You would think that having acne breakouts and pimples are the worst part about not having clear skin. And when the breakout clears up or that giant pimple finally goes away, you should be really happy and rejoicing right? But many times, you are left with scarring! And it doesn’t seem to want to go away! It can be there for months…or even longer. But do not fret, there are things you can do to minimize scarring or help it to disappear more quickly.
Scarring is caused by when an acne lesion has healed and redness or hyperpigmentation is visible on the skin. This is the healing process when skin is “remodeling” which can take up to a year to clear as long as no other acne forms over the healed lesion. There are treatments to utilize if you would like to speed this healing process up!
Dermabrasion:
This is the process of removing the top layer of skin with a quick moving rotating brush. Scars at the surface can possibly be completely removed and deep lesion acne scars will appear less visible.
Topical Treatments:
Tretinoin-related products (like Retin-A) will help speed up the healing process, minimizing scarring. These products are also known to prevent new breakouts from occurring as well.
Laser Treatments:
Laser treatments have been quite effective in reducing and removing acne scars. There are two different options for laser treatments. One is where a heated laser “destroys” the surface of the skin and heats the skin underneath. The wound heals quickly, allowing new skin to resurface, scar-free. The other option is a less intense laser that is pulse light sources that do not destroy the top layer of skin but still heat the skin underneath and allows new skin to resurface more quickly. This less intense laser treatment usually requires a few treatments to be effective.
Tissue Fillers:
Injecting fat fillers or collagen into the acne scars under the skin can minimize the appearance of scarring by stretching out the skin. Unfortunately, this is a procedure that is not permanent and needs to be repeated to maintain the same look.
Exfoliating:
For daily or weekly use, gently exfoliate your skin with an exfoliating scrub to remove dead skin and allow for the regrowth and renewal of new skin. Over time, scarring will fade and this is a very inexpensive treatment for reducing scarring compared to the treatments above.
Stretch marks are quite frustrating. They can appear anywhere on your body and unfortunately, cannot always be covered up with clothes and most creams and topical treatments do not fulfill what they promise. So what are these little road maps that are on many of our bodies and what can be done about them?
Stretch marks, also known as striae, are most commonly found on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, breasts, and abdomen and are normally pink, reddish, purple, or white in color. Though stretch marks are normally thought to appear on pregnant women (when their tummies grow larger, stretching their skin in addition to their hormones changing), anyone can get stretch marks and many factors can depend on this. They are caused by a literal stretching of the skin combined with an increase in cortisone, which is a hormone formed by the adrenal glands. According to the Mayo Clinic, “cortisone may weaken elastic fibers in the skin,” hence causing stretch marks to appear.
Besides pregnancy, others that have stretch marks may have developed them from these conditions:
Weight Gain: Anyone who has lost a dramatic amount of weight will undoubtedly develop stretch marks. The skin is stretched when one is at a larger weight and then shrinks when the weight is lost. Teenagers are also prone to develop stretch marks due to their body compositions changing and with the imbalance of hormones. Anyone who lifts weights consistently will more than likely develop stretch marks on their arms, shoulders, and possibly on their backs from their muscles growing, thus stretching out the skin.
Certain Medicines: The repeated use of oral or systematic steroids can cause stretch marks when the body’s muscles become larger at a very rapid rate. Corticosteroid creams and certain lotions and pills can cause stretch marks. Read warning labels carefully before using certain medicines and receive doctor’s approval first.
Illness: Cushing’s Syndrome and certain adrenal gland diseases can also cause stretch marks of significant proportion. Other diseases can also cause stretch marks so consult a doctor if you developing stretch marks quite quickly and for no apparent reason.
Though stretch marks can be frustrating and cosmetically unappealing, they are harmless. Certain treatments can reduce the appearance of stretch marks but nothing can fully rid your skin of them. Some options include certain laser treatments, microdermabrasion, and tretinoin cream (which also helps minimize fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots/scarring). Remember, every mark on your skin is beautiful and makes you, YOU. Do not obsess over imperfections…rather embrace them and enjoy every moment of LIFE!
Parabens in skincare products have been a controversy for quite a while now. Parabens are chemical compounds used as a preservative for food, skincare, and cosmetics. For skincare and makeup, parabens are synthetically made to help these products have a longer shelf life otherwise they are more susceptible to bacterial and fungi growth, which contaminates products. Parabens are found in almost every product from toothpaste to deodorant to cosmetics to moisturizers! Common paraben names on the ingredients list include methyl, ethyl, butyl, isopropyl, propyl, and isobutylparaben. Where did the concern of parabens stem from?
Well according to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, some lab tests have shown a link between parabens and certain cancers, specifically breast cancer due to parabens copying the female sex endocrine hormone, estrogen, through a process called endocrine disruption. This process may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer but it is a heatedly debated topic. The FDA and European Commission believe parabens are safe enough to use in foods and cosmetics (though methyl is banned in Europe due to its toxicity), and the CIR believes they’re safe for use when the paraben concentration level is under 25 percent.
