Problem: Acne
The bad news is that whether you have one spot or one hundred spots – you have acne.
Acne is a condition affecting your skin’s oil glands (sebaceous glands). These glands produce an oily substance called sebum. When there is an abnormality it causes a blockage and a comedone is formed.
pimples usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Although acne is usually not a serious health threat, it can be a source of significant emotional distress. Severe acne can even lead to permanent scarring.
ACNE
Skin surface: after the sebum and sweat layers, this is outermost layer of skin cells called the Stratum corneum. This layer is made up of dead skin cells that form protection of the inner layers of the skin each with unique factors contributing to your skin’s function and appearance.
Sebum: The skin’s natural potion to manages your skin’s “feel”. Normal production of oil provides an element of hydration, comfort and glow to your skin.
Too much = oily skin
Too little = dry skin (often sensitive)
Sebaceous gland: Oil factory
Healthy Ingredients
Factors that can cause an acne flare include:
• Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period starts
• Oil from skincare products or grease encountered in the work environment (for example, a kitchen with fry vats)
• Pressure from sports helmets or equipment, backpacks, tight collars, or tight sports uniforms
• Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity
• Squeezing or picking at blemishes
• Hard scrubbing of the skin
• Stress
Comedones form when the hair follicle shaft has a build up of trapped and in some cases, infected oil
Papules – inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin and can be tender to the touch
Pustules (pimples) – papules topped by white or yellow pus-filled lesions that may be red at the base
Nodules – large, painful, solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin
Cysts – deep, painful, pus-filled lesions that can cause scarring.
OILY SKIN
Solution: A Healthy Routine
The good news is that for many people, there is a simple solution to controlling and managing acne.
Some recommend over the counter solutions and in some cases unnecessary prescriptions.
Salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide used on a regular basis are proven ingredients to avoid spots appearing in the first place. Although there are a plethora of easily accessible products available in chemists and supermarkets, they will do very little for more inflamed, persistent comedones and often is useless for even mild acne. In many cases, these products can actually disrupt your skin’s normal oil production and cause other discomforts.
In most cases acne is a sign of imbalance in your skin. In order to bring balance back, you need address how you look after your skin and what you feed your skin.