Acne
What Causes Acne?
All types of acne — blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and cysts — develop when pores in our skin become clogged. The culprit is sebum [see-bum], an oil in our skin. Our bodies make more sebum when our hormones surge, which is why teens get acne, why women often breakout before their periods, and since hormones fluctuate in the years leading up to menopause, it's why many women in their 40s and 50s get acne.
Why do people get different types of acne?
What happens inside the clogged pore determines the type of acne we see on the skin.
A blackhead appears when sebum and dead skin cells clog the pore. While the pore is clogged, its surface remains open. This lets us look into the pore and see a black color. Your dermatologist may call a blackhead an “open comedo” (co-me-dough).
A whitehead forms when the excess oil and dead skin cells clog the pore and block the opening of the pore. Because the pore closes, dermatologists call this type of acne a “closed comedo.”
The excess oil does more than clog pores. Bacteria that normally live on our skin, P. acnes, thrive in this excess oil. Immersed in excess oil, the bacteria can rapidly increase in number, and as the bacteria multiply in a clogged pore, the pore becomes inflamed. Inflammation is what causes a pimple to look red, hot, and swollen.
When inflammation reaches deep into the skin, an acne cyst forms. This is the most severe type of acne. Cysts can be very painful. People often see permanent scarring after this type of acne heals.
Getting Rid of Acne
Thanks to advances in medicine, today virtually every case of acne can be controlled. Many people with mild acne can achieve clear skin through proper skin care and use of acne products available without a prescription. However, this won’t control everyone’s acne. Sometimes you need a dermatologist’s help. Even severe acne can be successfully controlled with treatment from a dermatologist.
While treating acne may seem unimportant, research shows the value of treatment. Treating acne can prevent additional breakouts and scars, and it can even improve a person’s quality of life. People living with acne can often suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Acne can even discourage people from pursuing their dreams. When acne is under control, a person’s confidence grows, and anxiety and depression diminish.
Acne Treatment
Do not pop, squeeze or pick at acne. Popping, squeezing and picking at acne may seem like the fastest and easiest way to get rid of acne, but the truth is, when you pop, squeeze or pick, you tend to make acne worse. These techniques irritate your skin, and irritated skin is more likely to break out. You might also cause permanent acne scarring.
However, gentle skin care can result in improvements. To clear acne, you often need to do more than apply a product. You need to be gentle to your skin. Don't scrub your skin, and don't use a cleansing puff, washcloth or abrasive cleanser. These can irritate the skin and lead to breakouts.