One of the most common skin concerns among teenagers and adults alike is acne. On the face, on the back, or anywhere on the body, acne can create feelings of anxiety, stress, and self-consciousness. If you’re one of the millions that suffer from acne-prone skin, you’ve probably tried nearly every product on the market shelves and nothing seems to be working. If you’re finally ready to kick acne out of your life, we’ve got a skincare routine for you.
First, Let’s Talk About How Acne Is Produced
It’s important to know what causes acne in order to best prevent new breakouts from burgeoning on your face or body. Acne appears when your hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. This is why acne typically appears on your face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders, as these areas contain the most oil (sebaceous) glands. Connected to these glands are hair follicles. The four main factors that can cause acne are:
- excess oil production
- hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
- bacteria
- above-average activity of a type of androgens, a type of hormone.
Even if you constantly clean and scrub your face to prevent clogging, there are other factors that can thwart your efforts. Your hormones, for example, have a large effect on acne, and unfortunately, it isn’t something you can control. In teens going through puberty, androgen hormones increase, causing sebaceous glands to expand and make more sebum (oil). Fluctuations can also occur in pregnant women or from taking oral contraceptives.
Be wary of certain medications or supplements that you take, as these can also cause acne.
Eating unhealthy foods can also cause acne to flare up. This isn’t limited to greasy or fried foods. Skim milk, bread, chips, and sugar have been linked to the worsening of acne. Constant stress can also make acne worse.
Determine What Kind of Acne You’re Dealing With
There are 4 main types of acne that people deal with. A whitehead occurs when the walls of the follicle bulge and the pore look enlarged. A blackhead is when the bacteria and oil clogging the pore is closer to the surface of the skin and darkens. We all know the raised red spots with a white center are pimples. These develop when the blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Large cysts form below the surface of the skin when blockages and inflammation develop deep inside hair follicles. Remember that whatever you’re dealing with, don’t pick, pop, or scratch. You’ll only cause scarring or more infection and cause any effective treatments to take longer.
Treating Acne
When it comes to acne, there’s no “one size fits all.” However, the best skincare routine you can add to your regimen is to visit your dermatologist. They can determine the best course of action for your skin, provide services like peels and treatments to reduce acne, redness, and dark spots, and they can prescribe products that will actually work.
Get rid of your acne for good, by reaching out to an experienced board-certified dermatologist. Dr. Ana M. Duarte and her staff at the Children’s Skin Center are South Florida’s premier pediatric and adult dermatology practice. With offices in Miami (Nicklaus Children’s Hospital main campus), Coral Gables, Doral, Miami Lakes, Miramar, Kendall, Pinecrest, and Palm Beach Gardens, getting kid-friendly dermatology care with a board-certified dermatologist has never been easier or more convenient. Call or text our offices at (305)-669-6555 today.
