Skin Care Tips for Acne

Be Gentle

The first thing to remember is that you have to be gentle with your face. Don’t wash your face with hot or cold water. Use lukewarm water and a mild cleanser twice a day and after your workout at the gym, in case you do work out. Avoid regular soap and other such products that are filled with harsh chemicals. If you are not familiar with cleansers, ask a doctor for advice.

Wash you face gently and rinse thoroughly. Pad you face dry and avoid scrubbing. Scrubbing could open a thousand invisible lesions in your skin that are the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria.

Keep Your Hands Away from Your Skin

Although it is against your instincts, you must learn to keep your hands away from pimples and other lesions. Squeezing pimples is a bad idea, unless performed under sterile conditions by a doctor.

For the Guys

If you have to shave, then be very careful about it. Run a test on yourself and see if which type of razor is better for you. I’d say that electric razors are the thing to use if you suffer from acne, but each man knows better what works in his case. Shave gently and avoid opening up existing lesions.

For the Girls

Cosmetics are one of the minor roots of acne. If you’re going through an acne treatment, then choose only oil-free cosmetics or else the good effect is wasted. You should also run tests on yourself and see which cosmetics do not clog your pores. Watch out for side-effects if you use products whose labels say “designed not to clog pores”.

Stay out of the Sun

Yes, a suntan would look lovely on you, but you should learn to do without for a while. The risks of sun exposure are not acceptable when you realize that the sun does not cure acne. UV rays simply dry the outer layers of your skin and cause it to peel away. However, once you are away from the sun, acne will return. Prolonged exposure will also make you a certain candidate for skin cancer.

Facial care, skin care, and types of soap to use

Dermatologists recommend washing the face with soap twice daily, the body once daily - and the hands as often as necessary to keep them sanitary. How do you know which soap is right for you? Soap used to have a bad reputation because of the inclusion of harsh detergents, which stripped oil from the skin. However, that is no longer the case with all soaps anymore.

Before we discuss what skincare routine to follow, you need to know your skin type. To do so, look at your face in a mirror in natural daylight (i.e., outside or near a window) and observe the various areas of your face. In general: Oily skin is shiny - especially along the T-zone (the forehead, nose and chin areas), where oil glands are most prevalent - and tends to break out with pimples. If you have large pores, these may also indicate oiliness. Dry skin feels tight and dehydrated and pores may be very fine. It may also look flaky, and has a rough, papery texture. Normal skin has a uniform texture and tone that only occasionally break out in spots. Combination skin has oily and dry patches: It may be shiny/blemished along the T-zone and scaly around the cheeks.

Once you have determined your skin type, you use this information to pay attention to your specific skincare needs.

If your skin is oily and/or acne-prone, select soaps that contain salicylic acid -- a skin-sloughing beta hydroxy acid that keeps pores unclogged. Similarly, choose products with the pimple-drying ingredient benzoyl peroxide.

For dry skin, stick with gentle, super-fatted soaps, many of which contain up to one-third moisturizers. Pure glycerin soap will also help your skin retain moisture. However, avoid deodorant soaps, which can dry your skin even further.

Those with sensitive skin should opt for hypoallergenic soaps, and avoid perfumed, antibacterial and deodorant soaps, which can be irritating. Try to use very little soap, do not scrub too hard, and make sure to rinse well with cool water (warm or hot water can be drying).

People with normal skin have plenty of options: feed your skin with plant-based soaps, lather up with triple-milled soaps or use a gentle face bar soap that is non-comedogenic (won't clog pores).

Those suffering from windburned, sunburned or chapped skin can calm it with soap rich in soothing glycerin and aloe vera. As much as possible, avoid bars with overpowering fragrances since they can irritate the skin further.

Even when you're partying until the wee hours of the morning or pulling overtime at the office, it's essential to cleanse your face thoroughly before you hit the sack. Ideally, you should wash your face twice a day, put on toner, and moisturize immediately after cleansing your face. By removing makeup and daily grime from your face daily, you can avoid clogged pores and breakouts. However, we don't live in a perfect world and there will be times when you just want to slip into your bed and forget about your beauty ritual.

When you're too tired or there isn't that much time to conduct your full facial regimen, you can save time and effort by using a multipurpose cleanser that'll strip away dirt, oil, and even hard-to-remove makeup like waterproof mascara all at once. You can also try using disposable cloths that you simply moisten (to activate the built-in cleanser) and smooth over your face to lift away the day's dirt.

There are plenty of ways to protect and beautify your face, and establishing a regular beauty regimen is one of them. Start one today and your skin will thank you for it.

ClearPores Review, 3-steps to smoother skin

New products and services are constantly coming online. It's hard to keep up with them all. Many of us are busy, must allocate our time. We do not have time to check out dozens of new products. Most of the products and services being offered are of ho-hum or not so great quality.


There are certainly, however, the occasional exceptions...


A few are actually really good, well worth another look. A good example of this sort, in the Facial and Body Care System category, and named ClearPores shows promise.


It's been dreamed-up and developed by Natural Health Sciences, who's now offering it for sale. Just what has ClearPores been doing to build awareness and lengthen its list of client customers? Well, generally it's been researching how to battle acne from both the inside and out..


To be more specific, there are three significant advantages which differentiate ClearPores from its competitors, three special benefits that purchasers cite as being excellent. These three major benefits are Acne prevention, Acne elimination and the most effective solution for both men and women looking for a fast unmatched method to clear themselves of Acne. 


Let us take a look at each of these in greater detail.


With daily use, ClearPores Protection Cream offers you protection from future breakouts while nourishing the skin with essential moisture that keeps it looking radiant, dewy and fresh.


