Acne Redness and Causes
Although acne is thought of as only a problem afflicting teenagers with self confidence issues, the reality is it can affect anyone between the ages of ten and forty, often with chronic breakouts and re-emerging areas of acne that can create long lasting scars and acne redness.
Girls and women are hit harder by acne than their male counterparts due to the excess production of oil in the skin; as a result, the skin cream industry specifically targets females three times as often as males in their product advertising.
The broad term of acne applies to several skin blemishes. The most common are pimples, the pus filled eruptions that are commonly pinched and subject to further infection. Similarly, whiteheads are the same problem with a hair follicle rather than a skin pore; whiteheads are under the skin rather than on top, and the color is a result of the liquid formation. A blackhead is a similar condition, but with dead skin at the top giving the namesake color. Congested pores that fill with oil, also known as comedomes, are responsible for the red patches of itchy irritation.
All acne is caused by oil production that occurs naturally in all skin. During pubescent years, hormones kick the body’s growth into overdrive, resulting in increased oil production and irritated skin and redness as a result. This hormone imbalance is over in a matter of years, yet the problem of oil production can remain.
Treating Inflamed Skin
The most unsightly bi-product of acne is acne redness of the skin which is caused by swollen, inflamed, often scared tissue. One way of preventing acne and the inflammation it causes is by using phototherapy. When phototherapy is applied to the skin it helps the skin produce a chemical called porphyrin which reduces the presence of langerhan cells responsible for producing the inflammation which results in redness and even scars. People throughout the ages have used phototherapy by bathing in the sun but it is now possible to purchase phototherapy lights to use at home. There are a large range of light therapy kits now available.
Another method to reduce acne is simply to wash the face dutifully. Oil production is highest during midday, so washing in the morning and afternoon can help to reduce build up. General soap is often enough to prevent acne, but specific creams – prescription and otherwise – target the individual pores and may close up ruptures. Acne scars may result from skin tearing, and using antioxidant cream with high levels of Vitamin E assists in the skin’s healing process and help to remove acne redness. Refrain from picking at scabs that develop, and let the skin repair itself naturally.
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