Certain parabens have been known to irritate very sensitive skin and has been thought to be the leading cause of dermatitis and other skin related issues. Those with severe allergies may notice some relief if they cut out the majority of skincare products with parabens. Parabens can also seep into your bloodstream once soaked into your skin. Unfortunately parabens are found in everything from the food we eat to the water we drink so it’s important to be pro-active in learning what to use and not use without becoming neurotic about it. Simply eliminating skincare and makeup with parabens and choosing organic foods when possible can make a world of difference .
Many skincare and cosmetic companies are strictly paraben-free and the makeup seems to last a long time without the need of parabens. Honestly, no one should own or use makeup or skincare if it’s more than a year old anyways! A large build-up of dirt and oils will definitely contribute to negligent skincare if you are using old makeup or skincare! It’s also beneficial to use products that are hypoallergenic because they tend to be more gentle on sensitive skin. Make simple changes to your lifestyle and eliminate certain paraben-induced products when possible and we at Acne Skin Site know your body will thank you!
Many of the skincare products we use are infused with natural ingredients. We often look for information on the labels that say “natural” and “easy as 1-2-3” so why don’t you take matters into your own hands and just make your own home skincare treatments? Not only are homemade skin treatments good for your skin, but they are also great for your wallet!
Lucky for all of our readers, we will soon be featuring several wonderfully soothing and skin-clearing homemade facial masks for you to try at home and incorporate into your weekly skincare routine but until then we can give you some great ideas of what is to come and what natural products and foods are great for your skin!
Not only are bananas good for you when eaten, they are also great at helping the fight against acne! Bananas are rich in potassium, which when applied directly to the skin, will suffocate the bacteria in cells, forcing blemishes to heal more quickly. Bananas have many anti-bacterial properties, which can reduce swelling, and infections from other skin issues, including Psoriasis, Eczema, and even painful bug bites (pack some bananas if you’re going camping or grilling out at night this summer!). A really cool thing you can try with the peel of a banana is if you have an irritating and itchy skin condition, try rubbing the inside of the peel on your skin and it will help soothe your skin tremendously. The inside of the banana peel is also great when used as an exfoliant gently rub it on your skin with warm water and see how much softer and hydrated your skin becomes after sloughing off that dry skin (also known as cellular build-up).
Honey is another wonderful (and yummy!) product to try on the skin. Honey is an antioxidant proven to help reduce impurities from the skin and help battle mild acne. It also helps restore skin’s texture due to its anti-microbial properties, and will help repair skin damage from the sun and daily environments.
Cane sugar is a great product to use as an exfoliator. Mixing warm water with some sugar is an awesome and deliciously sweet way to gently remove dry skin from the face, neck, and even your lips! Much more gentle than salt, it will naturally dissolve with warm water, allowing you the perfect amount of time to work it over the skin before it disappears! Sugar will also hydrate your skin…just make sure not to be stepping outside right after this because the bees may love your skin a little too much too! J
And remember; stay tuned for our new tab coming soon on Acne Skin Site featuring some truly incredible face masks to make at home!
Facial serums are wonderful for the skin yet often overlooked. Many people have not heard of a serum and if they have, they think it acts the same as a moisturizer and can use one or the other. Others are afraid of using a serum because they think it will make them break out. Neither of these ideas is correct and facial serums are a wonderful step to add to any skincare routine. In fact, we at Acne Skin Site would recommend adding a facial serum to your skincare routine.
Facial serums are loaded with wonderful antioxidants like Vitamin C, which is known to play a key role in the production of collagen. Vitamin C aids in anti-aging, and also reduces fine lines and wrinkles and minimizes blemishes and acne. Vitamin C is a key ingredient in many skin care products. Vitamin E is also found in many serums and is known to protect and repair skin damage from the sun and other environments. Because the body does not create Vitamin E on its own, it is very important to use skin care products rich in this Vitamin and to also eat foods rich in Vitamin E. Certain foods that are loaded with Vitamin E are avocados, nuts, and vegetable oil.
You can also find serums that are oil-free if you are concerned with breaking out or clogging your pores. That is the beautiful thing about skincare these days. Companies take into account that men and women don’t want to break out!
You should apply your facial serum after you have cleansed and lightly dried your face and allow it to be absorbed into the skin for 3-5 minutes before applying your moisturizer. A serum will not block your moisturizer from being absorbed – If anything, it will help in the skin absorbing the moisturizer and retaining hydration. Certain serums will gently exfoliate your skin as well, which will make your complexion brighter and more dewy looking in appearance! And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want their skin looking like porcelain?! There are many wonderful serums out there, it’s just a matter of how much you want to spend and what added skin benefits you are looking to gain from a serum. Serums can be less expensive to quite expensive so do your research and your skin will thank you! Feel free to let us know if you have a favorite as well!
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