Acne is caused by a buildup of oil (sebum), dead skin and bacteria due to overactive oil glands in the skin. This leads to inflammation in the pores and can occur on the face, neck, back and shoulders.
Acne may appear as whiteheads or blackheads. White heads are the white dots which are skin follicles are clogged with oil and are right underneath the skin. Blackheads are similar to whiteheads but are also filled with dead skin and have been exposed to oxygen giving it a dark center. Pustules are small bumps on the skin that are inflamed. Papules are pustules filled with pus and can be inflamed. There is also something called cystic acne; deep pus-filled pimples that may also be painful to and hard.
Almost all people develop pimples at a point in their teenage years with some people having pimples well into their 30s beyond. Pimples do not pose any risk to overall health however it can cause permanent scars, disfigurement and lower self-esteem.
Some people who are ignorant associate pimples with being dirty, unkempt or unattractive and this can be emotionally traumatizing for someone who is battling with severe acne as it is totally not the case.
What Causes Acne? The exact cause of acne isn’t known but hormones definitely play a part. Certain hormones that turn boys into men and girls into women become increased during puberty. These hormones also make your skin oil glands grow larger and produce more sebum.
The increase in the production of sebum then makes it easier for the oil glands to get blocked thereby leading to the formation of acne. Genetics may also be responsible. If your parents or close relatives had acne, chances are you might develop acne as well.
Also, using makeup and oily cosmetics may actually block the pores, causing acne to occur. There are some things that done cause acne but can make acne to become worse. This includes harsh scrubbing of the skin, pressing out or popping the pimples, touching your face, pressure from wearing backpacks or tight collars and a change in hormone levels in females’ right before the start of their menstrual period.
How Do You Treat Acne? The first step in treating acne is to establish a good skincare routine and be consistent. Your skincare routine should consist of a cleanser, a toner, a treatment cream or serum and a moisturizer.
Additional treatments can include masks and exfoliators but exercise caution as you don’t want to be too aggressive with your skin. A good cleanser to use is black soap. You can use the local soft black soap, or the one that comes in a hard bar. Black soap is quite gentle on the skin, yet contains honey and other ingredients that can help fight acne and fade scars.
The next step is to balance out the pH of your skin using a toner. A simple toner make is to mix equal parts of witch hazel with distilled water and use a cotton pad to apply the mixture to your face after cleansing with soap. Witch hazel has antibacterial properties which help kill the acne causing bacteria on your skin. A treatment serum, oil or cream can be used at this point that is targeted to kill bacteria, reduce sebum production, fade acne scars and reduce inflammation.
The treatment medications of choice are salicylic acid and benzyl peroxide. These ingredients work to reduce acne causing bacteria, reduce inflammation and help to prevent scarring.
A natural treatment mask can include mixing honey, yoghurt and fresh squeezed lemon juice together and apply onto the face. Leave it on for about 5 minutes and wash off. Do this every other day. The lactic acid in the yoghurt and the vitamin c in the lemon juice help remove dead skin cells, shrink the pores and reduce the appearance of acne. Honey is and antibacterial and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Finally, it is important to look at your diet and lifestyle. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can improve the quality of your skin and thus help clear acne. Aim for fruits that are high in vitamin C such as oranges and pineapple as vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps to get rid of acne.
Vegetables provide you with lots of fibre which not only aids in digestion but provides even more antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that not only keep you healthy, but gives you clear, even skin. Zinc is another great anti-acne supplement due to its antioxidant and anti-aging properties. For those that don’t mind taking supplements try taking 2000mg of vitamin C daily and 50mg of zinc daily. Strive to avoid sugar, processed and junk foods/drinks. These types of foods can cause inflammation, and inflammation is part of the process that leads to blackheads, cystic acne, pustules and scarring from acne.
If you are very busy and always on the go, keep a piece of fruit handy or buy roasted plantains roadside for when you need a quick healthy snack. Lastly, make sure you drink a lot of water. Water is essential for maintaining all of our body functions as we are made up of mostly water. Water can hydrate your skin, flush out toxins from your system and that can reflect positively on your skin. You are encouraged to drink at least 2.5 to 3 litres of water every day. If you are very physically active or live in a hot environment, drink more water.
It is possible that you may try out all these tips and not get desired results. Alternatively, the severity of your acne may be affecting your quality of life and lowering your self-esteem. In such cases you might have to see a dermatologist or licensed skincare therapist to get professional help that can include prescription medication and other treatment therapies.
Nevertheless, we are all encouraged to take good care of our skin by using the right products and ingredients, and also by nourishing our skin with the proper nutrition.
Contributor
Tobi Ayodele Keeney
Managing Director Quincy Herbals
Email address: tobi@quincyherbals.
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