I had Acne for more than half of my life and I know how hard it is waking up in the morning to check on the mirror if your face miraculously healed when you were asleep. I have glowed up and managed to have my acne under control and I am here for all those who are in the same point of life. This article is an introduction to acne and everything that you need to know. Let’s dive in.
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Meaning of acne
Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with dirt, oil and dead skin cells. It typically manifests as pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, or cysts, and most commonly appears on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders.
Types of acne
- Comedones: These are a type of acne caused by clogged hair follicles. They can be blackheads or whiteheads. Blackheads occur when pores are clogged with oil and dirt, and the material oxidizes, turning black. On the other hand, whiteheads occur when pores are clogged, but the material remains trapped under the skin’s surface, appearing as small, white bumps.
- Papules: These are small, red, tender bumps that occur when the hair follicles become inflamed.
- Pustules: These are similar to papules but contain pus, appearing as white or yellow bumps with a red base.
- Nodules: These are large, painful, solid lumps that form deep within the skin and can be hard to the touch.
- Cysts: These are painful, pus-filled lumps that are larger than nodules and can cause scarring. They develop when the contents of a blocked pore leak into the surrounding tissue, leading to an inflammatory response.
- Truncal: Acne that appears on your chest or back without affecting your face.
Common areas where acne occurs
Acne normally occurs on the face. Additionally some people might get it on the neck, chest, back, and shoulders.
What causes acne
Hormonal changes.
Excessive production of sebum by the skin.
Buildup of bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells deep which clogs hair follicles and pores.Ā
To some extent- Genes, unhealthy foods or even certain medications.
Remedies for acne
Adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Visit a dermatologist to get to the root cause of your acne.
Avoid harsh skincare products as they only irritate your skin more.
You can gently scrub your face to clean out your pores and unclog them.
Drink alot of water to flush out any acne causing toxins from your body.
Try to incorporate vitamin c foods as they hydrate the skin and helps it glow.
Try facial icing to calm down inflammations caused by acne and to also tighten your pores.
Maintain a good skincare habit for example washing your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser.
Avoiding touching your face too much as the bacteria transferred can cause breakouts.
When to see a doctor
When you want a diagnosis of the root cause of your acne.
If your acne persists even after using over the counter creams.
Common acne questions
- Can acne be completely cured? While acne can be effectively managed and controlled with proper treatment, it may not be completely curable for everyone. However, with the right approach, many people can achieve significant improvement and long-term control over their acne.
- Does stress cause acne? Stress doesn’t directly cause acne, but it can trigger flare-ups in some individuals.
- Does diet case acne? For some people yes, for example, I had to completely forgo dairy products and sugar for a while when I was trying to get my acne under control.
Tips I learned along my glow up journey
Benzoyl peroxide and Salicylic acid
Both products work but they need to be more than 2% I came to that realization after a through research.
Mixing alot of products at once does not help, stick to a specific regime and have patience.
Some contraceptives are good as they balance your hormones, ask your doctor if she could do a recommendation.
In conclusion; Dealing with acne is tough but as soon as you learn what get a working regime, you can seriously cure it or bring it under control.
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