What ages you most? Surprisingly, it might not be wrinkles or gray hair, but dark circles under your eyes. Dark circles under eyes usually aren’t a sign of exhaustion or serious illness, though they can make you feel old, unhealthy and tired. Dark circles under eyes affect both men and women, often starting in adulthood, although children can develop dark circles under eyes, too.

Causes of Dark Circle under your eyes

If you get plenty of sleep and still have dark circles under your eyes, that’s not unusual. Fatigue isn’t the only reason for under-eye circles. What appears to be under-eye circles are sometimes just shadows cast by puffy eyelids or hollows under your eyes that develop as a normal part of aging.

Here are some of the most common causes of true under-eye circles.

• Allergies
• Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
• Heredity — dark under-eye circles can run in families
• Lifestyle factors, such as physical or emotional stress, smoking, or chronic alcohol use can take a toll on your appearance
• Nasal congestion (which can dilate and darken the veins that drain from your eyes to your nose)
• Pigmentation irregularities — these are a particular concern for people of color, especially blacks and Asians
• Rubbing or scratching your eyes
• Sun exposure, which prompts your body to produce more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color
• Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen — common as you age — can make the reddish-blue blood vessels under your eyes more obvious

Few easy tips to prevent dark circles under your eyes-

Mild to moderate dark circles often respond well to simple and inexpensive treatments, such as:

• Extra pillows- Elevate your head with two or more pillows to prevent puffiness that develops when fluid pools in your lower eyelids.

• Extra sleep- Although short nights don’t usually cause under-eye circles, a lack of sleep makes you paler and more hollow-eyed, so shadows and circles you already have are more obvious.

• Saline washes or sprays- Rinsing your sinuses with a saltwater solution (mix 1/4 teaspoon sea salt with 2 cups warm water) or over-the-counter saline spray can help relieve nasal congestion.

• Cosmetics- Hundreds of skin creams that claim to reduce or prevent under-eye circles crowd department store and drugstore shelves. The results of one study showed that a serum containing plant-based compounds, including root extracts and Brazilian suma, significantly improved the appearance of dark under-eye circles.

• Camouflage- The right concealer can do just that — hide dark circles. If the circles under your eyes are bluish, use a peach-colored concealer, not one that’s white or gray. And avoid scented products and those containing salicylic or glycolic acid, which can irritate delicate eye tissue, making redness and swelling worse.

• Baby Your Skin - How many times have you scrubbed mercilessly at your face, trying to get those last traces of make-up off, especially mascara or eyeliner? This is actually very damaging to the fragile skin under and around your eyes. When you are applying creams, always use your ring finger, as your index finger will probably pull the skin too tightly.

• See a Doctor - Allergies, as we mentioned above, are a huge factor when it comes to facial congestion that causes dark circles and bags. According to WebMD, the continual swelling and deflating that goes on can contribute to loose skin and eventually bags. If you find yourself with a stuffy nose, pain over the brow or cheek bone, or watery, itchy eyes at the same time that your eyes look the puffiest and darkest, it’s important to see an allergist.

• Cool It! - You have probably seen women with cucumbers on their eyes, getting facials or relaxing. The truth is the reason people use cucumbers, cold tea bags, spoons, or any of the other many compresses is just for temperature difference. Cold compresses reduce swelling, so they are more of a temporary fix. Research says green tea bags may work particularly well because they contain a natural anti-inflammatory chemical known as EGCG, which, she says, can reduce fluid build-up that contributes to puffiness.

• Cover Up - This means sunscreen, sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and more sunscreen. This isn’t just for days at the beach, though you should definitely take more precautions in those situations. You should always be wearing a moisturizer with SPF 20 or above, and be careful how much direct sunlight you are getting. Sun damage accounts for not just dark circles, but wrinkles and fine lines as well. If you are used to soaking up the sun, you need to understand that eventually, your golden tan will turn into signs of aging, so prevent it while you can.

• Watch What You Eat - Some foods that have been linked to dark circles are dairy, soy, and wheat products, as well as egg whites and yeast. It is unreasonable for you to avoid all of these food groups, and it is actually unhealthy for you to avoid any of them. The key is to determine if you are lactose intolerant or have celiac disease, or other food aversions. These aversions can cause negative side effects, with dark circles and other skin problems being among the least serious.

