Acne is a commonest skin disorder that usually affects young adults. Almost 85% of people get acne during their teenage. In many people, it slowly improves naturally in the mid-twenties. Due to many causes, acne is more common than ever now. And people are getting acne until their late thirties these days.
It is important to understand what is normal and what is not. When to visit a doctor, and when to get medical treatment.
Acne occurs due to a combination of oil activity, hormonal influence, skin cell accumulation and skin bacteria. It is considered normal to get acne in teenagers.
However, if there are too much acne, if it causes pigmentation or scarring or if it affects daily activity and self-esteem, it is of concern. It is important to treat such acne on time to prevent residual skin damage.
Besides normal acne, various issues such as stress, environmental pollution, masks, hormonal imbalance, increased cholesterol, weight gain, diabetes, thyroid, etc can induce acne in young and older individuals. Nowadays we see lots of cholesterol-related acne in young people. It is related to faulty diet habits and lack of exercise.
POST WORK OUT ACNE? Is It even real?
It is important to properly cleanse the face after work out. Those of you who exercise regularly, please wash your face with clean water and apply gel-based moisturizer before work out. Do not wear makeup. Make sure to carry a clean towel to the gym. Pat off sweat gently during exercise. Use mild cleansers or salicylic acid-based facewash after work out depending on normal to oily skin. Apply gel-based moisturizer and sunscreen before heading home.
WHATS MASKNE?
After covid-19, maskne has surged in a huge way. Many young or old people are getting acne in the lower face due to masks. It can happen due to irritation by masks, excessive humidity and sweating leading to dryness and dehydration in that area, inadequate moisturisers, etc. To reduce maskne, we can wear cotton or silk masks underneath surgical protective masks. American Academy of Dermatology advises to wear gel-based moisturizers under the mask for all skin types, avoid or minimize wearing makeup under the mask, keep skin free of masks every 3-4 hours, reapply moisturizer if needed. Wash your face carefully after removing masks.
CAN FOOD WORSEN ACNE?
Yes, there are some food triggers that can worsen acne. Like sweet beverages, a high sugar diet, dark chocolates, whey protein etc. Recent studies show that people with known allergies could get acne with histamine rich foods.
CAN PEOPLE WITH DRY SKIN GET ACNE
Yes, dry skinned individuals can also get acne, in teenager, due to hormonal imbalance, dehydration of skin without proper care and moisturizers, etc. Sometimes sun damage can also induce acne. Hence, we need to evaluate in detail if acne is not improving with simple creams and general measures.
HOW TO GET RID OF ACNE
Treatment of acne depends on the amount of acne and its severity. The first treatment is retinol cream. It helps in improving acne over few months. For active bumps, you might need antibiotic creams or tablets. If you get few bumps here and there every month, spot treatment can be done. However, in difficult or long-duration acne, doctors prescribe medical tablets that give permanent improvement. Also, we need to evaluate underlying health issues or hormonal imbalance. Hence it is best to visit a dermatologist.
WHAT SKINCARE PRODUCTS SUIT ACNE-PRONE SKIN
People prone to acne should look for gel or cream-based products and avoid ointments and lotions in general. Apply moisturizers daily. Contrary to popular belief, moisturisers in the face help in reducing acne independently. This has been consistently proven in studies. Use gentle cleansers and not harsh facewash that can dry the face, worsening acne. Wear sunscreen outdoors. Choose oil-free or water-based makeup, do not use blotting paper that might worsen or clog pores, WHAT NOT TO DO TO GET RID OF ACNE- steroid creams, toothpaste, over-exfoliation, avoid skin irritation, do not sleep in makeup, do not touch the face, look for non-comedogenic products, etc.
ARE ALL BUMPS IN THE FACE ACNE?
No, all facial bumps are not acne. It is best to avoid random treatments without proper guidance. Always choose the best dermatology service in Nepal.