Know The Type And Causes Of Your Acne

Acne breakouts can be really frustrating. I called them ‘photobombs’, as never a single picture of mine was worth sharing on any social media platform, thanks to those ugly spots on my face. The most irritating part about acne for me was sometimes they popped up even when I was seemingly doing everything right. If you too think so and want to know what actually caused acne in you, this post is for you. We tell you what are the different types of acne, what can be the possible triggers and the treatment for acne that is safe, sure and scientific.

Types of acne

Knowing what type of acne you are dealing with is the first step in any successful treatment regimen. So read on to know what type of acne you have.

Whiteheads, Blackheads, Papules, Pustules and Nodules are some of the common types of acne.

• Whiteheads

  Whiteheads are, as the name suggests, small blemishes with whitish “heads.” They result when the skin follicles get plugged with sebum and dead skin cells. Sebum is nothing but oil. Your skin needs a certain amount of natural oil to protect and nourish it. It’s only when there’s excess sebum and dead skin cells that you are at risk of getting acne.

• Blackheads

  If you see tiny blemishes that look like black dots, you’ve got blackheads. Unlike whiteheads, which are closed, blackheads are open. Blackheads appear when the debris inside the skin follicle gets oxidized. Comedones is another term for clogged hair follicles (pores).

• Papules

  When the presence of bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells cause inflammation, it results in papules. Papules can be identified by their redness, swelling and the absence of pus. They are small to medium in size.

• Pustules

  Pustules are similar to papules, but they’ve got pus, as the name suggests. Because they contain whitish or yellowish-looking pus, they can look a lot like bigger whiteheads, and may feel painful to touch.

• Nodule

  If you have got a face full of large, red, inflamed blemishes that seem to last for months, chances are you have got a form of severe acne, which might be nodules, cysts, or acne conglobata. These are indicative of a deeper condition than your average acne type and can cause more severe and permanent damage to your skin if left untreated.

Causes of acne

People with acne often wonder why me of all the people in this world?

Many have tried to explain why acne occurs in some, and not in others. However, the precise cause of acne still remains a mystery. Though we do not quite know the 'why', we do know the 'how'. Here is how acne develops:

The pores (hair follicles) in our skin are closely associated with oil glands, called sebaceous glands, which produce sebum. Sebum is an oily substance that lubricates our hair and skin.

When sebum is being secreted, the dead skin cells are also being expelled from the lining of the pore at the same time. Sometimes, when too much sebum is produced, it accumulates, thus clogging the pore.

When the pore gets blocked, the sebum or dead skin cells cannot leave the pore. This leads to swelling around the pore, and the result is acne. At times, bacteria can also build up inside, leading to the formation of pus.

Listed below are some of the most common causes of increased sebum production, which ultimately leads to the formation of acne:

• Hormones - Acne is precipitated by hormones that are present in both sexes. The oil surplus created by these hormones is instrumental in clogging the hair follicles. In women, hormonal changes occur with puberty, menstrual periods, pregnancy, use of birth-control pills and menopause, and each of these are a potential phase for developing acne. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is also a common cause of acne.

• Genetics - Heredity plays a significant role in the development and persistence of acne.

• Medications - Certain medications can lead to severe outbreaks of acne in some individuals.

• Stress - The changes induced by stress have been extensively studied over many decades, and hormonal changes are one of the results of stress, which can lead to acne.

• Bacteria - People with acne have more bacteria trapped in the skin surface than compared to people without acne.

• Diet - It is not known for sure whether diet is a cause of acne. There seems to be a wide disparity over this in the opinions of dermatologists as well as patients. However, many patients see an increase in acne after too much intake of spicy foods, caffeine, excessive sweets, alcohol, chocolates, red meat, corn, gluten, etc.

• Cosmetics - Certain cosmetics used over a long period of time can lead to acne. Face creams, foundation creams, overnight creams and moisturisers are known to cause harm.

Know what can worsen your pimples

• Chronic stress
• Steroid use
• Oil-based moisturisers and hair products
• Heavy make-up, which clogs the pores
• Squeezing or picking acne spots
• Oral contraceptive pills
• Certain prescription medications and steroid creams used in atopic dermatitis (eczema)
• Changes in the menstrual cycle
• Hot, humid climate
• Excess exposure to the sun

Holistic treatment for acne

If you are looking for a holistic and permanent cure, homeopathic treatment for acne is the best. The homeopathic medicines for acne can eliminate eruptions over a period of time, prevent further outbreaks and gradually give you healthy-looking skin.

Homeopathic treatment for acne believes in individualized or customized approach. It offers different remedies for different types of acne — as it does for any other illness — based on its presentation and also subtleties.

Acne is not just a disorder of the skin; it is also an external manifestation of an internal imbalance, something that needs to be addressed on a deeper or constitutional level.

The homeopathic treatment for acne looks at the individuality of the person; it also examines not just the symptoms, but also the personality and temperament of the individual, without limiting itself to treating the outwardly symptoms.

Homeopathic medicines for acne treat the cause, for example, stress, or dandruff, while eradicating the external expression of an inner disorder — in this case, acne.

Homeopathic medicines for acne also stimulate the individual’s immunity from within. The result is a permanent resolution of the acne distress, from back-to-front.