Everyone looks their best with clear skin. And it’s
important to get rid of acne, pimples, blackheads, skin blemishes, breakouts,
spots and zits. Whatever you call this embarrassing skin problem, it worries
people in their teens and twenties. But it can also persist into the fifties or
sixties.
Question: What causes acne and skin blemishes?
Answer: Hormone levels trigger a build-up of oil in the pores of the skin. When a blocked pore becomes infected with bacteria, it becomes red, swollen and inflamed.
Question: How do acne treatments work?
Answer: Acne treatments work to clear your skin by reducing excess oil, cleaning the blocked pores of the skin, and killing skin bacteria.
You can take action to get clear skin, and to get rid of acne, pimples, blackheads, blemishes, breakouts, spots and zits. Almost everyone gets acne, but some cases are worse than others. You might call them zits, pimples, blemishes, blackheads, whiteheads or pustules, but they are all acne. Teenagers are most often affected, and boys get more acne than girls. Sometimes it seems that your acne breaks out at the worst possible time, right before a big event, like the prom or picture day at school.
Those whiteheads or blackheads are plugged skin pores called comedones. Acne also causes red bumps, inflamed pimples called pustules, and deeper lumps called nodules and cysts on the skin. When acne is severe and forms deep pus-filled lumps, it is called cystic acne. Cystic acne affects young men more often than women. Acne occurs on the face, as well as the neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. If your acne is treated, you can get clear skin and also avoid acne scars. Untreated acne can leave permanent scars.
What Causes Acne, Pimples and Blackheads?
Acne is commonly caused by normal hormonal fluctuations in your body. We have been told that acne is not caused by eating certain foods, like chocolate, sweets, peanuts, carbonated sodas or greasy food. Acne is not caused by an allergy. Acne is not caused by dirt or uncleanliness. Acne is caused by a combination of factors including hormones, bacteria, excess skin oil and pores that are plugged. Acne is related to heredity, so if your parents had acne, you are more likely to have it.
Around puberty, the adrenal glands in both boys and girls secrete more male hormones, called testosterone. Numerous oil glands underneath the skin become more active. If the opening to a hair follicle on the skin is blocked, oil builds up under the skin. Then bacteria, which are on everyone’s skin, multiply and cause inflammation. The tissues and skin surrounding the gland become inflamed.
When oil breaks through to the surface, it is called a
whitehead. If that oil oxidizes on your skin and changes color, it is called a
blackhead. So you see, blackheads are not dirt. People often refer to redness
as scarring, but fortunately it usually isn’t permanent. It’s just a mark that
will fade in a few months, provided you leave it alone.
What Can I Do to Treat & Prevent Acne?
Doctors recommend that you clean your face twice a day. Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
Moderation and regularity are good things. Get eight hours
of sleep, eat three good meals, and drink eight glasses of water a day.
Exercise regularly to improve blood circulation to the skin.
Reduce stress and learn how to relax.
What Can Make Acne Worse
Acne is made worse when you use hair gel and oil-based makeup. Squeezing or picking the pimples also makes it worse. Washing the skin too often makes acne worse. Medicines like steroids, phenytoin and lithium also make your acne worse. For young women, acne is affected by the hormone changes during your period, and by pregnancy. You probably noticed that stress affects your acne outbreaks, too.
Do Milk and Milk Products Cause Acne
It’s possible that milk and milk products may contribute to acne outbreaks. Cows are treated with hormones, which then appear in the milk. As a result, milk products may contain hormones, bovine growth factor and even iodine. Research is underway to study the link between milk and acne. In the meantime, you can avoid bovine hormones by using organic milk and milk products.
Does Sugar Cause Acne?
It is possible that sugar may contribute to acne problems. New research has targeted sugar consumption as a likely factor in acne. Here’s why sugar may help cause acne. Sugar, sweets and white bread affect blood glucose levels and stimulate insulin production. Sugar seems to trigger a sequence of events that results in acne formation. Sugars also affect hormone levels. If this is the case, a diet low in refined carbohydrates will help clear your acne. Research into the causes of acne is ongoing.
I hope life brings you much success.
I wish you a very happy day.