The Flea Life Cycle

To learn how to get rid of fleas, it is important to understand the life cycle of the flea.  The flea will pass through four stages in a life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.  During these phases the flea will be actively growing and developing into the blood sucking creature it grows up to be.  In general, a standard population of fleas will consist of 50% eggs, 35% larvae, 10% pupae and 5% adults.

The time it takes for the flea to go from an egg to an adult will vary from two weeks to eight months depending on the conditions that are present at the time.  Environmental factors like the access to food, temperature and humidity all play an important factor in the development of fleas.  The female fleas will lay out to 50 eggs after having a blood meal.  They can usually lay around 600 eggs during the course of their lifetime.

Adult fleas need to have a blood meal in order to survive.  Unfortunately, fleas can survive for up to one year without having any blood to feed on.  This makes it almost impossible for the fleas to go away without taking radical action on the fleas.  It is quite common for fleas to remain in their cocoon until there is a food source that they can feed on.

Fleas will live on a number of different hosts which include humans, squirrels, dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, chickens etc.  House pets are the most common way that fleas get inside a home.  If a home owner has a pet that goes outside to play, they should always check the pet for fleas on the animal’s fur coat.

This flea cycle can occur in almost any location.  This life cycle can occur in your home, the backyard, garden, or barn.  There are a number of different areas where the flea can continue their life cycle. This can be problematic if fleas have infested a home.  It can be very difficult to try and find all of the locations that they could be hiding.

I misconception that a lot of people have is that you need pets to have fleas.  This is simply not true.  You don’t have to have any pets for there to be a flea infestation in your home.  One flea that manages to latch onto a human can create a whole colony of other fleas in a matter of weeks.

In order for home owners to eliminate fleas from their home, they need to kill the fleas that are in each stage of the life cycle.  If you eliminate all the adult fleas you are forgetting about the other 95% of fleas that are in the other stages of the cycle.  An effective flea treatment program will work to effectively stop this life cycle from continuing.

The Effects of Fleas

Although fleas are commonly considered to be just a nuisance, they can a number of conditions to humans.  One of the most common things that occurs from flea bites is an allergic reaction.  If you are bit by a flea there is a could chance that you could notice swelling and redness in the bite area.  In some extreme cases bites can even lead to such things as anemia, tapeworms, and the stomach flu.

Besides the reactions that fleas can cause from their bites, they also work as transmitters of disease.  Fleas can transmit a host of disease by taking the blood from one carrier and infecting another.  It is important to use proper bug repellent if you think there is a flea infestation in your home to avoid getting bit by fleas.

Flea Control

Once you can understand how the flea life cycle works it is easier to learn how to get rid of fleas.  A lot of people don’t realize that the fleas will continue to persist unless you find a sensible solution that can tackle the problem.  If you simply round up all the adults, you would be missing the fleas that are in their egg, larva, and pupa stages.  As mentioned before, these three early stages make up 95% of the total population of fleas.

People who have pets that have flea infections will need to treat the areas that the pet is frequented.  If you have an outdoor pet you will need to treat your entire yard.  Likewise, if the pet lives indoors you will need to treat the entire house to eliminate any fleas that are living inside.  Failing to treat the environment that the pet lives in will not solve the problem.  It is essential to treat the entire area to kill all the fleas in the life cycle.

If you are able to control the flea eggs that are hatching, you will be able to control your flea problem.  Stopping the flea eggs from developing into adults is the best way to ensure your flea control works.  If a flea treatment isn’t working it simply means that you are neglecting a specific area.  Focus on treating the areas that you haven’t treated before and see if the problem still persists.

In order to work properly, a good flea treatment will take weeks to take full effect.  The exact amount of time for the flea treatment to work will depend on a number of factors.  One factor that has a significant impact on the treatment is the amount of fleas you have.  If it is a small infestation you might be able to kill all of the fleas effectively in one treatment.

Flea Treatment Options

The general approach to flea treatments is an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system that targets a number of different factors.  The IPM works by targeting the fleas at different stages of their life to effectively eliminate and control the flea population.

Adulticide is generally used to kill the adult fleas that are present in the home.  To target the fleas that are in their other stages you will use a development inhibitor and a development regulator.  These products are designed to prevent the flea development of early growth stages.

An all natural substance that is commonly used to treat pests is cedar oil.  This is an proven treatment that is very effective at eliminate fleas that persists on animals.  It is a great alternative to products that contain different types of chemicals and other toxic ingredients.

Whenever using any type of flea treatment that contains pesticides, it is important to take care when using it.  You might find that the flea treatment will product reactions in your pet if you are not careful.  Always read the instructions on any treatment option that you decide to take.

When dealing with fleas it is important to remember these three basic points:

1. Integrated Pest Management (treat fleas at all stage of the life cycle)

2. Treat the host and the environment

3. Treatments are recommended to be used for extended period of time

Although adult fleas can be killed using the adulticide to treat them, there isn’t another chemical that will consistently kill the fleas.  Growth regulators can only work to prevent the fleas from developing into normal adults, but they cannot stop the development all together.

It is also important to keep pets active in the rooms that are infested by fleas.  Because fleas are more attracted to animals than people, having a pet in a room is going to attract the fleas to the pet.  Although you might not like the idea of having your pet loaded with fleas, it is better than having a family member covered in fleas.  Fleas prefer animals and will latch on to them before they go after people.

One thing that you should always avoid when it comes to fleas is leaving a room empty in hopes to let the fleas “starve.”  As mentioned before, flea can last up to a year before they are starved out.  This is something that is impractical and should be avoided.  If you stop going into a room that has fleas, they will begin to move into other areas of the home.

3 Initial Flea Control Steps

If you notice fleas have entered your home there are some initial steps that you can take to try and solve the problem.  These steps are designed to try and control the flea population in your home and do not ensure that you will eliminate the entire population.  Because fleas can be active in any part of your home, this is an effective treatment for carpeted floors.

1.        Collect sheets, bedding, rugs and wash them in soap water.  Bath soap is an effective insecticide that can be used to properly control the flea population in your home.  While bath soap can be an effective treatment for some fleas, it is not guaranteed to eliminate the problem from your pets.

2.       Vacuum up the entire house.  Vacuuming produces a number of desired results.  The vacuuming can help to catch all the eggs that are laid in the carpets of your home.  Although the larvae often aren’t sucked up, it work to eliminate a large portion of the flea eggs.  Be sure that you remove your vacuum bag to prevent any of the fleas from getting out.

