Answers to frequently asked questions about acne

If you are struggling with acne, chances are you have a lot of questions. Luckily, our team of skincare experts have the answers! From what acne is and what can cause it, to how to get rid of acne once and for all, we answer some of the most frequently asked acne questions below.

Frequently asked questions about acne in this article

• What is acne?
• What causes acne?
• What are the types of acne?
• How can I get rid of acne?
• What is acne in adults?
• Why do I get breakouts before my period?
• What are the best ingredients for acne?
• What is acne on the body?
• Can I wear makeup if I have acne?
• Am I clearing my skin enough?
• Can food cause breakouts?
• Will my acne ever go away?

What is acne?

Acne, also known as is the most common skin disease in the United States, affecting men and women of all ethnicities. The disease is so common that approximately 40-50 million Americans may experience some type of acne at some point in their lives. Although it is most commonly associated with puberty, acne can appear at any time during life, which is why many skin care products are designed for those who suffer from adult acne. Pimples most often appear on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders, but they can also appear on the buttocks, scalp, and other parts of the body. 

Acne is a skin disease that affects the sebaceous or sebaceous glands of the skin. These same glands produce the oil that keeps our skin naturally hydrated, but when they get overloaded and produce too much oil, then your face can get worse. This overproduction of oil can combine with dead skin cells and other impurities on the surface of the skin and clog pores. Clogged pores are harmless on their own, but if they become clogged with bacteria, pimples can form. 

What causes acne?

Simply put, acne occurs when the sebaceous glands that produce sebum get overloaded and produce excess oil. When this excess oil mixes with dead skin cells and other dirt and grime that may be left on the surface of your skin, it can clog pores. Finally, when these pores become infiltrated with bacteria, they can turn into pimples. But there are several other factors that can cause acne. We list the most common below:

• Hormonal ups and downs: The sebaceous glands are affected by hormonal fluctuations – think puberty, pregnancy, and right before your period. 
• GeneticsA: If your mom or dad had acne, chances are you'll get acne too. 
• Oil blockage: This may be caused by changes in sebum thickness or viscosity, scarring from recent breakouts, buildup of dead skin cells, improper cleansing and/or use of occlusive skin care products.
• bacteria: Breakthroughs and bacteria go hand in handThis is why proper skin care is so important. That's why it's so important to keep your hands away from your face and keep all materials that come into contact with your skin clean (eg pillowcases, cleaning brushes, towels, etc.). 
• Stress: It is believed that stress can worsen existing skin conditions, so if you already have acne, if you feel extra stress, it may get worse. 
• Lifestyle factors: Some research has shown that lifestyle factors — everything from pollution to diet — may play a role in causing acne. 

What are the types of acne?

In the same way that different factors can cause acne, there are also different types of acne that you may encounter, namely the six main types of spots:

1. Whiteheads: Pimples that remain under the surface of the skin 2. Blackheads: Blemishes that occur when open pores are blocked and this blockage oxidizes and becomes dark in color. 3. Papules: Small pink bumps that may be sensitive to touch 4. Pustules: Spots that are red and filled with white or yellow pus 5. Knots: large, painful and hard to the touch spots that remain deep under the surface of the skin. 6. Cysts: Deep, painful, pus-filled pimples that can lead to scarring. Cystic acne is known to be one of the most difficult types of acne. “When your pores are clogged (with dead skin cells, debris, etc.), you can sometimes get bacterial overgrowth in an area that is normally deep in the skin. Your body's reaction to fighting infection can be a reaction, also called cystic acne. They tend to be red, swollen, and more painful than typical superficial pimples." Dr. Dhawal Bhanusali explains.

How can I get rid of acne?

No matter what type of breakout you may have, the ultimate goal is to get rid of it. But getting rid of acne will not work overnight. The first step is to reduce the appearance of acne, and in order to do this, you will need to adopt and follow a skin care routine. 

1. First, make sure your skin is clean by washing your face in the morning and evening. This will help remove any impurities that are on the surface of your skin - excess sebum, dead skin cells, makeup residue, etc. - and can prevent clogging of your pores in the first place. 
2. Then use a spot treatment that contains an acne-fighting ingredient to help fight flare-ups, and whatever you do, don't pop your pimples or pick at your skin. You may end up pushing the bacteria further down, which can aggravate the defect and even cause scarring. 
3. After cleansing and using a spot treatment, always moisturize your skin. While adding moisture to already oily skin may seem counterintuitive, if you skip this step, you run the risk of dehydrating your skin, which can cause those sebaceous glands to run at high speed and cause them to produce even more oil. Opt for lightweight, oil-free moisturizers - we're partial to water-based hyaluronic acid gels. 

What is acne in adults?

While acne is most common in teenagers and young adults, for some, acne may continue or come on suddenly later in life. Adult acne mostly affects women, and unlike acne that reappears in youth, adult acne is cyclical and stubborn and can coexist with other skin care concerns, including scars, uneven skin tone and texture, enlarged pores, and even dehydration. . Pimples after adolescence can be caused by anything: hormonal fluctuations, stress, genetics, climate, and even the foods you use. In adult acne, patches most commonly occur around the mouth, chin, and jawline, and in women, they worsen during menstruation. 

