What is Acne?

Acne comes from an old Greek word that means "skin eruption." It is a disease that affects the skin’s oil glands.

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) describe acne in detail:

Acne facts:

Acne is a skin condition that consists of pimples, deeper lumps (cysts or nodules), and plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and even the upper arms.

• Acne usually begins in puberty, but the condition is not restricted to any age group. Adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s— even into their 50s— can develop acne.
• Acne is caused by three major factors:
• Overproduction of oil by enlarged oil glands in the skin.
• Blockage of the hair follicles that release oil.
• Growth of bacteria, called P. acnes, within the hair follicles.
• Scientific research has led to many new acne therapies and changes in existing treatment options.

How Does Acne Develop?

Sometimes, the hair, sebum, and skin cells clump together into a plug. The bacteria in the plug cause swelling. Then when the plug starts to break down, a pimple grows.

Types of Acne

There are many types of pimples. The most common types are:

• Whiteheads- These are pimples that stay under the surface of the skin.
• Blackheads- These pimples rise to the skin’s surface and look black. The black color is not from dirt.
• Papules- These are small pink bumps that can be tender.
• Pustules- These pimples are red at the bottom and have pus on top.
• Nodules- These are large, painful, solid pimples that are deep in the skin.
• Cysts- These deep, painful, pus-filled pimples can cause scars.

Who Gets Acne?

Acne is the most common skin disease. People of all races and ages get acne. But it is most common in teenagers and young adults. An estimated 80 percent of all people between the ages of 11 and 30 have acne outbreaks at some point. Some people in their forties and fifties still get acne.

What Causes Acne?

The cause of acne is unknown. Doctors think certain factors might cause it:

• The hormone increase in teenage years (this can cause the oil glands to plug up more often)
• Hormone changes during pregnancy
• Starting or stopping birth control pills
• Heredity (if your parents had acne, you might get it, too)
• Some types of medicine
• Greasy makeup.

How Should People With Acne Care for Their Skin?

Here are some ways to care for skin if you have acne:

• Clean skin gently. Use a mild cleanser in the morning, evening, and after heavy workouts. Scrubbing the skin does not stop acne. It can even make the problem worse.
• Try not to touch your skin. People who squeeze, pinch, or pick their pimples can get scars or dark spots on their skin.
• Shave carefully. If you shave, you can try both electric and safety razors to see which works best. With safety razors, use a sharp blade. Also, it helps to soften your beard with soap and water before putting on shaving cream. Shave lightly and only when you have to.
• Stay out of the sun. Many acne medicines can make people more likely to sunburn. Being in the sun a lot can also make skin wrinkle and raise the risk of skin cancer.
• Choose makeup carefully. All makeup should be oil free. Look for the word “noncomedogenic” on the label. This means that the makeup will not clog up your pores. But some people still get acne even if they use these products.
• Shampoo your hair regularly. If your hair is oily, you may want to shampoo daily.

What Things Can Make Acne Worse?

Some things can make acne worse:

• Changing hormone levels in teenage girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before their period starts
• Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars
• Pollution and high humidity
• Squeezing or picking at pimples
• Hard scrubbing of the skin.

Prevention from Acne

You may not be able to completely eliminate acne, but proper care can help to prevent acne outbreaks.

Most people note improvement in acne with treatmentb but after acne improves or clears, you may have to practice self-care measures and continue your acne medication or other treatment to prevent new acne breakouts. 

Try these ways to prevent acne:
 
•    Wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser. Use a mild, non-drying soap and wash gently because vigorous scrubbing can irritate the skin. 

•    Regular washing helps to removes excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells. This doesn’t however mean that you must wash your face 10 times a day or whenever your face is oily. 3-5 times is more than enough. 

•    Always wash your face before going to bed to remove all dirt or make-up. It’s necessary to wash after exercising or any strenuous activity. But avoid excessive or repeated skin washing as too much washing can lead to irritation on skin. 
 
•    If you have oily hair, shampoo daily. Tie your hair to keep it out of your face and avoid tight headbands.

•    Do not touch the pimples and avoid squeezing, scratching, or picking the pimples. It can lead to skin infections and scarring. 

