Acne, Anti-wrinkle & Dark Spots
What is Acne?
Acne is a widespread skin condition. It typically appears on areas of your skin that have the most sebaceous (oil) glands, such as the face, neck, chest, upper back and shoulders. These glands connect to hair follicles.
Other pores in your skin, such as the openings of the sweat glands, are not usually involved. Acne is most prevalent in teens and young adults but can also affect older adults. Changing hormone levels, pregnancy, stress and certain medications can cause acne.
What causes acne?
- Diet: Certain foods, including skim milk and carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread, bagels and chips, may make acne worse. Chocolate is also thought to increase acne.
- Environment: Being in an oily area such as a kitchen with frying equipment may worsen acne because the airborne oil can stick to the skin and block pores.
- Hormones: Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives can increase sebum (oil) production.
- Some medications: Drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium can make sebaceous (oil) glands more active.
- Stress
What symptoms can occur with acne?
Acne typically appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders because these areas of skin have the most sebaceous (oil) glands. Hair follicles connect to oil glands, and when the secretions clog the pores, these symptoms can appear:
- “Blackheads”: A clog that is open to the skin surface can darken, creating a “blackhead.” Although blackheads may look like dirt stuck in pores, it’s the bacteria and oil congesting the pores that, when exposed to air, turn brown.
- Cyst-like lumps: Blockages and inflammation that form deep inside hair follicles produce lumps beneath the surface of your skin.
- Pimples: When hair follicles get clogged and become inflamed or infected with bacteria, raised red spots with a white middle may develop.
- “Whiteheads”: The follicle wall bulges up with sebum (oil) and produces a “whitehead.”
How is acne treated?
Acne products and medicines are designed to:
- Fight bacterial infection
- Reduce inflammation to help minimize and prevent scarring
- Reduce oil production by sebaceous glands
- Speed up the processes of skin renewal through cell turnover
Healing acne requires patience in following the treatment routine. For example, a treatment may direct you to clean and apply medications to the affected areas twice a day for several weeks. Take care to remove makeup regularly and thoroughly. Results might not be noticeable for 4 to 8 weeks, and your skin may appear to get worse before it improves. In some cases, it can take several months or years for acne to entirely clear up.
References used as sources for this page
- Acne Treatment & Medication for Pimples, Blackheads, & Whiteheads. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/understanding-acne-treatment. (Accessed August 31, 2019)
- How to Get Rid of Acne (Pimples): Causes, Symptoms & Home Remedies. Available at: https://www.medicinenet.com/acne/article.htm. (Accessed August 31, 2019)
- Acne – Diagnosis and Treatment – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20368048. (Accessed August 31, 2019)