3.       Use a steam cleaner on your carpets.  Once you have finished vacuuming your entire carpet area you can then work to get the carpets steam cleaned.  The steam cleaning will effectively work to eliminate any larvae that have latched on to the carpets after you have vacuumed everything.

How to Get Rid of Fleas on People

Fleas can enter a person hair in a matter of minutes can cause itching.  The first thing you should do when you notice a flea on you is take a bath.  Bathing in warm soapy water is a must at the first sign of fleas on your body.  Take the time to ensure your entire body is soaked through – especially your hair.  Continue taking baths one to two times a day until you are sure that your flea problem is eliminated.

You will want to use a comb on your hair daily and try and drag out any fleas that are living in your hair.  There are special combs that are specifically designed to help drag out fleas from the hair.  It is important that you comb your hair ever day to ensure the flea population is not radically increasing.

How To Get Rid Of Fleas on Pets

Always be careful when it comes time to treating your pet for fleas.  There are a number of products out there that can be hazardous to different types of pets.  Reading the label before you use the treatment is a must for any type of flea treatment that is being used.  If a treatment is meant for a particular type of animal you shouldn’t use it on another animal.

Just like treating humans, the first thing you need to do with your pets is was them in soap water.  Make sure the water has plenty of soap to ensure that it can kill the fleas.  When the pet is in the water you can work to scrub him up and down.  Running a special flea comb through the hair of your pet can ensure that you take out all the individual fleas that are currently on him.

There are a number of sprays that you can use on your pets as well.  Before purchasing any type of spray for home use it is important to look up some product reviews that are available.  In general, product reviews can be a great resource when it comes to select a product that can work for your animal.

Popular Flea Control Products

Advantage Once-A-Month Topical Flea Treatment for Cats – This is a once a month treatment for cats that are infested with fleas.  It works specifically to kill the fleas before they are able to lay eggs and larvae before they are able to hatch into adults.  The product is specifically designed for cats that are at least 8 weeks and weight between 9-18 pounds.  The treatment works to prevent any re-infestation for up to 4 week periods.

Victor M230 Ultimate Flea Trap – This is a cleverly designed product that attracts and traps the fleas.  The non poisonous, odor free trap is safe to be used any small children and pets.  It will work to attract fleas up to 30 feet away in every direction it is put in.  The design of the trap works to lure the fleas by using heat, color, light, and a sweet odor.  People who continually flee problems should consider what this trap can do.

Merial Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Control For Dogs – This product is specifically designed to deal with flea problems on dogs.  It is a fast acting, long lasting flea control product that will work to eliminate fleas on your dog.  The formula is designed to offer continuous flea control for up to 30 days before it needs to be reused again.  The Frontline Plus was designed for dogs that weight between 45 to 88 pounds.

Fleabusters Rx for Fleas Plus – This is a solution for people who have flea infestations in their home.  You can use the Fleabuster Rx to rub into your carpet and work to eliminate the flea population.  It is an odourless, non staining formulate that is an extremely fine powder.  As a side benefit it can also kill roaches and ants.

Springstar S102 Flea Trap – This pesticide free permanent flea trap works to use heat and light to attract fleas up to 25 feet away.  The fleas fall through the grid on the trap and are trapped on the stick pad at the bottom of the trap.  It can work to for up to 3 months before you need to replace the pads on the bottom of the trap.

Find A Treatment That Works For You

If you have a flea infestation it is important to treat the host and the environment the host is living in.  If your infected pet lives in the backyard, treating the backyard is a must for the fleas to go away.  The same can be said about treating an indoor pet.  It is essential for you to kill all of the fleas at every stage of the life cycle to prevent them from coming back.

The type of flea treatment that works best for your will vary depending on your situation.  If you have a dog that continues to get infested with fleas, you will want to look for a good product that can prevent fleas from laying eggs on your dog.  Similarly, if you have tried a treatment that doesn’t seem to be working, try something new.  Learning how to get rid of fleas doesn’t have to be difficult if you are willing to try different things.  Patience and persistence are two things you will need to eliminate any flea infestation that you have.

Because there are around 10,000 different species of ants, it is useless to list all of the different species that are available.  Although there are a number of different species, there are 7 common species of ants that the most prevalent in homes.  These common household ants are listed below.

7 Common Types of Household Ants

Argentine Ants

Carpenter Ants

Red Fire Ants

Ghost Ants

Odorous Ants

Pavement (Sugar) Ants

Leaf Cutter Ants

Understanding the General Behavior of Ants

The general structure of an ant colony is divided into 3 distinct types of ants.  In every colony you will find a queen ant (egg laying ant), short lived male ants, and the worker ants.  The worker ants are the ones that are responsible for any foraging that that takes place in your garden or home.

One of the reasons why ants are so successful at finding food in the house is they are capable of finding the shortest path to a food source without having any visual cues.  Ants are also very adept at adapting to changing environments.  When an ant finds a new food location, they lay down a trail of pheromones that helps to identify the food source to other worker ants.

Because ants are omnivorous, they have a distinct taste for all kinds of food.  With a unique ability to turn a meal from almost anything, ants are able survive off almost anything.  Each species of ants will prefer a different type of food.  Some species prefer eating other insects and dead animals, while certain ants will favour eating sugar, sees, oils, vegetables and other protein sources.

Given the ant taste for common household foods, it is not surprising that they often invade people’s homes in search of their next meal.  People who have a home that is infested with ants need to look at the different ant control solutions that are available.

Basic Ant Control

There are two basic situations that people encounter when it comes to ants.  The first situation deals with the ant colony being on the outside of your home and foraging inside the home.  The second situation is when the ants are nested inside your home.  The type of ant control strategy that you use will depend on the type of  infestation that you have in your home.

Exterior Ant Colonies

If you have an ant colony that is living outside your house you should consider looking for a treatment options that can deal with this specific problem.  Having the ant colony located on the exterior of your home is the better problem to have.  The ant control options that you will use for this scenario will involve preventative measures and sprays to help eliminate the problem.

The first thing you will need to do when dealing with ants that have invaded the different passage ways into your home is seal all entry points.  Any holes or cracks leading into your home will be exploited by the ants.  Ants have an instinctive way of finding their way into the smallest little hole or crevice leading into the home.  By sealing and caulking all these entry points, it will make it harder for the ants to enter your home.

The next thing you need to do is remove the pheromone smell that the worker ants have laid down.  By removing this trail you can work to help eliminate the path to your home.  Washing the trail with a good detergent can ensure you are able to properly remove the ant pheromone.

