acne problem

Make no mistake: most pimple scar skin care remedies and techniques are expensive, and they need to be undertaken for a long period of time before any results can emerge. Before you can understand how pimple scar skin care works, however, you need to know about pimple first and what can cause scarring.
Pimple vulgaris
Pimple vulgaris is caused by the clogging of skin pores by dirt, debris, or dried skin cells. This clogging causes pimples to form, creating the well-known cystic pimple that is common in teenagers or persons with hormonal imbalances. The underlying cause of pimple vulgaris has yet to be determined, however: some doctors and scientists propose that fluctuating hormonal levels contribute to pimple, while others surmise that pimple vulgaris is genetic in nature and can be inherited from one's parents.
Whatever the cause of pimple, dermatologists will always caution you to refrain from touching your face, removing the pimples yourself, and, more crudely, "popping your zits". This is because any manual force not exerted by medically-approved means can cause pimple scars to form.
Types of pimple scars
In general, there are two types of pimple scars, the pigmented scars and the pitted ones. Pigmented scars can be red or brown in color, and appear after the pimple has disappeared. Although they can be unseemly to look at, they can disappear after treatment, or they can vanish on their own after a few weeks or months.
On the other hand, pitted scars occur when damage is done to the skin tissue beneath the pimple. Such scars look like indentations on the skin, and are often referred to as pockmarks. Both kinds of pimple scars have their own methods for removal or concealment.
Pimple scar skin care for pigmented scars involves using lotions or creams that have whitening compounds. Such compounds can remove the pigment from the scar and even out one's pigmentation. For instance, exfoliating agents such as glycolic acid or alpha-hydroxy acids can remove dead skin cells from the area so that new skin can immediately be regenerated.
Pimple scar skin care is a little more complicated for pitted scars, as these scars are difficult to erase. Some dermatologists can inject protein stimulators that can induce skin cells to form the important proteins elastin and collagen. Once the cells surrounding the scars start producing these proteins, the skin can be plumper, and the depth of the scars can be made shallower, further reducing their pockmarked appearance.
Laser therapy
Laser treatments can also be used to combat pimple scarring. Ablative laser treatment, for instance, burns scar tissue off from the surface of the skin, which stimulates the underlying skin to tighten. Such a technique injures the skin and exposes underlying tissue, so that people undergoing ablative laser treatment have to likewise be protected from infection. Moreover, because laser therapy can be painful, doctors apply anesthetics to the skin before undertaking any laser procedure.
On the other hand, non-ablative laser treatment can induce changes in the underlying skin tissue without doing injury to the epidermis, or the surface of the skin. Such laser therapy is relatively fast: this time, it heats up the oil glands in the skin, preventing pimple from forming; it also tightens the underlying skin, so that scarring will be less visible. Another type of laser therapy makes use of the yellow pulse dye laser, a machine that operates using yellow light. Yellow light treats keloids, and can flatten or reduce inflammation of raised scars.
Fat transplant
There are other options for pimple scar skin care. A dermatologist may offer to inject the scar, or plump it up, with filler substances such as bovine collagen. Fat can also be transplanted from other parts of the patient's body and into the pimple scar. Some dermatologists may also recommend creams or lotions that can plump the skin temporarily and remove any sign of wrinkles, pimple scar depressions, or age lines. There are also excision and incision techniques that can be carried out on irregularly-shaped pimple scars.

Baby pimple is a rash seen on the cheeks, chin, and forehead of infants. Pimple vulgaris is most commonly experienced around puberty, typically of the face, shoulders and chest. Pimple will affect almost every person at some stage of their life. Nearly 80 percent of people from ages 11 to 30 years have pimple, most often on the face, chest and back. In a survey conducted in Great Britain, 95% of 16-year-old males and 83% of 16 year-old females had pimple.
The cause of pimple is really unknown. It's not true that dirty skin and stress cause pimple. Doctors think certain factors might cause or contribute to pimple including hormone increases in teenage years, hormone changes in pregnancy, starting or stopping birth control pills, heredity, medicines and greasy make-up. I think the cause of pimple is related to our Standard American Diet (SAD) and that would also influence all our hormones.
It's easy to treat pimple cheaply, simply, naturally, yet effective, at home. If you're going to buy pimple products, it's much more worth your while to buy pimple-treating products that work against current pimples and that also fight against the occurrence of new ones.
Coconut is one of the best treatments I've found for pimple. Raw apple cider vinegar application is a cheap, alternative pimple treatment that has worked for many adults, teens and children with pimple, zits, pimples, or blemishes.
One treatment method some people have used is applying cornstarch, egg whites or milk of magnesia as a facial mask. For a good pimple treatment, that has worked for many, try applying virgin coconut oil daily, but on a small test area first. A new treatment using red light and blue light has been extremely successful on severe pimple.
Pimple scars are an ongoing reminder of a common skin condition that can cause embarrassment and social isolation. Scars may also contribute to a person looking older than their age as the skin loses its elasticity over the years. As a registered nurse, I have learned a lot over the years about pimple scars, pimple scar treatments, and pimple scar removal.
People with skin disorders such as pimple, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation. Drink lots and lots of pure, filtered water. In any case, no matter what skin or pimple treatment you choose, whether it is chemical, drugs, alternative, or natural methods, changing your diet will result in your overall good health! Essential fatty acids are particularly important to people with inflammatory conditions such as eczema and pimple.
And fatty acids are particularly important to people with dry skin. Good skin is often a reflection of a good digestive system. Eat high-fiber snacks like raw nuts, raw seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, and figs.
Unclean skin favors the development of pathogenic organisms - the dead cells that continually slough off of the epidermis mix with the secretions of the sweat and sebaceous glands and the dust found on the skin to form a filthy layer on its surface. The skin must be regularly cleaned or it'll become cracked or inflamed.
And whatever you do stop purchasing hundreds of dollars in skin care pimple treatment solutions. By simply following a plan you've developed for yourself and sticking with it, you can reduce the severity of your pimple or even eliminate it entirely. In any case, try not to panic about your pimple and take it day by day.

Pimple is a disease rarely associated with systemic medical problems; however, the importance and morbidity of pimple should not be underestimated because its disfiguring can have important negative psychosocial consequences for affected individuals including diminished self-esteem, social embarrassment, social withdrawal, depression and even unemployment [1, 3].

Risk factors/Triggers
1. Food/Diet
Foods such as nuts, cola, milk, cheese, fried foods and iodised salts have been implicated as triggers of pimple vulgaris; however, the connections between nutrition and pimple has not definitely been proven as they are rarely supported by good analytical, epidemiological or therapeutic studies [4, 5]. On the other hand, recurrent pimple as noted by Niemeier et al (2006) may be a cutaneous sign of an underlying eating disorder.

2. Genetics
A genetic background is supported by a case control study by Goulden et al, as noted by Rzany et al (2006). This stated that the risk of adult pimple vulgaris in relatives of patients with pimple as compared with those of patients without pimple is significantly higher [4].

3. Hormones
According to Rzany et al (2006), hormonal influences on pimple vulgaris are undisputed as shown by the higher incidence of pimple in male adolescents. Premenstrual flare has also been recorded as causing pimple [5].

4. Nicotine
Smoking has also been named as a risk factor for pimple vulgaris; however, conflicting data exists as to the link between smoking and pimple. Some population based studies have found links between smoking and pimple whilst some others have not [4].

Important!
Contrary to popular misconceptions by young patients and occasionally their parents, pimple does not come from bad behaviour nor is it a disease of poor hygiene. It also has nothing to do with lack of cleanliness [2].

Types of pimple vulgaris
There are two main types of pimple vulgaris, inflammatory and non-inflammatory; these can be manifested in different ways,
1. Comedonal pimple, which is a non-inflammatory pimple
2. Papules and pustules of inflammatory pimple
3. Nodular pimple (inflammatory pimple)
4. Inflammatory pimple with hyperpigmentation (this occurs more commonly in patients with darker skin complexions) [1]
Clinical manifestations
In general, pimple is limited to the parts of the body, which have the largest and most abundant sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, upper back and upper arms. Among dermatologists, it is almost universally accepted that the clinical manifestation of pimple vulgaris is the result of four essential processes as described below [1, 6],

1. Increased sebum production in the pilosebaceous follicle. Sebum is the lipid-rich secretion product of sebaceous glands, which has a central role in the development of pimple and also provides a growth medium for Propionibacterium pimples (P pimples), an anaerobic bacterium which is a normal constituent of the skin flora. Compared with unaffected individuals, people with pimple have higher rates of sebum production. Apart from this, the severity of pimple is often proportional to the amount of sebum produced [1, 6].

2. Abnormal follicular differentiation, which is the earliest structural change in the pilosebaceous unit in pimple vulgaris [1].

3. Colonisation of serum-rich obstructed follicle with Propionibacterium pimples (P pimples). P pimples is an anaerobic bacterium which is a normal constituent of the skin flora and which populates the androgen-stimulated sebaceous follicle [androgen is a steroid hormone such as testosterone or androsterone, that controls the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics]. Individuals with pimple have higher counts of P pimples compared with those without pimple [1, 6].