•    Use water-based cosmetics or creams and avoid greasy ones. Do not use heavy make-up, instead go for light make-up. 

•    Remove the make-up at night as sleeping with make-up on can clog tiny openings of the hair follicles (pores) and aggravate acne.

•    If you continue to have acne despite caring for your skin try over-the-counter acne medications meant to be applied on the skin.    These topical medications may contain benzoyl peroxide, sulphur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid. 

•    The medications help to kill the bacteria, dry the excess oil, and can lead to peeling of the top layer of your skin. Consult your doctor before using these medications during pregnancy.

•    Eat nutritious food to keep the skin healthy. Consume fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Try avoiding sugar, fried and processed foods.

•    Exercise regularly for better blood circulation in the body and skin. After exercise take a shower to wash off the sweat.

•    Avoid sun exposure as much as you can. Wear sunscreen every time you step out which will protect your skin from the harmful rays of sun.

  
Some people may need to continue use of prescription topical medication on acne-prone areas, or other treatment like oral contraceptives. Consult your doctor on ways to prevent new eruptions if pimples continue to be a problem.

Treating Teenage Acne Naturally

Teenage life is thriving with ambition, and the weapon that teens have on their side is youthfulness. Acne often turns up and plays spoil sport during this time, but let it not hinder your teen life, treat acne the natural way.

The embarrassment that you face is not easy to deal with when you have acne breakouts all over your face. Most people would opt for skin specialists or overpriced products found in the market, but you can try to take help from natural remedies. This is because your body may be just in need of nutritional balance and skin care, so here are some natural remedies. 

Wash Face Daily

By washing your face morning and night will help you to remove oil and dirt that had build up during the course of the day and caused breakouts. If possible then use acne soap or face wash and gently apply it to your skin for best results, just make sure that they are mild and not harsh in nature. Do not use towel but instead just let it dry as towels are course textured and are not good for the skin. 

Lemon juice

Lemon is acidic in nature and this can be used to treat acne in a natural way. Lemon helps to clean dirt that has been accumulated on the pores and will harden the sebum. You can just cut a slice of lemon and rum it gently over the affected areas and then leave it that way for some hours. Later you can rinse it with clean water. You could also mix lemon juice with rose water in and wash the affected area with this solution. 

Honey

Honey could also be of great help if you want to treat your acne, it can be used as an antiseptic and as well as a moisturizer. This is why it would work when you apply it on the affected area; leave honey on the affected area for about an hour. You will find that this treatment would remove acne in only a matter of few days. You should rinse the honey with warm water and then use cold water so that the pores get closed. There is also the possibility of making a face mask by mixing honey and powdered nutmeg and leaving it on for half an hour.  You should use the mask regularly. 

Cucumber

Cucumber is known for its cooling and soothing effect that it has, this could be used to help treat acne. Make a paste out of a cucumber and add one teaspoon of yogurt and apply it on the affected area, and then leave it on for half an hour or more. Finally wash it well. This is one the easiest one as cucumber could be found easily in the market. 

Orange Peel

Orange has acidic property and Vitamin C present in them, and this makes it the perfect treatment for acne.  The orange juice and the peel could be used to treat acne, but the peel is more effective. You must let the orange peel dry under the sun and then grind it to make it powdery. Add water to this and make a paste and then apply on the affected area. Let it stay like that for ten to fifteen minutes and then wash you face with warm water.

In conclusion, natural remedies for acne could be very effective and in fact it could be even more effective than regular medicine. In addition you must have a balanced diet and avoid eating oily food.

Find out the reason for acne in teenagers and what are the ways to control it

Acne is medically known as ‘acne vulgaris’ and is very common among teenagers. It occurs when an oily substance known as sebum clogs the pores. Here are some of the causes for it and ways in which you can control them.

Acne break outs happen mostly due to the way your skin reacts to the hormonal changes that you will experience during your hormonal changes. There are sebaceous glands in your skin that releases sebum, which is an oily substance and helps protect it. When a person hits puberty the levels of testosterone hormone gets raised and causes too much sebum to be produced, and this happens for both boys and girls. This sebum blocks hair follicles and as dead skin cells mix with the blockage it leads to the formation of spots.