Use baits and insecticides to effectively eliminate the ants that are in outside nests.  Ant baits are very effective if you place the bait directly on the trail that the ants use.  Placing the bait on the right spot will ensure that they bring the bait back to their queen, killing the entire colony.  If you are able to locate the ant nest you can use an insecticide to kill all the ants that are living in the nest.  Always ensure that you read the directions on any chemical you use before starting a treatment.

Interior Ant Colonies

When an ant colony is located inside a home it can be harder to eliminate them.  People who are living in hotter climates are more susceptible to having ants that are living inside their home.  These ants are often attracted to typical food products that you will have lying around.  It is quite common for people to discover these ants while opening the cupboards looking for the sugar.

When treating interior ants that live inside a home it is important to avoid using residual repellent on the ants.  While they can reduce some of the numbers of ants in a home, you will find that they can often replenish their numbers rapidly.

An effective treatment for interior ants is good ant bait.  As stated above, it is important to ensure that the ant bait is picked up and taken back to the colony.  If this transaction occurs, there is a good chance that the bait can help eradicate the ant problem.  One issue that can arise with ant bait is it may not be effective for a particular species of ant.

Finding the ant nest and eradicating it is the most effect way to kill ants that are living inside a home.  Treating an entire ant nest with insecticides can ensure that it is properly treated.  The main issue that people have with attacking the ant nest is location.  Locating an ant nest is often a difficult procedure because you might have to look on your roof or other difficult to reach location.

If an ant control situation is too difficult to resolve you should consider calling the pest control.  Finding the ant nest is often a challenge that some people prefer to be left to the professionals.  Looking for a sensible treatment option that you are comfortable with is a good approach to take when dealing with most ants.

Conclusion

Learning how to get rid of ants is not difficult if you are prepared to try different things.  Ultimately, finding the ant nest and killing the entire colony is often the most effective strategy for those looking for a quick solution.  However, this is not necessary if you use the right insecticides or ant bait to control the ant population.  Try multiple ant control treatments to ensure you can find something that works for your ant problem.

A common mistake that a lot of people make when getting rid of bed bugs is declaring victory too soon.  It is quite common for people to assume that their bed bug problem is gone if they don’t spot them after a quick cleaning.  Getting rid of a bed bug infestation will require a number of measures to ensure that they are properly exterminated.

About Bed Bugs

A bed bug is a small parasitic insect that lives on the blood of warm blooded animals.  Over the past thousands of years bed bugs have been around causing skin rashes, allergic symptoms and psychological effects to people who have been bit.  There are around eight different types of these bugs that are generally brown in color and measure up to eight millimeters long.

Because of the small size of these bugs, they can hide in a number of different areas in the home.  They can be located in bed mattresses, bed frames, carpeting, laundry, linen, and even furniture.  These bugs are extremely difficult to find because they only come out during the night when they are feeding.  If you are doing a basic search through your bed, there is a good chance you won’t spot them.  They hide in small crevices and hard-to-find areas of a home that are difficult to locate.

With the introduction of insecticides in the 1940s, the bed bug population was largely reduced in most modern countries.  However, since the increased amount of travel due to globalization, there has been a major resurgence in bed bugs around the world.  The problem with these insects is they can easily go from a hotel room to your luggage.  Once these bugs are in your luggage they can go everywhere you travel.  This is one of the leading causes of homes becoming infested with bed bugs.

Bed Bug Inspections

Most people who experienced bed bugs for the first time often go into a state of denial.  I remember getting bit for over 3 weeks before I decided I wasn’t having allergic reactions and there weren’t mosquitoes in my room.  Once I realized I had a problem with the bed bugs, I was able to quickly find a solution.

Anyone who suspects they may have bed bugs in their home needs to do an immediate inspection of the whole house.  Although bed bugs are commonly found in bedrooms, they can often live in couches and other furniture that is frequently used by house members.  In fact, sometimes people get bed bugs from guests who end up visiting their home and transporting them from their clothes.

Inspecting your mattress and your bed frame are the first two areas that you need to look at.  Using a flashlight can often help make it easier to locate these bugs around the home.  Flip your mattress over and do a thorough inspection of the seams of the mattress underneath.  Physically put your fingers in the under folds and fold them over.  This will ensure that you don’t have any part of the mattress that they bed bugs can hide in.  You may also want to look at possible holes you might have in the mattress.

Once you have finished thoroughly looking through your bed frame and mattress, you can then start looking at other areas in your room.  Carpets are a common place that these bugs can hide in.  The area of the carpet that you will want to inspect for bed bugs is the corners of the carpet that are connecting with the wall.  Using a flashlight, inspect the corners of your carpet and make sure you don’t spot any small bugs that are running up and down.

Continue this inspection of all upholstered furniture or crevices that the bugs are likely to hide in.  If you are able to identify bed bugs in a specific area, continue to inspect other areas to ensure you eliminate them from your entire house.  If you aren’t able to completely eliminate the bed bugs, they will return.

Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

Do the Laundry

The two things that are good at killing bed bugs are heat and cold.  Washing all of your clothes in hot water will eliminate any of these bugs that are in your laundry.  Make sure you thorough wash all of your sheets and linen and keep them away from your room until you eliminate the bugs.  Placing all of your laundry in sealed plastic bags and keeping them outside can ensure that they don’t infested.

Although it can be quite a pain to wash all of your clothes and bed linen, it is something that you must do.  Doing all of your laundry is especially important if you have recently visited a hotel that you suspect might have bed bugs.  A common misconception that people have is that high end hotels don’t have infestations.  Although you are less likely to contract these bugs while staying in a high end hotel, it is still a possibility.

If you have a deep freezer you can also put your entire luggage in the freezer over night.  By placing clothes and luggage in the deep freeze it can work to kill any bed bugs that you might have living in your stuff.  This is a method that a lot of hostels use when treating backpackers who have been infested with bed bugs.

Vacuum Cleaning

The first thing that you should do if you spot a bed bug is immediately use a nozzle attachment for your vacuum to suck up all the bedbugs and eggs that they produce.  While this method might not get rid of all of the bed bugs in your home, it is a good place to start.  Focus on vacuuming all of the crevices in your mattress, bed frame, carpets and other parts of the home that can be infected.

Vacuuming up all of the areas that are infected can help reduce the problem by getting rid of a number of the bugs that are currently living in your home.  Repeat this process for a few consecutive days to ensure you are able to physically eliminate as many bed bugs and their eggs as possible.  If you have vacuumed for a few days and you still experience these insects you will want to look at other methods that are available.

Steam Cleaning Treatments

A common tool that professional exterminators use to eliminate these bugs is steam cleaning.  If you have a steam cleaner available you will want to use it on every surface that you possibly can.  The steam will directly kill the bed bugs once they have impact.   This treatment method will require you to know all of the areas of the home that are infected with these bugs.

People often prefer using these treatment methods over insecticides because they are safe.  Because you are not using any chemicals in your home you can be sure that you won’t have any problems with pets or small children.  Furniture that is upholstered will need to be properly steamed cleaned in the home.

The major issue with steam cleaning is you need to target every area that is infested.  Just like vacuum cleaning, if you miss an area of your home, the bed bugs will return later on.  It is essential for you to identify and eliminate all of the bugs that you have in your home.

Insecticide Treatments Options

Another treatment that you can use to eliminate bed bugs is insecticides.  There are a number of over the counter products that you can use to kill a number of insects.  The key to any type of chemical spray is to follow the instructions.

Every product that you purchase will have instructions that will tell you how it works.  Always ensure that you pay close attention to these directions to ensure you can properly eliminate your bug problem.  Before using a product you will want to do some research into the ingredients of the product.  Avoid using any type of product that is harmful if you have any young children or pets in the house.

Professional Treatments

The one thing that the above treatments all have in common is FINDING the bed bugs.  If you aren’t able to locate the bugs in the first place, no treatment option will work for you.  People who don’t feel confident in their own abilities to locate these bugs need to seek professional help.

These bugs are extremely stubborn and persistent when it comes to elimination.  If you have tried some of the other treatment options to no avail, you need to consider looking for a professional treatment.  Depending on the exterminator you use, they may use a combination of the above suggested treatment options.

One type of treatment that has been introduced as a bed bug treatment option is the ThermaPure treatment system.  This unique system uses heat to exterminate bed bugs that are living in a home.  This means you don’t have to worry about finding all of the bed bugs to kill them.  The ThermaPure system can elevate the temperature of your home to up to 140 degrees.  This options is great for people who have a large infestation of bugs in their home.  It is also a safe alternative for people who don’t want to use any type of spray or insecticides in their home.

The downside to the ThermaPure treatment options is it can be quite expensive.  Because the whole house needs to be completely sealed off and pumped full of heat, you can expect to pay upwards of a few thousand dollars for your treatment.

Prevention

One of the best ways to avoid bed bugs is to avoid them in the first place.  Taking the proper steps to prevent these bugs from entering your home in the first place, will save you a lot of sleepless nights.  Using the following steps can help ensure that you don’t have to deal with a future bed bug problem.

Step 1 – Always be wary of any second hand furniture, bedding, or beds that you receive.  Although someone might be thinking they are doing a good deed by giving you free furniture, they could be passing on these deadly bugs.  Always inspect every piece of furniture that you buy from top down.  Looking through all the crevices and ensure that you don’t transport these critters into your home.

Step 2 – Be especially careful when you are traveling.  One of the most common places to contract these bed bugs are hotels that have a high turnaround of people.  If you are staying in an all inclusive resort in Mexico, you don’t know who stayed in that room before you.  Take the steps to elevate your luggage above the ground when you are staying in your hotel room to ensure you don’t have these bugs climb aboard.

Step 3 – Be on the lookout for any possibility of contracting these bed bugs.  If you invite a friend over who has been down on his luck and living on the streets, there is a possibility they could be carrying a number of bugs.  Always ensure that you are smart when it comes to people entering your home.

Learning how to get rid of bed bugs is not difficult if you know where to start looking.  The key to bed bugs is to avoid them in the first place.  Taking the proper steps to ensure that your luggage doesn’t get contaminated with these bugs can save you a lot of time in the future.  Always ensure that you focus on trying to find a solution that can work for your needs.

Resources

BedBugs.net

If you are looking for information on how to get rid of acne, follow the link just given. If you end up getting the occational pimple, then here’s how you can treat it.

What Are Pimples?

When sebum, hairs, and skin cells all clump together, they may forum what’s called a skin plug (or comeogen). This becomes a virtual breeding ground for bacteria which may cause a reaction in your body’s immune system. The result is that the area becomes swollen.
There is certainly no age limit to who may get pimples, though they  are more prone to form in individuals with hormonal changes such as teenagers and pregnant women. It’s not unheard of for men and women in their late 40’s to 60’s to get pimples, however.

There are different “kinds” of pimples out there that you might suffer from.

1. Whiteheads:
   These are pimples that remain under the skin surface. Because of this, they often have a hard white shell.
2. Blackheads:
   Blackheads are basically pimples on the surface of the skin. They form when skin plugs push out of the pore; the oxegen in the air reacts with the skin plug, turning it dark in appearance. If blackheads are your problems, check out our how to get rid of blackheads article for more information on how to deal with this issue.
3. Papules:
   These are basically small bumps on the surface of the skin which are tender to the touch. They are pink in color.
4. Cysts:
   Deep seeded pimples that are filled with pus. When cysts appear, acne scarring may occur. If you suffer from acne cysts, you will likely need a powerful oral treatment such as Accutane to get rid of acne cysts.
5. Pustules:
   Are a type of pimple that are red on the bottom of and white at the top – the white being from pus inside of the top of the pimple.
6. Nodules
   Pimples that are inside the skin. They tend to be hard to the touch as well as painful to the touch

Causes of Pimples

Pimples tend to form when the skin pores get blocked. There are a number of reasons why this may occur. Pimples can be managed through lifestyle changes (changing to a healthy diet, change your makeup type), changes in hygiene (such as washing your face twice a day, applying acne treatments to your face, etc), or even just pure luck.

There are a few things that are linked to pimples, however.

Hormones

Hormones are probably the biggest contributor to pimple outbreaks. Why? Because when hormones are particularly active, skin oil production soars which  may lead to pore blockages and pimple formation. Basically, the more skin oil being produced by your pores, the more “chances” your pores may get blocked.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes a huge change in your hormonal balance which may cause pimples. The hormones of a woman run wild during pregnancy, prompting changes in the body that produce pimples.

Birth Control Pills

You may end up causing pimple outbreaks when you change your birth control pills to new ones or start taking them. This is because these pills mess with your hormonal balance. Ironically, taking birth control pills can actually reduce acne and are a known acne treatment.

Menstruation Cycles

The fluctuating hormones caused by menstruation may cause pimples.

