Acne is one of the most common skin conditions that people suffer from, in fact, it’s the most common skin condition in the United States¹. It’s not something anyone wants to deal with, but it doesn’t have to break your self-esteem either! This blog post will go over what acne is and how it affects people. After that, we’ll talk about acne preventative measures you can take to ensure healthy skin without acne breakouts. Finally, we’ll discuss acne treatments for when you experience a breakout.
What is acne?
Acne occurs when the hair follicles and oil glands in your skin get clogged. This blockage can lead to inflammation, which causes redness, swelling, irritation, and pimples that come with whiteheads or blackheads around them. There are several different types of acne: mild acne (Whitehead), moderate acne (Papules), and severe acne (Nodules).
What causes acne?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as everyone’s skin is different. However, there are some general things that can cause acne: hormones, genetics, bacteria, cosmetics, stress, and diet. Acne is more common in teenagers and young adults, but it can affect people of any age.
Preventing Acne Breakouts
There are a few general things you can do to prevent acne breakouts:
Wash your face twice a day with soap and water, this will help remove oils and bacteria from your skin.- Avoid touching your face. When you touch your face, you can spread bacteria and oils to your skin.
- Limit how much makeup you use and if you’re having an acne breakout, avoid using makeup – it will only worsen the problem.
- Keep your hair clean and off of your face. Doing so helps prevent oils and dirt from getting on your skin.
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher if you’re going to be outside. The sun can aggravate acne.
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Both of these can contribute to acne breakouts.
- Best acne treatments
Acne Treatments
If you are already experiencing acne breakouts, there are a few different treatments that might help:
- Over-the-counter acne medications: These can be helpful in mild cases of acne. There are a variety of medications available, so it’s important to find the one that works best for you.
- Prescription medication: If over-the-counter medications don’t work, your skincare specialist or doctor might prescribe something stronger or offer a medical-grade acne treatment.
- Diet: what you eat and drink might affect your skin in different ways, so it’s important to keep track of how certain foods make you feel. Some foods that are known to cause acne are milk, sugary foods, foods high in carbohydrates, and greasy foods.
- Acupuncture: some people have found that acupuncture can help with acne.
Acne is a common condition, but there are things we all can do to prevent breakouts! Each person is unique, and while these tips can prove to be very helpful, if you’re struggling to control acne, you might want to consult a skin care specialist like Shawn Joaquin of Flawless Medspa in Excelsior, MN. A qualified skincare specialist can provide you with a consultation that helps identify your causes of acne, acne prevention tips, and the best plan of treatment to help you win the battle with acne and prevent future acne breakouts. While 80% of Americans experience acne from time to time, we hope this article helps you reduce and prevent acne breakouts in your life.
Sources: ¹ American Academy of Dermatology Association – Skin Conditions by the Numbers
