Why You Should Consider Using Steam for Acne
Acne is a common and distressing skin complaint. It predictably starts during puberty, affecting approximately three quarters of all 13-18 year olds, and can sometimes continue to affect people well into their adult lives. While research remains to be done on the exact cause of acne and there is no one definitive cure yet available, there are a number of treatments which can help to greatly reduce the symptoms.
As all sufferers know, acne is a condition which causes redness and spots on the skin. These can be painful and in severe cases lead to scaring. The blemishes most often occur on the face but can also be found on the back, chest, neck and behind the ears, in fact anywhere where there are a lot of oil glands on the skin. In acne, these oil glands produce excessive amounts of sebum, an oily lubricant used by the body to keep skin pliable and soft. This excess of sebum is unable to be flushed away by the skins normal mechanisms and builds up inside the hair follicles leading to the formation of whiteheads and blackheads. Bacteria thrives in this environment and the skins defense to rising bacteria levels leads to inflammation and redness of the infected area.
There are many myths surrounding the causes and treatment of acne. For example, acne is not caused by poor hygiene or a diet high in fats and sugars. nor is it contagious. Some things however do seem certain about the condition. High levels of some hormones, especially testosterone seem to cause acne, or at least make it worse. Increased stress levels too are known to exacerbate acne, although the exact reason for this is unknown but it may be because people under stress touch their face more often and so help to spread bacteria. There also seems to be a genetic link, since parents who are suffers tend to pass the condition on to their children.
There are a number of treatments available for acne and your doctor will be able to advise you of these. In addition there are things you can do yourself to help improve the condition. Cleansing the skin is obviously very important as this helps to reduce bacteria levels. You should use a gentle cleanser twice a day and a facial steamer two to three times per week.
Steaming the face or other affected parts can be a useful addition to your acne treatment programme. Steaming opens up the pores and at the same time increases sweating and so helps to flush impurities out of the skin.Since sweat is salty, it can also act as an antimicrobial agent, killing some of the bacteria found on the skin. Steaming also increases blood circulation, bringing greater amounts of oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
It can be very beneficial to add essential oils to your facial steamer just before you use it. Lavender for example, can help with relaxation and stress reduction, a known contributor to acne. Herbs can also be added to your steamer, each one having a different effect. Mint will help to dissolve the dirt and oil clogged in the pores of the skin, making it easier to wash them out; and rose hips is a herb which is useful for skin repair since it is full of vitamin A.
There are a variety of ways to steam your face. Perhaps the most basic is to do it yourself at home over a very hot bowl of water! However, there are a selection of fantastic facial steamers available to buy, which can make the job a whole lot simpler and safer too, no wandering about with kettles of boiling water. Perhaps the cheapest model available is the portable steamer. This is lightweight and very easy to use, just fill up the reservoir with water and turn it on. You can safely add essential oils to the water reservoirs of commercial steamers and one great advantage is that you can control the steam volume, having either a fine mist or a strong steam spray delivered. Some facial steamers are designed to be used with ozone which is antibacterial and dries the skin, giving even greater benefits to users.
For those with problem areas on the back or chest, using a steam room in addition to a facial steamer can bring noticeable benefits, although you will need to regularly use the steamer for a few weeks to see the best results. Which ever kind of steam treatment you choose, it is vital to wash your face or shower immediately afterwards, in order to remove all the dirt and grime which has been drawn out by the steaming process. If left on the skin this can actually make the condition worse.
