10 Things You Need To Know About Acne

How to Exfoliate Skin

Like all other acts of human nature, acne is one of the things that cannot be controlled. Although everyone has a chance to get acne facial treatment procedures, sudden acne breakout, especially a day before an important event, is indeed annoying. 

Acne is a skin disorder that affects the skin’s oil glands and hair follicles. These glands secrete an oily substance called sebum and the follicle carries dead skin cells out to the surface of the skin, the sebum and the dead skin cells clump together in the process causing skin plugins. Then the bacteria in it cause swelling that later on causes pimples to erupt from the skin.

Acne is the most common skin disorder in the world, and clearing it up is not as easy as washing your face and trying not to eat oily food. If you are one of the unfortunate people who have been dealing with stubborn breakouts, here are 10 scientifically proven things you should know about the skin disorder.

1. Acne is not only for teenagers.

The truth is, it is quite common to see acne persist into adulthood. Although acne is commonly thought of as a problem of adolescence, it can occur in people of all ages. Hormones, stress, and the menstrual cycle in women, all of which can influence oil production along with hormonal imbalances and environmental toxins all play a major role.

2. Pimples do not just contain “bad bacteria”. 

Despite its bad rep, acne also includes a strain of good bacteria that are trying to protect your skin. Just as we have explained above, your oil glands exist to help flush out the toxins out of your skin. However, external factors, such as pollution, primarily cause clogged pores (pimples afterwards) that hinder the natural process of cleansing.

3. Acne does not disappear overnight. 

Nothing can be achieved overnight and acne is not an exception. Despite what you might read on a package at the drugstore, even mild acne requires at least a month to see a big improvement. And even after that, you need to keep up with your acne facial care so that it does not come back.

4. Scrubbing hurts more. 

Exfoliation might sound helpful to remove dirt from your face but too much of it hurts your skin more. You might be tempted to rub your skin raw to get rid of zits, but that actually makes acne worse. Keep in mind that the epidermis is as sensitive as a tissue, by scrubbing your skin you are causing micro-lacerations on your facial tissues that worsen the inflammation of your pimples.

5. Greasy food does not cause acne.  

You might probably have heard that eating too many nuts or fries can cause acne. It is not true, however, your diet indeed can affect your skin. There is no scientific evidence to back up the claims that junk food and greasy foods cause acne. But just think of it this way, your skin needs proper nutrients too in order to stay healthy and if it does not get the right amount of nutrients it needs, it would result in many other conditions aside from acne, such as dry skin or an unhealthy pale complexion. 

6. Popping pimples is bad. 

Popping a pimple before it is fully formed will risk pushing the bacteria further into your skin and spreading it to other unaffected areas of your face. Along with spreading the infection, popping your pimples may also lead to permanent skin damage and scarring. It is best to let the pimple heal, which should normally take about a week or two. In darker skin, pimple popping can also worsen discolouration, which without acne facial or acne treatment can take several months to resolve.

7. Too much B12 may cause breakouts. 

Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all cells, however, it can make those with acne-prone skin more susceptible to breakouts. High B12 levels disrupt a skin bacteria linked with acne, it stops the skin’s natural process of cleansing resulting in breakouts.

8. Acne affects your emotional well-being. 

We are not just talking about scars on your skin. We are talking about emotional scars. Acne negatively affects self-esteem and can lead to anxiety and depression. Some people are so tuned into their flaws that they can only see the pimple. As such, people affected by acne who have concerns about their mental health should absolutely be taken seriously. We recommend that you opt for acne treatment from trusted dermatologists in the country and regain your self-confidence in no time.

9. Stress does affect your skin. 

It is not the one responsible for pimple breakouts perse, however, chronic stress increases levels of stress-related hormones such as cortisol and sends skin’s sebaceous (oil) glands into overdrive, which mixes with dead skin cells and breakout-causing bacteria. The relationship between stress and acne has been misunderstood by many but what you can do is find a way to reduce your stress to avoid further breakouts.

10. Your period affects your skin too. 

If you are prone to acne, expect a breakout a few days before your cycle starts because your hormones fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle. Just before your period starts, progesterone levels drop and estrogen levels rise. This can trigger your sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum, an oily substance that lubricates your skin. Too much can result in clogged pores and breakouts.

Acne is not something to be ashamed of

Suffering from acne is not easy but keep in mind that you could only do as much as to stay and live healthily. You have no control over your hormone production but you have control over how you react to it. Start normalising your skin and choose to get medical and aesthetic help from skin professionals. It is going to start with you.

If you are looking for the best acne facial treatment in Singapore, visit our website today and let our experts help you with your skin condition.