Your Acne could be hormonal, due to some medication, overactive oil glands or it could even be stress-related. Understanding the cause of your Acne will definitely help you chose the right treatment

Hormones:

There are several stages in human life when hormones get unbalanced and create havoc. During puberty, pregnancy, menopause etc.

Researchers believe that the primary cause for Acne is the rise in Androgen levels. Androgen is a type of male hormone that is responsible for development and maintenance of masculine properties. It is present in both men and women, but are higher in men.
Androgen levels rise during the period of adolescence. Adolescence is a stage when a human is transformed from childhood to adulthood. It is the period between puberty and maturity. During this phase of life, when androgen levels rise and become the cause for Hormonal Acne

Overactive oil glands:

When Androgen level rise, it stimulates the sebaceous gland (oil gland) ; resulting in secretion of sebum in huge amounts. Sebum helps protect the natural hydration of our skin. When excessive oil is secreted, it gets combined with dead skin cells and blocks the hair follicle. Bacteria that is present on skin multiply by feeding on this oil and causes inflammation on the skin.

Bacteria:

Propionibacteria acnes or P acnes are usually present on pilosebaceous glands of an adult skin. It usually does not harm the normal skin. But when there is excess secretion of oil from sebaceous glands, resulting in blocked pores lacking enough oxygen and creating anaerobic situation. P acnes multiply in such an environment and cause acne lesions like papules, pustules and even nodules. P acnes release acne causing substances like sialidases, lipases, neuraminidases, phosphatases etc.

Medication:

Unfortunately, there are cases where Acne is caused due to some drugs or medications. Addictive drugs like sedatives or drugs used to treat stress etc may cause acne. Drugs used for body building purposes by athletes. Steroid hormones like Dehydroepiandrosterone, corticosteroids may also cause Acne. And, drugs like lithium prescribed for people suffering from depression may also cause acne.

Stress:

Stress is one of the main culprits that people believe may cause or worsen acne. But stress may not play a direct role in causing acne. Medical studies have proved that stress can cause not just acne, but many other health problems. When you are under anxiety, the body’s healing power is slowed down. Stress can trigger hormones and create imbalance. Whether stress causes acne or not is still debatable. But the other way round is true in many cases. Acne can actually induce stress in its sufferers.

Some people believe that the food that you intake can aggravate Acne. Like chocolates, carbonated drinks, milk and dairy products, peanuts etc. But there is no scientific evidence to prove this. However, a healthy diet will definitely improve the overall appearance of your skin.

If you are suffering from severe Acne, it is worth a quick dash to a dermatologist at the earliest. A good dermatologist may help you formulate a fool proof plan against acne.

In future articles we will see different remedies and treatments for acne. Stay tuned!

Our Skin is kept well hydrated by secreting sebum from these glands. When these glands become overactive and secretes excessive sebum combined with dead skin and sticky oily substance, they get trapped in the pores. This plug consisting of skin debris, bacteria and sticky oily substance blocked in the pores are known as comedone or Acne lesion.
Comedo can either be closed or open. These open comedone (Blackheads) and closed comedone (Whiteheads) are examples of Non-inflammatory Acne lesians.

Papules, pustules, Nodules (cysts) are examples of Inflammatory Acne lesians.

Different types of Acne lesions

Blackheads or Open comedones : Blackheads are medically known as closed comedones. A blackhead is simply a plugged pore with full of dirt and grease. They are visible as dark colored plugs on the skin, hence called an open comedo.

Whiteheads or Closed comedones : Whiteheads are examples for a closed comedone. A whitehead emerges when a plugged pore full of bacteria and sebum stays underneath the skin blocking the opening of a follicle.

Papules : Papules are inflammatory Acne lesions. They are small red inflamed bumps on skin surface without a head. An urge to squeeze or scratch a papule should be avoided as it may scar the skin.

Pustules : Pustules are inflammed Acne lesions which form as red circles with yellow or white center core on the skin surface. A pustule contains puss and is filled with white blood cells, dead cells and bacteria. A pimple with puss is simply a pustule.

Nodule/Nodulocystic : A nodule is an inflamed and most severe form of Acne lesion. It can be quite big in size, dome shaped bump and can be painful. The inflammation can go quite deep into the skin. This form of Acne lesion is often characterized by scarring when squeezed,scratched or plucked.
An acne cyst appears similar to nodules but is filled with puss. A cystic acne may be very painful and can cause scarring.

Dilemma of having Acne

Acne sufferers not only experience physical problems, but it can also affect psychologically. When acne takes over, simple things like going to work or attending a social gathering becomes so difficult due to the fear of not being accepted by the society. In many cases, as the sufferers continue to live with their Acne, their self image drops and social interaction becomes very tough because the way people look at them changes.

As we travel through this complex skin problem, you will come across a series of articles with more and more information on Acne. Its causes, treatments, prevention etc. Stay tuned!

Here is one such change I ask my lovely readers (both men and women) to adopt in their lifestyles. It is highly recommended to drink as much water as you can to replace the fluids lost during exercising, sweating and while doing other physical activities. Add this wonder ingredient called H2o to your skin diet along with plenty of other fluid based foods like watermelon, tomato, cucumber, fruit juices, butter milk etc,.