• Pop Pills - Not just any pills – vitamins! Many people are surprised to find that their negative skin conditions are caused by deficiencies. Make sure that you are getting enough of the vitamins B6, C, and D, as well as folic acid and iron. Additionally, do not neglect fruits and vegetables that give you antioxidants.

• Ban the Booze - Alcohol causes skin problems because it contributes to fluid retention, not to mention the fact that a hangover never did anyone’s face any favors. If you consume more than a few alcoholic drinks a week, you are probably setting yourself up for some premature signs of aging. The same is true for caffeinate beverages and soda.

• Water, Water, Water - Sometimes it seems like the cure for everything is to drink more water. The reason that it is featured on this list is because dehydrated skin is thin and hydration prevents the dryness that causes wrinkles and fine lines. Usually, dark circles appear because our blood vessels are visible through our skin, and water can help to thicken the skin and improve texture.

• Keep Your Skin Healthy - Especially if your dark circles are caused by aging, all of these solutions will only get you so far. The best option in those cases is to use the best eye cream for dark circles, which can stimulate the production of collagen and offer a more effective fix for the dark circles and sags.

Hope these tips to prevent dark circles under your eyes will make you look the best. Follow these health and beauty tips and take proper care of yourself by using these tips to prevent dark circles under your eyes!

Black hairs require an extra care as they are thick and dark in color so have more chances to lose the color by sun. They look bad when turn gray before time because of their thick texture. If regular hair care is taken, dark black hair can remain as beautiful as ever.

• Always use shampoo, which is specifically made for black hair. Sun silk have a wide range of shampoos for different types of hair where they have shampoo for black hair.

• Oil massages your black hair with lukewarm oil at least twice a week. You can choose coconut oil, any herbal oil, aroma oil or olive oil to nourish your hair.

• Get your hair cut neatly time-to-time regularly so that you don’t get brittle split ends on the ends of the hair.

• Conditioning your hair and protect them from direct sunlight. Coat your hair with hair serum to add shine to them and wrap them with a scarf or cover with a hat when going in sun.

• Eat healthy food for your hair.

• Use wide tooth comb for your hair and brush them with a soft handled hairbrush.

• Never tie your hair when they are wet.

• If you blow dry your hair then do it properly and occasional as drying them more with the heat of the dryer damages their texture and color.

• If you like to color your hair and take advice from some hair expert because black hairs are usually thick and all colors don’t cover them. So seeking professional experts help will let you know which brand of the color and which shade will cover your hair well.

• For styling you can use gels to set the hair. Thick black hair can be set very well with the gel.

• Deep condition your hair at least once in a month with a hot towel steams and by conditions them with henna, herbal readymade hair packs or eggs. It adds shine to the hairs, make them smooth and soft and protect the natural black color of the hair.

• Apply medicated shampoo if you are getting dandruff in your hair.

• Most important thing to remember the black hair color is to protect them from direct sunlight because they lose the color when in direct heat.

Hope these black hair care tips will make you look the best. Follow these health and beauty tips and take proper care of yourself by using these black hair care tips!

Maybe you’ve heard how important is water for your health, figure and well-being many times, but everything your body does it does better with a healthy supply of water, because every system in your body depends on water. Maybe if water was more expensive, people would pay more attention to drink enough of it on a daily basis, instead most of us prefer coffee, lots of soda, and alcohol, not to mention fruit juices and teas and milk and a bunch of other beverages.

You should know that water is one of the best tools for weight loss, because it replaces high-calorie drinks like soda, juice, and alcohol with a drink that doesn’t have any calories. Water is a great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we’re hungry, we are actually just thirsty. By flushing out toxins and impurities, water can make your skin clearer, smoother and younger looking.

Drinking water moisturizes your skin from the inside out and clear up your skin. People often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It will not happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin. Water is important to keep you skin smooth and delicate. Water is the single most important element for cellular integrity. Nothing will improve the appearance of your skin better than drinking enough water.

Drinking water in adequate amounts is necessary to flush out toxins out of the body via the excretory system. With inadequate amounts of water flowing through the body, these toxins can build up in the body and escape through skin pores. This contributes to acne. Therefore, by flushing the body internally with water, acne breakouts are less likely to occur due to toxin release through the skin.

