Acne: #1 Beauty Pooper

“It is difficult to face your problems if the problem is your face,” goes the old saying that holds a stinging truth to it. Growing up, pimple attacks have not been kind to me. It left scars and pockmarks as an ugly reminder of what I’ve been through. Needless to say, acne can be a top source of insecurity especially among teens. No amount of makeup can boost your confidence if red zits keep popping up and digging holes on your face afterwards. I blame my pimples for ruining my chance to be a dermatologist. Some establishments boldly state in their requirements that applicants must have a flawless complexion. Discriminating, but I get their point. It would be hard to convince patients to trust your judgment if you’re a living proof of how curing acne is hopeless. Until now, pimple still pops up every now and then, albeit lesser in severity in comparison to the attacks during my college years.  Looking at the brighter side, it sharpened my makeup skills because for the longest time, I’ve been trying to search for ways to conceal the damaging effects of acne. Eradicating acne is a difficult feat, but avoiding its causes and knowing its treatments will make it more manageable.To win a battle, you must study the enemy, and here are some facts about acne that you have to know:

image source:www.dermalogica.bs

Acne occurs when the pores of your skin are blocked. The deep seated dirt is not able to come out to the surface, initiating the inflammation process and leaving permanent lesions. Contrary to the belief that acne arises from what you eat or do, the causes are a lot more complicated than these. The interplay of factors lead to the beauty pooping pimples:

• Genetics. Did your folks suffer from acne attacks when they were younger? If so,  you are inclined to inherit the same fate because it’s in the genes. The ability to produce  excessive amount  of keratin, a protein found in the skin, could have been passed on to you. Normally, dead skin cells are brought to the skin surface from the hair follicle when the hair grows. When keratin is abnormally abundant, they constrict the lower portion of the hair follicle.

• Hormones. When your body starts producing hormones called androgens, it triggers the production of sebum or oil which benefits the skin in normal amounts, yet when in excess, turns your face into an oil factory. Women on monthly period produce more androgens. This is why acne pop out more  during that time of the month. Acne is more likely to grow on oily skin because sebum is trapped at your hair follicles. This in turn, feeds the bacteria because they thrive in the environment of blocked pores.

• Bacteria. The type of bacteria feasting at the site of sebum-filled pores is called Propionebacterium acnes. It has the ability to convert triglycerides into fatty acids through the enzyme lipase. Fatty acids irritate the cells in the area which react by staging an inflammatory process.

• Diet. They say chocolates and oily food trigger an acne attack. From my own experience, I do notice zits popping out following a chocolate binge or a sumptuous meal of greasy delights but scientific evidences have been inconsistent as to the relationship of food to acne. However, there was a study done in 2005, showing that drinking more than 3 cups of milk can increase severe acne by 22%. It becomes worse when skim milk is used. They attribute it to the hormones in cow’s milk. If you observe certain foods causing you flare –ups, then avoid them even if studies tell you otherwise.

• Hygiene. Having pimples does not mean that you’re a slob, although it would help fight it if you observe proper hygiene.  Avoid frequent touching of the face with dirty hands. The blackheads are mistaken to be dirt because of its color. They are black because of the oxidation of keratin.Regular washing of the face with a mild cleanser helps to keep your skin clean to prevent the accumulation of oil, dead skin cells and dirt. However, be careful not to overdo the washing of your skin because it could cause dryness. Dryness of the skin would tell your body to produce more oil, turning you into a walking oil mine.