When all people notice when they look at you is your acne, that means that one way or another, acne is the most interesting thing on your face. Without a doubt, we want to change that, so that when someone looks at you, they will see an attractive, confident young woman instead.

Even though we’ve taken care of our skin to make it look as healthy and vibrant as possible, there still is not a focal point on your face that we actually want people to notice. Most general makeup guides will tell you to either play up your eyes or your lips, but I’m going to advise you to always focus on your eyes. That’s because even if you have great lips, you’re not going to like what they look like an hour after you put on your lip products.

Lip liner is red, and will always bleed at least a little around the edges, re-introducing red near your mouth, an area where you probably already have some acne.  This creates the exact same problem that a too-red blush would, picking up the red of your acne and amplifying it.  The other reason not to play up your lips is because lipstick has oils in it that will quickly eat away your foundation. Despite your best efforts, you won’t be able to keep your lipstick completely within the confines of your lips, and the half-life of your meticulously made-up face will quickly deteriorate as lipstick at the corners of your mouth smears it away.

Apply a simple chapstick (tinted, if you’re feeling really wild) to your lips, and leave it at that. Focus on your eyes instead. You have almost complete freedom here, except for a couple of key points that I would like to introduce. First, stick with neutral or cool colors, to avoid putting any more red onto your face. Unlike with your cheeks, it’s perfectly acceptable to “cool down” your face by playing with greens and blues on your eyelids. The warmest color I would ever recommend you use is a brown.

Second, keep under-eye makeup minimal. Lining or applying mascara to your lower lashes means that eventually that makeup will slide down to the area under your eyes, leaving you with unsightly black splotches. Not only does this also decrease the useful life of your makeup, it means that you’ll have to do a hasty swipe under your eyes to take away the gunk. This displaces your foundation, and exposes even more of the redness underneath to the world.  Do whatever you want to your eyelids and brow bone, but leave your lower lashes alone, and you’ll be much more pleased with how well your makeup lasts.

When we use makeup as a tool to minimize how our acne looks, we can effectively keep people from noticing it. We want the attention to be on us and our ideas, and not our current skin condition.

So what makes men’s’ skin so much different form women that they have to make products specifically for men?  There are actually a number of differences between the skin of a man and a woman.  A man’s sebaceous glands or oil glands are much smaller then that of a woman.  Sebaceous glands absorb the active ingredients that are found in products to make them effective, therefore men absorb less of these ingredients due to their smaller glands. Products made specifically for men aid the skin in absorbing more of the active ingredients.

If men have smaller sebaceous glands then their skin is less oily, right? Actually, men’s skin is oilier than women’s because they have higher levels of testosterone in their bodies that make them secrete more oil.  This is another reason that there are products made specifically for men.

On average men’s skin is 20 to 30 percent thicker than women’s.  This is because men have higher levels of collagen and elastin that make the skin more thick and supple. Because of this men show signs of ageing later than women do.

So to all you men out there who think that it’s ok to use your wife or girlfriends skin care products, think again.  You’ll get better results if you use products that are tailor made for you skin.

Acceptance

Many people avoid looking in mirrors under florescent lighting because they feel that it only magnifies their acne and scar tissue. A part of that comes from not wanting to accept that they have acne or scars to begin with. We become our own worst critic and often can be compulsive about superficial things. People probably bring more attention to their acne by behaving in a self-conscious manner. Make an effort to control your acne breakouts and don’t stress over things that you cannot possibly change. Stop hiding away from your reflection and do what you can to become more comfortable with your image. Everyone else will notice your self-confidence and admire you for your coolness. The next time someone whips out a camera, give them your best smile and feel good about who you are.

Application

When you can’t avoid bad lighting, learn to work with it. For instance, if your school or office uses florescent lights, learn to gear your make-up towards that lighting. It’s impossible to be prepared for every different type of light. Do what you can to plan for the environment where you will spend the most time and try to apply your make-up so it will look as natural as possible in different lights. Invest in a cosmetic mirror that comes with two mirrors and fluorescent lights so you can put your make-up on in a similar kind of lighting as in the surroundings you are headed to. Take notice of the light in the area where you apply your cosmetics to see if it is soft, natural, or bright lighting.

