Acne is a very common skin condition which affects most people at some stage in their life.
Many teenagers get acne as they undergo hormonal changes in puberty.
Acne spots can be both blackheads and whiteheads (called comedones), papules and pustules (small bumps), nodules and cysts.
Acne can be mild or the spots can be inflamed and filled with pus.
Treatment for acne will depend on how severe it is and whether there's a risk of it causing scars.
What causes acne?
Acne is mainly driven by male hormones, which usually become active during the teenage years. Sensitivity to such hormones, combined with surface (skin) bacteria and lipids (fatty acids) within sebaceous (oil) glands, cause acne. Common sites for acne are the face, chest, shoulders and back - the sites of oil glands.Though acne is essentially a normal physiological occurrence, certain conditions may aggravate the condition including:
- Fluctuating hormone levels around the time of periods in women
- Manipulating (picking/prodding) acne lesions
- Clothing (for example hats and sports helmets) and headgear
- Air pollution and certain weather conditions,
Self-help for acne
In some cases, basic self-help techniques can help manage or prevent acne:- Only wash areas of the skin affected by acne twice a day. Too frequent washing may irritate the skin making the symptoms worse.
- Use a mild soap or cleanser and lukewarm water. Water that's too hot or cold water can make acne worse.
- Don't squeeze the spots or try to clean out blackheads. This can make things worse or lead to scars.
- Don't use too much make-up or cosmetics. Non-comedogenic water-based products are designed to reduce the risk of blocking pores.
- Remove all make-up before bed.
- Use a water-based emollient that's fragrance-free for any dry skin.
- Shower after a workout or exercise to stop sweat irritating acne.
- Regular hair washing and keeping hair off the face can also help.
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