Acne and its causes

Acne is a relatively prevalent skin condition affecting the oil glands and follicles. It is caused by excessive oil production, abnormal shedding of skin cells, and inflammation (swelling). Acne commonly appears on the face, back, chest, and upper arms. Blemishes can include blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, pustules (pimples filled with pus), and huge painful cysts.

What causes acne formation? Androgens, or male hormones, stimulate oil production. Clogged pores and burst follicles lead to irritation. Bacteria known as P. acnes exacerbates the inflammation. Rubbing or scratching the skin excessively, wearing tight garments that press the skin, and using oily makeup can all aggravate acne. As adults, our hormones go haywire. Our bodies undergo incredible changes on a monthly basis, including pregnancy, menstrual cycle and menopause. All of this oscillation can cause oil to accumulate and block pores. Stress makes matters worse by increasing oil production. Genetics is also an important factor.

Treatment

How do you treat acne? It depends on how serious it is.

Mild acne can be treated with drugstore medications like as benzoyl peroxide, which kills bacteria, and salicylic acid, which opens clogged pores. Begin with a small amount so your skin can adjust. If there is no improvement after 6-8 weeks, consult a dermatologist. They can prescribe stronger topicals and antibiotics to help clear it up.

Moderate acne require prescription treatments that include retinoids to help skin shed properly, antibiotics to reduce swelling, and azelaic acid, which is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

Severe acne¹ that isn’t improving may necessitate oral antibiotics plus isotretinoin, a potent oral retinoid. Isotretinoin is only used for extremely persistent acne that has not responded to conventional therapies, due to its numerous side effects. Oral antibiotics treat inflammatory pimples but can cause antibiotic resistance. Retinoid creams work best since they target both blackheads and whiteheads.

Birth control tablets can treat hormonal acne in girls. Other treatments include steroid shots to immediately reduce cyst swelling, chemical peels to exfoliate the skin, and laser therapy to remove P. acnes germs.

Acne therapy typically takes weeks to months to provide results. Moderate to severe acne typically requires the use of many products. Following the schedule, applying the creams correctly, and being patient are critical for clearing up acne. Procedures such as laser treatments are also beneficial.

Daily Skincare Tips

Maintain a careful approach to your daily skin care. Scrubbing will irritate your skin even more! Use a gentle face wash particularly those with salicylic acid, to go into pores and break up oil every morning and night. Following cleansing, use an alcohol-free witch hazel toner to remove any remaining residue. And then apply an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer.

Exfoliating a few times each week is necessary to remove dead skin cells and keep pores clear. Use a moderate scrub or chemical exfoliation using glycolic acid – just don’t overdo it!

Moisturizer is vital, even for acne-prone skin. Skipping it actually leads to generate more oil, which creates more breakouts. Use water-based moisturizers that are lightweight and non-clogging.

When a zit forms, treat it right away with benzoyl peroxide or tea tree oil to help it heal quickly. And don’t pick your zits; it’s tempting, but don’t do it! It causes additional redness and discomfort.

SPF is a must have, as the sun can exacerbate your acne. For acne-prone skin, a broad spectrum SPF of 30 or greater is adequate.

If none of these help consult a dermatologist. Prescription medications may significantly improve your stubborn adult acne.

Seeing results require patience and consistency. Most importantly, do not lose hope! Finding the best acne treatments may need some trial and error. However, if you persevere, you will be able to regain your clear skin. Just be patient and keep waging the good battle against those annoying pimples! You have got this!

1. Well, Danielle BSN, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC. Acne vulgaris: A review of causes and treatment options. The Nurse Practitioner 38(10):p 22-31, October 10, 2013. | DOI: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000434089.88606.70 ↩︎

Microneedling may appear to be a complex procedure, but it is actually quite simple and can significantly improve the look and feel of your skin. Tiny needle pins are used to produce small punctures in the top layer of your skin. Yes, it seems painful, but hear me out. The minor injuries trigger your body’s natural healing process, which produces new collagen and elastin – the substances that maintain your skin full and supple.

In the 1990s, people began experimenting with this method to treat scars. They employed tattoo guns and home-made equipment. Later, firms produced microneedle rollers and pens containing hundreds of microscopic needles. These needles stimulate collagen and revitalize the skin. Very clever invention!

