All You Need to Know About Acne
Acne is a common skin condition that takes place when hair follicles under the skin become clogged. Oil and dead skin cells plug the pores, and outbreaks of lesions (pimples or zits) appear on the skin. Most often, the outbreaks occur on the face, but they can also appear on the back, chest and shoulders.
For most people, acne tends to go away by the time they reach their thirties, but some people in their 40s and 50s continue to have this skin problem.
According to a research study by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin (NIAMS), some points to remember about acne are:
- Acne is a common skin condition that happens when hair follicles under the skin become clogged.
- Acne causes several types of lesions, or pimples.
- The goals of treatment are to help heal skin lesions, stop new lesions from forming, and prevent scarring.
- Medications and procedures, such as laser and light therapies are the most common treatments.
- Acne can cause embarrassment or make you feel shy or anxious. If you have any of these symptoms consult your skin doctor.
Acne may vary in size, colour, and the level of pain. The following are the types of acne:
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Whiteheads:
These remain under the skin and are small.
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Blackheads:
These are clearly visible; they are black and appear on the surface of the skin.
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Papules:
These are small, usually pink bumps, and are visible on the surface of the skin
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Pustules:
These are clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are red at their base and have pus at the top.
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Nodules:
These are clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are large, solid, painful pimples that are embedded deep in the skin.
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Cysts:
These are clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are painful and filled with pus. The cysts can cause scars.
Causes of Acne
The human skin has pores that connect to oil glands under the skin. Follicles connect the glands to the pores. Follicles are small sacs or glands that produce and secrete an oily liquid called sebum. Sebum carries dead skin cells through the follicles to the surface of the skin. A small hair grows through the follicle out of the skin. The pimples grow when these follicles get blocked, and oil builds up under the skin.
Skin cells, sebum, and hair can clump together into a plug. This plug gets infected with bacteria and causes swelling. A pimple starts to develop when the plug begins to break down. According to a research study by The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Cutibacterium acnes (Propionibacterium acnes) is the name of the bacteria that live on the skin and contribute to the infection of pimples. The severity and frequency of the acne depend on the strains (phylotypes IA-2, IB-1, and IC) of bacteria. Not all acne bacteria trigger pimples.
Hormonal Factors
A range of factors trigger acne, but the main cause is a rise in androgen levels. Androgen is a type of hormone, the levels of which rise with adolescence. In women, it gets converted into estrogen (a female hormone produced by the ovaries).
Rising androgen levels cause the oil glands under the skin to grow. The enlarged glands produce more sebum. Excessive sebum can break down cellular walls in the pores, causing bacteria to grow.
Other Possible Triggers
As per a research study conducted by The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin (NIAMS), genetic factors may increase the risk of acne prone skin. Some medications that contain androgen and lithium, greasy cosmetics, hormonal changes, emotional stress and menstruation can cause acne skin.
Also read: https://www.drbatras.com/different-types-of-acne-and-their-homeopathic-treatment
Acne Treatment
Here are some preventive tips for looking after the acne prone skin:
- Refrain from touching the face often. Wash your face at least twice each day with mild skin care products.
- Do not scrub the skin or burst the pimples, as this may push the infection further down, causing more blocking, swelling and redness.
- Avoid popping pimples, as this may cause scarring on the skin.
- Hold the telephone away from the face when talking, as it is likely to contain sebum and skin residue.
- Wash hands frequently, especially before applying lotions, creams, or makeup.
- Choose makeup for sensitive skin and avoid oil-based products. Always remove makeup before bed-time.
- Clean spectacles regularly as they may collect sebum and skin residue.
- If acne is on the back, shoulders, or chest, try wearing loose clothing to let your skin breathe.
- Soften the skin and beard with warm soapy water, before applying shaving cream. Use an electric shaver or sharp safety razors when shaving.
- Keep scalp hair clean, as it collects sebum and skin residue. Avoid greasy hair products, such as those containing cocoa butter.
- Avoid anxiety and stress, as it can increase the production of cortisol and adrenaline hormones, which can aggravate acne.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure, as it can cause the skin to produce more sebum.
- Try to keep cool and dry in hot and humid climate, to prevent perspiration.
Acne is not only a cosmetic problem, but people with acne have high rates of depression and anxiety. It can also be emotionally devastating. Acne can cause severe embarrassment, but treatment is available, and can be effective in many cases. Consult your skin doctor for various acne treatments.
Homeopathy Treatment for Acne
Homeopathy treatment for acne treats the skin infection from the root and doesn’t cause any side-effects, unlike conventional treatment. Consult a professional homeopathic practitioner to determine an appropriate medicine that will rebalance your entire system and treat your acne. Homeopathic doctors record your detailed case history, consider underlying causes and factors of acne and then prescribe a customised homeopathic treatment for acne. The dosage and the potency of the homeopathic medicine will also vary from person to person.
Dr Batra’s® has treated more than 1.41 lakh skin patients with the goodness of homeopathy for over 35 years. We highly recommend that you take the skin evaluation test in order to assess the current state of your skin problem. Dr Batra’s® has a success rate of 94.3% in treating skin disorders, including acne, as authenticated by American Quality Assessors. Book an appointment with us at https://www.drbatras.com/book-an-appointment and let our homeopathy doctor guide you towards the most suitable and effective skin care treatment.