Improvise

With acne, you have got to learn to be flexible in your environments in order to practice proper skin-care. If you know ahead of time what the weather, lighting, and atmosphere will be like, you can plan your make-up and skincare products accordingly. However, you more than likely will not know all of those intricate details in advance, so the best thing to do is be able to adapt. If you find your make-up appears too heavy and cakey in a certain lighting situation, dip into a bathroom and gently blot off some of your foundation with a damp paper towel. Carry sample-sized cosmetics in your handbag or tote in case you need to darken or lighten your foundation for the illumination wherever you are.

Really, You Are Not Alone

In Hollywood they jokingly call it the “pretty lighting”. If you saw many celebrities you’d be shocked at how humanly imperfect they really are. The big screen screens blemishes and breakouts to perfect the faces that boost their ratings and revenue. You are not alone in your acne-battle. People all over the world face the same challenges with their skin and self-esteem.

Microdermabrasion is a powerful machine that combines an electronic spray and vacuum and is used for advanced exfoliation.  High grade microcrystal’s are sprayed along the surface of your skin helping your skin to get rid of all the excess dead skin that may cause build but and blemishes.  The vacuum is used to suck up all of the debris as well as any excess oils.

Over time your skin builds layers of dead skin cells.  A build up of these cells often cause blemishes because it causes the pores to clog giving bacteria a place live.  Exfoliation aids your skin in removing this build up allowing you skin to breathe. Microdermabrasion is an intense form of exfoliation that has many benefits.  It can help diminish fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, and pigmentation.  It can also aid in getting those stubborn blackhead.  Microdermabrasion enlarges your pores and leaves your skin feeling as smooth as a baby’s bottom only smelling much better.

There are some risks involved with microdermabrasion.  If the machine is used improperly it could cause hyper or hypo pigmentation.  It could also cause sensitivity to the areas treated.  Always look for a trained professional to perform the treatment for you and you should be safe.

With all of the new technology and promising procedures, it’s easy to get lost in the process. Today we explain some of the different ways people are treating acne scars so you can know what’s available for you.

Type of scar tissue:

• Ice-pick scars- Usually located on the cheeks, ice-pick scars are tiny and deep pockets on the skin.
• Soft scars- These kinds of scars can be superficial or deep. They usually are soft to the touch and have curved edges.
• Keloids- Hardened tissue which forms as a result of an injury, naturally. A keloid can sometimes have a bubble-like appearance
• Marks or spots- Some acne sufferers notice discolored spots or marks where a lesion existed at one time. Many marks from acne will naturally fade with time.

Procedure Options:

Smoothers

• Laser surgery- Powerful, high-energy light is used to burn away dead skin. This same procedure is used to treat wrinkles and sun damage. Skin may remain pink for several months after laser surgery.
• Dermabrasion- One of the most popular procedures to remove scar tissue, but also one of the more painful. A large, rough machine is used to remove layers of skin to create a new smoother, even surface. This can completely diminish surface scars and lessen the appearance of deeper ones. Because this process is rough on your skin, a layer of scabbing will form afterwards and your skin will appear inflamed during the healing period. A risk involved in dermabrasion is having new pigmentation form after the procedure.
• Microdermabration – Less effective than dermabrasion with minimal results. This procedure uses crystals in a vacuum-like tube to remove surface skin without damaging the skin beneath. You may have to schedule several sessions before you see a difference. Be cautious of allowing unlicensed beauticians perform microdermabrasion on your skin.
• Chemical peels – Alpha Hydroxy Acids are applied to the face to gradually remove dead skin cells and leave a new layer with a healthy glow. Once the chemicals are applied, a timer is set while you wait for the dead cells to break down. Afterwards, you rinse your face thoroughly with water. Chemical peels usually take several sessions for effectiveness.