Medication

Some medication has been linked to causing acne outbreaks on the neck, back, and face.

Cosmetics

Makeup can be a huge contributing factor to pimple development. Makeups or cosmetics that contain oil can block the pores of the skin, which in turns causes skin plugs to form. You should look for non-comeogenic makeup products or hypoallergenic cosmetics. You may even want to cut back on the amount of makeup used or even (gasp) avoid it.

Heredity

Chances are that if your parents had pimples, you will too. Heredity can play a very big factor in whether you will suffer from pimples or not.

How To Pop a Pimple

If you have a couple pimples on your face, then popping them may be a good option. If you leave a pimple full of pus, it may harden or remain full of pus for months. Popping it may give the pimple the best chance of going away! Keep in mind this is not a pimple cure or a long term pimple preventative treatment, it’s simply a means of dealing with a couple pimples you currently have. For long term pimple preventative treatments, see our get rid of acne article.

Here are the steps to popping a pimple:
1.    Don’t Pop a Pimple Right Away!

While popping a pimple might seem to be the right thing to do, it can actually be the wrong thing to do. Popping the pimple before it’s ready to pop can cause an infection to break out around the area, making the pimple look even worse than before. Not a good thing.
That’s not to say you can’t pop a pimple, but you want to make sure it’s ready to pop. You can tell a pimple is ready to be popped when it’s full of puss and soft to the touch. If it’s hard,  leave it alone!

2.    Get The Right Stuff Ready

Before you do anything, wash your hands thourughly. If you don’t, you may cause yourself a lot of grief by spreading infection to other parts of your face.  We recommend the following:

• A small needle
• Hydrogen Peroxide or Rubbing Alchohole
• Some soft tissue paper or gauze

3.     Wash your hands

It’s very important to wash your hands before you touch your face. Your fingers and hands are fair seething with germs, bacteria, oil, and dirt. You don’t want to smear this over the affected areas.

4.      Dip Needle in Alcohol

You’ll want to dip your needle in some rubbing alcohol to ensure you don’t get an infection after popping the pimple. Simply dip the  tip of the needle in a drop of alchohole. To be “sure” everything is disinfected, apply a bit of alcohol to your hands too.

5.      Prick the Pimple

Hold the area around the pimple together with both fingers in a slight squeezing motion. The idea here is not to squeeze the pus out the pimple, but to enlarge the pimple so you can lance it. With your other finger, push the tip of the needle through then squeeze out the push lightly.

Note: it’s important that you only prick the pimple lightly. Don’t spear it or dig up the area with the needle.

You will apply a gentle squeeze to the area with your fingers until the white pus is gone. When you see blood or clear fluid, the pimple has been emptied.

6.       Clean Pimple Area

The next step is to dab the affected area with some alcohol. A gauze works well for this. Pour a tiny bit of alcohol onto a gauze then wipe the area around the deflated pimple. Don’t touch the area with your hands!

7.      Apply topical acne treatment cream

Now, this step is very important because if you don’t apply some sort of acne treatment product, there is a good chance that your pimple will become infected and full of pus the next day. You have a few options here:

• Benzoyle Peroxide
• Salicylic acid
• Tea Tree Oil

In our getting rid of acne article, we talk about the differences between these popular acne treatments.

What’s the most effective topical acne treatment out of the three? It’s our opinion that Benzoyle peroxide is the best of the bunch because it does two things: helps exfoliate the pore which reduces blockages that may cause pimple breakouts and introduce an oxygen rich atmosphere inside the pore of the skin which actually kills the bacteria.

No matter what treatment you choose, you should apply it to the affected area twice a day – once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Assuming you have popped the pimple, your pimple should dry up and disappear within a few days. It will likely take around two weeks for the spot to disappear.

Commercial Pimple Treatments

There are a number of commercial treatments out there. These are more for preventative acne treatment and usually include three things (at least):

• A face wash product
• A topical acne treatment cream
• None-pimple-causing moisturizer

The most effective of such products (that we’ve found) are:

#1. Clear Pores

#2. The Acne Regimen

#3. Proactiv

There are literally dozens of such acne treatment systems out there, but we’ve found that the three listed are the most effective. Note that there are a LOT of scam acne treatment products on the market, so certainly don’t buy any acne treatment system without some thorough research on your part.

Pimple Home Remedy Treatments

If you want to get rid of pimples, there are a few other remedies that you might want to look at besides acne treatment creams. These are what you might call pimple home remedies so we can’t guarantee they work. Still many people swear by them (as does the author of this post), so you might find them a cheap means of getting rid of pimples.

The Toothpaste Pimple Treatment

Before going to bed, apply a bit of toothpaste to the affected pimple area before going to bed. If you are lucky, the pimple might be significantly reduced when you wake up. You will of course wash the toothpaste off in the morning. Repeat this every night until the pimple is significantly reduced.

This works best if the pimple has been popped, but it may still prove affected even if the pimple has not yet been popped.

The Lemon Juice Pimple Treatment

Another home remedy you may find effective is to apply a drop of lemon juice 2-3 times a day to the affected pimple area. You may find the lemon juice helps to dry out the pimple.

Vitamins

There are claims that pimples might react to niacin (take 100 mg twice a day) and Vitamin A. Vitamin E (400mg a day) may also prove to be effective. Some claim that 30 mg of zinc twice a day might help.

Coriander Juice and Turmeric

Mix half a teaspoon of coriander juice and combine it with a small pinch of turmeric. Before going to bed, apply this paste to your pimples and wash off in the morning.

Garlic

You can apply raw garlic to the affected area twice a day. You want to cut a piece of garlic up and rub it over the pimple. You might also try eating several raw garlic seeds once a day for 2 months – some claim that the seeds of garlic help to purify the blood.
Coriander Juice Pimple Home Remedy

Fenugreek

You can treat pimples  by making a paste of Fenugreek leaves (mash up a couple leaves and mix with a bit of water). Apply the past to the pimple/s before going to bed and wash it off in the morning.

Orange Peels
Mash up a couple pieces of orange peel and combine with water. Apply to affected area and leave on for 30 minutes. Do so once a day.

