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This question worries a good half of humanity, because acne, or acne, is the most common skin disease in the world. It is not life-threatening, but it can pretty much ruin it. Let’s try to solve the problem together.
What is acne
Угри всегда появляются на фоне гиперактивности сальных желез, но есть еще несколько факторов, от которых зависит статус этого дефекта кожи — будет ли это всего лишь малоэстетичная, но в целом безобидная «черная точка» или налитый гноем полноценный прыщ.
The main causes of acne
Every phenomenon is explained not by one, but by several reasons. Acne is no exception to the rule.
Hormonal imbalance
This is the first and main reason. When too much sebum is produced in the skin, it can mean two things:
о высоком уровне мужских половых гормонов в крови;
that the sebaceous glands have a special susceptibility to androgens.
“That is why acne and pimples most often appear on young skin during a period when the body is undergoing hormonal changes,” says Alexander Prokofiev, La Roche-Posay brand expert. “However, acne can appear not only in adolescence, but much later, when hormonal storms, it would seem, should have passed.”
В этом случае есть вероятность изменения в крови количества стероидных гормонов, которые могут усилить гиперактивность сальных желез.
Thickening of the stratum corneum
“The second name for this phenomenon is hyperkeratosis. It always goes hand in hand with increased greasiness of the skin and rashes, – says Alexander Prokofiev. — Неспособность кожи вовремя избавиться от мертвых клеток, которые забивают поры и являются составной частью сальной пробки, связано с чувствительностью сальных желез к гормонам и часто характеризует кожу подростков».
A course of acid peels aimed at eliminating hyperkeratosis and skin renewal is often included in an acne treatment program.
Inflammatory processes
The culprits of the formation of inflammatory elements in acne are the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, which quietly live in the mouth of the follicles of the sebaceous glands and do not interfere with anyone until they begin to receive food. To suppress their activity, doctors prescribe drugs for external and internal use.
Improper diet
Food – “right” or “wrong” – is not the root cause of acne. The main culprits, as we have said, are hormones. But some food groups can provoke an exacerbation and give rise to inflammation in the sebaceous gland. These products include:
carbohydrates with a high glycemic index;
milk;
sugar and sweets.
Problems with the digestive tract
Although a proper diet can be a great help in the fight against acne and pimples, there is no direct causal relationship between diseases of the digestive system and the formation of comedones.
Bacteria multiply in the sebaceous plug.
Varieties of acne
Comedones are divided into two large groups:
non-inflammatory;
inflammatory.
The severity of acne is determined by the number of inflammatory elements and their depth. If there are more than 10 pustules, but there are no deep nodes yet, then there is an average severity. In the presence of multiple pimples with white heads and deep inflammatory rashes, one can speak of a severe form of the disease.
Blackheads
They are also called black dots (English blackheads). Blackheads appear when the sebaceous mass has accumulated closer to the surface of the pore and has become dark in color as a result of oxidation and the manifestation of melanin. Such acne refers to non-inflammatory elements. They are easily removed during cosmetic cleaning or regular home care and leave no residue.
Whiteheads
papules
These are red tubercles that rise above the surface of the skin, they are also pimples without a purulent “cap”. Papules are the result of an inflammatory process in the sebaceous gland.
Pustules
Internal acne
They are also called subcutaneous pimples. Dermatologists define them as “nodules” and refer to deep inflammatory elements. The presence of internal acne on the face indicates the severity of the inflammatory process and characterizes acne of moderate or high severity. In this case, systemic drug therapy is indicated to stop the process and prevent scarring.
Rosacea or redheads
Rosacea is not associated with increased greasiness of the skin and is not a sign of acne at all, but of rosacea, a skin disease characterized by changes in the vascular wall and inflammatory processes in the skin.
Rosacea is localized on the convex parts of the face (nose, cheeks, forehead, chin), occurs most often in adults with fair skin, is accompanied by redness and visible vascular network.
Acne and skin types
People with normal skin do not get acne. The maximum that threatens them is single rashes. For example, before the start of the monthly cycle in women.
