acne problem

While it is bad enough that pimple is such a common problem, it is perhaps worse that there are so many different kinds of pimple. You are probably familiar with some of the commoner varieties of pimple, such as pimple rosacea or pimple vulgaris, even if you have never suffered from either of them.
But when you are really looking at effective remedies for pimple, it helps to know enough about your condition to be able to target your problem specifically. So let us take a look at the different kinds of pimple and see what we are actually dealing with here.
Exploring the pimple spectrum. Broadly speaking, let us start with adult pimple, which can be caused by a diverse range of factors, such as hormonal imbalances, pollutants, elements related to stress and responses to medications of different kinds.
These are just a few of the many causes of adult pimple. Research has indicated that there may be a definite link between hormonal disturbances and the eruption of pimple in women between the ages of 30 and 60 years.
Next on the list is Pimple Cosmetic, which as the name suggests, is related to the kind of cosmetics you may have used which perhaps did not agree with your skin. In this kind of pimple, your skin and pores have reacted adversely to various ingredients contained in your cosmetics.
Then there is Pimple Congoblata, which is normally caused by hereditary factors. This kind of pimple causes severe scarring on the face and back. Worse still, there is not very much that you can do about it.
Pimple Detergens, as is evident from the name, is caused by the irritant effect of soaps and cleansers on the skin.
Pimple Excoriee is the direct result of pimple sufferers picking at the pimples on their faces and bodies. This is one of the worst things that anyone suffering from pimple can do.
Then there is Pimple Fulminans, a rather serious form of pimple, in which the eruption is accompanied by fever and body ache. This kind of pimple mainly affects males and erupts suddenly. Other symptoms of this kind of pimple include a high white blood cell count, as well as loss of appetite and deep scarring.
You may have had enough by now, but unfortunately, there is more as this ghastly list goes on and on.
Pimple Keloidalis is generally found among people of African stock. Most of the eruption in this kind of pimple is concentrated around the neck.
Pimple Mallorca is the result of too much exposure to the sun.
Pimple mechanica is caused by friction between bare skin and different materials such as clothing, bag straps etc.
Pimple Medicametosa occurs as a side effect of some medications. These include oral contraceptives, as well as other drugs that contain potassium iodide, potassium bromide and chlorine.
Pimple Neonatorium is also commonly known as baby pimple. It is caused by the transfer of hormones from mother to child, which stimulates the secretion of sebum in baby skin.
Last on the list is Pimple Pomade, so called because it is brought about by the use of oils found in hair care products. What happens here is that this oil is transferred from the hair to the forehead, where it ultimately irritates the skin and clogs pores, causing pimple to develop.

There are a number of different types of pimple. Knowing which kind you have can help you to find the cause, and how to effectively treat it.
Between 25 and 50% of adults experience pimple, at some point in their lives. Though the cause is not certain, it's thought that hormones play a role. Some studies have made a connection between hormonal imbalance and adult pimple.
So a visit to a doctor to investigate and correct any hormonal issues may be in order. The best treatment for mild to moderate adult pimple, though, is probably the same for adults as it is for teenagers. Keep the skin clean and use a topical product containing benzoyl peroxide.
Another form of pimple is cosmetic pimple, or pimple cosmetica. This is pimple that is related to the use of makeup. It's caused by the application of cosmetics to the face and can affect anyone who uses these products. This form of pimple usually is in the form of small rash-like bumps on the face and it can last indefinitely. If the occurrence is due to a product you've recently started using, it makes sense to discontinue its use.
Pimple conglobata is a severe form of pimple. It is characterized by pronounced scarring and skin damage, inflammation, deep abscesses, and blackheads that appear over most of the body. The cause is not well understood but is more likely to occur in males who are between the ages if 18 and 30.
There are a number of treatments for Pimple conglobata and they may be needed over a number of years. Regular follow-ups may be needed as well to check for recurrence. A qualified dermatologist may be able to treat the scar tissues that result from this devastating form of pimple.
Pimple mallorca is a type of pimple caused by the ultra-violet rays of the sun, and appears as a rash on the neck, chest and arms. It's thought to be a result of the molecules that cause cell damage (free radicals) which are produced as a result of UV exposure. These radicals react with skin care products causing inflammation of the hair follicles in the skin, which leads to this form of pimple.
The type of pimple called pimple excoriee comes from picking, rubbing, or squeezing pimples. It usually occurs in young women and is caused by an obsessive urge to pick at the real or imagined pimples and blackheads on the faces.
It's considered to be a psychological disorder, and the traditional treatments for pimple do not usually stop pimple excoriee. A psychologist and a dermatologist may both be required for effective treatment of this illness so that the pimple as well as the underlying psychological issues can be addressed.
Constant friction, rubbing, chaffing and pressure on the skin can cause or exacerbate a type of pimple called pimple mechanica. Pimple mechanica can be caused by: shoulder pads and their straps; tight uniforms of synthetic material; helmets and their straps; tight athletic supporters and headbands. Also, any type of clothing or strap that is held against, or rubs against the skin for extended periods of time can lead to this condition.
The treatment for pimple mechanica is to first correct the cause and then to use a topical medication such as benzoyl peroxide. If you must wear tight fitting clothing made of synthetic material, wear cotton under clothing next to the skin to act as a buffer and absorb moisture.

