Acne skin: what it entails, how to treat it and how to take care of it - Your complete skincare routine

Acne is the most well-known skin condition and, at the same time, one of the most common. This occurs most often in adolescence, but, depending on genetics or lifestyle, it can also occur at older ages.

Sebaceous glands are the ones that cause acne. Although this is, in most cases, found on the face, there are many people who face this problem in other areas of the body, such as the arms, chest or back.

In general, acne does not negatively influence the general health of the body, but it can affect self-confidence and social life. That is why it is important to discover the causes of its appearance in good time and to treat it accordingly.

Find out from this article what can be the causes of acne, how many types it can be and what you can do to improve or prevent it.

Acne skin: what are its characteristics?

Acne skin is generated by an excess of sebum that leads to the appearance of imperfections. The most common type of acne is the vulgar one, affecting between 70 and 95% of adolescents who are at puberty. Acne is not, however, a condition that only young people suffer from, it can appear regardless of age and regardless of sex.

In order to discover the real causes and effectively treat acne, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist. In order to prescribe the right treatment, he can recommend the following investigations: hormonal analyses, gynecological control, ultrasound, microbacterial examination or endocrinological consultation.

Regarding the causes, each person can face this problem for different reasons. Acne appears, most of the time, from a combination of factors. The doctor is the best able to discover the clear causes and to prescribe you a personalized treatment, depending on the severity of the condition.

Acne skin: types of skin and types of acne

To better understand how your skin works, you need to know which category it falls into. This helps you choose the right cosmetic products and avoid certain substances that could aggravate your skin problems.

At the same time, if your skin has acne tendencies, it is good to know that this condition can be divided, in turn, into three categories. Each type of acne is different and has a specific behavior.

Acne skin types

Specialists believe that skin types can be divided into five categories: normal, dry, oily, sensitive and mixed skin. Here's how you can correctly differentiate between them:

  • Normal complexion
In the case of normal skin, the skin has no major imperfections and no dehydrated areas or areas with excess sebum. In other words, it is a balanced complexion, which is not prone to specific ailments. However, normal skin also needs periodic exfoliation and a properly performed cleaning routine, in order to avoid potential problems that may arise as a result of improper care. Another very important factor is the use of a sunscreen cream for the face , to avoid the appearance of wrinkles and pigment spots.

  • Dry acneic skin

This type of skin is characterized by dehydration and is prone to acne. The skin has a rough appearance and lacks elasticity. Also, dry skin favors the appearance of wrinkles, irritations and dermatitis.

  • Acne oily skin

This is the most common type of acne skin and is characterized by excess sebum. Many people make a mistake when they decide to stop moisturizing their oily skin, hoping that this will help them balance the sebum. Well, this is not the truth: excess sebum can even occur due to dehydration.

The main sign of oily skin is the shiny, oily appearance, which always gives the impression that there is a consistent layer of cream/oil on top of the skin. Although one of the main advantages of oily skin is that the signs of aging are delayed, it is the most prone to acne.

  • Sensitive and acneic skin

Sensitive skin is characterized by redness and irritation, signs caused by fragile capillaries. Such a complexion requires a thorough examination and special care. Thus, if you have sensitive and acne-prone skin at the same time, it is recommended to schedule a consultation with the dermatologist before purchasing care products, in order to determine exactly what your sensitivities are and to be able to follow a personalized treatment, based on on certain key ingredients.

  • Mixed complexion

In this category is the famous T area . As the name suggests, mixed skin does not have the same appearance on the entire surface of the face. It is a combination between oily and dry skin. Excess sebum is found in the area of ​​the forehead, chin and nose, which are also the most prone to the appearance of pimples. On the rest of the face, the skin is generally dry.

Types of acne

Just like skin types, acne can be divided into several categories. Not only pimples are signs of acne, but also blackheads, spots or whiteheads under the skin. Thus, it can be of three types: conglomerated, comedonic and papulo-pustular. Here's how they can be special and what particularities they have:

  1. Conglobata - is the most serious form of acne and requires a long treatment with antibiotics. In some cases, the marks left after healing are deep and can only be removed with the laser. Pimples can be painful and located almost all over the body. Acne conglobata can be characterized by papules, pustules, comedones, fistulas and keloid scars.
  2. Papulo-pustuloasa - as the name says, it is a form of acne characterized by papules, i.e. red lesions. The lesions with yellowish content, the pimples, affect the skin deeply, leaving quite deep marks. Pimples are generally found on the face, chest and back, being a form of acne that can last for years.
  3. Comedonica - is the type of acne characterized by black and white dots of different shapes or sizes. There can be dozens of lesions of this kind, most often found on the forehead, cheekbones and nose. Comedonic acne is the most common and, at the same time, the mildest form. Inflamed points do not cause pain and, if treated properly, do not leave marks.

