PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, July 3: Most people have had acne at some point in their lives. Time does not alleviate the problem, whether it is in adolescence, adulthood, or later. The bothersome red lumps, uncomfortable cysts, scarring, and sensitivity are not enjoyable and can seriously lower your mood or overall sense of self-worth.
In an interview with lagatar24.com Dr Kumar Prateek, Consultant Dermatologist at MEDICA shared, “Acne is a skin condition that causes whiteheads, blackheads, pimples or cysts to form on the skin. This commonly happens on the face, but it can occur in other places on your body like your back or chest.”
Even though acne can be caused by several factors, the most common cause is hormones. “The creation of oil by androgen hormones (also known as testosterone) is what causes the majority of acne. This is why acne appears throughout puberty in adolescence. The development of acne-causing bacteria is made possible by the skin’s increased oil production,” said Dr Prateek
Another contributing factor to acne is clogged pores. “Oil, dead skin cells, products, and acne-causing bacteria are all present in the pore along with other comedogenic (pore-clogging) skincare items that we use on our skin. The body sends inflammatory cells (white blood cells), which cause painful, pus-filled lesions, to the spot because it doesn’t like this accumulation of skin cells, oil, and germs. — acne cysts,” Dr Prateek added.
Depending on the type and cause of acne, several treatments may be used. One method of treating acne is with topical medications, which are available over the counter or via a dermatologist. Benzoyl peroxide can benefit the skin topically, so look for products that contain it.
“Benzoyl peroxide helps kill acne-causing bacteria and unclog the pore. Another topical chemical that can help is retinoid or vitamin A. Treatments for acne are aimed at addressing the underlying cause, and retinoids are the most effective at addressing most of the underlying causes with the exception of the hormonal component. Retinoids remove the top layer of dead skin cells, dry up the oil, kill that acne-causing bacteria and are anti-inflammatory,” Dr Prateek added.
Dr Prateek suggested a few tips to keep acne away from the skin:
- Eating healthy, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep and exercising are great places to start when it comes to acne and getting good skin.
- Since acne is linked to inflammation and hormones, taking a total body approach is more likely to help than focusing on specific skincare products that can only do so much.
- You don’t need to buy expensive products to do that either. A simple face wash, moisturizer and a targeted serum (like one with acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid) can go a long way.
- Don’t forget to wash your face, especially before bed to prevent clogged pores and a buildup of oil.
- Always remove your makeup, and cleanse after you go to the gym, too.
- Sweating at the gym and leaving without cleansing (even if it’s just for an hour or so) is a recipe for clogged pores fast.
- You don’t want all the dirt, bacteria, sweat and oil to hang out on your skin for too long.
