The Medical Health Plus

Scalp acne – A very irritating hair disorder

All of us want to present our best personality to the world and we attempt to take care of our body and hair through the best of creams, lotions, a balanced diet and physical exercise. However, there are times when despite all the care and precautions taken; you can develop a condition called scalp acne. This is a condition which is a mild disorder and does occur more frequently than many people think it does. In fact most people who are aware and conversant with common acne that breaks out on the face, arms, back and chest are sometimes even unaware that the head too can become its target. It is also possible that the breakout appears only on the head and other parts of the body remain unaffected. This also leads to confusion and the person affected feels quite frustrated as to what could be the cause.

The condition of scalp acne is usually triggered when the person is under severe stress. It can also develop when the scalp is oilier than usual and when the scalp is not washed as often as it should. Certain hair care products also contribute to this condition due to the oil content present in them.

This condition can lead to a lot of itchiness and some pustules can then form on the scalp. They may also appear at the forehead. A more severe form of scalp acne could lead to the formation of much larger pustules that leave behind scars. Yet another form of this condition that mainly affects African-Americans leads to a combination of both small and big pustules.

So what can be the treatment for this irritating condition?

The milder forms of can be treated and is normally treated like you would treat acne. It means keeping the area that is affected clean and dry by using medication consisting salicylic acid. The application needs to be done using cotton wool for better penetration and not by naked fingers.

Since in most cases, it is the oily condition of hair that causes this disorder, specially formulated hair shampoo products that can control the excess production of sebaceous glands have been found to be quite successful. As a general rule, since most of us use various types of hair conditioners and shampoos, it would be advisable to check out their constituents and only then use them, you can end seborrheic with lots of product like scalp seborrheic dermatitis

Treatment of this condition, however moderate or severe should not be attempted on your own and you must consult a good dermatologist. It is thus better to avoid over the counter products that claim to treat the condition of scalp acne just like normal acne as they might lead to more complications. This condition is different from normal acne and it is advisable to go only by the doctor’s advice and instructions. These could be a combination of making some lifestyle changes, some modifications in the diet as well as use of specially formulated hair products. Adhering to these instructions is the only way to cure this condition.

Acne treatment

It is a sight nobody wants to see first thing in the morning. But unfortunately for those who suffer from the scourge of acne, they are forced to see their faces with new pimples almost every other day and that really saps their self esteem. So much so that they do not want to go out for the day and meet anybody.

Though a common belief is that acne signals the transition from childhood to teens, close to 90% of the population do tend to suffer from it at some point in their life. While some escape with a minor outbreak, others suffer a more severe outbreak and have to bear it silently.

Natural acne treatments

It is natural that acne represents a huge commercial opportunity for cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies. The numbers of commercials and advertisements in the print media as well as the visual media have been growing each year with many companies claiming to have come out with a cure for this condition. There is a lot at stake for these companies who have spent thousands of dollars on research and wish to capitalize on their successful experiments conducted during the course of this research. The scope for marketing companies has also been huge as getting across the message to the masses that this is a condition that can be treated does take for a lot of communication initiative.

Some of the more popular acne treatment creams and products have had their fair share of success and some other antibiotics have also been useful to people. But there have been many people who have tried all of these treatments and have not found a sustainable cure to their condition. They are looking for something that is easy on the skin, has no side effects and can provide them a cure that is for the long term.

This is where the concept of holistic treatment comes in. This form of treatment has been gaining ground over the years and many chronic ailments have been treated holistically for very good results. This method of treating acne naturally does away with all the side effects associated with antibiotics and other drugs and attempts to rid the body of toxins which lead to a better skin condition and that means lesser chances for acne to erupt.

This form of treatment is obviously not something that the big pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies would encourage as that would directly impact the sales of their products. However, if you can try treat acne the natural way and succeed, you will not only cure acne permanently but also boost your self confidence and image drastically. It will make you look forward to going out and meeting people and can really change your life.

So what do you need to do to start out on this new line of treatment? First of all, you must prepare yourself mentally to understand that this is no quick fix treatment and you need to be patient to see results. You must be prepared to wait for at least a couple of months to see definite changes.

All about Acne

For most people, acnes are more than intimidation and menace. If you are among those people who spend a lot of time and money on purchasing anti acne products without knowing exactly what acne is and whether the product will be suitable according to your skin type, then it is essential for you to know various common fact about acne, causes and reasons for their birth and various easy remedies, so that you take steps accordingly to cure your acne.

Natural acne treatment

What exactly is acne?
Acnes are kind of skin infection that are caused because of blocking of small pores on the skin. Our skin secretes sebum in order to moisturize our skin, naturally. When this sebum mixes with the dead cells and bacteria pertaining over them, they form a very sluggish, clumpy and sticky plug which blocks the pores preventing the oil and other waste materials to get released out of the body. This causes them to form into a swelling further developing a pimple or in other words, acne.

What are the causes of Acne?
There are various culprits (some of them are out of your control) that cause the formation of acne. Here is a small list of culprits causing acne:

Bacteria that thrive under your skin: Bacteria reside under the skin regularly. They form a very essential component in proper maintenance of sebum system. However, bacteria multiplies very rapidly in the presence of this natural oil and when there is clogging of follicle, then these bacteria multiply more rapidly causing irritation and inflammation which develops Acne

Excessive sebum secretion: Sebum producing glands when are stimulated by androgens, sebum is secreted excessively. When this increased oil mixes with the dead skin cells and bacteria, they increase the chances of clogging and further chances of acne.

Follicles that are not foliated: Dead skin cells as formed over the skin are gradually shed by body by expelling them on our skin’s surface. In few cases, especially those where the sebum secreting glands become overactive, the dead skin cells are shed by the skin more rapidly, which then mixes with the surplus oil forming a plug and causing acne to from over the skin. Skin’s natural process of renewing itself is also prevented because of this clogging which further worsens the case.  Apart from these causes, there are various other culprits including hormonal imbalance and skin inflammation which further acne to form over the skin.

Various Remedies to prevent Acne

There are various ways by which you can prevent acnes to form. These include:

• Try to prevent over washing of your face. It can cause your skin to generate more oil and can cause irritation on your skin.
• Avoid using hard face scrubs as they have the capability to tear your skin and further aggravate acne.
• Don’t try to squeeze your acne as it can further cause the bacteria to go deeper into your skin and cause clogging.
• Include lots of green vegetable, salads and fruits in your diet. Drink lots of water. Avoid eating junk food.
• Exercise moderately. It is good for your skin. After exercising, have a shower immediately or if not possible wipe yourself with medicated pads.

How to treat Pimples?

Acne is caused due to sweat, dirt and excessive oils.

Gentle cleanser can be used for washing the pimpled area. Face should be washed with mild soap and plenty of water at least twice a day. Cosmetic products such as astringents, scrubs and masks should be avoided as they irritate the skin. Due to irritation the problem can worsen. Skin irritation can also be caused due to too much washing and scrubbing. Frequent shampooing the hair is recommended to get rid of acne as the acne develops around the hair line.

Over the counter lotions containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can be applied as they enhance drying of excess oil and peeling of skin.

Greasy cosmetics, hairstyling products and sunscreen lotions should be avoided. The products labeled as “water based” or noncomedogenic” can be used for the pimpled skin. In some people exposure to sun makes the condition worse and application of some medications makes the skin more sensitive to sun. Therefore in such cases doctor’s advice is very important before using any acne medications. Also sunscreen lotion should be such that it does not block the skin pores.

Infection can be caused due to picking and squeezing of the blemishes.

Careful observation of the things touching the face should be done and it should be avoided like hair on face, telephone receiver and frequent touching by hands.

Gels available over the counter containing 5% tea tree oil are effective for the treatment of acne.

Supplements containing Guggul, Zinc and Brewer’s yeast are effective in treatment of acne.

To prevent new acne from developing after the cure of previous ones topical medications can be applied on the affected area. Taking oral contraceptives and light therapy are useful in prevention of acne. Use of powder type cosmetics than the cream ones is recommended. Over make up should be avoided and can be worn on special occasions only. Use of loose fitting cloths and taking bath after exercise is recommended. Make up should be removed before going to bed.

Maintaining a food diary is good for work out. Learning techniques to manage stress is beneficial in preventing acne.

Along with all these regular physical exercise, well balanced healthy diet, less oily food and drinking lots of water is good for beautiful complexion. Having patience and determination are very important in dealing with acne.