Using Steam for Acne Can Work Really Well
Acne is a skin condition which affects around 80% of teenagers to some degree. It most often commences during puberty and can continue well into adulthood, it’s course and duration being unique to each individual sufferer. Despite it’s widespread occurrence, there is no definitive cause of acne and to date no universal cure. However there are known factors which contribute to the outbreak of acne and many treatments available which may help.
As all sufferers know, acne is a condition which causes redness and spots on the skin. These can be painful and in severe cases lead to scaring. The blemishes most often occur on the face but can also be found on the back, chest, neck and behind the ears, in fact anywhere where there are a lot of oil glands on the skin. In acne, these oil glands produce excessive amounts of sebum, an oily lubricant used by the body to keep skin pliable and soft. This excess of sebum is unable to be flushed away by the skins normal mechanisms and builds up inside the hair follicles leading to the formation of whiteheads and blackheads. Bacteria thrives in this environment and the skins defense to rising bacteria levels leads to inflammation and redness of the infected area.
There are many myths surrounding the causes and treatment of acne. For example, acne is not caused by poor hygiene or a diet high in fats and sugars. nor is it contagious. Some things however do seem certain about the condition. High levels of some hormones, especially testosterone seem to cause acne, or at least make it worse. Increased stress levels too are known to exacerbate acne, although the exact reason for this is unknown but it may be because people under stress touch their face more often and so help to spread bacteria. There also seems to be a genetic link, since parents who are suffers tend to pass the condition on to their children.
There are many effective treatments for acne and your doctor will be able to prescribe the most appropriate one for you. There are also a number of self-help treatments which you can try. Basic hygiene is important to get rid of bacteria on the skin, so you should wash twice a day with a gentle cleanser and try to wash your hands before you touch your face, for example when applying make up.
Steaming opens up the pores on the face and increases sweating. The sweat acts in two ways, firstly washing the excess oil, grime and dirt out of the skin and secondly, since it contains salt it has a antibacterial effect, reducing bacteria levels in the skin and giving a thorough but gentle cleansing. Steaming also stimulates the circulation blood to the skin resulting in a greater supply of essential oxygen and nutrients and it moistens and softens the skin too.
It can be very beneficial to add essential oils to your facial steamer just before you use it. Lavender for example, can help with relaxation and stress reduction, a known contributor to acne. Herbs can also be added to your steamer, each one having a different effect. Mint will help to dissolve the dirt and oil clogged in the pores of the skin, making it easier to wash them out; and rose hips is a herb which is useful for skin repair since it is full of vitamin A.
There are a variety of ways to steam your face. Perhaps the most basic is to do it yourself at home over a very hot bowl of water! However, there are a selection of fantastic facial steamers available to buy, which can make the job a whole lot simpler and safer too, no wandering about with kettles of boiling water. Perhaps the cheapest model available is the portable steamer. This is lightweight and very easy to use, just fill up the reservoir with water and turn it on. You can safely add essential oils to the water reservoirs of commercial steamers and one great advantage is that you can control the steam volume, having either a fine mist or a strong steam spray delivered. Some facial steamers are designed to be used with ozone which is antibacterial and dries the skin, giving even greater benefits to users.
In addition to a facial steam, using a steam room can also help acne found in other parts of the body. Generally steam treatments need to be done 2-3 times per week for the most beneficial results. Whatever kind of steam treatment you use, it is important to wash your skin immediately afterwards with a gentle cleanser to remove all the impurities which have been flushed out. As with all acne treatments, you may have to continue for a few weeks before seeing results, but since using a facial steamer is a relaxing and enjoyable experience, you should easily be able to stick to this regime. Good luck!
Tags: Acne