Acne Overview Problem The basic cause of acne is still a mystery. We do know that many factors contribute to it, and most of these are hormonal and genetic. Acne’s hallmarks rear their ugly heads (black, white, or red) when the pores of your skin become plugged and you break out. Acne blemishes are most likely to appear on sebum-rich areas loaded with fat and skin cell debris, especially your nose (blackheads, mostly), the rest of your face, and on your chest and black. Cause Blame it on the androgens. Acne is more severe and a little more common in men than women because men produce more androgen – the hormone that fires up sebaceous gland activity. These glands ooze a greasy lubricating substance that can plug up the hair follicles and contribute to an acne attack. It’s in the genes. Experts don’t understand how a tendency toward acne may be inherited, but if one or both of your parents were troubled by moderate or severe acne, you are likely to be plagued by it, too. When you are a teenager, the root of your problem is more likely to be hormones – specifically, testosterone – that trigger sebum production, As a man ages, sebum levels, like testosterone levels, drop but don’t stop. How serious By the time most men are 20 or 25, acne vulgaris is gone. It’s much more common for an adult man to have rosacea, which requires very different care than pimples do. Getting an occasional zit isn’t serious, but if your skin has suddenly started acting up, you might consider seeing a dermatologist to be sure that the problem is really acne and not something that needs to be treated differently. Solutions Medicate it. Apply acne medication at the first signs of a breakout. The key to gaining control over acne is to apply the medication preventively to acne-prone areas on a regular basis. Most people think that they are trying to dry up the skin, but acne medications keep pores from clogging up and attack acne-causing bacteria. You can choose from many over-the-counter acne preparations that contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide products range from 2.5 percent (Neutrogena) to 10 percent (Oxy-10, Clearasil). Salicylic acid (Clean and Clear Moisturizer, Sensitive) can be irritating to sensitive skin, so experiment with the creams to see which one fights your pimples without drying up the surround area. Use twice a day. Leave it alone. If you have one of those red, inflamed bumps sitting under your skin and you are just dying to squeeze it, pop it, poke it, or stab it – don’t. Look for a pattern. Are you breaking out near your ears and mouth? It’s probably from a dirty telephone receiver that you use a lot. Do you have lots of pimples on your chest and back? You probably sweat a lot when you work out and wait too long to shower. Sometimes the solution is to pay closer attention to what’s going on in your environment. Phones can be cleaned with a little glass cleaner, for example. Make sure that you wipe off the cleaner well, though, to keep it from irritating your skin. If it’s sweat from your workout that’s causing the problem, be sure to rinse off after a run or an hour at the gym. If you don’t have access to a shower, bring moistened towelettes or at least change your shirt before your sweaty T- shirt dries. Alternative Approaches Become the egg man. To help clear up a pimple, crack an egg, put some of the egg white on a cotton swab, and apply it to the blemish. The egg white tightens the skin and probably has some anti-inflammatory proteins. Disinfect your razor. Just rinse it in some alcohol to prevent any bacteria that have developed on it from being transferred to your face, too, that ingrown hairs can cause clogged pores, which will lead to pimples. Shaving properly, with plenty of warm water and a good shaving cream, will help solve this problem. |
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