Keeping The T-Zone Breakout Free

What is the T-zone, and what’s the best way to keep this area free of breakouts?

The T-zone is the part of your face consisting of the forehead, nose and the area around your mouth, including the chin. It is so named because it’s shaped like the letter T.

Often the T-zone is oily, as the percentage of oil glands in this area tends to be higher than on the outer cheeks. Oily areas of the face are more prone to blackheads, whiteheads and large pores -- all the things that comprise acne. Some of this is due to genetic factors, so until science has figured out genetic recombination for the T-zone, we can only manage, not cure, the problem.

You can help manage your skin’s condition in the T-zone area several ways:

• Keep your hands and your hair off the skin. They bring extra oil and dirt to the area, which further clogs the pores.

• Use a facial astringent or shampoo for oily hair to remove excess oil.
• Wash your face with a liquid or bar containing AHAs or made with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, or both.
• Apply creams containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (or both) in small amounts to affected areas. Be careful of the chin area, which tends to get especially dry with these products. Prescription products are also available from your dermatologist.
• A matte-type absorbent powder may also be helpful in soaking up oil.
• Stay away from areas of the kitchen where foods are being cooked in oil. The oil can get on your face and make the problem worse.
• Do not pick at inflamed areas.

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Stop Wrinkles Before They Happen

Good habits and good genes can only take you so far when you're competing against the biological clock. Like it or not, there will come a day when you'll look in the mirror and realize that some of those "smile lines" are sticking around. You probably know that day can be delayed if you eat right, exercise and guard against the sun. But if you, like the rest of us, don't always succeed with the healthy-lifestyle approach, turn to this list of fallback options from Charlene Haines of Euphoria Day Spa.

• Oxygen Facials

• Botox Injections

• Facial Fillers

• Epifacial

• Thermage Non-Surgical Face-Life

Oxygen Facials

A truly blissful option, this facial cleanses, hydrates and exfoliates the skin while it pumps in plenty of fresh air, improving circulation, stimulating cell rejuvenation and killing any blemish-causing bacteria hiding in pores. Ever wonder how celebs like Jennifer Anistion look so luminous even without makeup? Now you know.

Botox Injections

This common procedure involves using small needles to inject traces of a substance that "paralyzes" the muscles underneath, where lines are forming — usually around the mouth and eyes and on the forehead. It temporarily freezes the muscles that form these expression lines, cutting down on the repetitive movements that help create wrinkles. It's fast, easy and relatively painless, but make sure to pick a doctor with experience, and undergo an allergy test first. You'll have to get Botox shots every few months, but the results are dramatic and, over the long haul, can delay the formation of wrinkles.

Facial Fillers

Gone are the days of lumpy, bumpy injections to plump up lips and sagging cheeks. Now it's all about Restylane or Radiesse, two natural fillers made of hyaluronic acid (a natural substance already present in the human body) that are injected right into creases and wrinkles to make them disappear. The effects last for about six months and are less prone to infection and clumping than previous treatments. Britney Spears uses Restylane to give her bow-tie lips a slightly fuller look.

Epifacials

A highly effective procedure that's one step below a laser treatment, this is actually nothing like a facial. Doctors turn an intense, pulsating light on your skin (officially known as nonablative rejuvenation) that fades pigmentation, reduces large pores, clears up acne and really does a number on fine lines and wrinkles. It's quick and fairly painless (you might feel a slight zap) and can take 10 years off your skin in a matter of minutes.

Thermage Non-Surgical Face-Lift

Non-Surgical Face-Lift One of the newest anti-wrinkle options to hit the market, this medical device uses radio-frequency technology to eradicate lines and wrinkles that formerly could be reduced only with a surgical lift. It works by chilling the skin and then applying tightening energy from radio frequency. It's not entirely without discomfort, but the results are worth it. Dermatologists prep patients with a topical anesthetic and a strong painkiller before getting busy.

Unless things are really headed south, Charlene advises, don't go under the plastic surgeon's knife. Radical procedures like face-lifts will yield disappointing results if they're done too early, she says. Better to prevent problems today so you won't have to fix them tomorrow.

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What Causes Acne?

Several factors play a role in why you getacne. Here's what doctors say are the most common causes:

Genetics. If your mother or father had acne as a teenager, there is a good chance that you will too.

Hormones. During adolescence, hormones called androgens become active and stimulate oil glands in your skin, increasing oil production. This, in turn, clogs

pores, causing pimples and blackheads. Hormonal changes around your period or birth control pills - starting or stopping - can also cause an acne flare-up. (In some cases, however, birth control pills are a treatment for acne.)

Stress. While stress can't actually cause acne, it will potentially aggravate this or any other skin condition.

Diet. Dermatologists aren't actually sure if diet plays a critical role in acne. Some experts, however, do believe that food allergies can trigger acne outbreaks.

Washing your face too often. This can aggravate the skin, causing acne to occur.

Greasy skin care products and oily cosmetics. Any product that clogs oil ducts is a culprit -- and may cause acne.

Medications. Acne can be a side effect of some drugs, including barbiturates, seizure medication and steroids.

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Treatments For Severe Acne

If you can count more than 10 blemishes on your face, youracneis considered severe and you should consult a dermatologist or family physician. Your doctor may suggest one of the following prescription medications:

Tetracycline. This oral antibiotic helps clear up the infection occurring inside clogged

pores.A caution: It can cause vaginal yeast infections and photosensitivity (to sunlight), and should not be taken while pregnant.

Minocycline and Doxycycline. Oral antibiotics in the tetracycline family, they fight bacteria and are broad range.

Retin-A (Tretinoin). A derivative ofvitamin A, this treatment comes in a gel or cream and is applied directly to the skin. It fights bacteria, reducesinflammationand opens blocked pores. Because it causes peeling, one can experience severe redness and irritation, and may become sensitive to the sun. Sometimes Retin-A is used along with benzoyl peroxide.

Adapalene (Differin). A

topicalRetin-A related drug. Milder than Retin-A, it causes less irritation and still works to unclog pores.

Accutane (Isotretinoin). Highly potent, this oral medication is prescribed for very severe acne only. Accutane reduces oil production, clogging of pores and bacteria in the skin. Its use results in skin dryness. Cautions: Do not take while pregnant or while trying to get pregnant because of potential birth defects. Doctors have recently discovered that this drug may be responsible for severe depression and other behavioral changes. A serious discussion with your doctor is extremely important before taking Accutane.

Azelaic acid. A gel or cream applied directly to the skin, this product exfoliates dead skin cells, preventing clogged pores.

Clindamycin Phosphate (Cleocin-T). This antibiotic applied to the skin is also an anti-inflammatory.

Sulfacet and Novacet. These sulfur drugs come in lotions that help reduce bacteria in the skin.

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What Are Acne Scars?

Acnescars are the result of pimples that have becomeinflamedor haven't healed properly. While some women are more prone to scarring because of heredity or skin color, there are precautions you can take to prevent scars and treatments available to significantly reduce their appearance.

There are two types of acne scars: pigmented scars, which leave behind a purplish-brown mark once the blemish goes away, and ice pick scars, which leave a small depression in the skin. The average whitehead is not likely to cause a scar because it's not inflamed. Having said that, don't pick at any pimples -- if you do, you run the risk of introducing bacteria that could cause infection.

Pigmented acne scars result from the collection of pigment cells in a blemish during the healing process. Darker-skinned women are more prone to this type of scar because their skin has a significant amount of pigment in it already.

The treatment options for pigment scars vary from over-the-counter products to more aggressive in-office treatments, depending on the severity of the scars. Bleaching creams, like Porcelana, that contain two percenthydroquinone, used in conjunction withglycolic acid-based lotions, are ideal for reducing the appearance of mild scars. It will take at least six weeks to see any noticeable improvement because, unlike sunspots, which are on theepidermis(the uppermost layer of skin), acne scars lie deeper under the skin.

If you don't see any improvement after two months, your doctor can prescribe a stronger hydroquinone-based bleaching cream to be used in conjunction with a

retinoidcream likeRetin-Aor Tazorac. The retinoids will help prevent further acne breakouts and will exfoliate skin cells deep within thedermis, where the scars form.

More severe scarring usually responds well to a series of chemical peels over the course of three to four months. Your doctor will most likely start with a 35 percent glycolic acid peel and gradually work up to a 70 percent peel. If you are experiencing severe breakouts in addition to the scars, she may choose a salicylic acid peel, which will help clear up acne while treating the scars. It will take three to four months (on average) to see results.

Ice pick scars, which leave crater-like impressions in the skin, are more common in lighter-skinned individuals. They usually result from more severe pustule-like acne, which can cause an indented scar if not treated quickly.

Ice pick scars are best treated with dermabrasion or lasers. Dermabrasion involves manually smoothing out the scar and surrounding skin with a diamond stone or small wire brush, and is commonly used on ice pick scars that don't respond to

topicalretinoids. Results are usually seen after one treatment, but to maintain them you will need to use a broad-basedsunscreendaily along with a retinoid cream. In more severe cases, a scar may have to be surgically removed before being smoothed out with dermabrasion.

As alternatives to dermabrasion, laser treatments are ideally suited to ice pick scars. The laser burns away the scar tissue, and the treated area will be red and tender for a few days. While it has also shown good results in the removal of pigment scars, laser treatment is not recommended for darker-skinned women because they have a strong chance of experiencing hyperpigmented spots. Instead, women with dark skin tones should stick to chemical peels and retinoids for the most effective results.

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