When you have acne, you understand how much the condition can harm your self esteem, self-image, and social confidence. Chances are, you are much more critical of yourself than others are of you. (After all, we all have things we dislike about our bodies…and often, no one else notices these things!) Read more…

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As a skin condition, acne doesn’t really discriminate. While there are some demographics that it tends to affect more frequently, acne sufferers range in age from the quite young (as young as 9 or 10—as soon as puberty begins) to adults in their 40s and older. Read more…

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Because acne and rosacea both affect the skin, and both cause bumps on the skin, many people assume that they are the same, or are more similar than they actually are. Let’s look at what rosacea actually is, explore some of the ways that acne and rosacea are the same, and then outline the many ways in which they are different. Read more…

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For many, acne is an ongoing problem. Mild to moderate outbreaks across the face, specifically in the T-zone (forehead and chin), or on the back and shoulders are quite common. But what do you do if you have a particularly noticeable blemish and a particularly inconvenient time?

Plenty of movies and TV shows have dramatized the “big zit the night before the school dance” storyline, but the truth is that when it happens to you, it’s not that funny. A big or noticeable blemish can cause a lot of emotional stress, especially when you’re coming up to a big even where everyone will be taking pictures. Read more…

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When it comes to treating your acne, the best treatment is whatever really works for you. Everyone’s skin is a little bit different, and acne has a variety of causes, not all of which are known. The best way to find out what works for your acne, is to try several approaches for awhile, and see which gets the best results. Read more…

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What Is Cystic Acne?

Cystic acne is not the most common type of acne, (acne vulgaris is), but it is an important type of acne to understand. While acne vulgaris causes pink bumps and inflammation through a region of the skin, cystic acne causes more serious blemishes, and is more likely to lead to scarring.

What Does Cystic Acne Look Like?

With cystic acne, the acne develops into small, cyst-like nodules of inflammation under the skin. Acne cysts are similar to, but more severe than, regular pimples. They show swelling and are filled with a white pus, but are larger in size and are often more painful, especially when the sufferer attempts to pop them. (See the discussion of scarring, below.) Read more…

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Are you wondering if it is strange to have acne at your age? Want to know how long your acne will last, or if it will diminish as you get older? The short answer is, when it comes to age and acne, if you have it, you are probably not alone.

Most people know that acne is most common among teenagers, so we almost expect them to have it. This isn’t simply because they are a certain age, but because of the way their bodies behave during puberty. The exact cause of acne has not been pinpointed, but we do know that increased hormone production tends to increase the severity of an acne outbreak. Read more…

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Body acne is a relatively common type of acne that afflicts more people than you might imagine. Because body acne is often hidden from view most of the time, it can be easier to hide, but is often a point of low self esteem for suffers, especially in warmer weather when clothing shows more skin.

Body acne afflicts people of all ages, but most sufferers are those going through hormonal changes; puberty is the most common of all. Like facial acne, body acne is often a hereditary occurrence, passed on from parent to child. The causes and treatment of body acne are often very similar to those of facial acne. Also, like facial acne, no one is able to pinpoint the exact cause and fully eliminate the condition. Read more…

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There are many different types of blemishes that people experience when suffering from acne. Some depend on the specific type of acne that you actually have, while others are simply different manifestations caused by the same source. Here, we’ll discuss some of the most common types of blemishes, as well as what causes each one (and, therefore, what you can do to help reduce the severity of these outbreaks). Read more…

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Does stress cause acne? Does it at least contribute to it? This is a major point of interest for those suffering from acne. Stress is a tricky issue because it stems from mental and emotional situations, but it often has a physical manifestation. People who are extremely stressed may lose their appetite, lose sleep, and, many say, have increased acne, among other symptoms.

Stress is something that the medical acne community has been divided about for quite sometime, but since 2002, studies have emerged (such as one conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine, among other reputable institutions) that do back up the connection between stress and worsened acne. Read more…

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