Homemade Acne Masks for Face

Acne is a common problem and strikes men and women of all ages. Hormonal changes in your body are the main cause of acne breakouts. Teenagers and women going through menopause can attest to this fact. Hormones trigger your sebaceous glands to produce too much sebum, the natural oil used to lubricate your skin. The sebum builds up in your pores along with dead skin cells and blocks your sweat glands. Bacteria then enter into the picture and acne is formed.

Acne is not caused by not washing your face, in fact excessive washing can irritate and spread acne. Always be gentle and use lukewarm water and pat your face dry. This will help to prevent the spread of the bacteria that causes acne. In this article you will recipes for natural, homemade acne treatments but you also find information about types of acne and other acne remedies.

Types of Acne

To better understand what causes acne, it is good to understand the different types. You may have only one type or a combination.

Acne vulgaris are cysts and nodules that are deep in your skin. This type of acne should be treated by a dermatologist as it can cause scarring and prescription medication is needed to treat it.

Blackheads are formed by a partially blocked pore. Dead skin cells and sebum block the pore and the melanin in your skin cells cause blackheads to develop a dark appearance.

Whiteheads are completely blocked pores. These are characterized by small white bumps caused by trapped sebum and dead skin cells.

Papules are small red, inflamed and tender bumps that do not come to a head.

Pustules are what most people think of as acne. These lesions are red, inflamed and can be tender to the touch with a large whitehead.

Treatments for Acne

You can treat your acne with over-the-counter products, but these can be very drying and irritate your skin.

Common treatments include products containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur and resorcinol.