Acne is a disease that causes the glands to block fat from forming, forming inflammations and rashes, which are pimples. It is caused by the joining together of several factors, which involve excess oil production by the skin, accumulation of bacteria, tendency to inflammation, hormonal dysregulation and tendency to accumulate dead cells and tissues.
Thus, to prevent the appearance of pimples, it is important to keep the skin clean, use products that remove excess oil and dead cells, as well as having a healthy diet, which decreases inflammation of the skin, based on whole grains and rich foods in omega-3s, such as salmon and sardines.
Such changes in the skin that cause acne in several places, such as face, back and arms, are triggered by situations such as:
1. Age
During adolescence, especially between 12 and 18 years of age, it is more common to have pimples, because in this period there is an increase in the production of androgenic hormones by the body, such as testosterone, that stimulate the production of oiliness.
However, pimples can appear at any age, not uncommon in women after age 30, called late acne, which can be caused by changes in the amount of sebum or keratin produced in the skin or by a greater accumulation of bacteria, example.
- How to treat : It is necessary to consult with the dermatologist for evaluation of the skin type and prescription of medicines like lotions or creams that can improve the health of the skin and to diminish the production of pimples.
2. Do not clean the skin properly
Skin that is not well hygienised may have an accumulation of oiliness, which clogs the pores and facilitates the formation of blackheads and the development of pimples.
- How to treat : The face should be washed at least 2 times a day, when lifting and especially while sleeping, to remove excess dirt on the skin throughout the day. Very oily skin can be washed up 3 to 4 times a day. Preferably, specific skin type products should be used, guided after evaluation by the dermatologist.
3. Do not remove the makeup
Makeup should be removed as soon as possible, as the buildup in the skin also causes clogging of the pores and facilitates the formation of blackheads and pimples, especially the low quality products that are produced from oils.
- How to treat : For those who have a tendency to acne is recommended to use specific makeup for oily, water-based skins, however the ideal is to try to leave the skin as natural as possible, and always remove all makeup with makeup remover when arriving in House.
4. Use very greasy skin products
The use of sunscreen or very oily or greasy moisturizing creams, not ideal for each type of skin, increase the formation of blackheads and pimples.
- How to treat : You should always try to choose products specific to the skin type, which are called "non-comedogenic" because they are the ones that cause less tendency to obstruct the pores of the skin.
5. Foods that cause pimples
Consuming inflammatory skin foods such as milk, sweets, carbohydrates and fried foods can increase the chances of acne, as they alter hormone production and stimulate inflammation of the skin and the appearance of blackheads and pimples.
- How to treat : Avoid eating high in carbohydrates, fats and prefer to focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, omega-3s and water as they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
6. Having a hormonal disease
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a disease that increases the production of androgens, which are male hormones that act by increasing the production of oiliness through the skin and making it more biased to the production of acne.
- How to treat : The treatment for this syndrome can be done with the use of contraceptives or others capable of regulating the hormones. Learn more about identifying and treating polycystic ovary syndrome.
7. Drug reaction
Certain medications can cause as side effects reactions of inflammation of the skin, with formation of acne, and a common example is the use of corticosteroids and anti-inflammatories.
- How to treat : When possible, talk to the doctor about the possibility of changing the medication, however, it is possible to take measures to reduce acne while using the medication, such as using cleansing lotions or creams that decrease the formation of acne, such as acid retinoic acid, for example.
8. Sol in excess
Exposing to the sun excessively can form pimples because UV radiation can accelerate inflammation and produce oiliness of the skin, which facilitates the production of acne.
- How to treat : avoid exposing yourself too much in the sun, preferring times of lower incidence of UV radiation, such as before 10am or after 4pm. In addition to always protect yourself with suitable sunscreen.
9. Genetic predisposition
Having a genetic propitious is one of the main factors for the formation of acne, especially in those who have excess or very large pimples, as these people have a greater tendency to have immune reactions and to form inflammatory lesions in the skin.
- How to treat : The treatment is made with topical products, prescribed by the dermatologist, and in more severe cases, such as grade II or IV acne, for example, it may be necessary to use tablets, such as antibiotics or isotretinoin, for example .
10. Pregnancy
Being pregnant can cause the production of pimples, which happens only in some women, due to the increase of progesterone, which increases the oiliness.
- How to treat : It is advised to choose to wash the skin with neutral or mild soap 2 times a day and apply a tonic lotion always after washing and drying the face. One should avoid tablet treatments, acids or cosmetic procedures in this period. Learn more what to do in case of pimples in pregnancy.
The spine can be both external and internal, and this happens because the obstruction of the sebaceous gland did not find an outlet out of the skin, being trapped inside a cyst, which can be very painful, however, the treatment is the same . Understand the different types of acne and what to do.
Usually, acne does not cause health risks unless you have excessive inflammation and develop a serious infection. However, if excessive pimples are left untreated, it can cause scars and blemishes on the face and body that can negatively affect a person's emotional level, even being a risk for depression.
How to avoid pimples
To avoid the appearance of pimples, one must take care of, such as:
- Avoid jams and fries, as well as alcoholic drinks and carbonated drinks, as they make digestion difficult and damage the skin;
- Have a diet rich in omega 3, zinc and antioxidants such as salmon, sunflower seeds, fruits and vegetables because they are rich in substances important to help reduce inflammation of the skin;
- Clean the skin with cosmetic products suitable for oily skin twice a day, morning and evening, and soaps with acetylsalicylic acid are a good option;
- Give an oil-free sunscreen to the face before applying even if it already has some protection factor, to protect the skin against the harmful effects of the sun;
- Do a light scrub once a week to remove dead cells.
Check out more nutritionist tips for a diet that avoids this problem:
How is the treatment done?
When acne can not be avoided, treatment should preferably be done with the use of topical products such as skin cleansing lotions or creams that prevent the formation of lesions such as retinoic acid, salicylic acid, adapalene or benzoyl peroxide, for example, prescribed by the Dermatologist, and can be bought or prepared in pharmacies of manipulation.
Other options, most used in resistant or more severe acne, are the use of antibiotics such as Tetracycline or Erythromycin, or, ultimately, the use of Isotretinoin, known as Roacutan, as having a more potent effect on the control of pimple formation . It is important that these remedies are only used under the guidance of the Dermatologist, due to the risk of side effects.
To avoid the use of medications, there are also radiofrequency techniques, phototherapy with special lights, laser and pulsed light that are very useful to decrease and deflate the acne region. Learn more about treatment options for pimples.