What is Pimple Vulgaris
? This is a medical term used to describe most cases of pimple. It really isn't as bad as it sounds! Vulgaris doesn't mean that the pimple is vulgar, only that it means that it is common.

Be aware that there are many factors that contribute to pimple. First, research indicates a propensity for pimple may well be inherited. Parents who had pimple in their teenage and young adult years may have children who are likewise prone to having pimple in their teen and young adult years.

Next, clogged skin pores are certainly a major contributing factor for pimple out-breaks. When pores become clogged with an excess production of sebum and mix with dead skin cells or makeup that isn't sufficiently cleaned from the skin, problems start to develop. When skin pores are clogged, bacteria are produced and pus starts to form causing a pimple, a white head or a black head.

The most commonly accepted causes for pimple are hormonal imbalances. Hormones in boys and girls may become unbalanced during puberty, during menstrual cycles, when starting or stopping birth control pills, during times of extreme stress, and at other times as well.

All of the above situations can cause the body to over produce a male hormone which causes the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. The sebum combines with dead skin cells to block pores and pimple develops. So, basically, it still comes back to blocked pores.

Other causes for pimple include a lack of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that the body needs to maintain a healthy skin. Vitamins A, E and B6 are especially important in maintaining healthy skin as are zinc, essential fatty acids (EFA), Chromium and Selenium.

Most diets of teenagers and young adults do not contain these vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in sufficient quantity to maintain healthy skin and to help prevent the onset of Pimple.

Pimple: The 8 Stages:

Full blown, Stage 8 pimple doesn't usually develop overnight. Pimple is progressive condition. Pimple is one of the diseases that are so common that it is sometimes just disregarded as a serious problem...like the common cold. It has been estimated that 95 of people will have at least a mild case of pimple at some point in their lives.

Pimple, much like the common cold, is usually treated by the sufferer with over-the-counter medications that alleviate the symptoms of the disease in the belief that it will simply go away all by itself....eventually. And, it usually does but not always.

Most people throughout their life will have the occasional pimple, zit, white head or black head.

Although these pesky little outbreaks do seem to appear at the most inopportune times, they really aren't a serious problem that requires medical attention. A little over-the-counter pimple facial wash to help prevent another outbreak will usually take care of the problem. It isn't a big deal. This kind of pimple is referred to as Stage 0 and really nothing to be concerned about unless the pimple progresses to subsequent stages.

Pimple stages are graded from 0 through 8. Zero is the least severe and 8 is the most serious of the stages. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: There will be white heads and black heads with some mild inflammation. The outbreaks will start to occur more frequently. Using products that contain Benzyl Peroxide are in order.

Stage 2: There will be some papules in addition to the white heads and black heads. Papules are skin lesions that are solid and raised but usually small. This is still considered to be a very mild case of pimple. Treatment can be continued using over-the-counter products that contain Salicylic Acid.

Stage 3: Stage 3 is the same as stage 2 but with more frequent occurrences.

Stage 4-5: Pustules begin to appear. Now, it's time to schedule an appointment at a dermatologist.

Stage 6-7: Nodules and cysts are forming. Scarring is going to start happening at this stage. Your dermatologist will begin to take more drastic action.

Stage 8: Breakouts are almost continuous and include nodules and cysts. There are modern technologies that will help and your dermatologist will advise you.

Pimple Skin Care:

As we know, our hair follicles secrete sebum. Sebum makes its way up the hair follicles to the skin pores where it lubricates and protects the skin. Sometimes there are oil glands which get overworked, get enlarge, and produce too much sebum. The sebum can get trapped in the hair follicle.