Acne in adults also manifests itself in one of three ways:

• Persistent acne: Persistent acne, also called permanent acne, is acne that has spread from adolescence into adulthood. With persistent acne, spots are almost always present.
• Delayed acne: Or late-onset acne, delayed acne begins in adulthood and can affect one in five women. Spots appear as premenstrual flashes or suddenly for no apparent reason. 
• Acne recurrence: Recurrent acne first appears during adolescence, disappears, and then reappears in adulthood.

Unlike the oily skin of teenagers with acne, many adults with acne may experience dryness that can be exacerbated. spot treatments for acne, detergents and lotions. What's more, while puberty acne seems to fade after it disappears, adult acne can lead to scarring due to the slower sloughing process - the natural sloughing off of dead skin cells to reveal new ones underneath.

Why do I get breakouts before my period?

If you find that you always have flare-ups during your period, you may wonder about the connection between your period and acne. Before your period, your levels of androgens, the male sex hormones, rise and your levels of estrogen, the female sex hormones, decrease. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, these hormonal fluctuations can be responsible for excess sebum production, buildup of dead skin cells, increased acne-causing bacteria, and skin inflammation.

What are the best ingredients for acne?

When looking for a product to help you reduce the appearance of acne, there are several gold standard and FDA approved ingredients you should look for in a formula. The most common include:

• Salicylic acid: Found in scrubs, cleansers, spot treatments, and more, beta hydroxy acid works by chemically exfoliating the surface of the skin to help unclog pores. Products containing salicylic acid have been shown to help reduce the size and redness associated with acne.
• Benzoyl peroxide: Also available in a range of products, including cleansers and spot treatments, benzoyl peroxide helps kill bacteria that can cause acne breakouts and also helps remove excess sebum and dead skin cells that lead to clogged pores. 
• Alpha hydroxy acids: AHAs, including glycolic and lactic acids, help to chemically exfoliate the surface of the skin, unclogging pores and removing any pore-clogging deposits. 
• Sulfur: Sulfur is found in spot treatments and face masks and helps reduce acne-causing bacteria, clogged pores, and excess sebum. 

What is acne on the body?

Acne on the body can appear anywhere from the back and chest to the shoulders and buttocks. If you have breakouts on your face and body, it's most likely acne vulgaris, explains Dr. Lisa Jinn. "If you have acne on your body but not on your face, it's often caused by not showering for too long after a workout," she says. “Enzymes from your sweat are deposited on the skin and can cause breakouts. I tell my patients to at least rinse, even if they can't take a full shower. Get water on your body within 10 minutes of your workout."

Although they can be caused by similar factors, there is one big difference between pimples on the face and pimples on the back, chest, and other areas of the body. This difference? “On the skin of the face, the dermal layer is 1-2 millimeters thick,” explains Dr. Jinn. “On your back, this layer is up to an inch thick. Here, the hair follicle is deeper in the skin, making it difficult to access.”

Can I wear makeup if I have acne?

Of all the tools in your beauty arsenal, makeup is one of the best when you're dealing with acne, which is the right makeup. You should look for non-comedogenic, oil-free formulas to make sure you don't clog pores. What's more, many makeup formulas have been created with acne-fighting ingredients and can even help you get rid of the pesky blemish by hiding it from your eyes. 

You can also try green color-correcting concealers if your spots are very red and hard to hide. Green Concealers help neutralize the appearance of redness and can help create the illusion of clear skin when used under concealers or foundation. 

Just remember, when you put makeup on your pimples, make sure you remove it properly before bed. Even the best acne products can clog pores and make breakouts worse if left on overnight. 

Am I clearing my skin enough?

Of all the skin care non-negotiables, cleansing is at the top of the list…especially if you have acne. But if you have oily, acne-prone skin, you often feel like you need to cleanse your skin more often than the recommended twice a day. Before you go crazy with detergents, know this. Excessive cleansing of the skin can strip it of the natural oils that hydrate the skin. When the skin becomes dehydrated, the sebaceous glands begin to produce more sebum to compensate for what they perceive as moisture loss. So by washing your face to try and remove excess oil, you will end up making your skin oilier in the long run.

If you feel like you need to wash your face more than twice a day, talk to your dermatologist, who can recommend a skincare routine that works with your skin, not against it. 

Can food cause breakouts?

A burning question for anyone struggling with acne is whether food plays a role. Although some studies have shown that certain foods - excess sugar, skim milk, etc. - can affect the appearance of the face, there are no definitive conclusions yet. While there is no definitive evidence that food causes acne, it never hurts to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink the recommended amount of water daily. 

Will my acne ever go away?

If you have persistent acne that doesn't seem to go away, you are probably looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Often the acne we experience during puberty will go away on its own as we get older, but if you have adult acne or hormonal fluctuation-induced breakouts, proper skin care and a dermatologist-approved action plan can help. to make a big difference in the look of your skin.