Private Understanding Acne

Acne is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “a disorder of the skin caused by the inflammation of the skin glands and hair follicles; specifically, a form found chiefly in adolescents and marked by pimples especially on the face.” Acne does not just affect teenagers–even people in their 30s and 40s are not spared from having this condition.

Causes

The main cause of acne is excess oil and dirt on the skin. The sebaceous glands underneath the skin produce sebum, the skin’s natural moisturizer. An excess in sebum production mixed with dirt will eventually form a blockage. These blockages develop into blackheads, eventually giving way to swelling and redness.

There are other factors that contribute to acne. Among them is genetics. If one of your parents had a lot of acne, there is a higher chance that you will have more acne than the average person. There is also a higher probability of you having acne in your 40s and 50s.

Another factor that contributes to acne is cosmetics. It is ironic that the same stuff used to cover up one’s blemishes also contributes to it. Creamy foundations and oil-based make-ups are main culprits. Less creamy foundations and non-comodogenic beauty products are less likely to cause acne.

Some things that don’t cause acne, however, are chocolate and fatty, greasy food. There have been many stories blaming chocolate and fatty food for acne breakouts. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to back up this claim. Nevertheless, it is advised to lessen the consumption of certain foods if it is observed to cause acne.

Prevention

There are simple ways to prevent acne from breaking out. It is very important to maintain a clean face by washing it twice a day with a non-drying formula. To prevent aggravating breakouts, it is a necessary to avoid touching one’s face because this can increase buildup of dirt and hasten the growth of bacteria. It is also advisable to keep your hair away from your face as this can increase irritation.

While acne does go away over time, it is necessary to fight the temptation of popping a pimple. It might be very tempting to squeeze a zit until none of the yellow pus is left but that is a sure fire way to leave pock marks on your skin.

If you have a giant pimple on your forehead that will surely ruin your date the next day, it is advisable to visit your dermatologist so that you can get a cortisone shot or prescription medications in the form of oral antibiotics and retinoids or topical medicine such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Do not use to many different types of acne medication at the same time. It can cause more irritation and more acne than when you started. Do not use noxema it clogs pores more than clears them. Avoid eating lots of sugar as sugar causes outbreaks most of the time.