Why Acne? Why??

Acne has been a problem for many of us. Whether we are teenagers who are just now hitting puberty or if we are adults who just experience hormonal acne. Everyone has had acne and we all wish that we never did.

What is Acne?

Our skin has some tiny holes, mainly on our face, called pores. There are chances that oil, dirt, or bacteria and get into your pores. If these occur, then your face will have something called a pimple or zit. This oil, dirt, and bacteria in our pores can also cause blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts. All of these are different types of acne.

In medical terms, acne is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that causes spots and pimples, especially on the face, shoulder, back, neck, chest, and upper arms. Basically, it just means that if you get dirt or bacteria into your pores then it will cause bumps. And if you continue getting these spots and pimples, there are higher chances that this acne can leave scars on your face.

Here are some facts about acne that can help grow your knowledge about it.

o   Acne is basically a skin disease involving the oil glands at the very base of our hair follicles or in our pores.

o   It affects 3 out of every 4 people between the ages of 11-30.

o   This is not a deadly skin condition; it can just leave marks called acne scars.

o   There is treatment available for acne; it just depends on how severe and how often it occurs.

o   Things that can trigger acne include genetics, menstrual cycle, stress & anxiety, climate changes, using makeup products that are oil-based, and lastly, popping your pimples.

How to Prevent Acne

There are many ways for you to prevent your acne scars. The first step is the figure out what is causing this acne. Yes, we know that it’s because of the dirt and bacteria but we also know that there are other things that can cause it as well. That’s why it is important to know why this is occurring. The best thing to do is to go to a dermatologist and get this opinion as to why it is happening. However, we all know that going to a dermatologist can get expensive. If you can’t visit the dermatologist, that is okay. You can try figuring it our yourself. Try to see if you notice a pattern. Like when you are eating or when you try new makeup/skincare products or because of hormonal reasons.

Once you figure what is causing the acne, you can take the next step. For example, if you notice that your acne happens only when you eat cheese or anything dairy, then you can stop using those products. Quitting dairy can be really difficult, because who doesn’t like pizza or ice cream?? But that is one of the solutions.

One of the best ways to prevent acne, however, is to just take care of your skin. Find a cleanser and moisturizer that is not only gentle on your skin but also has ingredients that can help fight the bacteria and oil that builds up on your skin.

Look for products with the following ingredients to help prevent acne:

o   Resorcinol

o   Benzoyl Peroxide

o   Salicylic Acid

o   Sulfur

o   Retin-A

o   Azelaic Acid

These are the ingredients that doctors will tell you to look for in your acne products. However, you should also look for some gentle ingredients such as aloe vera, water, turmeric, and such that are nice and gentle on your skin but can also help prevent the acne.

This is just something that will help you be more educated about acne and learn how to take care of it as well. Hopefully, this helps!

Talk to you soon! 

XOXO - 

Wara M.