Causes

There are four different types of spots when it comes to acne, you have the blackheads that are small, blocked pores, you have the whiteheads which are small, hard bumps with a white centre, you then have the pustules that are spots with a lot of pus in them, and finally the nodules that are hard, painful lumps under your skin. 
What is known as inflammatory acne is when the skin is red and swollen and needs to be treated at an early stage to prevent it from scarring. 

The truth is that there is no specific reason for acne outbursts, except for the fact that it is your skin’s way to react to hormonal changes. These as you can understand are pretty out of our control. Androgen hormones rev up the oil production and your skin suddenly begins to get oilier and more oil would mean more pore blockages. 

Acne can also get worse if you stress and women can be affected by it during their menstrual cycle, and can also occur during pregnancy.  You must not pick or squeeze on them as this will cause inflammation and scarring, the spots will eventually go away. You could certainly try and control acne safely and surely in the following ways.

Controlling Acne

• Drink Water

Drinking water is a very popular way in which you can flush toxins and hydrate your skin from the inside out. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that by drinking about 2 cups of water can significantly boost your blood flow throughout the body and skin. There is a need for your body to get rid of the waste materials that are produced during metabolism. This can happen when you drink enough water. 

• Keep your Hands off your Face

Touching your face or rubbing your cheek and chin with your hands can have a negative impact. These can cause bacteria to spread and there is a possibility that the bacteria will spread on your skin and cause for inflammatory acne to grow. Also you should never pick or pop pimples with your fingers, as you will catch infection. 

• Moisturize

Acne products contain ingredients that will dry the skin and therefore you must always use a moisturizer that will reduce dryness and skin peeling. When you decide to buy one, look for “noncomedogenic” written on the label as this would prevent acne. You will find moisturizers made for separate skin types, such as for oily, dry, or combination skin. 

• Go easy on Makeup

When you have an acne breakout, you need to avoid wearing foundation, powder or blush. If in case it is very necessary for you to apply makeup then you must wash it off after wards, at the end of the day. Choose oil free cosmetics that do not have added dyes and chemicals again choose makeup that is labeled as "noncomedogenic," which would not cause acne.

It is not really on your hands to get acne or not, but you can definitely do much to try and prevent it.

Restore your Complexion with Best Homemade Solutions for Acne Scars

Acne may leave your skin with noticeable scars. The acne scars – light or severely dark – can be treated with home remedies.

Acne scarring occurs either when one picks pimples repeatedly or during the acne healing process. If acne is severe, it is more likely to cause scarring. You can make your own anti-scar treatment, for both new and old acne scars.

Below are some effective homemade solutions to help replenish your skin and promote a more even skin tone.

# Ice treatment

One of the most effective acne scar treatments can come right from your own freezer. To make acne marks less noticeable, you need to hold ice cubes against your face for 10 minutes.

• Take three to four ice cubes and put them in a plastic bag.
• Hold the ice pack bag against one cheek (a site where you have acne scars) for 10 minutes.
• If you have acne scar on the other side, switch the ice pack bag to the other cheek and keep it there for 10 minutes.
• Repeat it daily.

# Orange peel, turmeric and coconut oil treatment

• Wash the affected skin and pat dry.
• If you have oily skin, use a mild cleanser to gently cleanse the area.
• Make a mixture of dried orange peel and turmeric with your hands.
• Directly pour coconut oil over the mixture.
• Apply a layer of the mixture over the acne scars using your fingertips.
• Rinse your face with warm water and pat dry gently.

# Facial mask of honey, lemon, yoghurt and egg white

• Combine 2 tablespoons of honey with 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.
• Add to it 2 tablespoons of yogurt.
• Beat one egg white and add the mixture thoroughly until ingredients are combined.
• Pour the paste into a clean container
• Apply a generous layer of the paste after washing your face.
• Before rinsing your face, let the paste dry.
• You can preserve and use the mixture for a week.

# Tea seed oil

Tea seed oil can help repair skin by stimulating cell growth and fading acne scars gradually. Rub a few drops onto areas affected by acne scars two times a day. Just make sure that the oil is completely absorbed when you rub it.