Epsom Salt Bath
Some claim that taking a bath once or twice a week in water mixed with Epsom salts (a warm bath) may help your skin shed pimples

Final Word on How to Get Rid of Pimples

Getting rid of pimples can a crap shoot, we admit. Some treatments may work and some may not work as well (or at all). We recommend at the very least you practice a proper facial hygiene regimen which includes washing your face twice a day and applying some sort of medicated acne treatment (such as Benzoyle Peroxide) to your face. You may, however, wish to give some of the home remedies a try. And by all means, don’t discount changes in lifestyle — you might find that drinking 8 cups of water and eating a healthy diet (lean meats, complex carbs, lots of veggies and fruit, avoid sugars and fatty foods) makes a world of a difference too! Don’t try something for a week or two then give up. Getting rid of pimples might take months!

The bottom line is to start being proactive about getting rid of pimples!

One of the most difficult skin issues people experience is getting rid of blackheads.  If you are looking for a fool proof method of getting rid of blackheads, there dirty truth is that there is no “easy” way to remove blackheads.  That’s not to say that it’s impossible – it is certainly possible to cure blackhead problems – but you might be looking at a battle to find an effective way of treating the problem. You see, what works for me may not work for you and  vice versa.

Having said that, let’s get started.

What are Blackheads?

Blackheads are known as “open comedones.” There are actually two parts to a blackhead – the inner plug which is beneath the skin and the outer plug which is visible to the eye. The outer plug may be a yellow to blackish coloration.

The basic cause of a blackhead is where excess skin oil clogs up the pores. This blockage prevents the skin oil from reaching the surface of the skin due to some cause. When the pore finally does open, the skin oil (sebum) is exposed to the air and the oxegen reacts with the substance, turning the color dark. Hence the name ‘blackhead.’

There are many things that may contribute to blackheads:

Genetics

Hormones

Pollution

Humidity

Physical Irritation

Diet

Cosmetic/Skin Care Products

The biggest culprit is usually hormones which may cause increased oil production in the skin. The more oil produced, the more likely you will get blackheads. Teenagers and pregnant women are especially prone to blackheads and pimples due to the hormonal changes experienced during this period.

Another major contributing factor to the development of blackheads comes from low quality skin care products and makeup. One thing that may cure your blackhead problem is to comply eschew the use of any cosmetic product.

Now if you want to treat blackheads, you are going to have to take a two step approach. First, you are going to want to take active steps to prevent new blackheads from forming. This is called blackheads prevention and should be the ultimate long-term goal. You will also need to remove the blackheads you currently have on your face as well; this is called blackhead removal.

How to Prevent Blackheads

There are many blackhead treatments available to you: off-the-shelf medicated treatments, facial hygene regimens, and powerful oral medications.  Here’s where to start:

Blackhead Treatment Option.  Facial Regiment

1. Incorporate a proper facial hygiene regimen into your life. Each morning and night you should wash your face with a mild, non comeogenic soap or facial wash. Do not use a regular bar of soap on your face. These often contain agents that can clog your pores and make your blackhead problem even worse.  If you have dry skin, you should choose a facial soap/scrub that has gentle, non comeogenic moisturizer in it.
2. Exfoliate your face several times a week. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells from your skin which then allows the natural oils to flow more freely to the surface of your skin. There are both medicated and non medicated exfoliants that you can choose from – if possible, use a medicated exfoliant with 1% or 2% Benzyole peroxide or salycic acid.
3. Reduce the oil on your skin. There are a number of products that will allow you to do this easily. We recommend oil-absorbing papers as one means. There are also gentle facial masks you could use as well, such as a clay mask. By reducing the oil present on your skin, you prevent the oil from later drying out and clogging up your skin.

You can find a number of off-the-shelf acne/blackhead products. Most of these contain one of the more proven medications:

Benzoyle Peroxide (available in 1% to 5% formulations, and 10% with a prescription)

Benzoyle Peroxide (also called BHA’s), works by penetrating the pores, killing bacteria and actually reducing the amount of skin oil your pores produce.  If you can’t use BHA’s, you can substitute them for alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA’s). Note that these type of acids are generally said to be less effective than either Benzoyle Peroxide or Salicylic acid as they do not actually penetrate into the pore itself.

Salicylic Acid

This is another medication that works similar to Benzoyle Peroxide. Most people agree that Benzoyle Peroxide is more effective than Salicylic acid, however.

Tea Tree Oil

For those who like natural treatments, Tea Tree Oil is a completely natural substance that comes from the Australian Tea Tree. Tea Tree Oil has anti-microbial properties and is said to be as effective as a 2% Benzoyle Peroxide formulation.

Note, there are a number of acne treatment systems that come packaged with a facial cleaner, acne cream, and non-comedogenic moisturizer. Some of the better reviewed products are:

ClearPores

Proactiv

Blackhead Treatment Option:  Diet Changes

Changing your diet may either directly or indirectly impact the oil production in your skin, and therefore affect the number of blackheads form. Officially, dermatologists claim that diet does NOT effect blackheads or acne, but there is certainly enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that there may be a connection. Our recommendation is to avoid eating foods with saturated/trans fats, excess sugars and starches. Stick to lean proteins (chicken breasts, turkey breasts, cottage cheese, lean beef cuts, etc), complex carbs (brown rice, sweet potatoes, yams), and plenty of green vegetables. Drink plenty of water (8 cups a day).

The author of this article has found this such a diet change to be very effective for reducing the number of blackheads present on the face.

Blackhead Treatment Option: Acne Home Remedies

There are a number of blackhead home remedies that you might consider looking at. There is no guarantee these will cure the problem, but if you are looking for a “free” natural approach to treating blackheads, then it’s worth giving these a try.

Here are some of the more popular ones:

Spice Mix: Combine one teaspoon of coiander juice and one teaspoon of turmeric powder, mix with water, and dabble on blackheads before going to bed. Wash off in morning

Lemon Juice: apply lemon juice (or lime juice) directly to blackheads and pimples before bed and first thing in the morning

Honey: applying a mixture of lemon juice and honey to your blackheads and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. This is reputed to one of the more effective home remedies for acne and blackheads

Tea Tree Oil: apply pure tea tree oil to affected areas once a day. This is a PROVEN means of treating blackheads and acne pimples

Blackhead Treatment Option: Acne Medications

There are a number of effective oral medications. The basic two types are medication types used to treat acne: medications which include Retinoids and medications that include hormone blockers.

On the Retinoid front, you have  Differin, Tazorac, Retin-A, Avita, and Renova. The most popular hormone blocker medication for acne is Accutane. Accutane is probably the most effective medication used to treat acne – but it’s only used for severe acne, such as cystic acne. In any case, you MUST consult your dermatologist before you can take oral medications.