When this happens the pores get clogged and black heads or white heads form and the bacteria start to multiply at an alarmingly fast rate.

Once you understand this process, you can see the reasoning behind the advice about caring for skin that has black heads, white heads and pustules on it.

The first piece of advice about caring for pimple infected skin is to never pick at the pimples. Don't try to pop them and drain them. This will not cure them no matter what anybody tells you. Popping them will only serve to make them worse...not better.

However, there are things that you can do that really will help.

The first thing you can do is to wash your face with a mild soap or a sulfur based soap. Wash your face with just your finger tips. Don't ever use a wash cloth as it holds germs and bacteria. Rinse your face with clean water several times to ensure you remove all traces of soap, and then pat it dry with a clean towel. Do not rub your face with the towel and never use the same towel twice without it being clean.

Take a good multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement every day and drink at least 8 full glasses of water (not soda) every day. The vitamins and minerals will supply nutrients that are absent from most diets and the water will help to hydrate the skin as well as to flush toxins out of your system.

If you use over-the-counter pimple medications, be certain that you follow the directions carefully and that you use a good sunscreen when you are outdoors as some pimple medications make the skin more prone to sunburn.

Adult Pimple:

Pimple is not just a problem for teenagers and young adults. Once a person survives the teenage years, you would think that they don't have to deal with the embarrassment of pimple any longer, right? Well....not exactly.

The sad truth is that about 25 of women will have pimple at some time in their 20s, 30s or even 40s. Although there has never been a real cause established, it is believed that most adult pimple is caused by the same thing that causes teenage pimple...hormonal changes.

A doctor will sometimes prescribe hormonal treatments that will clear a case of adult pimple right up. As with teenage pimple, adult pimple is not caused by diet. Stress has often been cited as one possible cause of adult pimple but that assertion has never been verified.

Treating adult pimple is a bit more difficult than treating teenage pimple. Adults have the concern of drying out their skin that teenagers don't normally have to deal with. Adults don't want pimples; but, they don't want wrinkles, either. A dermatologist should be consulted if the pimple is long lasting or is severe.

There are many treatments that are available to adults who suffer from pimple. Most of the effective treatments are only available by prescription. Adults should not use over-the-counter pimple medications that are intended for the treatment of teenage pimple. These products tend to dry the skin and adults need to be concerned about wrinkling as well as pimple.

A case of adult pimple is not a happy occurrence to say because those ugly bumps always seem to occur at the most inopportune times and while a teenager may be embarrassed by pimple, an adult is even more devastated.

Fortunately, there are treatments and a dermatologist has a lot of weapons in his arsenal to fight adult pimple.

Pimple Scar Removal Options:

Life hardly seems fair sometimes! First, a teenager or a young adult must suffer through pimple, treat it, and have to live with it...sometimes for years. Then the pimple is gone; but, the scars are there as a painful reminder of the mental and emotional agony the pimple sufferer had to endure.

You're right, life doesn't seem fair; but, pimple is one of those sad facts of life that some if not most of us have to deal with. The good news is there is help; unfortunately, it isn't free or cheap!

There are two basic procedures that are used to remove ugly pits and scars left over from a bad case of teenage or young adult pimple. Laser resurfacing is the least expensive of the two available pimple scar removal procedures. Dermabrasion is the second procedure.

Laser resurfacing can be done in the dermatologist office instead of a hospital so that provides a much greater financial savings. A laser is used to remove the top layer of skin and also to tighten the middle layer of skin.

The dermatologist will use a local anesthetic to help reduce the procedure pain. It usually takes several days for the skin to heal after a laser resurfacing procedure is completed. Very often, multiple resurfacing treatments must be done to achieve the desired results.

The second procedure used to remove pimple scarring is called dermabrasion. In this procedure, a rotating wire brush is used to remove the top layer of skin. The body continually produces new skin and the new layer will be smoother than the layer that was removed. It usually takes between 10 days and 3 weeks for the skin to heal after a dermabrasion treatment. Once again, multiple treatments may be required to eliminate the scarring.

Pimple may seem to be a devastating condition but with proper skin routine, vitamins, and over the counter products, most cases will not be severe. Remember, proper cleansing goes a long way towards minimizing outbreaks, so don't be afraid to cleanse your face 5 - 6 times a day of more if needed.