Other Important Tips

To prevent any scarring from worsening, make sure you wash your skin three-four times a day, use sunscreen and avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Intake of antioxidants or vitamin-E rich foods also help combat acne scars. So, incorporate leafy green vegetables, almonds, fresh berries, apples and kidney bean in your diet. Moreover, you must avoid foods with refined sugar as they can trigger skin inflammation and make scars worse.

If you think acne scarring is severe and worsening, consult health care professional immediately. There are multiple surgical treatments for acne scarring including laser surgery, injections and incisions.

Causes of Acne Breakouts

There are many myths about what causes acne. Some people blame foods for their outbreaks.Some think that dirty skin causes it. But there’s little evidence that either has much effect on most people’s acne.

People of all races and ages get acne. About 4 of every 5 people between the ages of 11 and 30 have outbreaks at some point. It’s most common in adolescents and young adults. Although acne is usually not a serious health threat, it can be upsetting, and severe acne can lead to permanent scarring. Fortunately, for most people, acne tends to go away by the time they reach their 30s.

Skin oil or sebum

Acne begins in the skin’s oil glands. The oils travel up a canal called a follicle, which also contains a hair. The oils empty onto the skin surface through the follicle’s opening, or pore.The hair, oil and cells that line the narrow follicle can form a plug and block the pore, preventing oil from reaching the skin’s surface. This mix of oil and cells allows bacteria that normally live on the skin to grow in plugged follicles. Your body’s defense system then moves to attack the bacteria and the area gets inflamed.

If the plugged follicle stays beneath the skin, you get a white bump called a whitehead. If it reaches the surface of the skin and opens up, you get a blackhead. It’s not because of dirt; the oil becomes black on the skin’s surface when it’s exposed to air. Both whiteheads and blackheads may stay in the skin for a long time. Eventually, the wall of the plugged follicle can break down, leading to pimples, or zits.

Hormonal changes

One important factor in acne is an increase in certain hormones during puberty. These hormones cause the oil glands to enlarge and make more oil. Hormone changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne.

Genes

Studies suggest that you can inherit a tendency to develop acne from your parents, so genes likely play some role. Stress doesn’t cause acne, but research has found that for people who have acne, stress can make it worse.

Drugs and Medication

Certain drugs are also known to cause acne. Greasy cosmetics, for example, can alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together, producing a plug. If you have acne, try oil-free cosmetics. Choose products labeled noncomedogenic (meaning they don’t promote the formation of closed pores).

If you have acne, don’t rub or touch your pimples. Squeezing, pinching or picking at them can lead to scars or dark blotches. Gently wash your face with a mild cleanser twice a day—and after heavy exercise. Don’t use strong soaps or rough scrub pads; they may make the problem worse. It’s also important to shampoo your hair regularly. If you have oily hair, you may want to wash it every day. Several over-the-counter medicines can treat mild acne. It may take up to 8 weeks before you notice an improvement. For more severe acne, talk to your doctor about the options.

Researchers continue to work on developing new drugs to treat acne. They’re also trying to better understand the causes of acne so they can explore new remedies. In the meantime, there are several available treatments that may help.

Foods that Cause Pimples:Stop Eating Them Right Now

Well, contrary to what we may want to believe, diet is a likely culprit in causing acne. A 2002 study published in the Archives of Dermatology shows strong evidence to prove that certain foods can cause breakouts. The theory is that refined carbs cause your insulin levels to spike, which in turn leads to increased sebum production and clogged pores. 

So, now that you know that the food and acne relationship is not a myth, you must also know the common foods that can cause pimples.

Chocolate

We do know that a high-sugar diet like chocolate can increase sebum production and promote inflammatory responses in the body, which can lead to acne. In fact, milk and white chocolate overall have more dairy, sugar and other additives than dark chocolate.

Spicy Foods

Foods with too much spice especially affect your skin if you use sauces bought from stores. Homemade chilli sauce with fresh peppers is not that bad. It’s not necessary that spicy foods will affect your skin condition but if you ask an expert what food causes pimples, spiced ones will sure feature in the list.

Cheese

A 2005 article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology examined the diets of 47,355 women and found a strong connection between milk and milk product (like cream cheese, sherbet, instant breakfast drinks and cottage cheese) intake and breakouts. Now you know why you need to go easy on that pizza.

