One of the biggest fears I’m asked to face is the surprise big day breakout. Acne is often considered a pre- competition taboo to even discuss. However, due to constant improvements in the treatment of acne, it deserves to be revisited along with a few friendly reminders.
Every girl will experience at least one breakout in her lifetime. Most commonly this will occur during times of hormonal change—the teenage years, late 20s to early 30s and late 40s to early 50s. This surge in hormones can leave us with acne’s dreaded pustules and scars. Also, depending on the
severity, it can cause real psychological damage by decreasing confidence, self-esteem, competition and work performance.
some, of these forces work together it can spell disaster.
Many superstitions exist, but the only true cause is bacterial infection of clogged pores. The most commonly diagnosed bacteria is Propionibacterium acnes, or P.
acnes. Bacteria live on your skin and can cause infections when pores become clogged or when oil production is increased. Pores may become clogged from improper face washing, product residue and environmental exposures. Oil production is influenced by hormones, stress and genetics. When all, or even
Oil production is influenced by hormones, stress and genetics. When all, or even some, of these forces work together it can spell disaster.
The best treatment always starts with a well-balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting at least eight hours of sleep each night. Of course, nothing can replace a visit to your physician for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of your acne.
A high quality face wash and sunscreen should always be the first and last steps of any skin care regimen. Wash your face twice daily to clean away makeup, dirt and oil. The best soaps are unscented and leave little residue. This can be tested by washing the back of your hand and patting it dry—if your skin becomes irritated or doesn’t feel clean, it’s not a good soap. I recommend over-the-counter products like Neutrogena or Aveeno and prescrip-
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