is no point for me recommending a prescription drug as I am not a doctor.

 

I've heard that honey is also good for acne.

Very good guide though, I might try out the lemon juice.

 

Thanks for the feedback, I will look into the honey idea you brought up

 

You're very welcome

 

I would call the articles you linked as solid evidence but still good information. In my opinion just as wouldn't use honey to cure strep throat you shouldn't use it to try and cure acne.
I mentioned accutane because atm it's the only "real cure" for acne and something people might want to look into with severe cystic acne.

 

I liked your guide as information. Will be informing a friend of mine who seems to be having acne problems! 5/5

 

Thanks so much for the feedback! I do hope he gets the acne under control!

 

Nice tips. I knew most of it anyway. But it helps to be reminded of how to look after it,

 

Thanks for the feedback!

 

Great guide. Contains quite a lot of information about acne(especially the different types of acne part - nice pictures too).

I've been a sufferer of acne for a long time. My whole face was covered with acne and it didn't look great at all. I tried everything I found on the internet(products, ginger, lemon, tea tree oil, sandalwood, toothpaste, floss, oatmeal, etc) but none of them worked. Some did make my acne a bit smaller and less red but it wasn't the complete solution.

Regarding your face becoming dry & flaky after using Proactiv - it's normal. It contains Benzoyl Peroxide which usually burns your skin. That's why Proactiv recommends you put a very thin layer on your skin(once a day) to start off and progressively applying more once your skin adapts to it.

A great product I got to know of and used was Exposed Acne Treatment. It may be pricey but totally worth it. I find Exposed to be the better, if not best treatment as it gives the complete solution. It treats the causes of acne thus preventing new outbreaks even after you stopped using it. It has also been rated #1 on many acne treatment review sites. Link: http://www.exposedskincare.com/

I also recommend not washing your face too often as it can dry your skin and when using moisturizes get non oily ones so it doesn't block your pores or else it will do more harm than good. It also helps A LOT if you drink lots and lots of water everyday.

Lastly I'd like to say everyone has different skin types and not every product will produce the same results for you if it has for another person.

 

@Vi3 Thanks for reviewing the guide! Im glad someone who has gone through the same troubles as me can relate well to what I wrote up. I'll quote what you said about the Exposed Acne Treatment for those desperately looking for a cure.

 

was really hoping i'd read something to really really make it go away, like a special trick haha, but yea eating, exercise and water definitely helps.

good guide none the less

 

There won't be a quick and easy solution, but you can make it as short as possible by following the rules of living healthy by following suggestions made in the guide. Thanks alot for reading and commenting though!

 

There's no instant solution to acne You need patience when dealing with acne.

Also, try not to exercise too much. Sweat can clog pores which leads to even more acne.