How to Treat Mild Acne

There's little in this world as visible as your face. It's no wonder people spend so much time concerned with how they look. Your face is, after all, the first and last thing most people will ever know about you. So it's not just vanity when you are concerned with skin conditions like acne. If you have problems with acne it can affect you both mentally and physically. Finding useful skin care can become an extremely pressing issue.

It's an age-old myth that your diet contributes to your acne. People will say to avoid fatty foods, grease, chocolate, and even certain sugars. But the truth is that none of these things have anything to do with an acne problem. Acne is caused by an overabundance of natural skin bacteria called Propionbacterium acnes. This normally benign bacterium hangs out in the hair follicles. When too much of it accumulates it attracts white blood cells. These secrete enzymes that damage the walls of the follicle and the bacteria enter the dermis layer of your skin. This causes inflammation, which results in pimples. So unless your diet is somehow causing a hormone imbalance, it's not affecting your acne condition in the slightest.

So how can you treat it? There are some common ways to help your condition, and many people will be successful just using them. The first is to use an astringent skin cleanser on your face at least twice a day, followed by a moisturizer. It may seem counterproductive to moisturize, but this will prevent your skin from drying out and leading to other issues. Washing your skin regularly won't necessarily eliminate acne, but it will cut down on the bacteria levels. The goal is to open your pores, cut the bacteria levels, and keep your skin healthy.

For many people, washing alone will not cure your acne woes. There is the traditional route of lotions and creams that claim they will eliminate your acne. Many of these are anti-bacterial and will dry your skin out severely. Others combine over-the-counter medications with a moisturizing cream. Products like ProActive can get much better results than the older type of acne medications.