What is acne?
Acne involves congestion within the skin. It occurs when excess sebum (oil from the sebaceous gland) blocks the hair follicle. This leads to a micro-comedone, the precursor to what we call blackheads and whiteheads. The skin can become inflamed, resulting in redness and swelling. When acne is more severe, nodules and cysts can often occur. These are deeper lumps below the skin’s surface. Acne can occur not only on the face, but on the body too such as the back and chest.
What causes acne?
Acne is a very common skin condition that can affect all skin types and ages. There are a number of causes that lead to acne including;, excess sebum (oil) and debris, certain cosmetics that contain silicones and mineral oils, occupation, medications including the contraceptive pill and not cleansing your skin properly. Scarring and hyperpigmentation can also present with acne. This can be due to not washing your hands thoroughly and then touching your skin to squeeze and pick pimples – this often leads to more breakouts and possibly an infection. Additional factors that are often hard to control including things such as genetics (cheers mum and dad) diet, stress and anxiety, hormonal (puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and even menopause) these can all cause different types of acne.
How to treat acne?
There is no quick fix for acne; it is a slow and steady process that is always worth it in the end. If you experience acne, I would recommend booking in for a skin consultation to discuss the different types of factors that could potentially be causing your acne. We also recommend getting onto a good skin care range such as Dermaviduals and a mineral based make-up. Internal health and diet is extremely important, look at eating more wholefoods to ensure you are fuelling your body with the right micronutrients. Sugar plays a huge role too, so eat less sugar and more vegetables. Look at incorporating an essential fatty acid and a gut health supplement to help assist your internal health. I cannot stress this enough but drink WATER! This is such a key part to having healthy happy skin, water is the elixir of life and your skin and body will thank you for it. Lastly, remember that change takes time, everyone’s journey will be different - so be patient and stick to it.
Again, everyone will experience acne differently so it might not be a one size fits all. Have a chat with us and let us help you!
