Acne is the most prevalent skin condition that affects people of all ages, genders, and races. But the fact that many people in other parts of the world are also suffering from pimples provides no comfort to someone who has to deal with blackheads, whiteheads, or zits on his or her face. Aside from being unsightly, acne can have a negative impact on the academic, professional, and social aspects of a person’s life.
According to the 2008 Skin Matters survey, having pimples as an adult is more stressful than dealing with it as a teen. Survey participants also said that having acne is worse than having wrinkles or grey hair.
Throughout the years, different treatment methods have been developed to manage this dreaded disease. Before you get information about these anti-acne strategies, it pays to know more about what you are dealing with. Take a look at some basic information about acne:
Acne Facts and Myths
Acne vulgaris or simply acne is a condition that affects the oil glands of your skin. You experience an acne breakout when the follicles in your skin are clogged with oil and dead skin cells. The exact cause of the problem is unknown but several contributing factors have been determined. Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t get acne simply because you are not washing your face enough or due to your consumption of oily or greasy foods. However, eating a lot of processed carbohydrates and sugar may attract acne-causing bacteria and cause skin cells that are associated with acne to divide.
While dirt may contribute to acne, washing your face too much may actually make your breakouts worse. You should wash your face just two times a day with a mild facial cleanser. Avoid facial scrubs because they are more likely to make matters worse. Getting a tan to dry your face will also do you no good. Tanning will help temporarily mask your pimples but it will dry and irritate your skin, leaving your face more prone to future breakouts.
Different Acne Treatment Strategies
It’s definitely not a good idea to touch, pop, or squeeze a pimple to free a clogged pore because it will make the zit look worse and last longer, cause the spread of bacteria, and may lead to permanent scarring. But this doesn’t mean that you should let your pimples disappear on their own because there are several anti-acne methods that you can try to manage your breakouts.