Chime School

Posts Tagged ‘acne scar’

There is a condition of the skin that can affect many parts of the body called acne. The most prevalent areas that are affected include the face, chest, back and neck.

When skin cells die off, they can mix with the oils of the skin to plug the pores. In mild cases of acne, these plugs appear as blackheads. In more severe case, the bacteria of the skin cause infection and the problem becomes worse.

Hormonal changes in the body can cause production of more oils in the skin. Acne, due to these hormonal changes is found in teens, women as they progress through their menstrual cycle or while they are pregnant, or when they start or stop birth control pills.

Acne that becomes infected can leave scars on any of the affected areas. Facial scaring may affect a person’s self esteem.

There are many treatments recommended for acne. For teens, products containing benzyl peroxide are often effective at drying outbreaks and preventing more outbreaks from forming. Washing the face with a good antibacterial soap can also help to prevent further outbreaks of acne.

For adults, benzyl peroxide is sometimes too drying to the skin. Adults have better results with products that contain salicylic acid.

When you have an outbreak of acne, avoid touching, squeezing, scratching or picking at the skin which is already irritated. This increases the likelihood of infection and more scaring.

If you have tried the over the counter products and your acne is not getting better, see your doctor or dermatologist. They will know further treatment options that can help to keep the acne from becoming infected and causing more scaring.

Prevention of acne is not always possible, however you can take steps to lower the risk of it causing a permanent scar.

Acne can be a devastating condition for a teen. It can begin with puberty and last through the early twenties. Some adults have problems with acne outbreaks throughout their lifetime. Acute acne can cause scaring of the face, back and chest or any area affected by the condition. There are many treatments that have been offered for acne treatment, but one of the most effective is the use of an acne light.

By using the acne light, teens can avoid the use of creams or ointments that can be messy and further irritate the skin. The light is placed six inches away form the affected area and can be used while doing homework or viewing television.

The light emitted by the acne light is at very specific wave lengths, chose to kill bacteria and promote healing without damaging the skin. The blue light has an antibiotic effect on the bacteria that causes acne, while the red light stimulates the skin to heal without leaving scars.

The red and blue light should be applied daily for fifteen minutes to half an hour. Light  in the wavelengths used in the acne light should not cause skin damage or sunburn;  however, some people have skin that is sensitive to all light.

Users of the acne light should not expect immediate results. It could take up to eight  weeks of daily use before there is a marked improvement.

To prevent having to use the light for extended periods of time, choose larger lights if you have problems with more than one area of acne.

Acne is a condition that may affect a student’s self-esteem. If left untreated, it can cause excessive scaring, and may affect the persons feelings of self for many years. The price paid for an acne light and the time invested in its use are a small price to pay for the self confidence it can bring.