Acne is a skin condition that is most commonly associated with teenagers. However, it is something that you can get at any time of your life. Many myths related to acne suggest that this can occur because you eat too much chocolate or do not wash your face properly, but there are a host of reasons why acne might occur.
In this article, Skin Inspection, a specialist Dermatology clinic in London looks at some of the most common causes of acne, as well as a few suggestions on how to get rid of it.
What is acne?
Acne takes the form of pimples on the face and neck most often. It is usually a result of blockages in the pores which can produce blackheads, whiteheads, and other types of pus-filled pimples which can be very painful, as well as unsightly.
There are different types of acne, including fungal, cystic, hormonal, and nodular, and all of them can affect how the sufferer feels about themselves, as well as leaving them in discomfort and potentially facing permanent skin damage and scarring.
What causes acne?
Acne is caused by blocked pores or hair follicles. These can become blocked by things such as sebum, bacteria, or even dead skin cells. Once the pore or hair follicle becomes clogged, a pimple forms over the top which then triggers inflammation, which can be felt as both pain and swelling. It is also the reason why many of the pimples take on a red colour.
Many things can contribute to acne or cause an acne breakout to become worse. Acne is a largely hormonal condition. When testosterone becomes active during teenage and young adult years, the body can develop a sensitivity to it when combined with the surface bacteria on your skin and the substances that are released from your glands.
Other causes can include tight-fitting clothing, air pollution, oily or greasy personal care products that are not properly removed, stress, or side effects of medication. Some foods such as skimmed milk, whey protein, or high-sugar diets can lead to acne.
Types of Acne
Acne manifests in various forms, each representing different stages of severity:
- Whiteheads: These form when pores become clogged and closed off with the combination of sebum and skin cells but balloon out from the top layer of the skin.
- Blackheads: Unlike whiteheads, blackheads occur when the clogged pore remains open. The black appearance is due to the oil’s exposure to oxygen, causing it to oxidize.
- Papules and Pustules: When inflammation occurs, clogged pores can develop into papules (small, red, and tender bumps) or pustules (papules with pus at their tip).
- Nodules and Cysts: Nodules represent larger pimples that are hard-like lumps beneath the surface of the skin (and more painful), while cysts resemble crusty, pus-filled sores that may lead to scarring if left untreated.
How to deal with acne?
To deal with acne effectively, you first need to identify the cause. Acne tends to be ranked by severity, with grade one being considered the mildest form of acne, whilst grade four is severe nodulocystic acne.
Medication
A doctor may be able to offer you oral acne medication in the form of antibiotics or oral retinoids, and sometimes contraceptives and hormone therapy can help regulate the hormones within the body. Several topical acne medications can be rubbed into the skin in the same way as a moisturiser.
Several other options may work for treating acne or the scars that it leaves behind. For example, steroids can help to treat severe acne to help reduce inflammation, whilst lasers and light therapy are very effective on acne scars as they heat the collagen under the skin to create a wound healing response.
Treatments
Chemical peels can help to remove the top layer of old skin, allowing new, smoother skin to grow, and reducing the appearance of any scarring.
Acne is a skin condition that needs to be taken very seriously to treat its causes and to help minimise the long-term damage that it can do.
Managing Stress and Hormones
If acne is a result of outside factors such as stress, then it is important to look at why this is occurring and what measures you can take to help manage the stress in your life.
Although stress in itself is a larger subject, looking at ways to improve your stress level can have a positive impact over time. Increased stress can trigger a hormone imbalance which can then lead to additional breakouts of the skin.
Researching ways to manage stress and hormones, which may even include looking at your diet, the products you use and environmental elements to improve hormone imbalance can lead you on a path to ultimately help control the quality of your skin.
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Image 1, 2 – Image created by Safe and Healthy Life Team
