Acne is a common issue for many people, not just during adolescence. According to 2023 statistics, acne affects 25% of women and 12% of men over 40 (yalemedicine). Acne can easily undermine self-esteem and negatively impact daily life. We believe you’d do anything for a miracle cream to heal your skin. Unfortunately, we don’t have such a solution for you, but we’ll tell you how to approach acne treatment and provide tips to help you on your journey to healthy skin.
Do You Know What Acne Is?
Acne treatment is a complex process that requires patience and care, and it’s related to many aspects of your life, some of which might not even seem to affect your skin.
Let’s take it step by step. To know how to get rid of acne, it’s helpful to understand what it actually is. Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that can take many forms:
- Whiteheads – professionally known as closed comedones – are a non-inflammatory form of acne. They appear as small reddish dots with a white tip. They form when skin pores are clogged with excess sebum or dead skin cells.
- Blackheads – also called open comedones. Why “open”? Because in this case, the pores remain open at the top, and there is no clogging. They look like tiny black dots on the skin, and unlike whiteheads, they are not raised. Many people associate blackheads with dirt, but the dark color is due to the oxidation of sebum that accumulates in the sebaceous glands on the skin’s surface.
- Papules are the next stage after whiteheads. They appear when inflammation develops at the site of whiteheads. The inflammation occurs in the sebaceous gland, which contains sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells. They look like small, raised red pimples with smooth surfaces and no pus, though they are often painful.
- Pustules also form when the sebaceous gland gets infected. The difference is that they contain whitish or yellowish pus, which eventually forms a white head on the surface. Like papules, pustules are often painful.
- Nodules are more severe forms of cystic acne. They are deep, hard, and firm inflammatory lesions beneath the skin’s surface. They appear red and feel hard to the touch and are usually very painful.
- Cysts are similar to nodules, but they are typically softer because they contain pus and fluid. Both cysts and nodules can cause permanent scarring and should be treated under the supervision of a dermatologist.
Acne is not just a cosmetic problem but a skin condition that can leave permanent scars and negatively affect your quality of life. Identifying the specific form of acne helps you choose the right treatment method to achieve the best results.
The best first step toward successful acne treatment is a consultation with a dermatologist, who will help identify your acne type and tailor a treatment plan to meet your individual needs. A precise diagnosis and appropriate treatment can minimize the risk of scarring and improve the overall condition of your skin.
How to Treat Acne?
Treating acne will require not only the determination and persistence of a marathoner but also a strong internal motivation to work on yourself. Prepare to fight on several fronts:
1. Take Care of Your Skin
Including morning and evening skincare routines in your program is probably the first solution you’ll reach for. This isn’t a bad idea, as thorough skincare can significantly help with acne treatment, and it’s important for several reasons:
- Cleansing the skin and removing impurities: Overnight, impurities, oil, and bacteria accumulate on the skin. During the day, your skin also faces dust, makeup, and other cosmetic products. To maintain clean, healthy skin, it’s essential to cleanse your face both in the morning and evening.
- Applying recommended products: It’s advisable to consult with a dermatologist when selecting suitable products. There are many creams and serums for acne available on the market. You can choose from commonly available drugstore brands like Dermacol, Balea, and others, or from pharmacy brands like La Roche-Posay, Bioderma, or CeraVe. Keep in mind that choosing the wrong products may harm your skin instead.
Tip: Adjust your morning and evening skincare routines according to the seasons. For example, during summer, don’t forget to add sunscreen with SPF to your morning routine to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Read more tips on how to care for your skin in summer and what to do for it during winter.
- Skin hydration: Hydrating your skin is important at all times, but even more so if you’re using special acne products. Some products, particularly those containing zinc, can cause skin dryness. So, proper skincare morning and night should include applying moisturizing creams to maintain your skin’s balance and minimize irritation caused by the treatment.
2. Identify the Cause and Address It
In the first point, we focused on the surface of the skin. Now it’s time to dive deeper and find out why you have acne. What are the causes of acne?
- Hormonální nerovnováha: Zvýšená hladina hormonů může zvýšit produkci mazu a způsobit záněty v mazových žlázách. Hormonální nerovnováha je přirozená v období puberty, ale může nás doprovázet i v dalším životě. Co vše ovlivňuje hladinu hormonů v těle?
- Stress: Chronic stress can affect hormonal balance and increase the risk of acne or worsen existing acne.
- Hormonal disruptors: These are chemicals that can interfere with normal hormone functions. Where do we come into contact with these substances? Virtually everywhere, as our environment is full of hormonal disruptors. They can be found in food, clothing, and other products we commonly use.
- Genetics: That’s right, even acne has a genetic factor. If someone in your family suffered from acne, it might increase your chances of having problematic skin as well.
- Diet: Certain foods, such as those high in sugar or dairy products, can contribute to problematic skin.
- Cosmetic products: Inappropriate cosmetic products that clog the sebaceous glands can cause acne or make it worse. Which products are these? Those containing comedogenic ingredients, such as mineral oils, synthetic oils (paraffin, petroleum jelly), or natural substances like beeswax, natural oils, lanolin, and others.
Acne can result from a combination of multiple causes, and uncovering them is a lengthy process. Acne treatment is not only about your skin but also involves your mental health and habits. Causes like stress and hormonal imbalance likely won’t disappear overnight, so be patient and persistent in your treatment.
3. Ask for Help from an Experienced Dermatologist
We’ve already mentioned this advice in previous points, but repetition is the mother of wisdom. Sometimes, you just can’t manage it alone, so it’s a good idea to seek help from professionals. When should you consult a doctor?
- If you suffer from severe acne: Specialized treatments can help with severe acne. Based on the condition of your skin, a doctor may suggest a combination of treatments.
- If you have scars left from acne? In this case, visit a specialist who can help you remove acne scars. Modern aesthetic medicine clinics use advanced equipment to treat scars and make them as inconspicuous as possible.
- If you don’t want to spend hours watching videos, reading product labels, and online reviews to ensure you choose the right products, ask for help from a dermatologist.
- If acne has been bothering you long-term and nothing seems to work: If you feel like you’ve tried almost every product and skincare method but still see no results, contact a dermatologist.
Book a consultation at ABClinic, where a doctor will diagnose your skin and assess the severity and extent of your acne. Based on that, they will recommend the right skincare products and select the most effective treatments to help you fight acne.