Acne is among the most common medical problems in the world. It affects people of both genders in all age-groups. However, it is seen that those in their adolescence are the most vulnerable to acne. It is known by many names like blemishes, pimples etc. Interestingly, not much is known about acne cure. Hence, a large number of people attempt to deal with this problem in their own unique way. Some have had some success through trial and error.
Causes of Acne
Let us find out what acne is and about acne causes. Our skin has tiny pores or sebaceous hair follicles. Sebaceous glands are present in these follicles. They create oil called sebum, which is responsible for keeping our skin supple and hydrated. If the sebaceous glands are overactive, as in the case of hormonal imbalance during adolescence, they produce sebum in excess. This oil is wrapped inside a plug of dull skin cell along with bacteria. It is here that a blemish takes birth, at least 14 to 20 days, before it appears on the surface. So the main factors giving rise to acne are: hormones, production of extra sebum, bacteria and Swelling.
Types Of Acne
There are two kinds of acne- non-Inflammatory acne and inflammatory acne. Non-inflammatory acne appears in the form of black heads or white heads. Inflammatory acne is a papule or a small bulge on the skin, which hardens and swells over days, before it naturally dries and falls off. It is usually slightly painful to touch.
Management & Prevention Of Pimples
Not much is known about acne cure, but if managed properly, acne is a treatable problem. The best way to manage acne is to prevent its growth. The following tips can prove to be greatly useful in prevention of acne.
- Use a mild face scrub. Remember to be gentle and do not over-do it. Exfoliation helps the dirt trapped inside the skin to loosen out.
- Check out the ingredients of the products that you use on your skin. Check for alcohol contents. Products especially skin toners with high alcohol content, rob the skin of its top layer and leave it looking dry. As a result, your sebaceous glands produce more oil and give rise to more acne.
- Do not pick the pimples. That can cause infection by encouraging the bacteria present on the surface to penetrate deeper into the skin.
- Do not touch your pimples repeatedly, as germs present on hands can start breeding on hair follicles and turn into acne.
Treating Blemishes
A large number of over-the-counter products claim to treat acne. It is important to understand the exact triggers and severity of your problem and use skincare products accordingly. More important is to form a skin-care regimen and stick to it, even during times when acne seems dormant.
With the right knowledge and understanding about acne, you can devise an exclusive treatment plan for yourself and overpower this problem to a large extent.