Girls with mixed skin are more likely to see pimples on their forehead, nose or chin before critical days, that is, in areas of high activity of the sebaceous glands. Obviously, oily skin, which is characterized by an abundance of sebum, is the number one candidate for the appearance of persistent acne, especially during puberty.
A pimple can jump up in anyone, but only owners of oily skin can seriously fear acne. The causes of rashes can be different, as well as the methods of treatment. The main thing is not to self-medicate and not to wait for acne to go away on its own.
Oily skin
Problem skin care tips
Anyone who has experienced acne has most likely done the wrong thing. And he paid for his mistake. So that history does not repeat itself, we will explain once again what absolutely should not be done and why.
You can’t push!
Cleanse the skin “to the squeak”
When the face constantly shines from excess fat and blackheads annoy, there is a desire to cleanse the skin so that it creaks with cleanliness. We usually do this with alkaline products and lotions with a high alcohol content. In vain: both alcohol and alkali really degrease the skin, but at the same time deprive it of a protective hydrolipidic film. Left without natural protection, the skin begins to compensate for the losses and produce fat with triple zeal.
Aggressive cleansing exacerbates acne skin problems: disruption of the natural lipid barrier causes a protective reaction, which is expressed in increased sebum production. Use gentle, non-alkaline cleansers with a normal or acidic pH.
Cauterize “not ripe” pimples with alcohol
Attempts to relieve inflammation and lime a pimple until it has come out, with the help of alcohol, only lead to the fact that we additionally injure the surface of the skin. At the same time, alcohol does not penetrate deeply and does not reach the source of inflammation.
Special pharmaceutical preparations, as well as SOS agents for local application, but not alcohol, are capable of extinguishing the inflammatory process and coping with a pimple at the initial stage.
Давить прыщи
Yes, to resist temptation is beyond human strength. If you have already decided to get rid of the abscess, use local anti-inflammatory drugs. You should not injure the skin in the area of rashes, because after damage, inflammation may increase or post-inflammatory pigmentation will remain.
Do not try to get rid of deep nodes yourself, so as not to aggravate the situation and prevent scarring.
Acne marks: how to get rid of them
Stagnant red spots and post-acne scars are a bad memory that acne leaves behind. Fighting them takes time and special procedures.
Cryomassage
Massage with liquid nitrogen has been and remains the most effective method against stains. Gradually, they turn pale, and then completely disappear due to improved local blood circulation.
Acid peels
Помогают визуально сгладить рубчики и уменьшить их глубину.
Fractional laser
Hardware alternative to chemical peeling, aimed at skin renewal and reducing the visibility of scars.
Cosmetics and prevention
It is impossible to cure acne with the help of cosmetics, but this does not mean that problematic skin does not need to be looked after. Moreover, separate cosmetic lines are dedicated to her, capable of providing her with everything necessary to improve her appearance and condition.
Средства для очищения и тонизирования
Cleansing Foaming Gel for Oily Acne-Prone Skin Effaclar, La Roche-Posay
Gentle cleanses, has an antibacterial effect, contains mild cleaners, zinc pidolate, thermal water.
“Pure skin 3-in-1”, Garnier
Обладает свойствами геля для умывания, скраба и маски, включает в состав цинк, частички пемзы, белую глину и экстракт эвкалипта.
Day and night care products
Cream-gel Effaclar Duo (+), La Roche-Posay
Moisturizes and corrects post-acne blemishes with gentle cleansers, zinc pidolate and thermal water.
Serum for the correction of acne and age-related skin changes Blemish+Age Defense, SkinCeuticals
Reduces greasiness, evens out the relief, prevents rashes and post-acne manifestations, contains acids: dioic, capryl-salicylic, salicylic, glycolic, citric.
Пробиотическая обновляющая сыворотка против несовершенств кожи Normaderm Probio-BHA Serum, Vichy
Vichy volcanic water, 5% salicylic and glycolic acids plus a probiotic fraction in the composition of the serum fight black spots and other skin imperfections.