How To Prevent Acne? 5 Things To Avoid Breakouts

Acne occurs when the pores of the skin get blocked with oil, dead skin or bacteria. A follicle is the opening of each skin pore. This follicle is made up of hair and sebaceous glands. This is an oil gland which releases sebum or oil which travels up the hair, out of the pore and onto the skin. It causes blackheads, whiteheads and pimples. Although acne isn’t a life-threatening condition, it can be painful and affect the confidence of a person which causes emotional pain. Additionally, it also causes permanent physical scarring. Acne mostly begins occurring in teenagers who attain the age of puberty.

Symptoms of acne

Acne signs vary depending on the severity of the condition. Some of the common symptoms are :

Blackheads, open clogged pores
Whiteheads closed clogged pores
Small red, tender bumps known as papules
Pimples which are papules with pus at the tip
Large, solid, painful lumps under the skin known as nodules
Painful pus-filled lumps under the skin known as cystic lesions

Acne most commonly appears on the face, chest, upper back and shoulders.

Causes of acne

Acne is largely a hormonal condition that is driven by androgen hormones, which typically become active during the teenage and young adult years. Production of these hormones combined with surface bacteria and fatty acids within the oil gland can result in acne.

The given things can cause/trigger acne :

Hormone levels change around a woman's cycle.
The tension increases the hormone cortisol
Picking at acne sores
Clothing and headgear like helmets, caps etc
Some medications
Genetics
Using oily or greasy personal care products

How is acne treated?

Acne can be treated through non-prescription medicines prescribed by a doctor. The dosage is prescribed based on condition severity, age and type of acne. The use of certain contraceptives can sometimes help a woman’s acne go away. Three different birth control tab kinds have been given the go-ahead by the FDA to treat acne. All four contain a combination of estrogen (the primary female sex hormone) and progesterone (a natural form of steroid that helps regulate menstruation). Various medications and therapies have proven to be effective. They target the underlying cause of acne. Certain medicines can be taken orally, some are applied topically and other remedies are laser treatments, chemical peels etc

Things You Should Know Before Getting Acne Treatment

1. It could cause dry skin or other side effects

Most acne treatments can cause specific side effects. For instance, benzoyl peroxide could cause temporary redness, inflammation or skin irritation in the beginning. The consequence of this could be flaking and peeling of the skin. It gets severe when the skin is not moisturised. If you happen to have sensitive skin, begin treatment with a mild dosage until the skin develops a tolerance for it. For certain people, antibiotics could cause stomach-related issues which eventually fade away after continuous use of the medicine. Closed lesions, deeper lesions, or even comedones, which are blackheads and whiteheads, do not respond at all to acne patches.

2. Using previous skin care products might make acne worse

Certain chemical and physical exfoliates like scrubs and face washes can worsen acne by irritating the skin and causing inflammation. Hence, it is usually advised to avoid the usage of these products when you begin an acne treatment. Instead, utilize the products that will moisturise the skin and clean it without over-drying it or increasing oil production. Also, avoiding make-up initially could help as this could irritate sensitive acne lesions and prolong the healing process.

3. It is essential to follow the medication routine

One of the most common mistakes people commit during acne treatment is disregarding the instructions on the package. Due to this, the healing process slows down to a great extent which could also cause irritation and inflammation of the skin. It is highly recommended to follow the instructions encased on the treatment to work properly. Moreover, this also decreases the side effects caused by a medicine. For better results to prevent acne formation we recommend using acne cream and anti-acne face wash by Saturn.

4. Patience is the key

Irrespective of what medications are utilised, the results take around 8 weeks to show up. The time varies from person to person based on various factors like the severity of acne and overall health. Most treatments require a certain amount of time for the body to get rid of the bacteria which cause the blemishes. It can take several months for significant results to appear.

5. Homoeopathic acne is always better to treat acne

One must understand that one type of acne medication will not work for all skin types. It varies from person to person. If you are not satisfied with the results shown by the current treatment, you could always shift towards homoeopathy treatments. These medications utilise natural ingredients and hence produce very negligible side effects. homoeopathy cures acne using natural roots.

How to treat acne scars after getting rid of active acne?

Because acne scars are so difficult to remove, no one therapy is ideal for everyone. Depending on the kind of scar, your skin type, and the degree of scarring, one or a combination of the following methods may help you have clearer skin.

Skin care at home

Sunscreen helps reduce the difference between skin without scars and skin with scars. Additionally, certain medicated lotions, such as those containing hydroxyl or azelaic acids, could be beneficial.

Fillers for soft tissue

The skin over indentation scars may be made plumper by injecting collagen, fat, or other material beneath the skin. The goal is to cover up the scars as much as possible. Repeated treatments are necessary to maintain the impact since the results are transient. Skin colour changes are not likely to occur with this technique.

Injection of steroids

Some elevated scars may be treated with steroids to make them seem less noticeable.

Resurfacing using lasers

This method is become more and more popular and is often used for scars that have previously undergone dermabrasion therapy.

People who have darker skin or a history of keloids are more likely to have negative consequences from this procedure.

Other methods based on energy

Scars may be made less visible with the use of radiofrequency and pulsed light sources without endangering the skin's outer layer. You could need further treatments since the results are mild.

Dermabrasion

This technique is often reserved for more severe scarring. Your doctor will remove the top layer of skin using equipment such as a rapidly moving brush. Deeper acne scars may look less apparent, and surface scars may entirely disappear. Scarring and changes in skin tone are examples of potentially serious adverse effects.

Peeling agent

With a chemical peel, your doctor will remove the top layer of skin over the scar tissue, which will also assist to cover up any deeper scars. You can keep your effects from both light and medium peels going with regular maintenance treatments. There can only be one deep peel. Changes in skin tone are possible adverse effects, particularly when thorough peels are applied to dark skin.

Take Away

Acne can be very troublesome. Apart from pain, it could also cause emotional distrain. Acne could be treated by using various home remedies. But, during extreme acne breakout, consult a doctor or prefer trying an acne treatment. Unfortunately, These treatments are coupled with side effects. In addition to treatments, you must also follow a balanced diet, hygienic habits and a healthy lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Which acne is easiest to treat?

Blackheads and whiteheads are the easiest to treat.

2. What food causes acne?

Sugar and carbs cause the most acne.

3. How can I prevent acne naturally?

Properly wash your face.
Know your skin type.
Use a moisturizer.
Use over-the-counter acne treatments.
Stay hydrated.
Limit makeup.
Try not to touch your face.
Limit sun exposure.

References:

1. Tobechi L. Ebede, MD, Emily L. Arch, MD, and Diane Berson, Dec 2009, Hormonal Treatment of Acne in Women

2. Estrogen and Progestin (Oral Contraceptives) - MedlinePlus