Acne is very common amongst teens as signs of adolescence yet it is considered to be a stigma by most of them. In the initial stages of puberty, it is caused due to hormonal changes that increase the levels of androgens that enlarge the pores and cause more sebum to be produced and hence lead to breakouts
At the later stages of life, this is what causes acne. It is caused due to clogged pores. Pores can be blocked because of hair follicles, bacteria and dead skin cells. This results in inflammation within the clogged pore. The white and red blood cells replicate within the inflamed pore and lead to eruption which is the acne. Also it can result in blackheads, whiteheads, nodules, cysts and many other types of pimples.
White blood cells overrunning the pore can cause severe inflammation. This can result in a lot of action and destabilisation around the pimple, which can lead to dark pigmentation deposits within the skin, resulting in formation of visible dark spots on the skin's surface. Furthermore, once the pimple heals, all of the blood vessels and other inflammation byproducts can remain for a long time. This can cause the skin to turn red where the pimple was, and these are the acne spots.
Moreover, the face, forehead, chest, shoulders, and upper back are the most typical areas where acne can be found. The reason behind it is most of the sebaceous gland or oil gland that produces sebum (oily substance) is found mostly in this area.
Acne spot treatment is possible when one can know what type of acne vulgaris they have. Such as:
- Mild pimples: Pimples that take place occasionally
- Moderate pimples are the inflammatory papules and pustules
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Severe pimples such as nodules and cysts.
Pustules Acne
Pustules are puss filled inflammatory blemishes. It is bigger than whiteheads, blackheads and papules. Mostly, when the follicle wall ruptures pustules formation takes place. Pustules are commonly found on the face, back, shoulders, breastbone area and sweaty areas.
The formation process of acne pustules starts from the hair follicle blockage commonly known as clogged pore due to dead skin cells or excessive oil. These clogged or blocked pores are also known as comedo. This substance then spills onto the skin's surface, triggering irritation as well as inflammation.
Cystic Acne
Cystic acne is one of the severe acne blemishes that has a soft and fluid-filled lump under the skin surface. Bacteria enters the pores leading to cystic acne, which further causes swelling or inflammation. The most severe form of acne is cystic acne. People with oily skin types have cystic acne. It is very painful. Cystic acne can often be prevalent in teens, women, and elderly adults.
Although acne might not be cured in a go but we surely can take care of some do’s and don'ts.
Do’s and Don’ts of Acne
Do use a cleanser
For everyone with acne or without acne, the first and most important step is to remove pollutants from the skin. Green Tea and Oat both are good inductors of healthy skin. It's a good idea to start with skincare products that contain green tea and oats, such as Centella green tea facewash and hydrating oat PHA cleanser.
Don’t wash your face too often
It is recommended to wash your face once or twice a day. It might feel appealing that washing your face, again and again, would help in removing zits and blackheads. But, it is nothing more than worsening the skin. Overdoing it leads to loss of the natural oils in the skin that results in tightness, redness and dryness and hence the skin produces more sebum to counter the dryness of the skin.
Do shield your face
If you are having cystic and pustules or any other type of acne, try to avoid being in the sun. You might have heard many times that being exposed to the sun would make your skin free of oil and shine. The fact is you are making your skin worse from the UV rays. Always, cover your face and use appropriate moisturiser and sunscreen to avoid direct contact.
Don’t be cruel with your skin
Skin is a sensitive issue and it deserves to be treated gently. The market is overloaded with skincare products but it is important to know all about your skin first. One biggest mistake that people make is squeezing or touching acne. It can turn into spots in no time.
Do use oil-based products and moisturiser
It is recommended to use oil-based products for spot treatment. It might make your skin dry hence moisturiser is a must. Regardless of any skin type, moisturiser gives proper nourishment and also balances the moisture on your skin.
Don’t believe in myths
It is a myth that using baking soda, garlic or toothpaste can resolve your acne spots issue. On the internet, you will find various information but not everything that is present is authentic. Hence, it is better to consult with your dermatologist or any skincare expert about such cases.
As we have gained a great depth of knowledge on acne and acne spots, let us explore some treatment for acne spots.
Topical Treatment for Effective Acne Spots
- Benzoyl Peroxide:
It is a proven acne-fighting activity that can be used effectively over the counter. It helps in reducing inflammation and avoiding bacteria contact with the skin. It can make skin dry so it is better to use it once or twice.
- Salicylic Acid:
Salicylic acid has hydroxy acid properties that help in removing gunks from the pores. It is a well-recommended active for people suffering from pustules. It will also help with removing hair follicles. Salicylic acid comes in both body wash and serums like BHA and Mandelic acid. To reduce acne and acne spots try implementing BHA Exfoliating Serum that lessens inflammation and exfoliates the dead skin cells.
- Azelaic Acid:
Azelaic acid has antibacterial properties and can also be applied during pregnancy and lactation periods. Azelaic acid comes in the form of cream, gel and serum. As per your skin tolerance you can decide the usage of it.
- Retinoids:
Retinoids are a class of elements derived from vitamin A. They work to reduce acne inflammation and prevent future blemishes from forming. Retinols have been shown to be effective against all types of acne, though dryness can occur, so it's best to start with a lower strength and gradually increase as needed. Another advantage of retinoids is that they help to reduce acne scarring and smooth out the skin by speeding up the rate at which your body replaces old skin cells. In turn, regulated skin cell turnover aids in the reduction of some signs of ageing.
Using a spot treatment too frequently can cause skin irritation and dryness. Although it may be tempting to smother pimples in spot treatments , treatments should not be used more than twice per day.