There is nothing more annoying or frustrating than having to wake up in the morning to find a swelling pimple or a spot on your face. It usually appears unexpectedly and sometimes takes much longer to go. These types of occurrences of pimples that occur on the face are usually referred to as acne. It is a type of skin problem or condition that causes spots, whiteheads and red inflamed lesions. It can appear on the skin in various parts of the body such as neck, face, chest and back.
What Causes Acne?
Acne is also known as acne vulgaris and usually occurs when small holes on the skin’s surface, referred to as pores, get clogged. Each of these pores has opening that leads to a canal named as follicle that contains hair and oil gland. These oil glands usually assist the skin by keeping it lubricated and help get rid of old skin. However, when the oil glands make too much oil, the pores on the skin’s surface get blocked and it starts to collect dirt and bacteria. The blockage is also known as a plug and its top can be white or dark, known accordingly as whitehead or blackhead.
It can happen to people of any age, even infants; though it occurs more commonly to teenagers due to hormonal changes that increase oil production. It can also be genetic and can be passed down from parents to their children. Causes of acne include changes in hormones that are related to menstruation, pregnancy control pills, greasy hair products, specific drugs such as testosterone, sweating and very high levels of humidity.
How to Treat It?
There are various ways that acne can be treated and prevented. Treatment procedure includes gently cleaning the skin with non-drying and mild soap, removing all dirt or makeup and washing the skin twice a day, especially after exercising. You should also shampoo your hair when it is oily and comb or pull your hair away from the face, and avoid headbands that are tight. Squeezing, pinching or scratching the pimples, or touching your face with your hands or fingers will worsen the condition for sure; so you should avoid all these.
If these steps do not assist in providing relief, you should seek the assistance of a dermatologist or skin specialist.
