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ACNE ARTICLES:
What is Acne?
Acne remedies
Acne and psychology
Benzoyl Treatment
No acne in 2 days!
Acne scar treatment
Acne & exercise
Acne miracle cure
Blackheads
Treat acne naturally
Astringents
Finding acne treatment
Alternative treatments
Getting flawless skin
Back acne
Cystic acne
Treating body acne
Winning acne war
8 acne "must knows"
Acne in adults
Myths of acne kits
Acne curing diet
Fasting for clean skin
Liver flush for clean skin
Skin care for men
5 acne myths
Signs of adult acne
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Current statistics on acne are astounding; there are millions of people,
world-wide, that suffer from this disease. While many might question why a
simple skin disease could be so terrible, you need only to have
experienced an acne outbreak yourself to understand how traumatic it can
be. Acne patients have been known to suffer from a variety of
psychological problems stemming from their acne, including clinical
depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and social phobias. One study even
suggests that acne patients suffer from more anxiety disorders and
depression than many others who have more physically debilitating medical
problems. One reason for this may be the importance that many feel a
society places on their physical appearance. This focus can skew an
individual's feeling of self-worth if they don't match up. Media is often
blamed for setting an unrealistic ideal for a person's physical appearance
by showing, for instance, only those people with completely flawless skin
or by using digital editing methods to make that person's skin appear
perfect. This places an enormous amount of pressure on individuals to meet
the perceived ideal of beauty, or sometimes even to come close to their
own personal expectations for themselves. A focus on one's looks makes it
much easier to become self-critical. In many cases, we can be our own
harshest judge, seeing our flaws as much more noticeable than they
actually are. Imperfections such as acne may become an acute source of
embarrassment, especially since outbreaks may be hard to control.
Myths and misconceptions can also contribute to the psychological
problems associated with acne. One such myth maintains that the cause of
acne is poor hygiene. On the contrary, many people with acne wash their
faces several times a day in order to minimize acne-causing oil. Another
acne myth is that people suffer from acne get it from eating junk food.
Obviously healthy eating is better for your body and your skin, however,
except in cases of food allergies or nutrient deficiencies, there is no
widely accepted and direct link between the food a person eats and the
presence of acne. Both these myths suggest that if you have acne, it is
your own fault, and this is simply not true.
These misleading ideas can make acne a very traumatic experience.
Feeling that they are being judged in social situations, acne sufferers
may withdraw from events and gatherings, becoming shy and avoiding social
contact. Others may respond with anger, acting rebellious to draw
attention to their behaviour and away from acne-prone skin. Adults often
feel particularly ashamed of their acne, since it is generally perceived
to be an adolescent disease that should have disappeared by adulthood. A
common complaint of many acne sufferers is that their quality of life has
been compromised; the emotional and psychological stigma of acne can
really take a toll on a person's self-confidence.
Fortunately, in these modern times, there is an abundance of help for
acne sufferers. There are more skin care tips than ever before, and there
are hundreds of products on the market, either over-the-counter topical
acne treatments or prescribed acne medications. Even better, the knowledge
base about acne has grown significantly, and dermatologists have
identified a basic acne skin care regime that has proven helpful for many
thousands of people suffering from acne. The first step is a good skin
cleanser, often one containing or a gentle exfoliant to help remove dead
skin cells. The second step is a toner, which neutralizes the pH of the
skin and eliminates bacteria. The final step is a moisturizer, to keep the
skin soft and supple. Some acne skin care regimes also add a medicated
cream after the toner and before the moisturizer, to help existing acne
heal more quickly. With so many acne treatment options, most people don't
have to suffer from acne, and once treated, the psychological effects of
the disease can also heal.
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