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.
Acne can be affected by things such as hormones, especially the hormone testosterone high in both both boys and girls during puberty; genetic factors as acne seems to run in families; stress, possibly because stressed people tend to touch their face more often and so spread bacteria;and some chemicals. Contrary to popular belief acne is not caused by eating chocolate or being dirty and it is not infectious.
There are many effective treatments for acne and your doctor will be able to prescribe the most appropriate one for you. There are also a number of self-help treatments which you can try. Basic hygiene is important to get rid of bacteria on the skin, so you should wash twice a day with a gentle cleanser and try to wash your hands before you touch your face, for example when applying make up.
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.
Adding herbs and essential oils to your steamer just before use, can bring many additional benefits for your complexion. Lavender is held to aid relaxation and can a very effective way of reducing stress, which is a known contributor to acne outbreaks. Mint too can be used to dissolve the grime clogged in facial pores and make it easier for it to be flushed away. Other herbs and oils provide more general benefits, like rose hips which is great for skin regeneration.
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.
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