Thursday, April 17, 2008

Oily Skin Acne Care

Oily skin is usually vulnerable to acne problems. The excessive oil secretion mixes up with dead cells and blocks the skin pores, resulting in bacterial activation. This causes swelling and inflammation of the skin.




Acne appears in locations where there are excessive oil secretions. Some of the most commonly affected areas are the face, chest, back, and shoulders. Acne problems can be easily treated at home. Acne is caused by the oily condition of the skin. It is important to wash the face and other affected areas with a cleanser specifically for oily skin. Excessive scrubbing should be avoided, because it could cause damage to the skin. It is advisable to only use mild soaps, as hard alkaline soaps tend to be too harsh, and wash away the skin's necessary moisture as well as the oil. After washing, it is a good idea to dry the skin gently with a clean towel, and then apply a topical acne medication.

Antibacterial skin lotions reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin. These skin lotions mostly comprise of Benzoyl Peroxide, which is a major antibacterial agent. Home remedies are usually slow, and are meant only for smaller problems like blackheads, whiteheads, or common pimples. If the acne appears to be slightly worse with inflammation, swelling, and reddening of skin, it would be better to visit a doctor. There are several other topical treatments available. The type of treatment to be given is decided by the doctor. It depends on certain factors including the patients' acne condition, skin type, and sex. Usually, the patients would be enquired about previous allergy symptoms and checked out for allergic reactions to medications.

Azelaic acid may be used as a substitute for benzoyl acid. Topical retinoids are medicines containing vitamin A, which have to be applied to the skin. One of the major drawbacks of retinoids, however, is they can cause skin irritation and make the person hypersensitive to sunlight. Oral medications are sometimes prescribed to kill bacteria which affect the skin. Using these pills is requires dedication, as the results are not immediate. Oral medications are available to reduce excessive hormone secretion in the patients. But there are potential side affects with this method, including excessive dryness of the skin and headaches, so it is used only in extreme cases. Therefore, it is always better to go for medical advice in such cases.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com Alison_Cole

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