You will be amazed to experience the magic it does to your skin. At the same time, cut down on consumption of dehydrating foods like carbonated soda drinks, alcohol, caffeine, too much of salty foods and food that are high in sodium. Try to intake at least 8 glasses of water per day. Water is the cheapest way you can treat your skin to youthfulness. A wonderful gift from mother nature.

Some benefits of water to your skin:

• Water helps your skin stay naturally soft, smooth and well hydrated forever.
• The moisture that is derived by drinking water helps to maintain the elasticity of your skin and improves the skin tone
• It also prevents dryness,wrinkles caused due to lack of moisture, aging, and also refines large pores by moisturizing and oxygenating your skin from inside.
• Increased intake of water also helps to detoxify your body by flushing out those toxins that are present in your tissues.
• Water helps in minimizing dark circles around eyes.
• Numerous skin disorders can be prevented by drinking plenty of water.

Try squeezing a lemon in a glass of hot water and drink on empty stomach first thing in the morning on a regular basis. It helps to flush out toxins from your system and keeps your bowel clean. In turn you will see the effect on your skin too!

Go ahead, nourish your skin with this astonishing ingredient gifted by mother nature!

Why Moisturizing is a MUST for Oily Skin?

Moisturizing your skin is an essential step in maintaining the hydration of skin. Your body keeps the skin well hydrated by secreting oil from glands called sebum. Due to excess secretion of sebum from your glands, your skin tends to look greasy and shiny. To control and avoid clogging of pores by dirt attracted or excessive deposits of sebum, you must wash your face every 3 to 4 hours. By washing your face so frequently, you are losing your skin’s natural hydration, which makes your skin tight and dried out.

The solution is to Moisturize your skin to add back the protective hydration that you have just lost by frequent cleansing of your skin. Use an oil-free moisturizer to get rid of that shiny look. Moisturizing also makes your skin glow and takes good care of skin flaking etc.

Moisturizing is believed to be one of the best treatments for aging skin. It rejuvenates the aging skin by keeping it well hydrated, diminishes fine lines and also softens the skin texture. So it is critical to keep your skin well hydrated to slow down the aging process.

A wide collection of different types and brands of Moisturizers are available in the market these days. Be careful while choosing the one that is suitable for you. Oily skin people may opt for oil-free moisturizers. And for people who are exposed to sunlight often, may want to find a moisturizer with UV protection in it for an added advantage.

Over all, Moisturizing is a fine way for all skin types to keep a healthy and youthful look on your face.

The Key is to find a good cleanser that responds to your skin type well. A wide range of skin cleansers are available in the market in the form of cleansing gels, foams and creams. Find a good cleanser that suits your skin type and stick to it. Changing your cleansers very often may cause breakouts.

People who have oily skin or combination skin can choose a cleanser that has an oil absorbing properties in it.

And people who have dry skin may choose lotions or cream-based cleansers that has moisturising properties in it. Go for a gentle formula as strong cleansers are capable of stripping oil from your skin leaving it more dry. Frequent washing is not required for dry skin types

Those with sensitive skin types should choose a milder cleanser and avoid those which has artificial colors, fragrances etc. Select your cleanser carefully, avoiding ingredients which can trigger irritation or allergic response to your skin.

It is very important to avoid usage of bar soaps for cleansing your face as they dry out your skin.

Follow the below steps to cleanse your face the right way:

Step 1 : Before you even begin cleansing your face, think about all the things you touched with your hands today! May be you played with your pet or fixed you cycle tyre. If your hands are dirty you can transfer germs from your hands to your face. You are at risk of causing infection to yourself everytime you touch your face with unclean hands. It is very important to wash your hands before you touch your face. Use a good antibacterial soap to get rid of dirt from your hands.

Step 2: Tie your hair up to avoid bangs or hair strands hanging in your face. You will be more comfortable with hair out of the way while cleansing your face.

Step 3: Remove your makeup. Carefully remove eye makeup using soft sponge or cotton balls so that you do not damage the soft tissues around your eyes. Use a mild makeup remover and do it gently without rubbing your face or eyes too much. Make sure you do not leave any makeup residue on your face at the end of the day. Many people use their cleansers to remove makeups. But the usage of makeup remover to eliminate makeup makes the process much easier and gentler.

Step 4: Splash lukewarm water onto your face to open up the pores, so that the cleanser penetrates deep into the skin and makes your skin squeeky clean.

Step 5: Use 1 pump or a small amount of cleanser and apply all over the face with your fingertips. Massage your face gently with your fingertips for 1 or 2 minutes in circular motion, covering all the areas. Make sure you dont rub your face too hard.

Step 6: Rinse off well. Finish by rinsing well with cold water. It helps to close and tighten the open pores. Rinse until you feel squeeky clean.

Step 7: Pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Avoid rubbing as it causes damage.

Step 8: Use a good alcohol free toner for your skin. Toning is a very important step in skincare routine because your skin is not completely clean after cleansing. Toning removes any leftover cleanser or makeup removers on your skin, making sure the pores on your skin do not clog with these leftovers.

Step 9: Remember to use a suitable moisturizer for your skin every time you wash your face. It makes your skin soft and helps preserve your skins moisture.

Following the above steps to wash your face will make sure that your skin stays clean, fresh and healthy all the time. Never forget to wash your face at least twice a day!! Happy cleansing!!!