ABOUT ACNE
WHAT CAUSES ACNE
From the moment you are born, your skin begins a lifelong process of shedding dead cells and producing oil. This process is affected by your hormone balance, which changes throughout your life. Clogged pores and facial blemishes occur when these natural processes are disrupted by any number of factors.
[STEP 1] The beginning
A blemish begins approximately 2-3 weeks before it appears on your skin's surface. Deep within each pore (or hair follicle), your sebaceous glands are working to produce sebum, the oil that keeps your skin moist and pliable.
[STEP 2] The pore clogs
As your skin renews itself, the old cells die and slough off. When cells are shed unevenly, they clump together with natural skin oil to form a plug - much like a cork in a battle.
[STEP 3] The blemish appears
This plug, or comedo, traps oil and bacteria indise your pore. As your skin continues to produce oil, the pore swells because of the plug, and bacteria flourish. Your pore becomes infected and possibly in flamed.
Pimple Panic
Drs. Rodan and Fields talk about the stress and problems caused when the acne process occurring underneath your skin becomes an acne breakout. Once you've got a pimple, it's too late to get it under control. The secret: acne prevention. Proactiv Solution goes into the pore to help stop pimples from forming.
Understanding the Cause of Acne
Vanessa Williams speaks with Drs. Rodan and Fields about acne breakouts. There are no acne cures, but there is a way to help control and prevent facial breakouts: Proactiv Solution.
Clearing up Acne Myths About What Causes Breakouts
Acne blemishes are not caused by anything you're "doing". A combination of factors at work far beneath the surface of your skin is what causes breakouts.
Learn the difference between acne fact and myth
Anyone Can Get Acne Breakouts
There are many causes of acne and nobody is immune. About 90% of all teenagers develop acne symptoms, which can last an average of 7-8 years. But acne breakouts can start as late as your 30's, especially in women. Clinical adult acne can last for up to 20 years. It's estimated that 1 in 4 adults between the ages of 25 and 44 experiences facial breakouts during this time. In fact, nearly half of all adult women experience mild to moderate acne blemishes.
The Secret: Control and Prevent Acne
There are still no acne cures, with or without a prescription. The secret to controlling facial breakouts is daily acne PREVENTION and early treatment. In other words, stopping the growth of acne bacteria before they become visible facial blemishes. This also helps avoid the risk of permanent scars. Even after pimple blemishes disappear, you must continue to use an effective acne treatment to prevent new acne blemishes from forming. Just like brushing your teeth helps prevent cavities, a daily acne care system helps prevent breakouts.
Tips on helping to control and prevent acne
Choosing an Acne Care System
Most acne breakouts are treated with topical medications. Some more severe cases of inflammatory acne may require prescriptions and oral medication, but many of these treatments may cause unwanted side effects above and beyond the acne symptoms themselves. There's no sense in sacrificing your body to save your face.
Proactiv is safe and effective for almost everyone, and it can help prevent facial blemishes from becoming a larger skin problem, such as pitting and scarring. Proactiv's mild formulations gently exfoliate your skin, remove excess oil, and deliver powerful acne fighting medicine. Our 3-piece acne care system can work alone or in combination with a dermatologist's prescriptions to help eliminate clogged pores and prevent facial breakouts.