Imperfections caused by acne

As previously specified, acne can be divided into three categories and, depending on its type, it can present several forms of imperfections. To understand each term and what characteristics it has, here are some details about the main manifestations of acne:

  • Cysts - are the most painful imperfections, causing scars and being full of pus;
  • Pimples - compared to cysts, pimples have a red base and pus at the top. These imperfections are also called pustules;
  • Nodules - they can be easily recognized by the fact that they are located deep in the skin, they are large and painful;
  • White dots - are fat dots that are located under the skin and are small in size. These imperfections appear due to blocked pores;
  • Blackheads - compared to whiteheads, blackheads appear on the surface of the skin. In this case, the pores are open and the sebaceous glands are blocked.

Anti-acne treatments: what treatments can you follow if you have acne-prone skin

Regardless of the type of acne you suffer from and the imperfections you have as a result of this problem, there are some essential steps you must follow to treat and prevent it. Here is the list of things to do and the list of things to avoid if you have acne-prone skin:

Treatments to improve and prevent acne:

  • contact a specialist to find out exactly what type of acne you suffer from and what you can do to treat it. Do not hesitate to use the treatments that the specialist recommends and do not be afraid of antibiotics;
  • resort to a healthy lifestyle, to considerably reduce the occurrence and to minimize the risk of acne worsening. In this sense, it is recommended to eat as many green leafy vegetables as possible;
  • try to reduce stress as much as possible. During stressful periods, the body produces cortisone, which stimulates sebum production. This, when it comes into contact with bacteria and dead cells, forms acne;
  • the treatments must be supported by an efficient cleansing of the skin with the help of cleansing foams .

What you should not do if you have acne skin:

  • although it is recommended to regularly use peeling products to remove dead skin and minimize the risk of an excess of sebum, they should not be used in excess. It is important to follow the instructions on the packaging, so as not to irritate or traumatize the skin. If this happens, the risk of the appearance of new signs of acne increases;
  • do not attack your skin trying to eliminate imperfections. This can worsen the acne you suffer from, the most indicated being to visit the cosmetics;
  • do not hesitate to use the same face creams for a longer period of time. Changing products frequently is a mistake that many people make out of the desire to get results as quickly as possible, but this will only make your skin problems worse.

Acne skin care, cleaning and exfoliation - tips for improving and preventing acne

Skin care is a procedure that no person should forget or neglect, regardless of skin type. Of course, the way you should take care of your skin differs depending on the problems you face. Here are the three essential things in acne skin care:

  1. The first step is to properly clean your face, both in the evening and in the morning. For this step, it is recommended to use a cleansing foam that does not make your skin greasy. Do not use any type of product that contains oil. Try not to aggress the skin while cleaning, because any irritation favors the appearance or worsening of acne.
  2. Use a face toner . This product helps a lot when it comes to sebum regulation and hydration.
  3. The third step consists in moisturizing the skin. It follows the same principle, avoiding products with oil, because they block the pores. Use face creams with a seboregulator effect, fluids, which do not burden the skin. Also, don't forget that an evening cream must hydrate, and a day cream must protect you against UV radiation.

Masks for acne skin: what are the most effective anti-acne face masks?

Face masks are a quick and effective way to improve the appearance of the skin. The active ingredients that are part of them help in deep hydration, by infusing the pores.

The most important thing to know about masks is that they can treat almost any type of condition. So how do you choose the right mask for your problems? It is important to take into account, first of all, the skin type and age . After you have established these two criteria, you can opt for a cleansing mask based on the following active ingredients, which help treat acne:

  • Salicylic acid;
  • benzoyl peroxide;
  • yogurt;
  • papaya;
  • Oatmeal;
  • clay;
  • coal.

All this will help you unblock pores, remove dead skin, balance sebum, prevent breakouts and calm inflammation.

Face masks can be applied at any time of the day. If you want them to have their effect optimally, it is recommended to clean the skin and moisturize it before application. Also, some masks require washing, so be careful with the water temperature, so as not to traumatize or irritate the skin.

Therefore, acne skin is a problem faced by countless people. This condition is not only a physical one, visible on the skin, but it can have its say on the psychological level as well, especially among teenagers. Take care of your skin and don't give up on a correct skin cleaning routine. Creams, masks and cleaning products are effective weapons against pimples, blackheads and marks left after acne healing.

Photo source: Shutterstock.com.

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