How to deal with Acne Cysts, Pimples and Blackheads?
We all know how acne cysts can make life problematic. You may feel sad, anxious, and depressed if you suffer from acne. Your confidence will be shattered, and social gatherings will feel like a burden to you. We understand your feelings, and we all have experienced them at some point in our life because of acne.
Acne can ruin people’s lives from any age group, but it is prevalent among adolescents. If you are looking for acne treatment in Bedok Singapore, you must visit Perfect Beauty Bedok; the experienced and skilful experts there will help you eliminate the acne issue.
What Is Acne?
Acne develops when the skin’s pores are blocked by sebum, hair, bacteria, or dead skin cells. Because of these blockages, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads are produced. Acne is a common problem, and the humid Singapore weather does not help; everyone suffers it once or often in our lives. Acne can become severe when inflammation is developed inside it, and an acne cyst is formed. Nodules are a form of severe acne that is inflamed, swollen, and infected. People with oily skin are more prone to acne. Unfortunately, people living near the tropics tend to have oiler skin.
According to a survey, almost 80% of the world’s population suffers from acne from 11 to 30 years old. (disease and conditions). Though acne is most common among teenagers, adults also suffer from it. Teenage acne typically goes away in the 20s. Both genders suffer from teenage acne, but severe cases happen in boys usually. Women can develop acne in their 30s, and men don’t. Most people are disturbed by the acne that is developed on the face, and some people also suffer from acne on the back, neck, chest, shoulders, and upper arms, as these are the spots with maximum oil glands.
What Is The Cause Of Acne?
Many myths are associated with acne, many unfound. For example, people will tell you that the reason behind your acne is poor hygiene or a ‘heaty’ diet. In reality, there is no sound ground behind these comments. Stopping yourself from having your favourite chocolates or washing yourself plenty of times a day will not help you eliminate this embarrassing skin problem.
The leading cause behind acne is hormones. When puberty starts, there is an increase in hormone production among teenagers. Girls and boys produce androgens during puberty; these are male sex hormones. Testosterones in such hormones encourage sebum production. Sebum is the oil that is produced inside the oil glands. This increased sebum production is the leading cause of acne among people, especially teenagers.
Another reason for acne is bacteria. When bacteria grow in blocked follicles, it forms whiteheads and blackheads. In addition, if the sebum and bacteria are damaging nearby tissues, they cause inflammation. This inflammation forms nodules which are a more severe form of acne.
Oral contraceptives also have the side effect of forming acne. But it varies from woman to woman. Some females develop acne after using contraceptives, whereas some are unaffected. Some bodybuilders take steroids and develop acne. Stress is also known for aggravating the acne (Understanding Acne Basics).
Acne doesn’t even spare babies.
The terms used for acne in babies are acne neonatorum and acne infantum. When babies go through acne neonatorum, it looks like a rash. Usually, it’s on the face. But this rash is not severe and goes away in a few weeks. But if your baby has acne infantum, you should be more cautious because it lasts longer with the possibility of leaving scars.
Some people never experienced acne in their youth and also develop acne in adulthood. Doctors believe that androgen is not the main culprit in adult acne; instead, it is how people handle it. Bacteria and sebum are naturally present in hair follicles; for some people, it causes occasional one or two pimples. At the same time, some people suffer from heavy outbreaks, ending with acne cysts formed.
Picking at acne worsens the situation. Hats and helmets can aggravate acne further. During the pandemic, surgical masks create many problems for acne-prone people in our high humidity climate. Environmental Pollution is never acne friendly. Choosing the correct skin care products for acne-prone people is also imperative.
What Are The Different Types Of Acne?
Blackheads are open bumps on the skin that are filled with dead skin and oil. Blackheads look like they have dirt inside but are clogged follicles. Whiteheads are bumps that are not open like blackheads but stay closed. They are also filled with dead skin and oil but don’t look dark like blackheads.
If the bumps are inflamed, and their colour is red or pink, then they are called papules. Pustules are bumps with pus inside them. They appear like whiteheads but are usually bigger and have a red ring around them. If pimples are picked, they can leave a scar on your skin.
If excess yeast is developing in your hair follicles, then there are chances that you will develop fungal acne. Fungal acne is also called pityrosporum folliculitis. Nodules are the pimples deep inside your skin and are of a large solid shape. Nodules are quite painful as well. Acne cysts are pimples that are filled with pus. They are also very painful and can leave long-lasting scars on your skin.
Whatever kind of acne is troubling you, it is important to seek timely acne treatment; do not let the situation get out of hand. Long-lasting acne increases the chances of developing acne scars. In addition, young girls and boys face social issues because of acne, which can immensely damage their confidence.
Why Acne Cysts Leaves Scars On Your Skin?
Acne leaves scars on your face; scars don’t look nice and take a lot of effort, treatments and a long time to fade away. Some scars stay with you for a lifetime. Why does acne leave scars on your skin? Scarring occurs when you suffer from acne, damaging your skin deeply. When this acne has inflammation, the pores swell, and this causes the walls of the pores to break down. Due to this process, scars are formed after acne.
