Silicic Acid for Acne
Many people suffer from acne. There are a host of remedies, cures and treatments available that work in a variety of ways. Because there are multiple causes for acne there are multiple types of treatments. One of these is silicic acid gel, an over-the-counter treatment available in most pharmacies. Does this Spark an idea?
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Silicic Acid
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Silicic acid is a form of silica, a trace element found in many plants and animals that helps maintain structural strength, as well as elasticity and flexibility. Silicic acid is related to silica gel, a granular substance that absorbs moisture. Silica gel is often used in packets to absorb the moisture in various boxed products, keeping them fresh. Silicic acid, on the other hand, is used as a skin care product.
Acne
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Acne occurs when sebum, secreted by the oil glands, blocks the hair follicles, causing swelling, which manifests as pimples and lumps on the skin. The reasons for overactive sebum production are unknown. Acne can be individual pimples or groups of pimples. If these rupture, the surrounding area may become inflamed; if not, then the pimples usually become whiteheads, which are closed clogged follicles, or blackheads, in which the clogged follicle opens and reacts with the oxygen in the air, turning it black. Bacteria on the skin can sometimes enter the clogged pores, making acne worse. Silicic acid is often used as a preventative measure to relieve acne.
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Prevention
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Silicic acid comes in gel form and is applied to the face like a face mask. It should be applied and rinsed off twice a day. Silicic acid binds with bacteria and viruses on the skin and neutralizes them. For this reason, some people apply silicic acid masks to their faces to clear their pores and to try to stop them from being clogged or infected. It also removes excess grease and dead skin cells.
Treatment
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Silicic acid is a complementary treatment, which means that if you suffer from bad acne already it may work best when combined with another treatment. Because silicic acid neutralizes bacteria, it can be used to prevent acne that already exists from being infected, and so may help other treatments to swiftly reduce acne by keeping the affected area clean.
Considerations
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It is best to consult your doctor when deciding on any acne treatments. This is especially true if you wish to used silicic acid as a supplementary treatment, as it may not react well with what you are currently using.
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References
- Photo Credit clay face mask image by Steve Lovegrove from Fotolia.com
