ACNE – THE MOST COMMON SKIN CONDITION IN THE WORLD
Acne affects over 85% of the world’s population. A skin condition that is extremely prominent amongst teenagers and adults up until the age of 30. This is typically a result of changes to your body throughout adolescence. Hormonal factors are the key contributor to acne breakouts or acne irritations.
With such a complicated skin condition, there are many interesting facts and myths about acne and treating acne. Here, we’ve highlighted some of the most interesting facts about acne you may not have known.
#1 – THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY YOU CAN GET A PIMPLE
There is actually only one way you can get a pimple through acne. A pimple occurs on the skin when your sebum oil glands produce too much sebum and in combination with dirt and dead skin cells on your skin, your pores and hair follicles become blocked. This causes a buildup of bacteria and pimple breakouts in areas where the pores are blocked on your skin.
#2 – THERE IS NOT ENOUGH RESEARCH TO SUGGEST STRESS CAUSES ACNE
Often, it is believed that stress causes acne breakouts on the skin. Unfortunately, there is not enough medical research to suggest that stress can cause acne. Additionally, the research available has not clearly defined stress as a cause of acne breakouts.
#3 – CONSISTENCY IS KEY WHEN TREATING ACNE
Impatience is one of the biggest contributors to failing to deal with/treat acne. Often, if we do not see immediate results when treating acne, we give up our skincare routine or course of treatment and look for the next solution. We are sometimes very close to breaking the acne breakouts or managing the root cause at this point and this is why maintaining the course of treatment for acne is important in order to solve your acne problem.
#4 – DAIRY HAS BEEN PROVEN TO IRRITATE ACNE
While not always the case, recent research has found that dairy products can trigger acne. This is the result of artificial hormones that are added to the cow’s diet and milk supply. The hormones used in these diets can offset the hormones in your own system, which is the likely cause of the acne breakout from dairy products.
#5 – DIETS CAN CAUSE ACNE (ONLY IF THEY CONTAIN SUGARS)
A lot of research suggests that diets cannot contribute to acne irritation or breakouts, however, studies show that foods that have glyceric properties and are high in sugar are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This increases your blood sugar levels and increases oil production on the skin, which is an indirect impact on acne on your skin.
#6 – SUNSHINE HELPS ACNE
Exposure to sunshine can help with how your skin deals with acne. Typically, you’re recommended up to 20 mins of sun exposure. You should use oil-free high SPF sunscreen to ensure skin protection from the sun. Sun helps the body to produce vitamin D, which contributes to skin cell growth, repair, and metabolism, helping the skin to recover from acne and acne scarring, complementing acne and acne scarring treatment programmes you dermatologist has implemented for your skin.
#7 – 80% OF THE POPULATION WILL GET ACNE
Acne will affect at least 80% of the World’s population, so the likelihood of getting acne during hormonal changes within your body such as adolescence is extremely high. In this case, ensuring your skincare routine, diet and general skin health is good ensures that you are safeguarding your skin against acne breakouts.
#8 – MAKEUP CAN CAUSE ACNE BREAKOUTS
Unfortunately, yes, makeup products can cause acne breakouts. Makeup has the ability to clog the pores on the skin and hair follicles which will cause the buildup of sebum oil within the pores. Additionally, makeup with mineral oils can also clog the pores and cause breakouts of acne from within the hair follicles.
#9 – WATER HAS INDIRECT BENEFITS FOR ACNE
There is an ongoing debate as to whether water helps with the treatment of acne. Water has many benefits for your skin from providing hydration to cleansing the skin from dirt, dead cells and other bacteria. Water also reduces the toxins in your skin, which helps to remove potential irritants that will cause acne breakouts on your skin.