The tiny wounds created by the needles produce growth factors, which stimulate your skin cells. Acne scars, burn scars, wrinkles, and other imperfections are smoothed out when new collagen is formed.

The effects are very impressive: smoother, firmer skin with fewer fine lines, scars, and pores. It’s similar to a workout for your skin, tightening, toning, and strengthening it over time. Who wouldn’t want that?

Microneedling and Anti-Aging

So you’ve seen some new wrinkles around your eyes and lips, things are starting to sag, and you always appear exhausted. Welcome to aging, my friend. Fortunately, microneedling can help turn back the clock by reactivating collagen development, which decreases as we age.

The small needles will penetrate the deeper layers of your skin, where collagen is formed. It may appear counterintuitive, but inflicting minor traumas will increase collagen production significantly. Your body hurries in to patch the little holes, producing new, stronger collagen in the process.

After a few monthly sessions, you will see reduced wrinkles, creases, and crepey skin. Those irritating age spots and lackluster skin tone will also begin to vanish. Microneedling also prepares your skin to better absorb all of those wonderful anti-aging serums and lotions you’ve been dying to test.

It’s like hitting the reset button for the structure and tone of your skin. And the results improve over time with occasional touch-up sessions. It’s definitely easier than having surgery!

Microneedling for acne scars.

Acne scars are very unpleasant. You coped with the terrible breakouts, and now you’re left with the aftermath: unattractive divots, depressions, and discolorations that won’t go away. It’s time to say goodbye to the scars for good. Microneedling for the rescue!

The procedure’s small needles can break up and smooth scar tissue, allowing your skin to appear more equal. Because it does not use strong heat (like lasers), it is perfect for anyone who is prone to post-treatment pigmentation concerns.

There are various technologies available presently, including rollers, pens, lasers, and radio frequency needles. The needle length varies from 0.5mm to 3mm depending on the treatment region. There are even dissolving needles for injecting medication.

With a series of treatments every 4-6 weeks, most scars begin to disappear and blend in with the surrounding skin. Deeper ice pick scars may require more intense treatment over time, although the overall results are rather impressive. Imagine being able to go without makeup and not feel self-conscious!

Just make sure not to use microneedling if you have current outbreaks to avoid spreading bacteria. Allow your skin to heal before proceeding with any treatment. However, the future appears to be apparent!

Microneedling Procedure

Wondering what a session is like? Allow me to walk you through it. Don’t worry, microneedling may sound intimidating, but it’s actually rather straightforward and virtually painless.

To begin, a numbing lotion will be given to make the procedure comfortable. Then, your clinician will apply an instrument containing 20-200 tiny needles to your face and any other regions being treated. It should feel like very faint pressure. You may experience a faint pinching sensation around sensitive regions such as your eyes and lips.

A calming serum will then be used to reduce irritation and promote skin healing. You may have mild redness for a few days, similar to a sunburn. Within a week, your skin will be completely healed, and you can resume your normal skincare routine.

You’ll need 4-6 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart to see significant improvements in your skin. Yearly maintenance ensures that collagen grows and your skin looks great. Make careful to follow your clinician’s instructions so you don’t overdo it. It’s all about being patient and consistent.

Conclusion

People use microneedling to treat acne scars, wrinkles, hair loss, discolouration, and other conditions. It’s ideal for darker skin because there’s less chance of discolouration. Avoid it if you have an infection, eczema, or are using blood thinners.

This skin technology appears to have a promising future¹. We may see gene therapies, improved hair removal, and other developments. Microneedling is here to stay. Overall, it is simple, safe, and effective. Try it if you wish to have younger-looking skin. The pinpricks are worthwhile!

While it may sound intimidating, microneedling is a simple and effective approach to eliminate indications of aging and acne scarring. The results speak for themselves: cleaner, smoother, more youthful-looking skin that continues to improve over time. Just follow your provider’s advised number of sessions. With a little perseverance, you may look years younger in no time!

1. Singh A, Yadav S. Microneedling: Advances and widening horizons. Dermatol Online J. 2016 Jul-Aug;7(4):244-54. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.185468. PMID: 27559496; PMCID: PMC4976400. ↩︎