Another benefit of drinking water in large amounts for the skin is in the treatment of skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, proper hydration will help to eliminate sunken eyes and circles under the eyes. Skin plumpness is also sometimes stated as a benefit of drinking water.

Many believe that 8 glasses of water is overkill and the same benefits of drinking water can be obtained with smaller quantities. Some specialists suggest that for an average-sized adult in good health, with healthy kidneys, and living in a temperate climate, only four glasses of water is required to obtain the benefits of drinking water and to replace daily water losses.

The water does not have to be in the form of distilled water, bottled water, or tap water. Water to hydrate the body can be obtained from eating water-rich fruits such as melons, vegetables, and foods. It is believed that water in foods stays in the body longer and has a better chance of being absorbed, whereas liquid water exits the stomach quickly and gets expelled quickly before proper absorption is able to occur. Beverages such as milk and juice also contribute to the daily water intake total. Even beverages that are said to dehydrate are useful according to research. Caffeinated beverages do dehydrate the body to some extent, but this is more than compensated for by the amount of water in the beverage. A cup of coffee actually adds about two-thirds of a cup of hydrating fluid. Therefore, drinking a cup of coffee will add to your water intake total.

In summary, for the average healthy person, there is a benefit of drinking water in elevated amounts. Most of the benefits are for the proper functioning of organs such as kidneys and for cellular health. It is also useful for expelling toxins from the body, which leads to overall good health. Follow these health and beauty tips and take proper care of yourself!

If you’re unhappy with how you look or just want a change but don’t want people to know you’re wearing make-up try these tips. Here you can read all about how to apply makeup so you look naturally beautiful.

How to Apply Makeup for a Natural Look-

1. Make sure your face is clean of any previous makeup. Put makeup remover or water on a cotton ball. Dab or rub in small circles to remove old makeup. Determine your skin type and cleanse tone and moisturize with suitable products twice daily. If you have skin problems like spots/blackheads, exfoliate your skin.

2. Moisturize: – Using a small dab the size of a pea, gently rub in an unscented, oil free lotion. Scented lotions can aggravate skin and cause breakouts or an allergic reaction, and oily lotions will increase acne.

3. Determine your right color of foundation: – Get in a natural light and test the foundation to make sure it’s the right color for your skin. Dab a few marks on your cheek and angle your face different ways to see if the color matches. Make sure to go underneath your jaw line & if you stop that edge of your face there will be a clear line where the foundation stops.

4. Use concealer on dark or red spots: – When you apply the concealer, do so directly on the spot and not around it. This is to avoid a halo effect and emphasis of the spot. Optionally set with beige powder. Be careful not to overdo it on the concealer & you only need enough to cover the spot.

5. Use two shades of eye shadow for a professional look: – The colors you choose should be gold, brown or silver, depending on your skin tone and coloring. Apply a light, neutral tone all over your lid and just above your crease, and use slightly darker to softly line the top lid and outline your crease. For a natural look, remember to blend the colors.

6. Alternatively, use lighter colors on the inner parts of your eyes and darker tones on the outside. Put white eye shadow or eyeliner on the inside corner of your eyes to make them look wider and brighter.

7. Line your eyes with a roasted-colored pencil liner: – Pencil looks more natural than liquid or gel liner and it is easier to blend. Line two thirds of your top lash line and one third of your bottom lash line. Smudge the line with a cotton bud.

8. Curl your eyelashes: – This gives you a natural-looking lift without the use of mascara.

9. Apply one coat of brown or soft black [for darker skin] mascara: – If you are satisfied with your results in the previous step, you may skip this one.

10. Apply Bronzer: – Bronzer is a great way to make it look like you have a natural glow. Lightly brush bronzer all over your face or just along your cheekbones and T-Zone for a natural suntan appearance. However, bronzer can look silly on people with pale skin if you apply it incorrectly. Practice at home with bronzer to see if it looks good on you before going out with it on. If you don’t like the way it looks, skip this step.

11. Apply Blush: – If you were not happy with bronzer, you can apply blush instead. Crème blush generally works better than powder because it gives you a dewy look and lasts longer. Using a champagne-tinted crème blush, rub a little on your ring finger and blend onto your cheekbones.