Scarring can make you anxious and depressed as it is not a pleasant sight. Before looking for an acne scar treatment, you need to identify what type of acne and acne scar is troubling you. The latest aesthetic developments provide multiple treatments for acne scars, including chemical peels, laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, and micro-needling.
How To Diagnose Acne?
It would be best if you underwent a skin diagnosis to determine what acne you have. You can make an appointment with the National skin centre Singapore, a family doctor or an experienced beautician. They will need to know if you have a family history of acne and inquire if you are going through any stress or sensitivity towards drugs or food. Family history can play an essential role in developing acne. For example, the menstrual cycle could be related to it for young teenage girls going through acne. On the other hand, if an adult who never had acne suddenly develops, other related health concerns might arise.
How does Acne Affect The Life Of Teenagers?
Acne negatively impacts the self-esteem and quality of life of teenagers. Out of 10 adults we interviewed on bad experiences as teenagers, and seven interviewees recalled being upset with acne. Acne can make a teenager depressed. Acne can be the cause of many psychological issues at this fragile age.
Dr Steven Feldman is a Wake Forest University School of Medicine dermatology professor. He says that “Acne is such a big problem for people and how they think other people perceive them and how they perceive themselves, that it causes more depression. So getting it under control is important.” (For Teens, Acne Impacts Self Esteem)
The mental health of the person that is going through acne is vital. You will notice that a teenager suffering from acne will start isolating themselves. In addition, teenagers going through bouts of acne are often in a lousy mood, which increases the chances of psychological disorders among teenagers.
Studies revealed that people suffering from acne are more inclined to suffer from depression. Females suffer more from depression that is caused by acne as compared to males because females are naturally more concerned about their looks and beauty. Young girls desire to look beautiful, but acne is a hurdle. Studies show that almost 85% of teenagers are affected by acne, making acne a big problem for teenagers and their parents.
How To Help A Teenager Going Through Acne?
If you are a parent of a teenager going through acne, then you must understand your role in this situation and help your child if you notice your teenager staying away from family and friends. Parental support validates their feelings during this challenging time.
You might think it’s not a big deal to have a few pimples now and then, but it is a big deal for your teenager. So it’s not wise to ignore your teenager’s acne or wait for it to disappear. An acne is a form of bacterial infection, if not treated, will leave permanent scars.
If your teen starts breaking out in pimples and acne is not getting better in three months, then you should take action to resolve it. First, your teenager should start a basic skincare routine to keep the face clean. Taking your teenagers for a good facial is also advisable to keep their skin healthy and fresh.
There are many places in Bedok that you can visit for a facial specially designed to treat acne. Caring Skin Bedok review suggests that they have good facials to treat acne, but the best option you can find to take your teenager is Perfect Beauty Bedok. The skin experts at Perfect Beauty will analyse your teenager’s skin and tailor the best facial to treat acne.
How Can You Prevent Acne?
You cannot wholly avoid acne, but a few steps can help you in preventing yourself from acne. If you have acne-prone skin, following these precautions can minimise acne outbreaks on your face.
Keeping Your Face Clean:
It’s essential to wash your face properly to remove excess oil, dirt, and sweat. But don’t overdo it, as washing your face more than necessary can worsen the situation of acne. Instead, you should add gentle cleansers to your skin routine that do not contain harsh ingredients. Also, don’t use hot water to wash your face.
Understand Your Skin Type:
Understanding your skin type helps in choosing products for your skin.
Normal skin is a perfectly balanced condition that does not feel dry or oily. This excellent skin type is not subjected to breakouts and dry tight feeling and is not overly shiny. It is healthy with small pore sizes and smooth texture. The clinical name for healthy skin is eudermic. A velvety, soft and delicate texture signifies healthy and radiant skin.
Dry skin feels tight and rough and looks dull. ‘Dry’ describes a skin type that produces less sebum needed. Due to insufficient sebum production, dry skin lacks the lipids needed to retain moisture and build a protective shield against external influences. As a result, wrinkles form on dry skin quicker than on normal and oily skin.
Oily skin is marked by large pores and a shiny, thicker feeling complexion. It produces more than enough oil, so hydration isn’t the issue, but blackheads and pimples usually are. People with oily skin struggle to keep the skin matt with makeup intact during the day and usually feel the need to wash their face often.
Combination skin, as the name suggests, is the Skin type that consists of a mix of skin types. It is usually both oily and dry. For example, the T-Zone(nose, forehead and chin) is commonly oily, and the cheeks are either dry or normal. Combination skin is the most common skin type for people living in Singapore’s humid climate, requiring different treatments in different areas.
Sensitive skin is often referred to as a skin type, but it is a skin condition that can be short or long-term. For example, you can have oily and sensitive skin, dry and sensitive skin or normal and sensitive skin. Sensitive skin may be red, feel like it’s burning, itching or dry.
Such symptoms may be triggered by environmental factors, external irritants, diet-specific ingredients, or fragrances. Therefore, sensitive skin sufferers need to determine what causes sensitivity and avoid products containing those specific ingredients or a particular environment to reduce their exposure to aggravating agents.
