What is acne?
Acne commonly called pimples (Acne Vulgaris) is a skin disease that involves the oil glands at the base of hair follicles on the face, back, chest, shoulders and neck.
Acne start to occur mostly during puberty in man when the sebaceous or oil glands come to life and are stimulated by hormones produced by the adrenal glands of both males and females.
How is acne formed?
Human skin has pores (tiny holes) which connect to oil glands located under the skin, these glands produce Sebum, an oily liquid which carries dead skin cells through the follicles to the surface of the skin.
Whenever these follicles get blocked, there is an accumulation of oil under the skin which leads to the formation of pimples.
Skin cells, sebum and hair can come together and form a plug, this plug gets infected with bacteria, resulting in a swelling. A pimple starts to develop when the plug begins to break down.
Acne start to occur mostly during puberty in man when the sebaceous or oil glands come to life and are stimulated by hormones produced by the adrenal glands of both males and females.
How common is acne?
It is reported that more than 75% of adolescents and young adults will get acne at some time. Acne can affect people of all races and all ages. Acne affects both men and women, young men often suffer from acne longer because of testosterone which is present in higher quantities in young men.
6 Types of Pimples
- Whiteheads : remain under the skin and are very small
- Blackheads : clearly visible, they are black and appear on the surface of the skin. Remember that a blackhead is not caused by dirt. Scrubbing your face vigorously when you see blackheads will not help
- Papules : visible on the surface of the skin. They are small bumps, usually pink
- Pustules : clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are red at their base and have pus at the top
- Nobules : clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are large, solid pimples. They are painful and are embedded deep in the skin
- Cysts : clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are painful, and are filled with pus. Cysts can easily cause scars.
6 Myths about Acne
We’ll just come out and say it; there is a lot of misleading and downright wrong information out there about acne.
Thankfully, scientific research has dispelled a lot of these ‘acne myths’. We now have a pretty good idea of what does and does not cause acne. Let’s take a look at seven of the biggest of these acne myths.
Myth 1: Acne is caused by eating certain foods
This one has been around a long time yet is supported by exactly no scientific acne treatment proof. Although certain individuals may seem experience outbreaks when they eat certain foods, there is no universal laws that apply to everyone. Eating pizza, chocolate, nuts, and greasy foods will not increase your acne.
Myth 2: Acne is related to dirt or having dirty skin
Although having clean skin has other benefits, dirt does not cause acne. Acne is formed under the surface of the skin and is due to build-ups of sebum and dead skin cells. It’s not dirt that clogs your follicles.
Myth 3: Washing your face all the time will clear up acne.
Having clean skin is not the answer to preventing acne. Overdoing it as far as washing your face can actually make matters worse. Stripping your skin of oil could lead to future breakouts.
Myth 4: Only teenagers get acne
It is true that 9 out of 10 teenagers experience acne, but it is also true that about 1 in 4 adults get it also. Acne seems to be connected with hormones which would explain why teenagers have such a high incidence of acne, but adults are also going through hormonal changes at various times in their lives.
Myth 5: Stress causes acne
Scientific evidence shows that stress is not that large of a factor in acne. It was believed for many years that stress caused bouts of acne but it simply isn’t so.
Myth 6: Acne can be cured
Many people view acne as a disease that can be permanently cured. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Acne can be controlled and prevented through proper skin care, but it cannot be cured.
Home Remedies For Acne
How To Look After Your Skin If You Are Acne Prone;
One of the most common misconceptions about acne is that it’s caused by dirt. It’s not! Acne is caused by a combination of factors you can’t control, like your hormone balance and the natural pace of your skin’s renewal system.
Fortunately, there are a number of things you can control that may help you keep your acne in check. Begin by following these simple suggestions for healthy-skin hygiene.
Don’t over wash:
Since dirt is not causing your acne, excessive scrubbing and washing won’t make it go away. Try to limit yourself to two washings per day — anything more than that can leave your healthy skin dry, and your acne-prone areas irritated. Habitual over-washing may also stimulate extra oil production, which could result in more breakouts.
Be careful not to harsh scrub:
It’s okay to exfoliate, but be sure to use a gentle formula with small, smooth grains. Avoid products with almond or apricot shell fragments; they can irritate or even tear your skin and further aggravate your acne.
Say no to alcohol:
If you use a toner, avoid products with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or common rubbing alcohol. A strong astringent, alcohol strips the top layer of your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. The result is often dry and red skin,possibly more blemishes.
Don’t squeeze or pick:
Squeezing or picking your blemishes — with fingernails, pins or anything else — can force bacteria deeper into the skin, causing greater inflammation and infection. You’ll also increase the damage to the surrounding skin, so the blemish is more likely to leave a permanent acne scar.
Keep Hands off affected area:
Propioni bacterium acnes (the bacteria that causes breakouts) is a normal resident of your skin; it doesn’t lead to acne until it gets trapped inside the hair follicle. Excessive touching of your face, including rubbing or even resting your chin in your hands, can drive bacteria into your pores — where it can begin its dirty work.
Wash off after working out: When you exercise, your movement generates heat; clothing and equipment cause friction. Until you shower off, heat and moisture are trapped against your skin, creating an ideal breeding ground for the spread of bacteria. So whenever you can, shower off immediately after exercising.
Don’t go to sleep with makeup on:
Only use makeup that is noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic – you should be able to read this on the label. If you cannot find it, ask the shopkeeper or pharmacist. You should use makeup which does not have oil and does not clog up the pores
Try and keep hair away from face:
Hair collects sebum and skin residue. Keep your hair clean and away from your face.
