Acne is a skin condition that usually affects teenagers. You may know acne as pimples, blackheads or whiteheads. They are usually found on the face, chest, back and arms.
Acne may be bad enough to make you feel shy and conscious about yourself. It’s okay to feel this way but there are ways to help you control acne. Acne is part of growing up and it is not something you have to deal with forever.
What causes acne: THINK AGAIN
- My sweet tooth gave me acne. Chocolates and sweets do not cause acne. Acne is caused by bad pores. These pores shed dead skin within them. This dead skin piles up and plugs the pores. When this happens, certain bacteria in the skin can cause the pores to turn red and sore by breaking down the dirt and oil within the pores. This is how you may get acne.
- Only young people get acne. Actually, adults get acne too. However, young people get their acne due to changes in hormone levels in their bodies. Young girls when they grow up also begin to have small amounts of male hormones released in their bodies. These male hormones “tickle” the pores to start releasing oil or
sebum. At about the same time, you also get to grow pubic hair and hair in your armpits. For adults, acne may not be primarily caused by hormones. Aside from hormones, use of certain medications can cause acne in adults.
- Acne is caused by dirt, grime and sweat. This is not so. Heat, sweat and dirt may lead to skin dryness and cause breaks on your skin. These breaks on your skin can lead to skin infections. If you have mild forms of acne, dirt and heat can make your pimples worse.
- I can get acne by touching my friend’s face. You cannot get acne by touching a person’s pimple or blackhead unless your friend has a skin infection caused by other kinds of bacteria.
Acne is caused by:
And not by:
- Sweets and chocolates
- Sweat, heat and dirt
- By touching or skin contact
What type of acne do you have?
Angry Reds are a type of acne that is reddish, painful and swollen. They include pimples and nodules.
Pimples can be small reddish bumps with yellowish tips or “eyes”. They are usually infected. They can be treated with over the counter medications or when really bad, your doctor can give you antibiotics.
Nodules may be acne at its worst. They are large, swollen and painful. They can get big quite fast. Do not pinch these as they may cause deep scarring of the skin. See your skin doctor for treating this type of acne.
Silent Heads are a type of acne is usually flat and may only show a large open pore. They are not painful but can be pretty annoying.
Blackheads are a type of acne wherein a black dirty looking plug is seen clogging the open pore. This black plug is not dirt but oil that turned black as it is exposed to air.
Whiteheads form with the pores closed. You can only see small white bumps on the skin. These bumps can ooze out a whitish looking paste.
Caring for Your Skin
- Wash your hands as often as you can. You hands carry much dirt and bacteria. You would not want these on your face. Use a mild antibacterial soap when washing your hands.
- Refrain from touching or scratching your face. If you have sensitive skin, frequent touching or rubbing can cause small breaks on the skin’s surface which can lead to skin infections.
- Wash your face with a mild and gentle wash. Do not use facial wash with exfoliants or beads when you have acne. They can irritate your skin.
- Avoid harsh scented soaps. Use soaps that are hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic. These are usually written on the package or labels. This means that the product is made of mild ingredients and they would not clog your pores.
- Always wash your face before sleeping. Remove any makeup gently and be careful when using strong makeup removers.
- Moisturize your skin with a light and noncomedogenic moisturizer each time after washing your face. This keeps your skin from drying. Dry skin can readily make your skin break.