How to Remove Blackheads

If you have blackheads and you want to get them out now, you need to remove them. If you are patient, it is possible the blackheads may gradually fall out.

To Remove Blackheads:

1. Wash your face with a gentle face scrub or mild, non-comeogenic soap to remove dead skin cells and bacteria from your face.
2. Pat face dry with a CLEAN face cloth. Do not scrub, but pat – scrubbing your face can irritate the skin.
3. Place a warm towel on your face and hold it to your face for 5 minutes. This well help to open up your pores and make it easier to remove the blackhead. Another option is to take a hot shower for 10 minutes.
4. Pat dry your face with the towel again.
5. Apply pressure on both sides of the blackhead and squeeze, making sure you don’t break the skin. If the blackhead won’t come, do NOT force it – you may cause scarring. It’s important that you push from underneath the blackhead to encourage it to pop out. We suggest you only try removing the blackhead once or twice – if that fails, you could damage your skin or make the blackhead worse, possibly causing a pimple to form.
6. Once the blackhead is removed, put some sort of topical acne medication where the blackhead was removed. You can use Tea Tree Oil, Benzoyle Peroxide, or Salicylic Acid.

There are a few tools that can make removing blackheads easiser

Pore Strips

These have mixed reviews. Some people swear by these and others say you should avoid using them as they can injure the skin.  They can be very effective for removing large batches of blackheads, especially from the nose area.

Keep in mind that this will only remove blackheads temporarily – many deeper blackheads won’t be removed and unless you take preventative blackhead measures, the blackheads will return.

Blackhead Extractors

This are special tools that help you extract blackheads. They are pretty effective, though perhaps more time consuming than squeezing blackheads out with your hand.

Getting Rid of Blackheads – The Final Word

Getting rid of blackheads is not something that you can do overnight. In all truth, it will likely take you a few months of trying different treatment methods before you find something that works for you.

You may find you need to use a dedicated daily acne treatment program combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle that makes a difference.

There are a number of acne treatment systems on the market that make outrageous claims. Before you make any sudden acne treatment purchases, do your research. There is no instant acne cure.

What Is Acne?

Acne can describe a number of skin problems such as blackheads, whiteheads, and zits.  Acne is most common in teenagers, but it can effect adults too (this is called adult acne) and even newborns! The initial response you might to pimples is to squeeze them or pick at them – don’t! This can make the problem even worse and lead to scaring.

What Causes Acne Pimples?

There are a number of so called “causes” behind acne. The real truth is that scientists are still not completely sure what exactly causes acne and how to cure it completely. Still, we do have a basic understanding of the way pimples form.

Your hair follicles have tiny glands that produce a substance known as sebum (or more commonly known as “skin oil). The natural process is for the oil to mix with the skin cells and eventually reach the surface of the skin. But when overproduction of sebum occurs, or some sort of blockage occurs in the poor (too many dead skin cells, or something on the surface of the skin impedes the oil), the skin oil becomes trapped within the pore. The skin oil then mixes with the dead skin cells and bacteria, forming blackheads or whiteheads (see you post about how to get rid of blackheads). If the area becomes infected (due to the bacteria present and the body’s reaction to the bacteria), pimples form. Walla! Acne is formed.

How to Get Rid of Acne Pimples

So you have acne. What can you do about it? Many things actually – the next 2000 words are devoted to some of the more effective and proven acne treatments.

Proper Facial Skin Care Regimen

This is probably one of the most important things you can do to treat your acne problem. A proper facial regimen includes three things:

1. Wash face with mild facial scrub/non-comedogenic soap
2. Application of Acne Medication
3. Application of some non-greasy moisturizer

While you don’t need any sort of acne medication, most people who suffer from chronic acne will find they need some sort of acne treatment to get rid of pimples for good.

Follow an Acne Treatment Program

There are a number of popular acne treatment regiments for sale.  These offer you an “all in one” treatment solution that you can follow. While these treatment systems are not a requirement, they can be pretty effective if you use them. How effective? It depends on your skin and how long you use the treatments. Certainly a large number of people who use some of the treatment systems completely eliminate their acne problems. Still, there are no guarantees.

If you are interested, here are the three most popular treatment programs.

• Proactiv – the most popular program and the most expensive. Reviews are mixed.
• ClearPores – this program has a very good reputation.
• The Regimen – the most affordable “all in one” acne treatment solution. May or may not work, however.

We want to make it clear that these treatment kits basically offer you three things:

1. A facial cleaner
2. An acne treatment solution (Benzoyle Peroxide or Salycicy Acid)
3. A moisturizer to combat skin dryness caused by the acne treatment solution

If you are on a shoestring budget, you can put together your own kit by just buying these items yourself on Amazon.com

Use an Acne Medication

There are a number of acne medications on the market. They fall into either topical acne treatments or oral acne treatments (you ingest the treatment via pill). There is a world of a difference between the treatments with the oral treatments requiring a dermatologists prescription.

Topical Medications for Acne:

• Benzoyly Peroxide Based Treatments

This is one of the most frequently used acne medications on the market. It’s the stable ingredient for most over-the-counter acne treatments as gels, lotions, and scrubs.  BP works because acne cannot live in oxygen rich environment. BP creates said environment inside the pores which reduces the bacteria population (the P. acnes bacteria) and thus the number of bacteria-induced breakouts. Benzolye Peroxide also helps rid the skin follicles of extra dead skin cells. Clearing away such obstructions will reduce the chance of comedone blackheads forming (blackheads) and thus prevent potential breakouts.

Benzoly Peroxide comes in 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and even 10% formulations. The stronger the formulation, the more effective it is. However, it’s also more likely to irritate the skin.

• Salicyclic Acid Based Treatments

Salicylic acid is another effective acne treatment and like Benzoly peroxide, is found in many over-the-counter treatments. It works as an exfoliate by helping to remove dead skin cells from the pores. Like BP, Salicylic acid can penetrate the follicle, helping to keep the pore free from cellular debree. By reducing the number of blockages, it can help prevent comedone formation and the resulting infection (pimples) that may follow.

Difference between Salcylic Acid and Benzoyle Peroxide for Acne Treatments?

Both products work as an exfoliant, but BP has the added bonus of preventing the formation of bacteria because it induces oxegen into the pores. Because of this, it’s generally considered a more effective treatment than Salicylic acid. Both treatments can be used in conjunction, though you should do so gradually.

• Tea Tree Oil

This medication comes from the Australian Tea Tree. The substance has been used as a traditional Australian aboriginal treatment for skin cuts, burns, and infections. Tea Tree Oil contains terpenoids which are antiseptic and antifungal  in property.

