Acne overview
Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. Effective treatments are available, but they can be persistent. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others seem to crop up. Depending on their severity, pimples can cause emotional distress and scar the skin. The earlier you start treatment, the lower your risk of such problems.
Acne symptoms and causes
Acne can be found almost anywhere on your body (face, back, neck, chest, and shoulders). If you have them, you’ll typically notice pimples that are white or black. Both blackheads and whiteheads are known as comedones.
The signs vary depending on the severity of your condition:
- Whitehead
- Blackheads
- Small red, tender bumps
- Pimples
The causes for this skin condition have four main factors which include:
- Excess oil production
- Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
- Bacteria
- Inflammation
Certain things may trigger or worsen acne:
- Hormonal changes. Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormone changes during midlife, particularly in women, can lead to breakouts too.
- Certain medications. Examples include drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone, or lithium.
- Diet. Studies indicate that consuming certain foods — including carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, bagels, and chips — may worsen breakouts.
- Stress. Stress doesn’t cause breakouts, but if you have them already, stress may make it worse.
Myths
These factors have little effect on acne:
- Chocolate and greasy foods. Eating chocolate or greasy food has little to no effect on pimples.
- Hygiene. Acne isn’t caused by dirty skin. Scrubbing the skin too hard or cleansing with harsh soaps or chemicals irritates the skin and can make them worse.
- Cosmetics. Cosmetics don’t necessarily worsen acne, especially if you use oil-free makeup that doesn’t clog pores (non-comedogenic) and remove makeup regularly. Non-oily cosmetics don’t interfere with the effectiveness of acne drugs.
Prevention
It’s difficult to prevent acne. But you can take steps at home to help prevent them after treatment. These steps include:
- washing your face twice a day with an oil-free cleanser
- using an over-the-counter pimple cream to remove excess oil
- avoiding makeup that contains oil
- removing makeup and cleaning your skin thoroughly before bed
- showering after exercising
- avoiding tight-fitting clothing
- reducing stress
Best Blakeney acne dermatologist
At DSCMD, we are currently looking for research participants for acne vulgaris. Are you a Charlotte resident between the ages of 18-45? If interested, call the office (704-943-3714) Or email research@dscmd.com for more information. Choose Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte, Charlotte’s top Ballantyne and Blakeney Dermatologist, for your dermatology care.