12. Choose a blush color that is close to the color of your cheeks after you’ve exercised.

Hope these tips for makeup tips for a natural look will make you look the best. Follow these health and beauty tips and take proper care of yourself by using these easy makeup tips for a natural look!

Makeup is essential if you want to look good. Now-a-days most women goes to office and over there also she would want to look beautiful. Creating a work-friendly makeup look can be tricky. While wearing too little makeup can appear unprofessional, wearing too much can look overdone. While getting ready for office, a woman has to take care of some points and apply the makeup accordingly. Here are some tips for applying quick makeup for office:

• Before applying makeup on the face, make sure you massage the face with moisturizer. Only then you should start with the other things. Cleanse the pores. Choose the right cleanser, moisturizer and primer to prep skin for beautiful makeup that doesn’t fade or smudge.
• For oily skin after applying moisturizer, apply foundation which has a matte effect. So that it remains on the skin for a longer time. For dry skin, after moisturizer is applied there is no need for a foundation on the face, instead use loose powder.
• Foundation which suits your skin tone should be applied. Stay away from shades like brown or pink tone based shades. You can apply concealer under your eyes after foundation has been done with.
• Always use neutral colors on eye and lips. Don’t put on loud or dark colors as they won’t look good when you are going to office. Also avoid glossy lipsticks and glittering eye shadow as they won’t look good.
• You can choose transparent or black color mascara for eyes after a neutral color eye shadow has been applied. You can opt for liquid eyeliner as it will last longer and its application should be soft.
• You can apply blusher on cheeks, chin and forehead. Tone of blusher should be selected in such a way that it doesn’t look cheap in office environment. You can go with shades like pale pink or rose or some other natural colors. Avoid colors like brown and red.

Christmas is around the corner and its time to start planning for the party. We all want to look the best but sometimes we miss out few small things which matters a lot. Here in this article you will find some tips for Christmas party make-up which will definitely bring out the best in you.

• To avoid being shiny in photos, used mineral based makeup. It is an ideal make-up option as it is long lasting and oil absorbing.
• If you have dry skin then don’t forget to exfoliate once a week. During make-up use mineral primer and then apply your make-up. This will ensure that foundation glides smoothly on your face and stay there for longer time.
• To hide your dark circles around your eyes use concealer instead of foundation. Avoid using light reflected concealers as its used may result into creating a white ring around your eyes. Always go for soft, matte concealer for a flawless photo.
• If you want to highlight your cheeks in photos, use soft pink blusher on the apples of the cheeks with a slight touch of bronze under the cheekbones. If you use allover bronzer it will flatten your feature instead of highlighting it.
• Don’t forget your eye-lashes. Highly impact false eye lashes emphasize your lashes and highlight the feature. You can also apply good quality mineral mascara to make your eyes look more beautiful.
• Cleansing should be a routine task for you. A clean and clear face surface will ensure moisturize is absorbed easily and in return you get a glowing skin.
• Remember for a sober yet fashionable look either focus on a strong lip or a strong eye application but never both at the same time.
• A shimmery grey eye shadow looks great during the day and if worn with black liner it will look great during evening.

Hope these tips for Christmas party makeup will make you look the best. Follow these health and beauty tips and take proper care of yourself by using these easy tips for Christmas party makeup!

Good Hair care is the key to beautiful hair. If you take proper care of your hair then you can avoid various problems like Dandruff, Scalp infection, Hair Fall and Graying of Hair. These are 12 simple tips to maintain the health of your hair and scalp. These hair care tips are easy to follow and will keep your hair healthy.

1. Wash your hair at least thrice a week with a mild herbal shampoo. If you have normal hair then you can wash hair every alternate day of the week. Use a mild shampoo for washing your hair.

2. Do not apply shampoo directly on your scalp. First, mix with small amount of water. Then message gently with it on your scalp for just 2 mins.

3. Use an Anti-Dandruff shampoo if you are having dandruff. Keeping your scalp clean is important to maintain good health of your hair.

4. Do not apply oil on the scalp if you have Dandruff. Oil makes the scalp sticky and along with dandruff it can lead to infections.

5. Do not comb in wet hair. It will lead to easy hair fall. Dry your hair first with a towel.

6. Try to comb with the fingers first if you have long hair.

7. Always start combing your hair with broad teeth comb.

8. Try to avoid unnecessary cosmetic products like gels, creams colors etc. it may lead to chemical damage to the hair.

9. Always use ammonia free dye for hair.

10. Do not wear others’ helmets or caps which may lead to infection on the scalp.

11. Do not use others’ comb.

12. Do not tie hair in one direction very tightly. Keep on changing your hair styles after few days.

Hope these tips for hair care will help you to maintain the health of your hair and scalp. Follow these health and beauty tips and take proper care of yourself by using these easy tips for hair care!

We keep hearing about sunscreen every day. But still we don’t know much about it. Here in this article we will answer to all basic questions that arise in your mind related to sunscreen. Also we will discuss few tips to apply sunscreen to reduce the sunburn effect which can be of great help to you.

What is Sunscreen?

Sunscreen is a pharmaceutical product designed to protect skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR). These products contain a physical blocker (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) which protects the skin from UVB (ultraviolet radiation with wavelength between 290 and 320 nanometers) which can cause sunburn and UVA (between 320 and 400 nanometers) which damages the skin with more long-term effects, such as premature skin aging. Depending on the mode of action sunscreens can be classified into physical sunscreens (i.e. those which reflect the sunlight) or chemical sunscreens (i.e. those which absorb the UV light).

Ingredients of Sunscreen

Sunscreens are made with 17 active ingredients. These ingredients come into two categories: absorbers (which create a chemical reaction to absorb UVR) and reflectors (which are physical barriers that reflect or block UV rays away from the skin). The majority sunscreens have a mixture of absorbers and/or reflectors. They are available in creams, mousses, lotions and moisturizers.

Difference between Sunblock and Sunscreen

Sunblock contains physical or inorganic ingredients that reflect and scatter the UVB light and acts as a wall between your skin and the sun. Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide is the main ingredient. Sunblocks do not protect against UVA rays.

Sunscreen contains chemicals that protect your skin by absorbing and reflecting UV rays and allows a certain range of UV light to be absorbed into the skin. Look for Parsol 1789 in many of today’s sunscreen brands. It helps protect against UVA rays as well as UVB. So, you get a bit more protection.

Measurement of Sunscreens- Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

The SPF of a sunscreen is a laboratory measure of the effectiveness of sunscreen; the higher the SPF, the more protection a sunscreen offers against UV-B (the ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn). The SPF indicates the amount of UV radiation required to cause sunburn on skin with the sunscreen on, compared to the amount required without the sunscreen. So, wearing a sunscreen with SPF 50, your skin will not burn until it has been exposed to 50 times the amount of solar energy that would normally cause it to burn. In practice, the protection from a particular sunscreen depends on factors such as:

• The skin type of the user.
• The amount applied and frequency of re-application.
• Activities in which one engages (for example, swimming leads to a loss of sunscreen from the skin).
• Amount of sunscreen the skin has absorbed.

How Sunscreen work?

UV-A radiation can penetrate deeply into the skin leading to cancer and premature skin aging. UV-B is involved in tanning and sunburn and can cause cellular damage to the skin and eyes. On entering the skin it can cause many side effects like change in darker skin color, destruction of the cells responsible for making new cells thus resulting in resulting in age spots, wrinkling, and even skin cancer.

Sunscreen contains ingredients that can absorb and/or filter UV-A light from the Sun so that less of it reaches the deeper layers of the skin. Sun-block, on the other hand, reflects or scatters the UV light away so that it doesn’t reach the skin at all. Since the best and most thorough protection comes from blocking both UVA and UVB rays, the ideal sunscreen should be designed to do both. Most sunscreens work by containing either an organic chemical compound that absorbs ultraviolet light (such as oxybenzone) or an opaque material that reflects light (such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide), or a combination of both.

Tips to apply sunscreen effectively

1. Apply sunscreen lotion one hour before you going outside. During this period the skin absorbed the lotion completely and formed a protective layer on the skin to prevent suntans.

2. Apply sufficient amount of sunscreen lotion or cream on your face and the body. To gain maximum benefits out of it you should apply thirty to forty ml of lotion on sun exposed parts of the body.

