How Emotions Affect Acne, Cystic Acne, Dealing With Body Acne, Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatments, and Deep Breathing Exercises Affect Acne
Stephen M. Seabrook
How Emotions Affect Acne
Many years ago, doctors thought that everything that affected a woman's health was directly related to their emotional state. The old family doctor would pat a woman's hand and say, "It's just your nerves, my dear."
Then women's rights came into play and the next generation of doctors didn't believe that the emotions had any affect whatsoever on any health issues that women faced. Or, if they did, they were afraid to say so.
Times have changed again. Now doctors are beginning to recognize that the state of the mind has a direct effect on the physical body of both men and women.
When young women or young men become highly emotional (and, lets face it, young people are prone to becoming highly emotional), their bodies react to that emotional stress in many ways. Some develop nervous stomachs, others develop nervous habits like nail biting, and still others will develop skin disorders like acne.
This is not to imply that there is not a physical cause for acne but rather to point out that the emotions can and do play a part in it.
Research by some of the premier research facilities in the country has been quietly working to establish the mind/body connection. A 2006 study released by researchers at Harvard reports that there are some people with acne for who there is a psychological connection between acne breakouts and emotional upheaval.
The Harvard study recommends that for those people who have an emotional relationship with their acne breakouts, treatments can help to clear up their skin.
Actually because of the Harvard study as well as many other studies, there has been an entirely new medical discipline developed called psycho dermatology. The idea of this new discipline is to combine psychotherapy and traditional acne medications.
Cystic Acne
Cystic Acne is the usual form of acne, even if it is severe and includes inflammation, it is just skin deep. The garden variety acne can be mild, moderate or severe and it can leave scars if it isn't treated early.
Acne should never be thought of as just a part of growing up. It isn't that at all. Acne can leave lasting physical and emotional scars on those who are plagued by it. But compared to cystic acne, the usual form of acne (acne vulgaris) is a walk in the park.
Cystic acne is more than just skin deep. What starts out as just a little pimple, whitehead, or blackhead develops into a pustule. The pustule then further develops and begins affecting tissue that is much deeper. In effect, a boil or a cyst develops.
A cyst heals very slowly and it as it heals the waste that remains is not discharged. Even after a cyst or a boil heals there will often be a lump remaining.
Cystic acne most often develops in the teenage years. Acne Vulgaris, that is, common acne can often be treated with simple facial cleansing measures and over-the-counter acne medications. When moderate to severe acne develops a dermatologist needs to be consulted.
When cystic acne is diagnosed, the dermatologist has tools to use that can help and prevent the physical scarring as well as the emotional scarring that acne can cause.
There are cosmetic procedures like dermabrasion and chemical peels that can help make scars left from acne less noticeable and serve to make life better in general for those who have had acne or who have had acne in their teenage years and have the scars to prove it.
Dealing with Body Acne
Most people associate acne with the face; but, acne can and does frequently occur on other parts of the body. Acne on the neck, back and buttocks are very common. All acne, regardless of location is caused by the same chemical processes.
The most common is that the sebaceous glands are stimulated to produce more sebum either by a hormonal imbalance or by extreme emotional upheaval.
The sebum serves to clog the skin pores and acne develops. There are, of course, other causes but that is the most common. Another very common cause for acne on the back, neck and buttocks is friction. This friction can also stimulate the sebaceous glands and the friction irritates the skin. Sweat is sometimes a factor. Bacteria thrive in a closed environment like underneath tight fitting clothing, as well.
Treating body acne is basically the same procedure as treating acne on the face. Taking a shower at least twice a day and using a cleanser that contains an exfoliant can help by removing dead skin cells. After any hard physical exercise you should take a shower as soon as possible to remove the sweat and the bacteria that will irritate acne.
Wearing pure cotton clothing can help with body acne. Pure cotton briefs and panties breathe while synthetic fabrics tend to hold in moisture. Never wear clothing more than once without it being laundered because you will simply be putting the bacteria back on.
Avoid using backpacks and/or wearing restrictive and tight clothing. Both create friction and the binding will only aggravate an existing case of body acne. If the body acne shows signs of infection or inflammation, you should see a dermatologist as quickly as possible. In his arsenal of acne fighting tools, a dermatologist has many things that can help to alleviate the discomfort of body acne.
Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatments
Benzoyl Peroxide has been used for many years to treat acne. It has proven to be very effective in the treatment of most acne in teenagers as well as in adults. There is an initial drying effect but that usually lessens with use and will cease altogether once the treatment has been stopped.
When first beginning a Benzoyl Peroxide acne treatment there is usually a few weeks of minor discomfort. The skin becomes dry, red and itchy. It isn't very pleasant but it does abate. When Benzoyl Peroxide is applied to the skin there is a chemical reaction which creates benzoic acid and oxygen. This reaction removes the top layer of skin and makes it much more susceptible to sun burn. This peeling effect is very similar to the glycolic acid peels that are used as anti-aging treatments.
Some of the brand names that Benzoyl Peroxide is sold under are OXY, NeoBenz Micro, Basiron, Brevoxyl, Stioxyl, and Panoxyl. Benzoyl peroxide is usually applied to the face twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening. Before applying Benzoyl Peroxide, the face must be washed and patted dry.
Please wait about 15 minutes after washing your face before applying the Benzoyl Peroxide. After application, it is advised to use a moisturizer with an SPF factor of 30. People using Benzoyl Peroxide are advised to avoid direct sunlight because the peeling effect makes sun burn a serious concern.
When used in the prescribed concentrations of 2 to 2.5%, Benzoyl Peroxide is safe when used as directed, and there are very few people who cannot tolerate it.
The only side effects associated with Benzoyl Peroxide is the initial dryness, redness and itchiness that are to be expected.
Deep Breathing Exercises and Acne
A simple single cause of acne has never been firmly established. The reason is that there is simply not one single cause. There are multiple physical causes of acne and at least one psychological cause: stress or emotional upheaval.
A dermatologist can prescribe medications to alleviate the physical causes of acne as well as to treat the pustules, white heads, and black heads associated with acne.
Treating the psychological cause of acne can be done by a psycho dermatologist or the patient who suffers from acne can address the stress that is causing the acne himself or herself by practicing yoga or deep breathing techniques called Pranayama and meditation.
Meditation techniques can help; but, when they are combined with Pranayama breathing techniques they are a great deal more effective in relieving stress.
The basic concepts of Pranayama breathing techniques are rather simple and can be learned by almost everyone. The idea is to breathe deeply while relaxing the abdominal muscles and learning to control the involuntary and continuous breathing reflexive action.
Here are the basics:
1. Early morning is the best time to practice Pranayama.
2. Outside is the best place; but, near an open window will do.
3. Assume an upright position with your legs folded and your hands relaxed in your lap.
4. Very slowly - inhale deeply.
5. As you inhale, pull your stomach muscles in and your chest out. Your stomach muscles should be taut.
6. Hold the breath for a count of five.
7. Slowly exhale and let your stomach muscles relax as your chest collapses.
8. Wait for no more than two seconds and repeat the exercise.
Once this deep breathing technique has been mastered, you should learn to breathe first through one nostril and then through the other to gain the maximum relaxation that deep breathing affords you.
Fight acne by being smart. Take as many preventative steps as possible to avoid situations that create the opportunity for acne to develop. If acne does afflict you, consult a qualified medical professional before deciding on a course of action.
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