The truth about Acne.
Free Beauty and Skincare Tips!
Adults and most parents assume that teenage breakouts are just an inevitable fact of life - and that, teens just have to deal with it.
The truth is, almost all teens and pre-teens get acne or pimples. Acne usually shows up on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders.
Acne break-out is not a serious risk to health but it can be tough on a person’s self-esteem, more so for teenagers. Acne can also cause permanent scars.
Peanuts, sweaty sports, relationship dramas, dirty gym clothes aren’t actually the cause of breakouts. The real cause of acne is not known. It is known that acne can be inherited from either parents – that is the genetic component in acne. There are medications that can cause acne too. Cosmetics that are oil-based and have a greasy consistency may also clog pores and cause acne. It is not clear why some people are more prone to acne than others. Acne results from hormonal changes going on in a teen’s body. Hormones called androgens play a role. Androgens increase during puberty in both sexes, enlarges the skin’s oil glands and produce excess sebum. It clogs pores, then gets infected – this results in acne. Androgens also can increase because of hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting/stopping birth control pills.
Acne can appear as whiteheads (pores looking like white dots), blackheads (black bumps looking like some stuff can be pushed out through the follicles), papules (red lesions and inflamed or infected), cysts (deep pimples with pus).
There are several factors that can make acne worse. Extreme facial scrubbing, squeezing out the blemishes can make acne worse. Pre-menstrual hormonal surge in adult women and stress can do its number on acne too.
Acne home remedies - bet you’ve seen them all (and tried a few, too). Of course, the problem with home remedies like the ones you see on TV and online is they don’t deliver the results you need.
The good news is that acne can be treated effectively by a healthcare professional. If your acne is bothering you, it makes sense to talk to an experienced doctor about the right solution for your acne. You need an effective treatment plan that gets to the root of the problem and can deliver great results for you.
In the meantime, here are simple tips to help keep your skin healthy and temporarily control breakouts:
KEEP IT CLEAN: Wash your face in the morning and at night. Use a mild, soap-free, fragrance-free facial cleanser.
BE SUN-SMART: Sun exposure is worse especially when you have breakouts. Stay out of direct sunlight as much as you can. When you do go out, use a non-clogging sunscreen.
DON’T SQUEEZE: Picking at pimples can actually push the infection deeper into your skin and can cause scarring. SO LEAVE THEM ALONE.
SEE YOUR DOCTOR: Don’t stop after you see short-term results. Acne is a commonly recurring condition. It is important to continue your treatment with a doctor who is experienced in the treatment of acne and reduce acne scars.
This article was originally published in
Vol.1 Issue 29 of:
