Acne
Acne is said to be cause by changes in diet and environment, as well as age. Types of acne medication or treatment of acne has increased, but let’s start from the fact that in order to treat acne properly, you have to first know about acne.
Types of acne.
The official name of acne is “acne vulgaris”, meaning common acne. Acne during adolescence is caused by an increase of testosterone, regardless of sex.
A comedo, or blackhead, is a clogged hair follicle (pore) in the skin. Keratin (skin debris) combines with oil to block the follicle. A blackhead can be open (blackhead) or closed by skin (whitehead), and occur with or without acne.
The chronic inflammatory condition that usually includes both blackheads and whiteheads and inflamed papules and pustules (pimples) is called acne. Infection causes inflammation and the development of pus.
How Acne is Formed.
Normal skin > Acne can occur in the pores of normal skin > Acne begins with fat clogging pores > Pores are narrowed when dirt and sebum increase and accumulate > Abnormal keratinization blocks the pores > Whitehead (Tip is yellowish-white, keratinization occurs, exit have healed) > Blackhead (Sebum and dirt, including makeup, clogg the pores, causing a black tip) > bacteria causes inflammation of acne.
White acne is when hairs are blocked. The acne is not yet inflamed. Black acne is when you have melanin and dirt in the pores but pore are not yet inflamed. Red acne is a state of inflammation caused by bacteria (papules, a firm bump in the skin). If not treated, the acne bacteria increases and inflammation occurs within the skin and will swell further. White blood cells then begin to attack the hair follicle and the pores will tear as inflammation spreads. Acne scars will result if left untreated.
How Acne Bacteria Grows.
Acne bacteria lives in the pores of our skin. It thrives on oil and proliferates when dirt in introduced into the pores. Treatment of this bacteria is the first step in supressing and preventing acne.
Treating Acne.
Skin care products treating acne are widely available, whether off-the-shelf or from a pharmacist.
Pharmacists can prescribe creams or lotions with the following active ingredients:
- components to eliminate the fat, such as salicylic acid, resorcinol, ε-aminocaproic acid and hydroxy acid.
- components to reduce inflammation such as glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, allantoin and ε-aminocaproic acid
- components to sterilize the affected area such as isopropyl methyl phenol, torikuro acid, benzalkonium chloride and chlorhexidine gluconate
- components to inhibit the secretion of sebum such as pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E), lipid absorption powder, royal jelly, etc.
- Oral Medication to help the decomposition of sebum; Vitamin B6 (sebum secretion inhibition), (inhibition of lipid peroxidation) Vitamin E and Vitamin B2 (inhibition of lipid peroxidation), Vitamin C (prevention of acne scars and pigmentation), Vitamin A (prevention the angle of the epidermis)
Medication prescribed by doctors:
- Topical antibiotics (such as clindamycin) to suppress the growth of bacteria in inflammatory acne
- Topical retinoid to suppress the formation of comedones
- Oral antibiotics (minocycline, doxycycline, and roxithromycin) to suppress the growth of bacteria in inflammatory acne
Lifestyle Approaches
Even after adolesence, acne can recur if skin is not taken care of properly. Here are some lifestyle changes and approaches to look after your skin well.
Diet
Moderate your intake of fatty foods such as noodles and meat. One of the greatest enemy of skin is fats. Balance your diet with Vitamins if you regularly consume fatty meats, nuts and chocolate and alcohol.
Cleaning
It is important to wash your face often to remove impurities, dead skin cells, and extra oil from your skin’s surface. However, washing your face more than twice daily may not necessarily be better. Use warm, not hot, water and a mild facial cleanser. Using a harsh soap (like deodorant body soap) can hurt the already inflamed skin and cause more irritation. Also avoid hard scrubbing with towels.
Hair
That’s right, what you put on your hair can irritate skin and cause acne. If hair lotions and gels get on your face they can block pores and cause irritation. Wash hair frequently a good shampoo and conditioner and keep long hair away from face.
Work and Rest
Not enough rest and stress are the two of the main causes of acne in adults. Get exercise and enough sleep, and try a relaxing herbal drink to calm the stress.
Cleanliness
General cleanliness, it goes without saying, is key to good health, especially for the skin. Avoid touching your face – you don’t know what kind of bacteria your hands have picked up! Use a gentle disinfectant hand cleanser. And wash your hands frequently.
Avoiding Acne – A Quick Glance:
- Don’t touch or burst that pimple
- Keep your hair away from your face
- Use the right face wash
- Get enough sleep and manage stress
- Use non-comedogneic cosmetics
- Eat a balanced diet