What are acnes?
Acne is not just a problem for teenagers. It affects people ages 10 through 40 and beyond. It’s not uncommon for girls to get pimples in their mid-20s. Just the time when they are most aware of their body and beauty. Acne can appear in forms such as blackheads, pustules (pus sacs), large pimples (cysts and boils). These skin imperfections occur in areas of the skin where there is abundant oil (sebaceous glands), mainly on the face, chest and back. They hardly occur in the extremities.
Causes of acne
They are usually factors that work together to cause acne. Mainly, acne occurs in puberty when the oil of the sebaceous glands is stimulated and grows under the influence of the male hormone, testosterone (secreted by both boys and girls). Oil from the skin is normally produced to lubricate and protect the skin, but under certain circumstances, cells near the surface can block the openings of these glands, resulting in a build-up of oil under the skin. The oil is a good medium for the multiplication of bacteria normally present on the skin, especially staphylococci. The resulting infection is the basis for the pain and redness of the blocked pores. When this inflammation is close to the surface, a pustule forms; if it is deeper, a pimple appears. When this oil breaks onto the surface, it results in a white “foam”. When this oil is oxidized by the oxygen in the air, that “white head” becomes “black head.”
What factors determine the presentation of acne?
These factors, while not addressing the cause of pimples, can further aggravate these conditions.
1) Heredity: Sometimes, certain families are likely to have pimples possibly because their grandparents or parents had them. There may be genes responsible for this.
2) Food: Fatty foods like fast food, pizzas, chocolate, fried foods can make acne worse.
3) Dirt: Some people have “oily” skin and are predisposed to pimples, sweat, however, does not produce pimples. Surprisingly, excessive washing can dry out the skin and irritate it.
4) Stress: This can play an indirect role in the rash of pimples. Many girls are likely to develop pimples during exams.
5) Hormones: Many women get pimples during their menstrual cycle. It has also been suggested, though not proven, that oral contraceptive pills promote pimple training.
6) Cosmetics: Certain cosmetics and facials may not be suitable for you. Close attention to the association between cosmetic application and pimple development is often revealing.
Other factors may include certain medications, localized pressure on the skin, a certain occupation, especially those who work in poorly ventilated rooms.
How to cure acne
This brings us to the main topic of this lucid article. Everyone develops pimples at one point or another. There is no “right” time to try. However, when these pimples flare up frequently or occur before something major happens in your life, then it is time to treat them.
1) Lifestyle Medications: Sleep 8 hours a day, eat three good meals, drink 8 glasses of water a day and most pimples will disappear. However, you can apply a warm compress to the pimples. Don’t pick pimples.
2) Cleaning and skin care: Wash once or twice a day with a mild liquid cleanser stick such as Dore, Neutrogen, or Basin.
3) Cleansers and Exfoliating Masks: These products contain fine granules of salicylic acid in a concentration that makes it a very mild exfoliating agent. They remove the outer layer of the skin and thus open up clogged pores.
4) Retinol: These products contain vitamin A that promotes flaking of the skin.
5) Pore Strips: These strips may be available in pharmacies. They are put on the face to dry the oil from the pore.
6) Cleanse your skin twice a day with a 5% benzyl peroxide wash or a 2% salicylic acid wash. Consult your pharmacist about these products.
7) Apply a cream or gel containing 5% benzyl peroxide. An alternative is sulfur or resorcinol.
8) At night, apply an anti-stain cream containing sulfur to the affected areas.
9) Use a light skin moisturizer and oil-free makeup.
Medical treatments for acne
1) Tropic antibodies: contain drugs such as erythromium, elindamyan, sulfacetumid.
2) Retinoid: help unclog pores.
3) Oral antibodies: It usually contains tetracycline, amoxylin or sulfa drugs.
Oral Contraceptives: Contraceptives containing estrogens have been shown to have some efficacy in treating pimples.
4) Cortisone injections: help to flatten large pimples.
5) Laser: it is used more and more when other remedies have failed.
6) Isoretinoin: These drugs have helped millions of patients since they were introduced in 1982. The original brand name was Accutane. These drugs are prescribed by dermatologists under very close monitoring due to their possible side effects. The drug is usually prescribed for 5-6 months. Blood tests are done monthly. It should not be taken by pregnant women due to the possibility of birth defects in the baby.