Moisturise Your Skin:
Moisturising your skin is vital to skin care; it keeps your skin hydrated. Oily and acne-prone skin must also stay hydrated with water-based treatments and products. If your skin gets dry, it will produce more sebum, and more sebum will cause more acne. Be careful while choosing a moisturiser; a heavy moisturiser can cause pimples.
Moisturise Your Skin:
Moisturising your skin is vital to skin care; it keeps your skin hydrated. Oily and acne-prone skin must also stay hydrated with water-based treatments and products. If your skin gets dry, it will produce more sebum, and more sebum will cause more acne. Be careful while choosing a moisturiser; a heavy moisturiser can cause pimples.
Over-The-Counter Treatments:
Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments can help in treating acne. However, it is advised to use OTC treatments after consulting with an expert because they can do more harm than good if you misuse them. Some commonly used OTC treatments are:
- Benzoyl peroxide is used to treat acne that has inflammation. It helps in killing bacteria that cause acne.
- Salicylic acid is best to treat blackheads and whiteheads.
- Sulphur helps dry out dead skin cells and absorbs the extra oil in the follicles.
Keep Yourself Hydrated:
It is good to drink at least eight glasses of water daily. Keeping yourself hydrated is very beneficial for your health. Hydration contributes to healthy skin as well. If your body is dehydrated, it will give your skin the signal to retain moisture and produce more good skin oil.
Cleanse Off Makeup And Wear Sunscreen:
Wearing makeup can clog your pores, leading to acne if not being cleaned off at the end of the day. Effective cleansing is needed to remove makeup, and we recommend you to start with a milk cleanser to remove makeup, followed by a foam cleanser to attain sparkling clean skin. Use good quality makeup products that do not irritate your skin. As we are exposed to the sun daily in Singapore, it is essential to wear sunscreen with SPF 50.
Don’t Touch Your Face:
Keep your hands clean and hair away from your face. You will contaminate your skin with bacteria if you touch your face repeatedly. These bacteria will clog your pores and produce more acne. DO NOT attempt to pop your pimples and acne and squeeze your blackheads. Skin not properly cleansed before and sanitised after popping pimples can lead to scarring.
Sleep Well and Stress Less:
Stress is not a cause of acne but can make it worse. So doing stress-releasing activities can help reduce acne. For example, you can do yoga or meditation to release your stress. Having a good massage at a spa can also help release stress. Exercise is a very healthy activity to beat stress in life. Limiting your time with your devices and getting at least eight hours of sleep at night makes a big difference.
How To Treat Acne Scars:
Acne is depressing, but acne scars are even more depressing. Do you know you can never totally remove deep pitted, ice pick scars even with the most advanced medical aesthetic procedures? The cost of such medical procedures is very high and painful. The best bet will be NOT to develop scars by seeking treatments early. Here are some techniques and products that are used for acne scar treatment.
Chemical Peels and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs):
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) are used to remove dead keratin and void skin cells; it also clarifies acne-prone oily skin. AHA is incorporated in many skin care products used for acne treatment. They also help fade away acne scars by encouraging the production of new skin cells. Chemical peels are available in varying concentrations, from 20% to 60% of acid content.
Micro-needling:
In micro-needling, a roller with needles studded to it is rolled on the scars. These needles break the skin, causing it to jump-start the healing, producing more collagen. It also acts as an intravenous feed of professional skin serums. Micro-needling is a long process to treat acne scars. It may take up to 9 months to see visible changes, but it is a safe option for acne scar treatment. (How To Best Treat Acne Scars)
Laser Resurfacing:
Fractional laser or laser resurfacing helps remove the skin’s upper layer, thus levelling up the scars. However, it is a semi-invasive procedure that needs up to a week of downtime and may take more than one treatment if the scars are deep.
Dermal Fillers:
Dermatologists and aesthetic doctors offer certain dermal fillers as a treatment for acne scars. These fillers are mostly made of hyaluronic acid or salmon DNA. These are injected into the pits of deep scars to plump up the skin’s collapsed walls, making the acne scars less noticeable.
Treat Acne Timely Before It Ruins Your Life:
We know that acne is a skin problem that is both painful and unsightly; best to treat it early. If a teenager suffers from acne, give them emotional support and help them regain confidence by treating acne on time, do not wait for it to wear off because it rarely happens. We recommend you start with deep cleansing and healing face treatments and get proper extractions done. If you trust medical treatments better, the polyclinics in Singapore only cost $15 to see a doctor; they will likely prescribe oral antibiotics. Whichever treatment pathway you choose, it is better than doing nothing.
References:
Chan, A. (n.d.). For Teens, Acne Impacts Self Esteem. Retrieved from Live Science: https://www.livescience.com/35548-severe-acne-impacts-self-esteem.html
disease and conditions. (n.d.). Retrieved from Cleveland clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12233-acne
How To Best Treat Acne Scars. (n.d.). Retrieved from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/acne-scars#in–office-procedures
Understanding Acne Basics. (n.d.). Retrieved from WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/understanding-acne-basics