What is Acne?
Many people end up with acne throughout their lives. It is a skin condition that happens if your skin follicles become blocked with either dead skin cells or oil. It is especially common during your teen years, as your body produces more oil than in other periods of your life. However, acne can occur at any time, and it’s not uncommon for older people to have adult acne.
What Are the Different Types of Acne?
Acne isn’t a one-size fits all skin condition. There are different types of acne.
Whiteheads and Blackheads
Both whiteheads and blackheads are also called comedones. This is the most common type of acne.
- Blackheads: These are open comedones that open on your skin’s surface. They have a darker tint due to oxygen in the air rather than dirt.
- Whiteheads: These are closed comedones. They appear as raised bumps under your skin’s surface. They remain the colour of your skin.
Inflammatory Lesions
This type of acne is more likely to cause your skin to scar. There are multiple types:
- Cysts: These are large lumps that develop under your skin, are typically painful, and contain pus.
- Papules: These will appear as small, red, raised bumps. They are caused by infected or inflamed hair follicles.
- Nodules: This type of acne forms under your skin’s surface and are solid and often painful lumps.
Pustules: Acne that appears as small red pimples with pus at the tips.
What Are the Causes of Acne?
Acne is caused by your skin’s pores getting clogged with dead skin cells and oil. Your pores have glands that produce an oily material called sebum, which can then plug the pores and cause the growth of bacteria. Then, your white blood cells attack the bacteria causing skin inflammation and acne.
There are multiple factors that can lead to developing acne:
- Diet
- Genetics
- Infections
- Stress
- Hormone changes
What Are Some Common Acne Myths?
There are many myths about acne floating around. Here are a few of the most popular ones.
Tanning Will Clear Up Your Skin
While getting a tan might make you feel better about yourself and temporarily hide your acne, it’s ultimately going to make it worse. Tanning can cause your skin to become dry and irritated, which actually leads to breaking out more in the future. There is no scientific link that sun exposure helps prevent acne; however, too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer and premature ageing. When you’re in the sun, use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 that says noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic on the label to avoid it clogging your pores.
Frequent Face Washing Will Prevent Acne
It is important to regularly wash your face to remove oil and dirt from your pores. However, if you wash your face too much, it can cause irritation and dryness, leading to more breakouts. You should also avoid scrubbing your face as it can irritate your skin. General advice says to wash your face twice a day with mild soap and water. It’s best to clean your face in a circular motion and pat dry it.
Wearing Makeup Causes Acne
Makeup can cause issues with acne, but not if you choose certain cosmetics. Look for makeup that is nonacnegenic or noncomedogenic, and you should be able to avoid breakouts. Some concealers even have benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which actually works to prevent/fight acne. There are also tinted benzoyl peroxide creams you can use to hide your pimples while you are treating them.
However, if you are suffering from moderate to severe acne, it would be wise to discuss with your doctor or dermatologist about which cosmetics you should use. It’s possible they may suggest avoiding cosmetics completely or only using specific brands. Also, if you are using a product that is causing irritation to your skin or producing breakouts, stop using it and talk to your doctor.
How Can Acne Be Treated?
There are many ways to treat acne, but a lot of it depends on how severe your acne is.
Mild Acne
If your acne is mild, you can treat it with OTC medicated creams, spot treatments, and cleansers as the acne appears on your skin. These products have a couple of common ingredients for clearing up acne.
- Salicylic Acid: This ingredient exfoliates your skin to stop your pores from getting clogged up.
- Benzoyl Peroxide: This product will dry out any pimples you already have, prevent new acne from developing, and kill the bacteria that cause acne.
Moderate Acne
If the OTC medicine isn’t helping after several weeks, it might be time to reach out to a professional. A dermatologist can prescribe you medication to reduce your symptoms and stop scarring. Some of these medicines include:
- Prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide
- Retinoids, such as retinol
- Antibiotics such as erythromycin or clindamycin
In certain cases, your doctor might suggest you take an oral antibiotic or hormonal birth control. Antibiotics are typically only prescribed for a short time so that your body doesn’t build up a resistance that can leave you more likely to develop infections.
Severe Acne
If the treatments for moderate acne aren’t working, a dermatologist might suggest a treatment that combines multiple options, including:
- Topical retinoids
- Oral antibiotics
- Topical antibiotics
- Benzoyl peroxide
If it’s particularly severe, they may suggest hormonal birth control or oral isotretinoin, which is commonly known as Accutane. However, Accutane can have serious side effects, so it is typically the last treatment option offered.
Home Remedies
There are also many home remedies that you can try on your own. Here are some examples:
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Zinc
- Tea Tree Oil
- Green Tea
- Witch Hazel
- Aloe Vera
- Fish Oil
- Exfoliants
- Low Glycaemic Diet
- Low Dairy Diet
Conclusion
There are many factors that can cause different types of acne, and some of them are out of your control. Depending on the severity of your acne, you might be able to use home treatments to get it under control, or you may have to see a dermatologist for more options. If you are struggling with acne, there are many resources out there to help you, so find the help you need today.