User talk:Bewerenps

Natural Skincare Treatments for Blemished Skin and Acne
We might not talk about it much, but sadly - like long hair and bad music - acne isn't something that's limited to your teenage years. Long after you stop being a teenager your pores can still occasionally get blocked and become infected, leaving a small lump on your skin that can be as small as a pinhead or considerably larger. Amongst adults, over half of all women and one in four men suffer from acne, and older people are increasingly beginning skincare routines and seeking treatment for the condition.

Where there are lots of spots and blemishes, your skin will often become red as the skin around the blemishes becomes inflamed. Acne can leave permanent blemishes and scarring, particularly if you “pop” spots!

Contrary to popular belief, diet, exercise and hygiene have little or no influence on whether or not you develop acne. While this does mean you don’t have to feel quite so guilty about gobbling down a crème egg, it also sadly means that you need to start a proper skincare routine. As is so often the case, it’s all largely down to genetics. Four factors, usually working in combination, can contribute towards acne:

1)	Testosterone is present in all our bodies - yes, even you ladies - and can lead to the over-production of sebum, a natural moisturizer secreted by your skin.

2)	This leads to blocked pores and can trap dead cells, which clump together in sebum.

3)	This is the perfect environment in which bacteria can grow.

4)	White blood cells - your body's antibodies and last line of defense - attack the invading bacteria. While the white cells will almost always win the fight, they also clog up the pore and form the pus that fills a whitehead.

A proper skincare routine should deal with these factors, and can seriously reduce the appearance of acne and blemishes.

Hormones are particularly active when you are a teenager but should stabilize as you get older. Sudden, significant break-outs later on might indicate that your hormones are imbalanced, possibly as a result of glandular disorders - check with your doctor since some glandular disorders can be serious.

Sebum, dead cells and bacteria can be washed away, but be careful with the cleansers you use as many high street skincare brands contain harsh chemical ingredients that can do more harm than good. Skincare can easily become skin harm.

For men with sensitive skin, shaving can be a direct cause of acne. Shaving properly is an important part of skincare and can really help reduce your rates of acne. For a start, use a new, single blade razor each time - or preferably an electric razor - and go with the grain. The shave may not be quite so close as from a multistage, but leaving some of the follicle exposed means it doesn’t have to try and force its way back out of the epidermis and cause a shaving bump. Use warm water to heat your face before shaving: it’s an old barber’s trick and makes your face more pliable and less prone to acne. Also, keep your lather to a thin film and find a shaving cream or skincare product that doesn’t irritate your skin, as these can be another cause of bumps and blemishes.

There are a variety of natural skincare ingredients - such as Aloe Vera, Tea Tree Oil and Chamomile - which have proven effective at reducing inflammation without causing dryness or irritation. Although it may be a precursor to an acne breakout, your skin needs sebum, and when it is scrubbed away your skin’s natural response is to produce more, leading to an even greater imbalance.

With just a little effort, you can re-establish your body's equilibrium and reduce your rates of blemishes and acne.