3. The people of all ages and genders should use correct amount of sunscreen lotion. Even infants are also required sun protection. Some people think that those who have dark or tanned skin tone, they do not need sunscreens but such people also equally needed sunscreen lotion as people with fair skin do.

4. Only a single sunscreen lotion cannot protect you from ultra violet rays, through the day, because in perspiration the sunscreen lotion is washed away from your skin. You need to use waterproof sunscreens while swimming. You should reapply the waterproof sunscreens when you wash your face.
5. You should apply sunscreen lotion on daily basis because they not only protect you from sunburns but they also help to delay the formation of wrinkles. Sunscreens prevent your skin from dryness, premature ageing and skin cancers’. You should not avoid the application of sunscreen on a cloudy day because eighty percent of ultra violet rays are present on such day.

6. Sunscreen lotion can protect you from suntans, though it can’t effectively protect you in strong middle afternoon sun. When the sun is strongest at that time of the day, you should need the shade of an umbrella to protect your skin.

7. Although, sunscreen lotion suitably protects the skin from suntan, but it cannot effectively protect the skin from the strong mid afternoon sun. During this time of the day, when the sun is strongest, you need the shade of an umbrella or a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses, to protect your skin. Sunscreens with SPF ranges fifteen to thirty are best and protect ninety percent of UV rays.

Hope these facts about sunscreen will help you to protect yourself against the hazardous effects of sunrays. Follow these health and beauty tips and take proper care of yourself by using these easy tips to apply sunscreen!

Home facial is one of the most effective home remedies to pamper your face. Facials are usually done in the salon but you can do this equally well at your home. Home facial beauty treatments include cleansing, exfoliation, masks, steaming and moisturizing. Try it once a month and you will begin to see improvements in your skin tone. Here are few home facial tips to have the refreshing facial treatment within the comfort of your home.

Cleanse your face

The first step for home facial is to clean your face properly. The aim is to remove all the dirt and dead skin from your face. For this, use an astringent lotion or mild face wash. It is advisable to use a cream cleanser/cleansing milk for dry skin and foaming cleanser for oily skin. Rinse your face with lukewarm water. This will leave your skin smooth and soft.

Exfoliation

Exfoliating helps remove dirt and oil that’s deeper in your skin. For exfoliating, first damp your face using warm water.  Then using your fingers rub a gentle exfoliating facial scrub in a circular motion on your face. Concentrate on the areas around your nose and forehead or if you have combo skin, work harder on the areas that tend to be “greasy”. Rinse your face well with warm water since exfoliating scrubs tend to be drying. This home facial tip will gently remove dead skin cells and other debris that can block pores.

Steaming

Steaming hydrates and softens the skin. It will help to soften the plugs that cause whiteheads and blackheads. Fill a bowl or sink with steaming warm water, cover the face and the bowl with a towel so that the steam shouldn’t escape. Put your face in exposure to the steam. One can also dip cloth in the water and press it on the face. Repeat it for 2-3 times. After steaming, the whiteheads and blackheads can be removed more easily with a mask.

Home Facial Mask

The next step of home facial is to use an exfoliating facial mask . If your face is oily, use clay-based mask. Masks of this type are known to reduce excess oil on the face. For dry skin, it is advisable to use a mask made up of hydrating gel or cream. Apply the mask, avoiding areas around eyes for 10-20 minutes. One can also make a mask with fruit juices, egg white, yolk, vegetable pastes or the paste of their peels. This should be done according to the type of the skin. Rinse off with warm water and use a soft towel to pat the skin dry.

Moisturize

The last step of home facial is to apply an appropriate moisturizer . Finish your skin care regimen with a moisturizer to help keep lipids in your skin. Aloe Vera, petroleum jelly, essential oils or commercial products made for your skin type help extend the benefits of your facial treatments. Drinking enough water every day will help keep your skin hydrated by allowing its natural lipids to maintain proper levels.

Hope these home facial tips will help you make your skin softer and smoother. These health and beauty tips are easy to follow and won’t cost you much. Keep practicing these home facial tips once a month to see the difference. Take proper care of yourself by using these easy and simple home facial tips!

Acne is most common skin problem faced by many people from all over the world. Acne is a skin disease that affects most people during their teens and twenties. Here in this article we will answer to all basic questions that arise in our mind related to acne. Also we will discuss few skin care tips to reduce the acne effect which can be of great help.