Nuts

Many people have experienced that eliminating nuts and products that made with nuts, such as peanut butter helps in managing and preventing their pimples. This may not be true for everyone but who knows this might just work for you.

Sushi

Shocked? Well, we too were when we found that out. But, take our word and avoid eating sushi rolls, sprinkling kelp on your salads and adding spirulina to your smoothies--all of these contain enough iodides to cause an acne cyst to erupt within the week.

Milk

Okay, so the logic behind avoiding cheese applies here; in fact it applies to all dairy products. Study of 4,273 teenage boys also found an association between milk and acne flare-ups. Much of the milk that we drink is produced by pregnant cows and contains high levels of hormones that can send oil glands into overdrive. Dairy products rate high in the list of foods that cause pimples.

French Fries

Of course, you knew that always but never left eating them. The fact that it’s not the fat in fast food that seems to cause breakouts; it’s the processed carbs should be novel to you. Science is finally catching up in finding the real reason behind what causes negative effects on your skin.

Soda

Soda is loaded with refined sugar—and eating or drinking high glycemic foods (such as soda) can lead to increases in blood sugar and fat levels. To battle the spikes in blood sugar, the body will then produce more insulin and testosterone, which can lead to skin inflammation and clogged pores.

The consensus seems to be that there are no common foods that have the same effect on every person. For example, chocolate may cause breakouts in one person but cheese may spark acne in another. Each person responds differently to certain types of foods, and abovementioned are specific foods that cause pimples.

7 Reasons You’re Struggling with Adult Acne

Acne is believed to be a teenage problem. It becomes a cruel joke for people heading to the exit lane with anti-acne treatments in their 20s and 30s, or beyond. Unfortunately, you yourself might be responsible for adult acne. Or let’s be specific, you beauty habits are to be blamed for causing the zits.

You could be using beauty products with 10 percent benzoyl peroxide, or covering up the acne scars with concealer. By doing this, you’re probably counteracting your own efforts to get a great-looking skin. Check out the post below with some common behaviours that may be working against you. 

Cleansing Habit

Cleansers with alcohol are harsh on your skin. There are antimicrobial peptides in your skin's natural oils called ‘defensins.’ One of the worst things adults do is strip away those oils with soap, witch hazel, or toner that neutralizes antimicrobial peptides because all of these are alcohol-based. Alcohol-free products are best; pick your cleanser carefully.

Acne Fighters

Benzoyl peroxide (BP), is a medication used to treat mild to moderate acne and comes in cleansing liquid or bar, lotion, cream, and gel form. 10 % of BP was as relevant to high school as pop bands. But as we age, our skin loses its moisture, and BP is drying in nature, so the 10% dose can cause irritation. With coming age, you need to be gentle on your skin. For new breakouts, use a wash with 5 percent BP the first two days of a breakout. On days three and four, apply on cortisone cream to inhibit inflammation.

Pimple Popping

When you pop your acne with your fingers, it pushes the goo in (gross!). Comedone extractor can help you pop your zit. If you do get a whitehead, buy a comedone extractor to pop it. Its even pressure expels, rather than pushing in the goo. 

Spot-free Treatment

A concealer is a band-aid solution for acne scars; it doesn’t help prevent scarring. Instead of it, you must use a spot-fading treatment. When you need to be blemish-free stat, head to your dermatologist’s office. A cortisone injection can make the pimple disappear within 24 hours.

Stress Factor

Adult stressors like a high-pressure job or a messy relationship can weaken your immune system, making it easier for bacteria to build up, and also mess with the body's release of cortisone, an anti-inflammatory hormone. Reducing stressors or find new ways to ease tension helps prevent zit breakout.

Eating Right

Foods with a high glycaemic index, such as processed sugar, corn syrup, pasta etc have been linked to adult-onset acne. Some people get rid of acne just by giving up gluten, without a prescription from the dermatologist. Also, 2% milk is better than skim in keeping hormones from causing breakouts.

Correct Prescription

Some people keep using the topical treatment for their acne and don’t get the correct prescription for their problem. If over-the-counter options aren't working after a few months, see a doc. They may prescribe you spironolactone, an anti-testosterone pill. It reduces oil production but usually doesn't hormonally affect other parts of the body of adult women.