Studies have shown that Tea Tree Oil has the equivilant effectiveness of 5% benzoyl peroxide for people with mild to moderate acne. It’s been shown to have a significant impact on reducing inflammation of the acne lesions. Compared to BP, it’s perhaps been shown to be slightly less effective and takes longer to work. However, Tea Tree Oil has far fewer side effects such as itching, burning, and drying out of the skin. Note that these remedies can also be used to treat blackheads and whiteheads too.

Oral Medications for Acne:

• Oral Antibiotics

These work by reducing the p. acne bacteria present. You will always start with a high dosage at first and move to a lower dosage with time. This type of medication is used for moderate to severe acne.

The most common oral antibiotics are:

• erythromycin
• tetracycline
• minocycline
• doxycycline

The list is not comprehensive, but a list of the more popular oral antibiotics — new ones come out every year or two.

• Oral Contraceptives

Contraceptives (also known as birth control pills) are an effective way to treat moderate to severe acne in women. These work by reducing the skin oil secretions by inhibiting hormone production. Oral contraceptives are a good choice for women needing birth control since you ge can prevent pregnancy while reducing acne.

Some of the more popular oral contraceptives used to treat acne are:

• Yaz
• Estrostep
• Ortho Tri-Cylen

Note: you will need to consult a doctor before purusing oral contraceptives to reduce acne.

• Isotrentinoin

This is perhaps the most “powerful” acne treatment around. The most popular treatment containing Isotrentinoin is Accutate.Isotrentinoin medication works by shirnking the sebaceous glands which then reduces skin oil and therefore reducing the number of comedones produced in the skin pores. Accutane is only ever recommended for the most severe cases of acne (such as cystic acne) because of the terrible side effects that may occur. You must consult a dermatologist before starting any sort of Isotrentinoin treatment.

Avoid Oil-Based Cosmetics

Acne forms when skin oil is trapped in the pores. Oil-based skin products can contribute to skin-oil being blocked. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you either avoid cosmetics completely if you have acne (not a likely option for you women) or seek out cosmetics that are oil-free (acne makeup). Even if you do wear makeup that’s not oil-based, you should seek to minimize makeup use.

Wash Your Face with Mild, Non Comedogenic Soaps

Washing your face with harsh soaps is a sure way to make your acne condition even worse. It’s best to only put gentle products on your soap – gentle face washes, non-comeogenic soaps and moisturizers.

Don’t Touch Your Face!

You can make your acne problem worse by touching your face. Yes, this also means you should avoid squeezing your pimples or otherwise touching your zits. While it can be tempting to pop that zit, there are some problems with doing so. Your fingers, for one, may be covered with oil and bacteria. Touching your pimples may spread these to your affected area. By touching your pimple, you may inadvertently damage the sebaceous gland which then could create an impacted pimple.

You can still pop a pimple if you absolutely have to, but make sure you either use a sterilized needle to lance it, then gently squeeze with your fingers.

Drink More Water

Water can help flush the toxins out of your body. If you are not drinking 8 cups of water a day, you should be. In fact, it could be that simply drinking more water could drastically reduce your pimples.

Try Steaming Your Face

Steaming your face can help to open up your pores which can prevent blockages. If you can make this a part of your daily facial regimen, you should see some benefits.

Avoid Stress

Stress can cause an increase in sebum production in your skin. This will almost always translate into additional breakouts. It’s quite common for people to note that in stressful times, breakouts occur more frequently.

Stress can also contribute to acne breakouts because certain stress hormones are released by your hypothalamus. As this hormone is produced, your body goes into the “fight or flight mode” – your heart rate increases, your perceptions are enhanced, and your skin produces more oil (sebum) in the glands.

You can avoid stress through lifestyle choices:

• Healthy Diet (eating lean meats, complex carbs, veggies, and drinking lots of water)
• Exercise
• Avoid Drinking and Smoking

Make Good Life Style Choices

Although there is no “direct” link between acne and lifestyle, there may be some connections.

• Eat Healthy!

You might be able to reduce acne breakouts by living a healthy life. That includes avoiding foods with saturated fats/transfats, and eating  lean meats, complex carbs (brown rice, yams, sweet potatoes), and a regular supply of green vegetables. Drinking lots of water is important too.

• Exercise

Try Home Remedies for Acne

There are a number of so called home remedies that people swear get rid of pimples. Many of these remedies are not substantiated, but you might try some of them – they seem to work for some people and they are cheap/free to try

• Toothpaste — this is probably the most popular. Apply toothpaste to your pimples before going to bed and wash it off in the morning.
• Backing Soda – Mix baking soda with a bit of water and apply the paste to your pimples before going to bed. Wash off in  the morning
• Lemon Juice – Put pure lemon juice on your pimples twice a day

Exotic Acne Treatments

• Low-intensity light

Acne has been shown to be vulnerable to low intensity light. Acne breakouts are caused because the P. acnes bacteria are attracted to clogged pores. Those bacteria often cause a reaction with the body, resulting in swelling and liaisons. Low intensity light treatments will help to kill the bacteria. This treatment is effective at reducing or eliminating acne as long as you continue the treatments.

• Microdermabrasion

One treatment that may be effective for some are microdermabrasion treatments. Microdermabrasion is a process where tiny aluminum oxide particals are bombarded over your face. It sounds painful, but it’s not. At the same time your face is “blasted” with these particles, they are vacuumed from your skin. Microdermabrasion only effects the outer layer of your skin which leaves your skin looking smoother and cleaner. It will take more than one treatment, however, to see good results (usually over a few months).

• Laser Acne Treatments

It seems like laser is used in everything these days, from teeth whitening to acne treatments. Laser acne treatments work like this: pulsating light is focused on the affected areas of the skin which creates a heat bubble under the skin. This heat bubble causes thermal damage to the sebaceous glands (responsible for causing sebum oil), which reduces their production of skin oil. Less oil means less breakouts. The treatment will cause slight discomfort, however, and your face may swell up for a few days.

Final Word on Getting Rid of Acne

Acne can be a devastating condition – it not only effects the skin but your confidence as well. The good news for you is that you can get rid of acne for good. The key thing to remember is that you need to be proactive in your approach to treating your acne.

Whatever treatment option you seek out, make sure you follow the treatment every day. Consistency is key as is time. No treatment works right away and for many of the treatments, you can expect it to take 2-4 months before you start to see improvements!