Fillers

• Collagen – Collagen (from cows or humans) is injected under the surface to fill-in areas that are depressed from superficial or deep scars. Collagen does not work well for keloids or ice-pick scars. Animal collagen cannot be used on individuals with immune disorders. Usually lasts up to 6 months.
• Fat Transfer– Fat is taken from one area of your body and injected beneath the scars to correct deep dents on your skin from severe acne. Eventually your fat gets reabsorbed into your body, so the procedure must be repeated sometime after 6 months.

Surgical Procedures

• Microexcision – Each ice-pick groove is removed and sutured to get rid of the scar. Sometimes a surgical instrument is used to lift the deep, depressed area and relocate it in a more elevated position.
• Skin grafting- One area of skin is replaced with skin from another, less noticeable area of your body usually to cover deep grooves found after dermabrasion.
• Face-lift – Some people opt to have a face lift to improve the appearance of soft scars when other methods won’t yield desirable results. A plastic surgeon can pull and lift the areas beyond your hairline to give your skin a tighter, smoother appearance. After many years, this procedure may need to be repeated.
• Keloid removal- Keloids usually are not removed surgically because if a skin is prone to keloids, the surgery may result in producing more keloids.

Careful consultation with a licensed physician is a key factor in effectively treating acne scar tissue. It’s important that you have the opportunity to express your feelings and concerns about your acne scars to a specialist who can make you make well-informed decisions. Having realistic expectations about your results will prevent disappointment and distress. When you gather as much information as you can, you are able to make the best choice about the procedure you want.

Red Begone With Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL)

This form of laser treatment will help get the red out of acne scars in their early phase by reducing inflammation in the area (Modern Medicine, 2006). Not only will this treatment help reduce scarring, but it will help prevent future break-outs from reoccurring. This procedure is painless and does not have any harmful side effects.

Flattening Scars Using Microdermabrasion

When scars newly develop they appear reddish in color; however, over a period of time they will turn a whitish silver color. Microdermabrasion can help bring back the pigmentation in acne scars. This procedure uses a fractional laser to stimulate the collagen in the skin, making the scarring less visible (Modern Medicine, 2006). Some patients may experience skin peeling after treatment, but the whole procedure is non-invasive.

Go Topical With Retin-A

Though scars are a nuisance, they are the skin’s way of healing itself. With topical treatments such as Tretinoin, you can reduce the inflammatory changes that acne scars cause, and help speed up the healing process. Certain side effects may occur such as itching and mild stinging. Talk to your dermatologist before starting any treatment.

If for some reason you’re unable to seek medical help for your acne scars there are other alternatives that have worked for many people. The healing properties of Aloe Vera not only treat sunburns and dry skin, but it also treats acne scars. I suggest taking the gel directly from the Aloe Vera plant and applying it to your scars. Another option is camouflage makeup. This will hide almost any imperfection on the skin including scars, stretch marks, and tattoos. This stuff works miracles!

I hope the above methods help you find the treatment that is right for you and your acne scars. After all, who needs the constant painful reminder?

Actually, my grandma had told me a lot about the miracles the lemon can do for my face, so I guess the word “discover” isn’t exactly the right term. So anyway, according to this site, the lemon can help in removing pimples and scars because of its many enzymes, acids, vitamins and minerals.

You can either use it alone or mixed with other ingredients easily found at home. Honey, milk, yoghurt and almonds are stuff you can add to the lemon to produce homemade facial treatments.

The site has a few suggestions that would be worth looking into, such as their Lemon Face Scrub. Simply mix fresh lemon with cold milk and almond powder. When the mixture reaches a paste-like consistency, apply to your face and leave on for about 15-30 minutes. It will cleanse your face, remove dirt, and unclog hair follicles.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that you could also combine lemon and yogurt to produce a pre-bath gel. If you combine lemon and almond oil, the result will give you a lotion that will get rid of the bacteria that trigger sebaceous glands to produce excessive sebum. In addition, a paste of lemon juice, honey and almond oil will combat wrinkles!

