Know your enemy so you can choose the proper weapons to destroy what causes facial acne and prevent future breakouts from appearing on your face. We have all had acne at some point in our lives on our back, chest, neck or face and having acne on the face is far more devastating because when acne appears elsewhere on your body it is easier to cover it up. Hiding pimples, whiteheads, blackheads or patches of inflamed and reddened skin on your face is impossible to disguise unless you enjoy walking around with a paper bag over your head. The enemy appears when tiny holes on the surface of the facial skin become clogged. The holes I am referring to are your pores. How do pores become blocked? They can become blocked when the gland associated with the follicle on your skin produces too much oil. Bacteria, skin cells and bacteria gather and a plug or comedone forms. A plug that has a white top is called a whitehead and one that has a black top is called a blackhead. When the plug breaks open, swells and causes a red bump to appear you have a pimple. Acne cysts occur when the acne is deep in your skin. Cysts are painful.
People of all ages can have acne so no one is immune to this enemy. Even babies can have pimples called newborn acne. Adults can have acne that is associated with hormonal changes such as when a woman takes birth control pills, is under stress, is going through puberty, has her menstrual cycle or is pregnant. Males have acne that is associated with going through puberty when hormones rage and when they are stressed. Using greasy products on your skin, using oily cosmetics or certain hair products can aggravate the pores and contribute to the formation of plugs. Individuals living in areas of high humidity or who sweat a lot can also experience acne.
How do you know when the enemy has attacked?
You will experience symptoms such as acne pustules, redness around skin bumps, crusting of skin bumps, or the appearance of whiteheads, blackheads and cysts. Severe acne can lead to scarring of the skin.
Weapons of choice to fight the enemy:
Clean the skin with a gentle, mild, nondrying soap that will remove all dirt and make-up. You should clean your face twice a day and after exercising. Do not scrub your face or wash it more than twice a day unless it is to remove sweat from exercising or from being outside in hot and humid conditions.
It is important to shampoo your hair daily especially if your hair tends to be more oily than dry. You can also pull your hair back from your face to keep the hair off the face.
Changing acne products frequently can aggravate your skin so only use products that have been prescribed by a dermatologist or other medical professional. Using strong medications or over-the-counter acne products can cause more harm than good. The best weapons are those that discourage the pores from becoming blocked.
You can also treat your skin well by keeping it hydrated by drinking plenty of water each day. Start out with a glass of water when you first wake, drink a glass of water before each meal and when you snack in the morning and afternoon. Drink another glass of water before going to bed. Your skin will thank you for keeping it hydrated by looking fresh, clear and smooth.
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