Acne is the most common of all the skin problems. Eighty percent of the population, men and women suffer from this problem. In many cases the acne might break out and then disappear on its own but in other cases it might need some special treatment. You might have seen people avoiding parties or social hangouts when they have acne. They actually shy away from facing colleagues and friends.
Physiology:
The skin pores which have a sebaceous gland at their roots act as triggers for breakouts. The number of these pores is maximum around the nose, neck, cheeks and chin. Thus, these areas are more prone to breakouts. These sebaceous glands in their normal functioning have a role in secreting some amount of sebum. Due to some factors ( puberty, hormonal imbalance, improper diet etc) the secretion from these glands might get increased and attract microbes causing infections which generally take form of redness followed by pimples or breakouts.
Causes of acne:
There is no specific reason and no specific age for the occurrence of this skin problem but the young adults during their puberty are said to get affected the most. During this phase the secretion of androgen increases which enhances the secretion of sebum and thus leads to frequent breakouts. Adults who have crossed this age might also complaint of this problem at some time. Acne results from some kind of imbalance in the normal skin physiology. This imbalance might result from lifestyle changes, improper eating habits , stress, unhygienic surroundings, etc. Thus, there is no one single reason for these break outs. Despite of the cause these acne need to be treated on time and in a proper manner or else they would result into scars which might be difficult to cure.
Some tips to keep avoid the break outs:
• Maintain good hygiene – washing the prone or affected area with lukewarm water and gentle face wash, several times a day is suggested.
• Some people are said to have acne with the consumption of certain kinds of food (allergic reaction). Such food items must be noted and henceforth avoided.
• Apart from the daily routine of cleaning your skin properly one must also make a point to exercise daily. This helps boost the body’s immunity and self cleansing system.
• Special attention must be paid to avoid infections in rainy seasons and in summers when bacteria are maximum in number in the atmosphere and their chances of clinging on to the skin are also maximum due to sweat and humidity.
• You should include loads of water and fresh fruit juices in your diet as they help flush out toxins from the body.
• Emotional stress has been found to be a major cause of acne. Thus one must always try to live a stress free life. Enjoy and make the most of your life.
• Once a break out has occurred never scratch the area with nails or scrub. It must be washed with some anti-acneic gel or soap, and the area must be kept dry and clean. The acne will subside on its own within 2 or 3 days.
• If you have a sensitive skin, avoid using harsh chemical based products as they can worsen the condition.
• Acne is generally associated with oily skin, thus prefer using water based cosmetic and skin care products.
Naomi Andrews is an esthetician from Hawaii. She also owns and runs a medical spa in Maui. She has hands on various kinds of laser treatments, anti aging treatments and is well verse with many skin care regimes which prove effective as anti- acneic .