Acne can be a difficult problem to deal with. It’s caused by pores blocked with oil, bacteria, or dead skin. Hormones, puberty, and stress are common causes of acne. It can also be passed down via genetics, meaning if your family members suffer from acne, you may be more likely to suffer from it too.
Acne isn’t caused by poor hygiene, but it can be treated using skin treatments and, in some cases, medication.
There are three types of acne:
- Mild – mild acne consists of whiteheads and blackheads, as well as some redness and irritation
- Moderate – moderate acne consists of blackheads, whiteheads, papules (small red bumps) and pustules (small bumps containing fluid)
- Severe – this consists of many large, painful pustules and papules, as well as large nodules or cysts. Severe acne can lead to scarring.
Skin Treatments – There are a few ways that dermatologists try to treat acne. Facial peels are a good choice – for example, salicylic, isolaze, or pyruvic peels. These treatments are excellent for acne sufferers, although it depends on the severity of your acne and any other skin conditions you may have (for example, if you have sensitive skin). You can find out more about Koha’s skin treatments for acne here
Medication – You can speak to your GP if you feel you would like to try medication for your acne treatment. They may prescribe you antibiotic tablets or hormonal treatments – these come with benefits and side-effects, which your GP will talk you through.
Diet – While you may not be able to clear up severe, active acne by changing your diet, you can eat skin-friendly foods to help things along. These include:
- Fruits, like apricots, tomatoes, red grapes, and blueberries (these contain antioxidants, which are great for the skin)
- Whole grains
- Legumes (beans and lentils)
- Vegetables, including carrots, sweet potato, beetroot, spinach, and leafy green vegetables
- Pumpkin seeds
- Turkey
- Fish
- Oat milk
Skincare Products – There are some products out there that can help to keep acne at bay, but it’s important to remember to take things slowly. Don’t introduce a wide range of new products at once (unless instructed by a dermatologist).
Scarring – A frustrating long-term effect of acne, scarring is a problem for many people. There are different types of acne scarring, some of which respond very well to skin treatments. It’s important for a skin expert or dermatologist to take a look at your skin to see what type of scarring you have.
Many acne scars will clear up by themselves over time, so the best option is to try to have patience and leave them alone as much as possible. Other types of scarring, like small holes in the skin (ice pick scars), uneven skin texture, and larger craters in the skin (sometimes known as boxcar scars) respond well to laser treatment, for example, laser resurfacing. This treatment is a fairly gentle procedure that could work very well for you, providing you aren’t dealing with an active acne breakout.
Start your journey to better skin with Koha today.