Pimples can make you feel awful about yourself.Whether it’s one or several together, pimples have the ability to make the sufferer self-conscious and miserable.  All you can think about is finding a way to get rid of the pimples and go back to having clean, clear, smooth skin.

It is important to understand what causes pimples before you try and get rid of them. 

What causes pimples?

To begin with, it is important to know about the day to day workings of your skin.Millions of very difficult to see pores cover the surface of your skin. Some of these pores can have small hairs growing out of them, breaking out onto the skin surface.  Deep down in each of these pores are to be found several tiny glands which produce natural oils.  These glands are known as the sebaceous glands and the oil they produce is called sebum.

Sebum is produced by your body as a natural moisturizer for your skin.  Sebum is crucial to a healthy skin as it carries everything from dirt to bacteria up onto the skin’s surface from where it can easily be removed.  This is how your body naturally keeps your skin healthy and moist; by removing this dirt.

The arrival of puberty is a difficult time with your body starting to produce a variety of different hormones and other chemicals.  Because it is rather new at this process, it takes a while to get things all working in balance; during this time your hormone levels will rise and fall a great deal, sort of like a roller coaster. Your skin has trouble dealing with such extreme fluctuations which provide an ideal environment for acne and pimples to flourish. 

Much more sebum than normal is produced by the sebaceous glands, due to the hormonal changes happening in your body.  Your skins pores ability to get rid of dead skin cells can be adversely affected by hormonal changes.  Bacteria love the environment of a clogged pore.  All that extra sebum with an endless supply of dead skin cells means that infection and inflamation will very soon follow.  Unfortunately, we have now created a pimple.

Help for your acne pimples:

Whilst your bodies natural hormonal changes will happen anyway, the amount of pimples you get, to a large extent, are down to decisions you make.

1. Keep your skin clean – It helps to keep your skin clean by using a mild cleanser each morning and evening.  If your skin is irritated you are more likely to develop pimples. Therefore, choose a gentle facial cleanser and refrain from scrubbing your skin too harshly.
2. Use medication – The function of anti-acne medication is to help reduce the amount of sebum produced and also make it easier for your skin to get rid of dead skin cells.Two very good over the counter medications are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
3. Keep your skin moist – If your skin dries out, more pimples are very likely. Using a very light moisturizer on your face can pay dividends.  It is best to choose an oil-free moisturizer for optimum results.

Once you understand what causes pimples it is much easier to understand the best way to treat and prevent them in the first place. You have taken the first step by finding the correct information to help yourself. The second step is to make sure you apply the information. Your skin won’t become pimple free until you do!

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