Acne? Not To Bother, As I Got U Covered….

Hello guys !

I hope this post serves a purpose of your interest in this lock down period, as you can dedicate some time for self care which should be the first priority by the way.

I was asked by my friend Vaibhavi to write a blog post regarding Acne management, which is a common issue among people of all ages these days. I thank her, as her suggestion has inspired me to write on this topic, which will be helpful to all.

I believe that god has made everyone beautiful, & it is upto us to maintain the gift by taking care of ourselves, as it can be done by simply dedicating some amount of time for self love & care because everyone deserve it. Do you agree with me? I hope yes…

So, are you suffering from Acne? not to bother guys, as this post will help you get through your acne problems. Before going to remedies, lets begin by knowing the root cause of the problem first, as prevention is always better than cure.

Acne is a skin disease that is caused when sebum oil & dead skin cells or dirt get plugged in the hair follicle. Increased production of sebum oil is related to the change in the way skin cells mature, predisposing them to plug the follicular pores. The plug can appear as whitehead, if it is covered by a thin layer of skin, or if exposed to the air it turns dark. This darker portion of plug is called blackhead.

The plug gradually enlarges producing a bump, that may lead the walls to rupture allowing irritating substance & normal skin bacteria to access into deep layers of the skin, which ultimately produces inflammation followed by pustule, deeper inflammation results in pimple (papule). Later this forms cyst, when the inflammation get still deeper. Whiteheads, blackheads & pimples usually occurs on the nose, forehead, upper back & shoulders.

Pimple is the most common issue among teenagers, though affecting people of all ages. In severe cases, it can suppress ones confidence, can cause emotional distress & also scar the skin. Hence, it is better to consult your skin specialist/dermatologists & start the treatment soon in severe cases, to lower the risks of such problems.

While, Whiteheads and Blackheads are tough ones. There are many home remedies for these, but personally I got the best results by following my skin specialist’s advice & medication rather than other home remedies that I tried. So, I will only focus on the ways to tackle pimples.

Risk factors

Hormonal changes: During puberty, the androgen hormones increases causing the sebaceous glands to enlarge & produce more sebum oil, which triggers or aggravates acne. Also, hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause acne.

Pressure: In some, pressure from helmets’ chin strap, tight collar & the like can aggravate acne.

Diet: Some study findings revealed that, certain dietary factors including milk & carbohydrate rich foods such as bread, bagols & chips may worsen acne. Even chocolate & sugars has long been suspected of making acne worse. However, further studies are needed to know the exact cause.

Drugs: Some medications containing androgen, lithium, iodides, bromides & oral or injected steroids may cause or worsen acne. Even, oral contraceptive may cause the same.

Heredity: If one of your parents have severe acne problem, then it is likely that you may develop it too.

Oily or greasy substance: You can develop acne when your skin comes in contact with oil or grease in a work area such as kitchen with fry vats because the oil stick to the skin & block hair follicles further irritating the skin & producing acne.

Stress: However, stress doesn’t cause acne but it can make it worse, if you are already facing an acne issue.

Cosmetics: Some cosmetics & skin care products are pore clogging. Choose non-comedogenic skin care products as they are bests for acne prone skin. Also, remove makeup regularly before going to bed.

How to prevent acne & reduce its severity

Every one face acne problem at sometime or the other, but by following certain precaution & healthy routine one can prevent as well as keep acne in check.

Face Hygiene: Its important to remove excess oil, dirt & sweat daily to prevent acne. Hence, wash your face twice a day. Use mild cleansers as others tend to make skin dry. Rinse thoroughly with water and pat dry with clean towel.

Here are few list of the products that you could use as per your skin type

i. Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser for all skin types (237 INR for 125 ml)

ii. Himalaya Clarina Anti-Acne face wash gel for oily acne prone skin (100 INR for 60 ml)

iii. Clean & Clear foaming facial wash for oily skin (140 INR for 150 ml)

iv. mamaearth Tea Tree Facewash for acne & pimples applicable for all skin types. (249 INR for100ml)

Know your skin type: However, any one can get acne regardless of skin type but oily skin is most acne prone due to excessive sebum production. People having combination skin may also face acne problem in their oily areas which tend to be your forehead, nose & chin, also called your T Zone. Knowing your skin type will help you pick right skin care products for example, if your skin is oily, choose water based, non-comedogenic products that are formulated to not clog the pores.

Exfoliate: Exfoliate your skin weekly, using mild scrubs & exfoliants. The best natural exfoliant is besan (chick pea flour), that can be made into paste by mixing with appropriate amount of water & pinch of turmeric powder (anti-bacterial) for best results. Then gently message using this paste in circular motion & later rinse with normal water.

For dry skin, follow the same procedure after a gap of 14 days.

Products containing salicylic acid in concentration are also good mild exfoliant, as it makes a very mild pealing agent. These products peel outer skin layer & thus open up pores. However, for the use of these products, I suggest you to consult your skin specialist personally & take their advice. Otherwise, besan works the best for all skin types, as its pure, natural & safe.

Moisturize: For those whose skin produces more than enough oil on its own, you might not need to moisturize. Instead, use a gentle face wash mentioned above that won’t dry your skin. People with combination skin can skip applying moisturizer on their oily area like nose, as you tend to get blackheads or pimples on your nose & also, it could get oilier than other areas of the face.