What is acne?

Acne vulgaris commonly known as acne can be explained as a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin. Acne is a disease that affects oil glands of the skin present at and around face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Acne is not a serious health threat, but if not treated early can cause scars.

Oil glands produce a substance called ‘sebum’. Pores in our skin are connected to these glands by a canal called follicle. Oil glands carry dead skin cells to the skin surface. A thin hair also grows through the follicle and out of the skin. When the follicle of the oil gland clogs up, it results in the formation of a pimple. It is not caused by bacteria, although bacteria play a role in its development.

Types of Acnes

There are two types of acne-

Non Inflammatory Acne

• Whiteheads- When the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface, a whitehead is formed. Whiteheads may show up as tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.
• Black Heads- A blackhead occurs when skin pore opens, and the sebum, which contains the skin pigment melanin, oxidizes and turns a brown/black color. It is not dirt and cannot be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents drain very slowly to the surface.

Inflammatory Acne

• Papule- A papule occurs when there is a break in the follicular wall. White blood cells rush in and the pore becomes inflamed.
• Pustule- A pustule forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin. This is what people usually refer to as a “zit” or a “pimple”.
• Nodule- When a follicle breaks along the bottom, total collapse can occur, causing a large, inflamed bump that can be sore to the touch.
• Cyst- Sometimes a severe inflammatory reaction can result in very large pus filled lesions.

What are the main causes of Acne?

Although the main cause of Acne is unknown still researchers and doctors have attributed some factors which can lead to acne-

•  Hormonal Activity- The main cause of acne among teens is rise of androgen hormone during adolescence. Rise in the level of androgen causes more secretion of oils by oil glands which ultimately results in the growth of bacteria.
• Heredity- This is the most common reason for acne. If your parents or immediate ancestors had acne then there are chances that acne might get transferred to you!
• Pregnancy- Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause acne. Some doctors believe that using birth control pills can also cause acne.
• Food- Consumption of fast foods or oil foods does not cause acne but they can aggravate the formation of the same. Also food items like milk, chocolate, etc also results to acne.
• Dirt- Keep your face clean and do not let dirt to get settle on your face. Keep washing your facing occasionally with a gentle face wash to keep away the dirt as well as the blackheads.
• Stress – Lifestyles also contribute to the cause of acne. However stress does not play a direct role in causing the acne but it does aggravate the cause.
• Drugs- This is a common cause for acne. Many medicines taken in our day to day life can cause acne directly or indirectly.
• Cosmetics- Some cosmetics and skin care products are pore clogging or comedogenic in nature. It’s recommended to use water based cosmetics to keep acne miles away from you.

What can you do to prevent Acne?

Here are some ways to care for acne prone skin-

•  Clean your face regularly- Always try to keep your face dirt free. Use gentle face wash to clean your face in mornings and evenings and also specially after heavy workouts. Avoid scrubbing as it will worsen the situation more.
• Do not squeeze or pick- This the most common mistake. People who squeeze, pinch, or pick their pimples can get scars or dark spots on their skin.
• Reduce oil- Once a day use gentle astringent/toner to wipe away oil.
• Cosmetics- Always use good branded water based cosmetics that reduces the risk of acne formation.
• Stay away from sun- Though its true sun exposure help in reducing acne to some extend but excessive exposure is harmful. More exposure to sun makes your skin dry and as a result the oil gland will secrete more oil. Use sunscreen during winters also to prevent the side effects.
• Eat Healthy- Though food does not cause acne but proper balance diet help fight against acne. Having nutritious and healthy diet regularly gives a boost to the metabolic activity of the body which in turn increases the immune system of the body thus preventing growth of bacteria in the skin pores. Also drinking at least eight glass of water can help keep the acne away.
• Exercise and Rest- Regular exercise and good sleep increase the immune system of the body thus helps fight against the infection and acne too.
• Consult a Doctor-Many medicine are available in the market that helps in curing acne. Do not use any drug without doctor’s prescription. It is advisable to consult a doctor and get proper treatment before things get more worsen.

Above mention preventive measures will surely help you get rid of acne. You should strictly to follow these health and beauty tips to keep yourself away from acne. Take proper care of yourself by using these easy and simple tips to prevent acne!