All these beauty habits can make your acne volatile in nature and you don’t want that. So, it is a good idea to steer clear of these right now. 

Things to Know Before You Pop that Pimple

Pimples show up at the worst times and when they do, you have a desperate urge to pop them out. You want to squeeze them out and at the same time make sure there is no mark left behind. But, must you? Is popping a pimple really the right approach to having flawless skin?

Why pimple popping is not advised by doctors

Pimple is a thin sack that holds oil, acne bacteria and debris, medically meaning that it is a good thing that you have the pimple there. If you puncture the pimple, you will force the debris as well as bacteria to run deeper into your skin. Also, the debris that comes out of the gunk will splatter and force itself inside other pores, causing more pimples. Moreover, you may introduce more bacteria from your finger into the zit. This can lead to the pimple becoming red, swollen, inflamed and infected. This may cause permanent scarring.

The conclusion is that the pimple must be allowed to run through its lifespan. If the pimple is let alone, the blemish will heal on its own in 3 to 7 days and if the pimple is popped out improperly, it may linger for weeks and may also lead to scarring.

But, how do dermatologists and estheticians pop the pimples?

Dermatologists as well as estheticians are experts at popping pimples safely. They use gloves and lance the pimple with a sterile needle before removing the contents with an instrument called a comedone extractor.

Therefore, popping a pimple is best to be left for the pros. But, if you must do it, there is a proper fashion in which that is supposed to be done. 
•    Do not poke the pimple way too early. Wait until it has a white head. This means that the pus is close to the surface of the skin.
•    Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water, fingernail brush and soap.
•    Sterilize a pin using a match or lighter. Let the pin cool and then wipe it down with the help of alcohol. 
•    Swab the zit using alcohol and pour some on your fingers as well. 
•    Dry your fingers and wrap them properly in a clean tissue.
•    Position the pin in such a way that it is parallel to the surface of the skin. Now, gently pierce the tip of the white center of the zit. 
•    With the help of a cotton swab, softly squeeze the pimple by pressing around the tip of the zit. If the pus does not come down with a soft press, the pimple is not yet ready to be popped. So, stop attempting to get the pimple out and wait until it is ready to be popped.
•    Whether the zit open out with the pus or not, apply some alcohol to the deflated blemish. It might a little but it will prevent further breakouts by inhibiting bacterial contact.

What are the signs and symptoms of acne vulgaris

The manifestations of acne differ according to skin types and different contributing factors making the signs and symptoms different for every individual. Let us understand the signs and symptoms of acne vulgaris.

Acne can be in the form of cysts, nodules, whiteheads, blackheads, papules or pustules.The non-inflamed acne consist of a cluster of blackheads, whiteheads and microcomedones which do not appear to be inflamed or reddened from outside. Non-inflamed acne does not pain a lot and generally gives a bumpy feeling in the texture of the skin.

They usually make the skin rough and uneven. At later stages, these clogged pores develop into papules and pustules, if the blackheads and whiteheads are not removed in time. A regular cleansing and toning session can keep the non-inflamed acne at bay.

Inflamed acne appears red and is accompanied by an itch most of the time. This category of acne can change shape and turn into cysts and nodules causing excessive swelling in the skin. In severe cases, people also complain of pus-filled oozing acne with scabbing and crusting of the lesions. These can leave permanent scars or acne blemishes on the face which can be removed or made fainter with the help of laser techniques.

The most common site of acne occurrence is the face. Other body parts such as neck, upper arms, back, chest, inner thighs and shoulders also undergo the same signs of acne vulgaris as the skin there is equally sensitive.

Scarring or darkening of the skin along with slight discolouration are the most commonly experienced signs and symptoms of acne.
These symptoms have a tendency to persist even when the acne die down.

One must take proper care post-acne flare-ups, to heal the spots and pigmentation completely as they leave scope for acne vulgaris to reappear. Stress and reduced self-esteem is another symptom of people prone to acne.

Above all, there has been no proven way to reduce the occurrence of acne vulgaris completely. Individuals in their thirties and forties also reportedly suffer from the signs and symptoms of acne vulgaris that at times develop into acute cases of acne.