When choosing new moisturizer, always check the ingredients which says non-comediogenic & fragrance free, as its best for all skin types including acne prone skin. Here are the list of few moisturizers mentioned below

i. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel for oily or combination skin (850 INR for 50 gm)

ii. Neutrogena oil free moisturizer for combination skin, applicable even for oily skin (428 INR for 118 ml)

iii. Neutrogena oil free moisturizer broad spectrum SPF35 best for sensitive skin (432 INR for 115 ml)

iv. Cetaphil moisturizing lotion can be used for sensitive & dry skin (610 INR for 250 ml)

v. Ceramide + HA intense moiturizer for dry skin (349 INR for 50 gm)

vi. Cetaphil moisturizing lotion for all skin types (420 INR for 118 ml)

If you are looking for natural based products, then opt for Aloe Vera gel as it is an excellent moisturizer for all skin types, plus it also soothes irritated skin, fights acne, fades blemishes as well as reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Here are the list of few products.

i. Imiana House 100% Aloe Vera Gel (220 INR for 100 gm)

ii. mamaearth Aloe Vera Gel (399 INR for 300 ml)

Stay Hydrated: If your are dehydrated, your body might signal skins oil gland to produce more oil. Also, dehydration gives a dull look to the skin as well as promotes inflammation & redness. Hence, keep your body well hydrated & drink at-least 8 glasses of water every day.

Limit makeup: Its better to go clean when you have acne, but if you still wish to have makeup then opt for non-comedogenic, water based products. Try to avoid greasy & heavy foundation.

Open up pores: Try to take steam on your face at-least once a week to open up pores & gently scrub using chick pea flour/besan as suggested above. Finally, rinse with water. For dry & sensitive skin, follow this procedure after a gap of 14 days.

Don’t touch your face: Your hands are in constant encounter with dirt & bacteria throughout the day & each time you touch your face, some of the pore clogging impurities may get transferred to your skin. So, try to avoid touching your face as much as possible.

Follow healthy Lifestyle: Eating fresh fruits & green leafy vegetables, avoiding junk food, sleeping minimum 8 hours everyday, exercising regularly & living stress free life can help improving your skin quality & may help in minimizing the possible chances of acne.

Limit exposure to sun and pollution : Avoid frequent exposure to sun rays as it may cause dehydration, which over a time may lead to more production of oil & hence, block the pores. So, try to carry umbrella for protection, cover your face using clean cloth or use sunscreen that is oil free, non-comedogenic & once you return home, wash your face using a suitable face wash.

Here are the list of few sunscreen products that you could use

i. mamaearth-Ultra-light-Indian-sunscreen with SPF 50+++ (449INR for 800ml bottle) is best for all skin types.

ii. Neutrogena-Ultra-Sheer-Dry-Touch-Sunblock-SPF-50-pa+++(440INR for 88ml bottle) is best for all skin types except for sensitive skin.

iii. LOTUS HERBALS Safe Sun UV Screen Matte Gel – SPF 50 PA+++ (267INR for 50gm bottle) is best for normal to oily skin.

iv. WOW Anti Pollution SPF40 lotion (379INR for 100ml tube) best sunscreen for oily skin.

Get rid of face oil: People with oily skin can rid of excess oil by applying fullers earth (multani mitti) at-least twice a week. Clay helps draw out impurities, reduce inflammation & observes excess oil which leads to pimples.

Here are the list of few products.

i. Banjaras multani mitti sandal face pack is safe and works well (66 INR for 100 gm)

ii. Khadi’s Pure Multani Mitii (76 INR for 100 g)

iii. Himalaya Oil Clear Mud Face Mask (121 INR for 100gm)

iv. Patanjali’s Multani Mitti with Mineral Clay & Aloe Vera Face pack (170 INR for 60ml)

Managing pimples

You can reduce swelling of pimple with ice for a minute. But don’t keep so long that it irritates your skin.

Don’t be a pimple pooper, as squeezing pimple may cause bleeding & severe scarring, which may take longer time to heal & may raise infection risk. This may also increase inflammation & clog surrounding pores making your pimple more worse.

Use home remedies listed below to treat pimples as it is effective & safe.

i. Add 1/4 tsp turmeric + 2 tsp sandalwood powder + some milk to make a paste. Apply the mask on your face evenly. Avoid area near eye. Leave for 10-15mins. Rinse it with warm water.

ii. Apply few drops of lemon on a 1/4 tsp turmeric powder to make a paste and apply on the pimple for 15-20 min everyday, untill the acne reduces. Then rinse it with water.

iii. Crush few neem leaves by adding few drop of lemon juice or water to make a paste and apply to the affected area for good 15-20mins everday, until the pimple reduces. Later, rinse it with water.

iv. Mix jeera powder with appropriate amount of water to make a paste and apply on the affected area for good 20mins everday, until the pimple reduces.

v. Crush few Tulsi (Holy basil) leaves. Add few drops of lemon juice or water to make a paste & apply this paste to the affected area for 20mins everday, until pimple reduces. Finally, rinse with water.

I hope all these information will help you to combat acne and reduce pimples.

Thanks for your valuable time.

Please feel free to comment regarding this post.

Sayonara!

Love Life & D&B!