4. Inflammation. This is a direct or indirect result of the rapid and excessive increase of P pimples [1].

Non-inflammatory pimple lesions include open and closed comedones, which are thickened secretions plugging a duct of the skin, particularly sebaceous glands. Open comedones, also known as blackheads, “appear as flat or slightly raised brown to black plugs that distend the follicular orifices”. Closed comedones, also known as whiteheads, “appear as whitish to flesh-coloured papules with an apparently closed overlying surface” [1].

Inflammatory lesions on the other hand include papules, pustules, and nodules; papules and pustules “result from superficial or deep inflammation associated with microscopic rupture of comedones”. Nodules are large, deep-seated abscesses, which when palpated may be compressible. In addition to the typical lesions in pimple, other features may also be present. These include scarring and hyperpigmentation, which can result in substantial disfigurement [1].

Psychological Aspects
Numerous psychological problems such as diminished self-esteem, social embarrassment, social withdrawal, depression and even unemployment stem from pimple. However, differential diagnosis from a psychosomatic point of view indicates two serious psychological problems, which can arise from pimple. These are,
1. Psychogenic excoriation, and
2. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Psychogenic excoriation also referred to as neurotic excoriation, pathological or compulsive skin picking “is characterised by excessive scratching or picking of normal skin or skin with minor irregularities” [5]. According to Niemeier et al (2006) it is estimated to occur in 2% of dermatological patients. Patients with this disorder can also have psychiatric disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders, as well as associated disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, substance abuse disorder, obsessive compulsive personality disorder, compulsive buying, eating disorder, and borderline personality disorder, to mention a few [5].

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) “is a condition characterised by an extreme level of dissatisfaction or preoccupation with a normal appearance that causes disruption in daily functioning” [3]. Niemeier et al (2006) described it as “a syndrome characterised by distress, secondary to imagined or minor defects in one’s appearance.” The onset of BDD is usually during adolescence, and it occurs equally in both male and female. Common areas of concern include the skin, hair and nose, with pimple being one of the most common concerns with BDD patients [3].

According to the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders (2000), BDD has three diagnostic criteria,
1. A preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance; where a slight physical anomaly is present, the person's concern is markedly excessive,
2. The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning,
3. The preoccupation is not caused by another mental disorder (e.g. Anorexia Nervosa)
Characteristic behaviours include skin picking, mirror checking, and camouflaging by wearing a hat or excessive make up. Apart from these, patients often seek reassurance frequently by asking questions such as “Can you see this pimple?” or “Does my skin look okay?” Some patients also have a tendency to doctor shop, which is essentially going from one specialist to another in search of a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, willing to carry out a desired procedure or dispense a certain drug, to improve their perceived defect [3, 5].

Although it is a relatively common disease, BDD is still an under diagnosed psychiatric disorder and is estimated to affect 0.7 to 5% of the general population. Other psychiatric conditions associated with BDD include major depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. It is also associated with high rates of functional impairment and suicide attempts, high levels of perceived stress, and markedly poor quality of life [3, 5, 8].

Pimple Treatment
1. Topical treatment, particularly for individuals with non-inflammatory comedones or mild to moderate inflammatory pimple (See types of pimple vulgaris). Medications include tretinoin (available as gels, creams, and solutions), adapalene gel, salicylic acid (available as solutions, cleansers, and soaps), isotretinoin gel, azelaic acid cream, benzoyl peroxide (available as gels, lotions, creams, soaps, and washes), to mention a few [1, 2].
2. Oral treatment, particularly for pimple that is resistant to topical treatment or which manifests as scarring or nodular lesions. Medications include oral antibiotics (e.g. tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, erythromycin, and co-trimoxazole), oral isotretinoin, and hormonal agents (e.g. oral contraception, oral corticosteroid, cyproterone acetate, or spironolactone) [1, 2].
3. Physical or surgical methods of treatment, which are sometimes useful as adjuvant to medical therapy. Methods include comedo extraction, intralesional injections of corticosteroids, dermabrasion, chemical peeling, and collagen injections, to mention a few [1, 9].
4. Sun exposure, reported by up to 70% of patients to have a beneficial effect on pimple [10].
5. Light therapy, which is becoming more popular due to the growing demand for a convenient, low risk and effective therapy, as many patients fail to respond adequately to treatment or develop side effects, from the use of various oral and topical treatments available for the treatment of pimple [11]. Methods include the use of visible light (e.g. blue light, blue/red light combinations, yellow light, and green light), laser treatment and monopolar radiofrequency [11]. Many of these light therapy treatments can be used at home.

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.