Contents
A well-known dermatologist, the heroine of the “Doctor Pimple” project, told how acne appears, what they are and whether they can be squeezed. Spoiler: possible under certain conditions.
They do not like to talk about them, but everyone wants to crush. Acne is not the most expected guest, but no one can insure against it. What to do with rashes, what components in cosmetics can cause them and how to “correctly” squeeze acne, said the famous American dermatologist Sandra Lee. Sandra knows pimples firsthand and even dedicated to them the author’s show “Doctor Pimple”, which airs at 23:00 (Moscow time) on Wednesdays on the TLC channel.
Acne: types and classification
There are three main types of acne. The first type is black and whiteheads, which are also called open and closed comedones. Whiteheads are closed comedones because they hide under the top layer of the skin and oxygen does not penetrate into them. When comedones are exposed and exposed to oxygen, dirt gets into them, and skin cells oxidize, so blackheads become black and so visible on the face.
Acne has a “cycle of life”, there are periods when the rash gets worse or less.
As soon as bacteria connect to the process and begin to feed on your sebaceous secretions and dead cells, the second stage of acne appears – an abscess or an inflamed pimple. These are the same hateful red rashes. An abscess forms after the pimple comes out and is most likely ready to break through.
The next stage, which not everyone has to face, is the more serious form of acne. When you develop growths and cysts, it means that the inflammatory process goes deep under the skin. It is this stage that causes the greatest concern among dermatologists, because in this case there is the greatest likelihood of scar formation during removal.
One of the main causes of acne
Acne has a “cycle of life”, there are periods when the rash gets worse or less – on certain days of the month, especially in women. Our hormones are the main cause of acne, which is why we suffer the most from them during adolescence. Unfortunately, however, many women have to struggle with acne throughout their lives. It’s hormonal. As we get older, acne appears much less often because the skin becomes less oily, drier, and the amount of hormones decreases. And it’s a good reminder that acne is in many ways a sign of youth. Hope this helps people to relate to it more easily. If you get acne, then your hormone levels are still high and, let’s say, you’re still young.
If you squeeze out a pimple with your bare hands, then observe the maximum sterility.
In addition, some indirect factors can trigger the appearance of acne. For example, if you sweat while playing sports or, say, sit on a bike for a long time, the pressure on your buttocks can definitely cause rashes in this area. The same applies for prolonged skin contact with face shields or tight-fitting sportswear. Remember to rinse off the sebaceous secretions after training and don’t sit in sweaty clothes all day, otherwise it will definitely cause breakouts.
Ingredients in cosmetics that can cause acne
Look for foods that can clog or block your pores, as whiteheads and blackheads form in these areas. It is best to avoid dense cosmetic products based on ointments or petroleum jelly, especially if you have oily skin. You need to be careful even when choosing hair products. Hair often falls on our face and can be one of the reasons for the appearance of pimples.
In America, there are lines that say “Does not cause comedones”, which means that the product does not cause clogging of pores and the formation of acne or abscesses.
It is difficult to name the specific components that cause acne, since all processes on the skin are individual. But if you want to get rid of imperfections, then perhaps you should look for products with an exfoliating effect – the same tretinoin or something with a low acid content for chemical peels, such as beta or alpha hydroxy acids, glycolic, salicylic or lactic acid. These ingredients help exfoliate the skin and unclog pores.
To squeeze pimples – is it possible or not
Can. However, I will do as all dermatologists do and recommend not to remove acne at home. However, it seems to me that many of us simply cannot resist the temptation. Therefore, I consider it my duty to give the most useful recommendations. Of course, you can use special equipment. For example, I use Schamberg’s comedone extractor. The main thing is that if you squeeze out a pimple with your bare hands, then observe the maximum sterility. And it’s very important to know when to stop.
I know it can be difficult to resist. I know from myself, from my 13-year-old son, whom I asked this morning: “Did you crush acne last night?” And he answered: “Yes.” He had several red rashes on his face.
The best advice I can give is to use acne products that can be applied to specific areas. This is useful for two reasons. Firstly, this is how you affect a particular area, since such products contain antibacterial components. Secondly, it will stop you from picking the pimple: when you feel the cream with your fingers, you remember that you do not need to touch this place.
Ideally, you should wait for the acne to clear up on its own. But you can, of course, go to a dermatologist, get a prescription for medications, or even inject certain areas of the rash to help it go away faster.
Even the stars cannot avoid rashes, and, unfortunately, many do not know how to mask them. See the most “expressive” cases in our gallery.