I guess I now have an idea where the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” came from…

As I was browsing through the threads at acne.org, I came across a thread that discussed blackheads and acne. I thought, okay, I think I’ll skip this one. I mean, who doesn’t have blackheads, right? What’s the big deal – I know about them, you know about them, we all know about them. But then I realized that there was something very, very unique about the topic – it was about using tweezers to take out blackheads!

Tweezers?! For a moment, I thought my cousin was the thread starter – she also had this curious way of treating acne by tweezing her blackheads out. It turned out to be someone I didn’t know, but looking at the responses the thread had so far, she and my cousin were not alone in their practice of using tweezers to gently lift blackheads off the face, especially on the nose area.

When I first heard about my cousin’s blackhead “remedy,” it really got me curious. So I needled her into showing me how she “unplugs” her little pores. It was actually quite simple: she stands in front of the mirror, holds the tweezers in her right hand, pinches a pore with her left, and happily plucks away. Every time she plucks, she pulls out some rice-shaped gunk from her pore. It may sound gross, but after her plucking-unplugging ritual, her nose surprisingly looks cleaner. She then gets an ice cube from the freezer and gently rubs it onto her nose to close the pores. She does this all the time.

She says it doesn’t hurt at all, so she plucks away every week. I guess it helps to read forums and see what other people do to take care of their acne problems – their solutions to their problems might help your own.

For those who don’t know what bacne is, it’s basically back acne. (Back. Acne. Bacne. Isn’t that clever? Anyway…) And it’s not surprising that there are a lot of people who have acne, not only on their faces, but on other parts of the body as well, such as the back.

So anyway, this poster said that he’s been suffering from bacne for quite some time and even paid a lot for professional dermatologists to get rid of it, but still didn’t get the results he wanted – until he used Head and Shoulders.

He said that he washes his back with H&S then rinses it off, washes the rest of his body, and lathers on H&S again, but doesn’t rinse it off the second time around. He doesn’t towel it off either – he just air dries his back until it dries up, leaving a thin film of H&S.

He swears that his bacne is gone, leaving only marks that will hopefully fade in time.

Reading through the rest of the thread, you’ll see that other users experienced mixed results in using H&S to treat bacne. Some claim that it didn’t work for them, and that it irritated their skin even more. But most others got good results and recommended this serendipitous remedy. According to those who tried it, the key ingredient that makes H&S work is zinc. That means not every variation of H&S may work the same way, so if you do want to try it, make sure to look for the words “Contains Zinc” on the label.

Remember that you’re running your own risk when trying such maverick cures, but if your bacne has been bothering you for too long and you’re willing to try anything, then H&S just might be your ticket to some relief.

Some bad habits include picking your nose or biting your nails. But people with acne can also be habitual compulsive pickers – they pick their pimples, scabs, and dried-up whiteheads among others. As you may already know know, doing things will only make your acne worse.

You know you are a habitual compulsive picker if:

• you can’t wait for your pimple to dry up. When it’s a little dry, you scratch it until you scratch out the scab. You do this over and over again until a scar forms because of too much picking.

• you try to cut your finger nails really short so that you won’t be tempted to pick, but still pick likes there’s no tomorrow.

• you wear a mitten or a glove just so your nails won’t touch your face but unconsciously take off the glove to pick.

• the first thing you do when you wake up is look at the mirror and try to see where all the bumps are and have a picking session.

• you see a face badly scarred because of picking in your bathroom mirror, but you cover it with your towel so that you won’t see it.

You’re heard it before and you’ll hear it again, picking your zits isn’t good for you. Unless, of course, for some strange reason you’d like to be called “scarface” for the rest of your life! Always follow the advice of your dermatologist if you want your acne to clear up eventually.