Pimples and acne. Where do they come from?
Everybody more or less has faced the problem of pimples. Some people just have a few of them after eating junk food for dinner, so they don't even pay any attention while others may be struggling with acne for years. And although it used to be thought that acne is just a teenage problem, now it comes upon those who are over 20. In general, everyone periodically wonders: where does acne come from, and what should be done with it?
Acne is a result of excessive work of the sebaceous glands, when an excessive amount of sebum is secreted and mixed with skin scales and sweat. All this "mixture" eventually clogs the ducts of the sebaceous glands and plugs are formed. Inside these plugs bacteria begins to multiply, and finally occurs inflammation.
The activity of the sebaceous glands is regulated by the male sex hormone - testosterone. It turns out that our skin is sensitive to fluctuations of this hormone and this sensitivity persists throughout life. So, for those whose skin is most sensitive to it, acne in adolescence proceeds in a more severe form.
What are the reasons?
- Stress and lack of rest
Yes, the psychological factor plays a very significant role: we get stressed, the hormones testosterone and cortisol increase, and as a result our body can react to any hormonal surge with pimples, especially if, as we have already said, there is a hypersensitivity to testosterone fluctuations.
- Nutrition
The second, but no less important, reason is nutrition. Junk food, trans fats and sugars trigger acne. You should also be wary of foods with a high glycemic index, as they cause sudden surges in sugar and can also affect pimples. There is no need to completely give up eating all high-GI foods, since there are also healthy ones among them - dates and bananas, for example, but it is still worth limiting such foods.
- Improper care
It is very important to take care of your skin using proper cosmetics. A cleansing foam, toner and cream should be appropriate for your skin type. Improperly selected care may provoke pimples.
- The sun
Ultraviolet decreases skin’s local immunity and increases the comedogenic properties of sebum. Also sun contributes to early skin aging.
- Smoking
Smoking severely provokes acne.
Types of acne:
- Comedones
The very initial stage of the problem. The so-called "blackheads". They may be open or closed, and even white. If an infection occurs inside, they turn into papules.
- Pustule
Closed subcutaneous red pimple with pus inside. After maturation, turns into a “white head".
- Papule
A ripe pimple of red or even red and blue color, accompanied by a painful sensation.
- Nodes
Deep internal acne, lies in the dermis. Feels like a node during palpation.
- Miliums
They are also called “milk spots'' or “oil seeds”. These white and yellowish clogs usually occur on the thin skin areas like eyes, area around eyes and cheekbones. They may stay for a long time and do not cause any inflammation.