Kill acne

When I think of acne, I'm reminded of a popular old adage, "A good offense is a good defense." I'm not sure where this saying originated from but it does seem to be true when it comes to acne.

According to many dermatologists and former acne sufferers, the best way to fight acne is to stop it from forming in the first place. While there are many prescription drugs and treatments available on the market for treating acne or the aftereffects of acne, they can't guarantee that your acne will never return. So that leaves the job of keeping acne at bay up to you and the way you care for your body.

If your mother was anything like mine, I'll bet that she raved and ranted to you about good personal hygiene. This included washing my face at least twice a day to keep the pores clean and unclogged. An increase in the amount of oil in your skin, or by blocking your pores with things like cosmetics and dirt, will cause inflammation of the hair follicles. This will in turn result in pustules and papules. In other words - pimples.

While keeping the outer layer of your skin properly cared for, it is also equally important to stay hormonally balanced. Many factors can upset the hormonal balance of our bodies including puberty, old age, stress, and medication. Unbalanced hormones can affect more than just acne, they also protect us against fatigue, mood swings, disease, and obesity. If you are suffering from a hormonal imbalance, you can take supplements to restore your system to its original state.

Also, a great bit of advice that will help you stay balanced, both on the inside and outside, is to drink plenty of water during the day. By keeping your body hydrated, you are helping to flush out any harmful bacteria in your system. Drinking lots of water has also been proven to promote the appearance of clear skin. In addition to that, stick to a balanced diet, and get plenty of fresh air and exercise.

Following a strict regimen of good hygiene can really help the overall condition of your skin and may indirectly aid in getting your acne to back off. Washing your face with a good cleanser and taking care with what you put on your face to begin with can make a difference in your skin's appearance and texture. But sometimes, just washing your face with a popular anti-acne cleanser won't give you the results that you're looking for. So why not try a face mask to purify your skin on the outside and give it a good deep thorough cleaning?

When you hear face mask you may start to picture a face covered in mud, but you'd be surprised to learn that there are many different types of face masks, not necessarily utilizing mud. Two of the most popular types of face masks are peel-off masks and creamy masks.

Peel-off masks go on as a gel-like substance, which you leave on for a specified period of time, until it dries. Once it has dried, you carefully peel it off. These types of masks target people with oily skin and remove more impurities at a deeper level than regular washing can. While they are good for acne, it is important that you use them only if you have oily skin and only once a week. When these masks are used on dry skin, they actually harm it, drying it out further and making you feel even more uncomfortable with your face. Using them more than once a week will dry out your skin as well and could possibly make your acne worse. And whatever you do, do remember to peel these things off at the recommended time because leaving them on too long can also harm your skin. Although these products are labeled as being ‘face masks', don't let that categorization dissuade you from using them on other areas of your body affected by acne. So long as you follow the directions, it's perfectly fine for you to use them on your acne-suffering back as well, provided that it is oily.

The creamy face masks are composed of everything from mud to cucumber to avocado. While most of them are good for just about any skin type, you should choose one which is meant for acne skin. Face masks that work well with acne contain helpful ingredients that decrease the amount of sebum (oil produced by the sebaceous glands) beneath your skin and promote the production of new skin cells. Buying a face mask geared towards acne in a pharmacy or natural health store is really easy since these things are all over the market nowadays. But if you're feeling adventurous you can actually make one of your own.

Apple Zinger Face Mask: for oily acne skin

What you will need:

• 1 grated medium sized apple
• 5 tablespoons of honey

Directions: Mix the grated apple and honey together until it forms a nice consistent mixture. Apply it gently to your face and let it rest for 10 minutes. Rinse it off with some cool water and pat dry.

Bay Clay Face Mask: for acne prone skin

What you will need:

• 4 tablespoons French clay
• 5 dried bay leaves

Directions: Brew the bay leaves as you would a regular tea, in a cup of boiling water. Let it cool down and then drain out the leaves so that the cool tea water remains. Slowly mix the clay with the water until it forms a nice thick mixture. Carefully cover your face with this mixture, being careful to avoid your eyes, and sit back and listen to some music for 15-20 minutes. Once it has dried, gently rinse it off with some warm water.

Carrot Top Face Mask: for normal to oily skin

What you will need:

• 2-3 large carrots (cooked and mashed)
• 4 1/2 tablespoons honey

Directions: Mix the mashed carrots with honey and smooth over the skin. After 10 minutes, rinse it off with warm water. Since the carrots are full of nutrients, this mask is good for promoting healthy skin in all skin types.