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.
The symptoms of acne are spots, redness and inflammation of the skin. Most commonly affecting the face and neck, the spots can also extend to the chest, back and upper arms of the sufferer. Most people have a combination of whiteheads, blackheads, red spots and hard red nodules just below the skin which are often painful. Acne is caused when the sebaceous glands, located just below the surface of the skin produce too much of an oily fluid called sebum. The excess production of sebum blocks up the tiny pores of the skin which contain the hair follicles. This leads to the formation of whiteheads and blackheads. Bacteria begin to thrive in these conditions and the bodies immune system kicks in to combat this. It is the bodies immune response which causes the redness and inflammation found in acne.
There are some factors which are known to contribute to acne. Hormones, for example testosterone, known to be high in both boys and girls during their teenage years seems to aggravate acne. Stress is also a contributing factor, one theory being that stressed people touch their face frequently and so help to spread bacteria. Acne also seems to have a genetic cause, since if your parents had acne, you are more likely to suffer from it too. There are however a lot of misconceptions about acne – that it is caused by poor hygiene, or eating chocolate, for example, these are not true.
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. Although people with very severe acne are advised not to use steam treatment, for the vast majority of suffers, steaming can really help clear the complexion since it 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.
To increase the effectiveness of a home steam, some people add herbs or essential oils to the water. These can have very beneficial effects. Rose hip for example is high in vitamin A and useful for skin regeneration. Mint can help to break down the dirt and oil in your pores making it easier for them to be flushed away. Since stress is thought to play a role in acne outbreaks, adding lavender a known relaxant to your steam treatment may help.
While it is possible to steam your face at home over a bowl of very hot water, there are a number of facial steamers available to buy which make the job less messy and are often more effective to use. The come in a variety of designs and price ranges, so you should be able to find one which suits your needs. Portable steamers, for example, are relatively cheap to buy and very convenient to use – you just fill up the reservoir with water, add a few drops of essential oil if required and turn the control to mist or steam. Other facial steamers can be used with a gas called ozone which dries and acts as as antibacterial agent on the skin. Facial saunas too are an effective way of improving your complexion.
Once you have finished your steam treatment, you must always wash your skin immediately afterwards to remove all the impurities which have been drawn out by the steaming process, otherwise you will make the condition worse. The results of steaming your skin in this way will not be seen for a few weeks, in common with all other acne treatments. But if you continue to regularly cleanse your skin in this way, you should be rewarded by a much improved complexion.