The keys to acne

Acne is a problem that affects millions of people in the world, especially growing teenagers. A skin disease that results in pimples or blackheads to varying degrees and usually occurs in outbreaks.

Acne is the most common chronic skin disease. However, it is not only a physical problem, but many people are affected in their personal life due to the low self-esteem that the most serious cases can cause. Although it does not have a definitive cure, there are multiple techniques for its treatment that achieve very good results. Despite affecting in most cases – up to 80% – subjects between 11 and 30 years old, it can occur at any age since it is a simple clogging of the skin’s pores due to the production of excess oil.

What is acne?

Externally, acne occurs in the form of pimples, blackheads, blackheads and skin inflammations. All this is the result of the same process: the sebaceous glands, which are connected to the pores through the follicles, produce a substance called sebum that, when produced in excess, combines with the dead cells and produces a substance that clogs the follicles of the skin. This plugging does nothing more than cause inflammation and the appearance of different types of acne due to the dirt and fat accumulated in the dermis.

Although there are many types of acne, the most common are blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Although it can appear in any area of the body, in most cases, acne occurs on the face, back, chest and shoulders.

What Causes Acne?

Although there is no known single cause of acne, there are certain factors and causes that can cause it:

• The increase in hormones during adolescence that causes the glands to produce more sebum than usual.
• Hormonal changes in women during certain times such as menstruation, pregnancy or menopause.
• Start or stop taking medicines such as birth control pills.
• Family genetics.
• The excessive use of makeup or some type of harmful cosmetic that does not let the skin perspire.

How can it be cured?

There are different methods to treat acne, although that will not prevent its later appearance in the future. However, most people once they reach adulthood stop suffering from it.

To follow an adequate treatment, the most indicated thing is to go to a dermatologist who can evaluate each case and recommend the most suitable treatment. Among the many solutions, creams and medications based on mild hormonal therapies stand out. This hormonal therapy consists of the administration of low doses of estrogens and progesterone (contraceptive pills) or antiandrogen medications. Among the drugs, some stand out for having demonstrated their effectiveness in this type of acne treatment, such as benzoyl peroxide, retinoids and antibiotics.

Recommendations for people with acne

Some of the tips that can be followed to avoid the appearance of acne are:

• Maintain a daily skin cleansing with cleansing creams and milks, especially products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
• Not touching the pimples or trying to pop them in place will only cause inflammation and more breakouts.
• If you do makeup, use a foundation that is free of oils that can create more sebum on the skin. This makeup is listed as “non-comedogenic”.
• Wash your face carefully and avoid putting it in contact with fabrics that may be dirty. If you shave, clean your face with soap and water first and try to be very careful to avoid inflaming pimples.
• Maintain a good diet that is favorable for the correct nutrition of the skin.