Acne is more common than you think affecting more than a billion people worldwide. If you are seeing pimples more often in your skin, you should know it is a skin condition that usually occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Besides acne, it causes blackheads and whiteheads. Sometimes, acne goes away on its own, but it can also be persistent. Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scar your skin.
If you are someone dealing with acne and searching for a skin care specialist to determine a permanent solution to get rid of it, you can end your research at Charma Clinic. We have come up with this article after having a conversation with Dr Rajdeep Mysore, chief dermatosurgeon and the best dermatologist in Bangalore practising at Charma Clinic. So, let's start understanding this inflammatory disorder of the skin by looking over its symptoms and causes.
Symptoms & Causes of Acne
Acne symptoms can vary depending on the severity of your condition; the common most observant symptoms to be noticed are:
- Whiteheads: Closed comedones that are similar to blackheads, covered with a thin layer of skin
- Papules: Small red, raised tender bumps without pus
- Pustules: Red bumps with pus at the top
- Pimples: inflamed, red and pus-filled bumps on the skin
- Nodules: Large, painful, solid, painful lumps under your skin's surface
- Cysts: Painful, pus-filled lumps under your skin that cause scarring
- Blackheads: Open plugged pores that appear as black dots on the skin's surface
Acne generally appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders.
Common Causes of Acne
The four main factors that lead to acne are:
- Bacteria
- Inflammation
- Excess oil production
- Hair follicles that are clogged by oil and dead skin cells
Acne usually appears on your face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders because these areas of skin have the most oily (sebaceous) glands. And your hair follicles are connected to these oil glands.
The follicle may bulge and produce a whitehead, or the plug may open to the surface and darken, leading to the formation of a blackhead. A blackhead may appear like dirt stuck in the pores, but in reality, these pores are congested with bacteria and turn brown when exposed to the air.
On the other hand, pimples are raised red spots with a white centre that usually develop when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Blockages and inflammation stuck deep inside the hair follicles produce cyst-like lumps beneath your skin's surface. At the same time, other pores in your skin that work as openings of the sweat glands aren't usually involved in acne.
Things Can Triggers or Worsen Your Acne
- Certain Medications: Certain medications such as testosterone, corticosteroids or lithium.
- Hormonal Imbalance: When your hormones change, it can cause acne. Androgens are those hormones that increase in boys and girls during the time of puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to increase in size and make more sebum. Hormones that change during midlife, particularly in women, can result in breakouts, too.
- Diet: Adding certain foods into your diet, including carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, bagels and chips, may complicate your skin condition and worsen your acne.
- Stress: Though there is no proof that stress can cause acne if you already have acne, stress can make it worse.
Myths Related To Acne That Needs To Be Burst!
Despite being a common skin problem, there are various myths associated with it; let's learn them below-
- Acne is the result of poor hygiene- Washing your face two times daily with a gentle cleanser is sufficient. Just avoid touching your face too frequently, as bacteria can be transferred from your hands to your face.
- Acne is normal among teenagers and doesn't need treatment- Though acne is a normal psychological process, it can cause discomfort to people and lead to stress, so it is best to consult a dermatologist for this condition.
- Acne affects only teenagers and young adults- Acne can also be seen in infants and people beyond the age of 30. So, it is wider than just teenagers and young adults.
- Acne can be treated with home remedies- like garlic paste or toothpaste. It is the biggest myth that needs to be burst right away. Acne doesn't get treated with toothpaste and garlic paste.
What Are The Tips To Prevent Acne
Besides consulting with a dermatologist, you should also follow some tips to prevent acne, and they are:
- Avoid washing your face with harsh cleansers that lead to dryness. Instead, use an alcohol-free cleanser. It is important to reduce excess oil and dirt and swear daily to prevent acne.
- Choose the right skincare products based on knowing your skin type.
- Avoid putting on makeup as it may clog pores and trigger acne breakouts; instead, choose oil-free, non-comedogenic, oil-free sunscreen.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure, as it can produce more oil on your skin.
- After washing your face, when your skin feels dry, apply moisturizer to help your skin stay hydrated.
The Popular Treatments To Treat Your Acne
- Topical Creams & Medication: The most common treatment advised to treat acne is to use topical creams and certain medications containing anti-biotics and retinoids along with oil-removing cleansers. However, when acne is found to be related to hormone changes such as irregular periods, increased weight, and facial hair growth in women, you may consult with an endocrinologist.
- Chemical Peels: A chemical peel helps control damage to the skin using certain mild acids that result in peeling or exfoliation. Normal skin peels exfoliates very slowly, and peeling speeds up this natural process. However, it is vital to know what peel to use on what skin type to provide good results without damaging your skin.
- Laser And Light-Based Devices: For acne treatment, different light-based devices, such as lasers and IPL, effectively address pigmentation and redness. Moreover, IPL targets the porphyrin pigment in bacteria, reducing redness and active pimples. The light also affects blood vessels, speeding up pimple reduction, limiting inflammation, and minimizing scarring risks.
Take Away
Long, in short, acne can have a great impact on your life. Severe acne is mostly associated with increased depression, anxiety, poor self-image, and self-esteem. If you are dealing with acne and its after-effects, it is best to consult with the top dermatologist.
However, if it has become a daunting task for you to search for a skincare specialist, you can end your research at Charma Clinic with Dr Rajdeep Mysore. He is renowned as the top doctor for Acne Treatment in Bangalore. With 15+ years of experience, he has provided successful skin and hair treatments to thousands of patients. So, to revamp your skin, start your journey with him by visiting Charma Clinic today!