Avoid too much sun:
Too much sun can cause your skin to produce more sebum. Several acne medications make it more likely that you will be sunburned.
Use an electric shave:
If you shave your face, do it carefully. Use either an electric shaver or safety razors. If you use a safety razor make sure the blade is sharp. Soften your skin and beard with warm soapy water before applying the shaving cream.
How Acne Can Get Worse?
- Menstrual cycle- girls and women with acne tend to get it worse one or two weeks before their menstrual period arrives.
This is probably due to hormonal changes that take place. Some people say they eat more chocolate during this time and wonder whether there may be a connection. However, experts believe the worsening acne is not due to chocolate, but rather to hormonal changes. - Anxiety and stress- mental stress can affect your levels of some hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which in turn can make acne worse. Again, stress can make some people binge-eat. Experts believe the culprits are most likely the hormone levels, rather than the binge-eating.
- Hot and humid climates- when it is hot and humid we sweat more. This can make the acne worse.
- Oil based makeups- moisturizing creams, lubricating lotions, and all makeup that contain oil can speed up the blocking of your pores.
- Greasy hair: some hair products are very greasy and might have the same effect as oil based makeup. Hair products with cocoa butter or coconut butter are examples
- Squeezing the pimples- if you try to squeeze pimples your acne is more likely to get worse, plus you risk scarring.
Acne Scar Treatment
Acne scars develop after severe cases or when the acne has been forcibly picked or scratched. There are many types of acne scars, each entirely treatable.
The only sure method of acne scar treatment is prevention early on.
In general, you should never pick or squeeze acne, especially inflammatory acne or “pustules”. Squeezing forces infected material deeper into the skin, causing additional inflammation and possible scarring.
But there are many acne scar treatment options. All acne scar treatments are short procedures – fifteen minutes to an hour – but recovery times vary from fifteen minutes to many months.
Scabbing, redness, swelling, flakiness, dryness, bruising and uneven skin tone are common post-treatment effects. Acne scar treatment can cost anywhere from $50 to over $3000. Ask a dermatologist which type of acne scar treatment is right for you.
Dermabrasion works on shallow acne scars. For decades, sandpaper was used to scrape away damaged skin, allowing new skin to grow in its place, but now machines with rotating diamond edged wheels are used.
Laser resurfacing is a newer resurfacing technique, with the same effects as dermabrasion. Penetration depth into the skin is more easily controlled with a laser than with dermabrasion and other methods.
Chemical peels are designed only for the lightest of cases. It involves application of different types of acid to the skin in order to remove the top layer so that a smoother layer can surface.
Punch techniques are used for deep acne scars. Punch replacement or excision involves removing the pitted scar, followed by a skin graft or suture. Punch elevation, on the other hand, just cuts the scar loose and allow it to float up to the level of surrounding skin.
Subcision is a method whereby the scar tissue is broken up underneath the surface of the skin, forming a pool of blood under the scar. The blood clot helps form connective tissue under the scar, leveling it with the surface.
Dermal fillers are used for deeper acne scars. Material – often collagen or fat – is injected under the scar to bring it to surface level. Injections usually last about six months, although research into the longer lasting materials continues to this day.
Nutrition Tips For Acne Prevention
Acne Nutrition Tips – Studies show that diet does not play a role in either the cause or the treatment of acne. However, what is recommended for acne preventative care is this: what is best for your body is best for your skin, especially since your skin is the largest organ of your body.
So here are healthy vitamins, minerals and other supplements that have been known and recommended to prevent and help conquer acne breakouts:
Tip 1: Vitamin A or Retinol is found not only in some cosmetic creams but also in liver, fish oils and dairy products. Produced by plants, this vitamin is also known as called Beta-carotene, and is found in yellowish-orange fruits and vegetable; yams, cantaloupe, carrots apricots, and in green vegetables like spinach, kale and parsley. Beware that high doses of Vitamin A are toxic.
Tip 2: Vitamin B Complex. These vitamins are found in leafy vegetables, fish, milk, eggs and whole grains and have many functions. For example, although B-2 can irritate acne, it can help alleviate stress. B-1, B-6 and B-12 are also known for proving stress relief. And B-3, in avocados, eggs, peanuts, lean meat and liver, reportedly reduces cholesterol level, has an anti-inflammatory effect on skin and improves your metabolism and circulation, improving acne in some studies.
Tip 3: Vitamin C – A form of this vitamin, the C ester has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has helped penetrate skin and prevent the return of acne. It is being tested for repairing damage to scar tissue from teen years.
Tip 4: Vitamin E, in almonds, broccoli, peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat germ and vegetable oils, has been said to help with scar tissue healing, but this is considered a myth by many healthcare professionals. Instead, researchers are considering that a form called tocotrienol (often referred to as high potency E or HPE) may carry antioxidant properties that may be able to aid the skin when ingested.
Tip 5: L-Carnitine- this supplement is reported to help repair skin damage from acne for young and old.
Tip 6: Zinc (found in eggs, mushrooms, nuts and whole grains) and selenium (a trace mineral in most soils and absorbed my a variety of vegetables) are known to improve the overall health of the body, including the skin.
Conclusion
To sum it up, beating acne means taking care of your skin, making good lifestyle choices, and maybe getting advice from experts.
By knowing what causes acne and finding a plan that works for you, you can win the fight against this skin issue and feel better inside and out.
References
Ayer, J., & Burrows, N. (2006). Acne: more than skin deep. Postgraduate medical journal, 82(970), 500–506. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2006.045377
Everything You Want to Know About Acne https://www.healthline.com/health/skin/acne