ClearPores Deep Facial Wash has been scientifically formulated to clear up your existing breakouts FAST and bring out the natural, healthy glow in your skin: Acne producing bacteria is removed, Dead skin cells are sloughed away to speed up skin cell regeneration, Excess sebum is removed-no more shiny skin! Existing whiteheads, blackheads, acne blemishes and acne pimples are cleared up. Further pore blockages are prevented, your skin's natural PHG balance is restored, faster healing occurs with the support of added nutrients.


This 100% natural herbal supplement has been carefully formulated to fight your acne from the INSIDE out: Natural herbals nurture the body's capacity to remain free of bacteria, such as acne bacteria. Help regulate normal functioning of the hormones associated with acne. Aids in the natural flushing of acne-causing toxins. Revitalizes you skin-so it looks healthy.


So those may be good things about ClearPores. Okay. Now which are the bad things, the weak points?
The primary consumer problem which We've seen is patients who start the program don't complete it. They see results, clear up their existing acne but don't follow through with the protection creams and facial wash. The system works best when combining all 3 phases..


The bottom line is that ClearPores looks like it's a worthwhile product, worth the selling price. It seems to provide good user benefits for a reasonable price tag. It's certainly worth your time and effort to take a closer look into it, perhaps try it out.


You can see the full details at: Skincareandacneanswers.blogspot.com



Uncover how one can Clear their face of acne and get smoother skin by going to my clearing acne and softer skin site at http://skincareandacneanswers.blogspot.com/.

Antioxidants and Skin Care

Antioxidant is a popular term in all health care articles. We always encounter such a term whenever we read or browse health articles in the papers, books or magazines. Moreover, almost all advertisements and commercials of beauty and health products always mention antioxidants.

The question to ask ourselves to be able to understand the sudden hype about antioxidants is to know what it is and what can it do to our body.

Antioxidants are chemicals that prevent the oxidation of other chemicals. In biological systems, the normal processes of oxidation produce highly reactive free radicals that can readily react with and damage other molecules which may continue to damage even the body’s own cells. Antioxidants play the housekeeper's role, "mopping up" free radicals before they get a chance to do harm in your body.

Although all the hype about antioxidants slowing down the signs of aging and promoting skin rejuvenation do not have a solid scientific basis, most skin experts are claiming that antioxidant vitamins and minerals can help in our overall well being by combating the free radicals in our body.

Here are several antioxidant nutrients which appear the most likely to produce benefits to your skin.

Vitamin A or Beta Carotene. It has been discovered that beta-carotene protects dark green, yellow and orange vegetables and fruits from solar radiation damage and it is thought that it plays a similar role in human body. Carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kale, collards, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots are particularly rich sources of beta-carotene.

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) is a water-soluble compound that fulfills antioxidant role, among others, in living systems. Important sources include citrus fruits (like oranges, sweet lime etc.), green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries, raw cabbage and tomatoes.

Vitamin E is a principal fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin in the body. It protects cellular membranes, lipoproteins and other "oily" structures. Skin is high in unsaturated fatty acids ("oily" molecules especially susceptible to free radical damage), and can benefit from vitamin E protection (both oral and topical). Sources include wheat germ, nuts, seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and fish-liver oil.

Flavonoids are a diverse group of plant pigments with antioxidant properties that contain proanthocyanins and polyphenols that are good for the skin. These substances are responsible for color in many fruits, vegetables and flowers. In addition to providing color that attracts insects or animals, these pigments protect plants from environmental stress. In addition to being potent antioxidants, some flavonoids have antiallergic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity. Over 4,000 flavonoids have been characterized and classified, but only a few have been researched.

Coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, cysteine and methionine are potent antioxidants.

Common Acne Myths

Try asking people advice regarding your acne and chances are, they would tell you that it is due to your poor hygiene or poor diet.

However, skin experts are actually dismissing those as nothing but myths. The best way to cope with your acne problem is to educate yourself and it is with this purpose that we decided to list here the common acne myths that people often encounter.

• Acne is not a caused by a poor hygiene. Many people believe that acne is caused by poor hygiene; therefore they tend to over-wash their skin. However, washing too frequently and too aggressively can strip the skin of its natural lipids, damaging the skin's natural barrier function. In response, the follicle will produce excess sebum and possibly additional breakouts. So unless you get yourself dirty on regular basis (like a mechanic, perhaps), do not over-wash your face.
• Acne is caused by certain foods. The common misconception is that eating junk food will lead to or worsen an acne condition. Scientific studies have shown that diet has little to no effect on acne. This varies depending on the person. While eating healthy and balanced diet is encouraged for our health, there is really no scientific evidence that connects certain foods to acne. If you are one of those who are affected by certain foods, it is always wise to avoid them.
• You can outgrow your acne. It is much more sensible to treat your acne immediately to avoid emotional stress and permanent scarring.
• Acne is just a little problem, no need to overreact. It is embarrassing to have acne, thus can affect our confidence and esteem. It may even affect our social relation and job performance.
• Acne is just a cosmetic disease. Heavy and oily make up may contribute to acne build up. However, cosmetics labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic might actually contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid that may help to fight acne.
• Stress can cause acne. While over stress may actually produce hormones that can aggravate acne; normal, everyday stress does not really trigger acne.
• Getting a tan would clear up acne. While sun exposure may dry out existing acne, it will not prevent new ones from forming. It can also over dry the skin thus sebaceous glands will produce more oil that will ultimately worsen your condition. It will also increase your risk of skin cancer and wrinkles.

So there, the next time somebody tells you one of those things, gracefully correct them and share what you know. Remember, knowledge is power.