what is acne?
our bodies are always working to rid themselves of harmful toxins and as the skin is one of the body’s best eliminating organs, the toxins often exit via the skin. acne is caused when there is an inflammation of the sebaceous glands in the skin.  these glands contain a fatty material called sebum and when the duct of this gland becomes blocked either by layers of skin, fatty secretions, toxins or dirt, a mini-cyst or pimple forms.  the cyst can then become infected with acne bacteria.

when a pimple forms under the skin the pore becomes blocked, oil builds up and causes irritation, bacteria rapidly multiply within these blocked follicles contributing to the redness, swelling and tenderness of pimples.

the causes of acne
acne usually starts at puberty when increased levels of hormones, known as androgens, cause an increase in the size and oil production of glands.  if there is a family history of acne, this may also increase the chances of developing it.

however, acne can also affect people from their mid 20’s up to mid 40’s.  adult acne is not the same as teenage acne and can be triggered by a number of factors.

poor skin care can cause adult acne and using skin care products that clog the skin rather than cleanse it can be a determining factor. 

acne can also be caused by excess body weight, as extra fat in the body can convert the female hormone oestrogen into hormones that behave like male hormones and promote acne by increasing production of sebum (a natural oil that prevents the skin from drying out).

some contraceptive pills and contraceptive implants can also boost sebum production.

polycystic ovarian syndrome can also cause acne and can be easily treated by your doctor.

acne can sometimes be triggered by an allergy to certain foods and this can be cleared quickly by eliminating these foods from the diet.
 
one of the main causes of acne is stress.  when we are stressed for any reason our body reacts by producing excess hormones.  the body utilizes some of these hormones and the rest are sent to our liver to be processed for elimination.  some times our liver is unable to eliminate these excess hormones due to being overworked by processing alcohol, processed foods, prescription medicines and toxins from our environment.  we are then left with our skin trying to cleanse our body of the excess toxins through our pores and when mixed with bacteria living on the surface of the skin, the result is acne.

treatment of acne
for effective long term treatment of acne there must be an internal cleansing of the body, external cleansing of the skin and hormonal balance.  this often means a lifestyle change coupled with either topical or systemic medication.

just as acne can range from mild to severe, acne treatments also vary depending on how serious the problem is.  the basic idea for treating acne is to remove what is plugging the duct of the gland and kill the acne bacteria.  this is done either by applying a product to the skin or by taking medication internally. a treatment applied to the skin is called a topical medication whilst a treatment taken internally is called systemic medication.

diet is an essential part of the treatment of acne and eating vegetables, which contain high amounts of vitamin A such as carrots, sweet corn, broccoli and cabbage can assist with your complexion.  whilst drinking two litres of water a day will assist in flushing toxins from the body.

medication
topical medications - the simplest treatment for acne is keeping the skin clean and in doing so products such as medicated soaps, salicylic acid  washes and benzoyl peroxide are often utilised.  however, most cleansers designed for the treatment of acne, which contain either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide,  strip the skin of its natural oils. the ph level of these ingredients is so much lower than the skins that the skin responds by trying to correct it’s natural ph level and does this by overcompensating, producing even more oil. the user is then caught in a cycle of constantly stripping and drying out the skin which continues to produce more and more oil. the result is often dry, sensitive and oily acne prone skin.  once the user discontinues using products with these ingredients it takes about three weeks for the skin to normalize and reach it’s correct ph balance. 

sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate is also popular in some gel based, topical cleansers.  this is a cheap foaming agent that has many side effects that also include ageing of the skin.

pennington soap free foaming cleanser is ph balance and derived from natural ingredients, such as corn, ginger root extract, allantoin, bergamot and geranium which all assist the skin to be cleansed of excess oil and debris whilst reducing the surface bacteria and promoting healing. 

the skin also requires hydrating once cleansed.  pennington balancing face lotion  hydrates the skin without artificial colour or fragrance. a moisturizer with ingredients such as carrot seed oil assist to tone the skin and stimulate elasticity, whilst comfrey extract and cucumber brighten the skin whilst healing and repairing discolouration and scarring.

exfoliating the skin is an important step in preventing blackheads and breakouts.  it also assists in shedding excess skin, which prevents oil from being trapped in the pores. pennington polishing facial scrub is ph balanced and is gentle enough for sensitive skin.

steaming the skin can help to open the pores and loosen impurities and ensuring that this is done hygienically, the result is that the pores are temporarily opened, impurities are loosened and when followed by a purifying face mask the impurities will be drawn from the pores. pennington facial steaming system used once a week and followed by the pennington purifying face mask helps shift stubborn blackheads and prevents future breakouts.

systemic medications - systemic medications are available only with a prescription from a doctor and can include antibiotics that attack the acne bacteria, vitamin A products known as retinoids or hormonal agents.  whilst these options can be effective, there are also known side effects to many of these products and consultation with your doctor or healthcare professional is advised before considering systemic medications. if you have noticed no improvement with the pennington acne defence kit, a trip to your doctor may be the solution. 

the do’s and don’ts for treating acne

• relax
  stress is the number one aggravator of acne, so a hectic lifestyle can cause your skin to flare up.
  
• don’t squeeze!
  it can be hard to resist the temptation to squeeze, but by doing so you can make your skin worse.  when you squeeze the skin you force the bacteria deeper into the skin causing the healing process to slow down.  scarring can also occur from squeezing.
  
• don’t dry out the skin
  be cautious of acne clearing products containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid as they dry out your skin and can exasperate oil production.
  
• always keep your skin clean
  Never go to bed with make-up on.  Cleanse your skin every morning and every night.  If you do wear make-up, try mineral make-up as it actually treats your skin and won’t block your pores.  Don’t use cleanser and sunscreens that block the pores, be sure to choose products that are oil free.
  
• detox
  acne is a sign that your body is not cleansing itself internally.  drink two litres of water a day to assist your body to flush away toxins and try the pennington cleansing foot patches as they naturally cleanse your body while you sleep. 
  
• eat vegetables high in vitamin A
  eating vegetables high in vitamin A such as carrots, broccoli, cabbage and sweet corn will help enhance your complexion.
  
• limit your intake of acidic fruit
  if your breakouts regularly occur in your cheeks, it may be from too many acidic fruits such as tomatoes and orange juice
  
• shower as soon as possible after a workout
  sweat combined with skin oils can trap dirt and bacteria in your pores, so the sooner you shower after a workout the better.
  
• avoid touching your face
  No matter how clean we think our hands are, they carry bacteria and touching your face can spread bacteria and cause your pores to become inflamed.
  
• keep your hair clean
  keep your hair clean and off your face to prevent additional oil from clogging your pores.
  
• wash your pillow case
  your pillow case can harbour bacteria and germs, which can make acne worse.