Troubled by Acne? You're not Alone

Acne affects nearly 50 million people in the US and occurs most often in teens and young adults. It may continue into adulthood─about 12% of adult women have acne. Acne usually occurs on the face, but also may appear on the back, chest, arms, and neck. Uncontrolled acne can lead to scarring of the skin and can contribute to self-esteem issues and impact self-confidence.

What causes acne?

Acne is thought to be caused by issues that affect the skin's hair follicles (tube-like structures containing a hair) and pores (tiny openings of the hair follicles on the skin):

• excessive amounts of an oil produced by the body collects in the hair follicle,
• abnormal shedding of old skin cells causes the pore to become blocked,
• bacteria are trapped in the hair follicle when blocked,
• and bacteria in the blocked hair follicle can cause irritation, redness, and swelling of the skin.

Some pimples on my skin look different – are there different types of acne?

Yes, acne can show up in several ways on your skin:

• Whiteheads – when your hair follicles become blocked with oil and old skin cells, the top of each pimple turns white.
• Blackheads – when your pore is blocked near the skin surface and is exposed to air, it turns black.
• Cysts or pustules – pimples form deep in a blocked hair follicle causing redness and swelling on the skin.

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What are some things that make acne worse?

Acne may occur based on your family history but may also be worsened by other factors.

Women may be affected by hormonal changes such as their menstrual cycle and during pregnancy or menopause.

Certain foods such as milk (particularly skim milk), foods with starchy or sugary content, and highly processed foods may trigger acne or cause it to worsen. Smoking, stress, and certain medicines are also linked to causing or worsening acne. Makeup, sunscreen, and other products that you apply to your skin, especially oil-based products, can cause acne or make it more severe.

Although it is hard to resist, picking or squeezing pimples can make acne worse and cause infection.

What else can I do to avoid acne?

Use a mild, nondrying soap and gently cleanse your skin twice daily and any time after exercising. Vigorous scrubbing can trigger or make your blemishes worsen.

Use water-based or noncomedogenic types of cosmetics or skin creams to decrease clogged pores. Always remove makeup before bedtime and cleanse your skin.

Summary

Acne is a commonly occurring skin issue that most frequently occurs in the teen years but can also happen throughout adulthood. A good skincare routine can help to decrease acne, but treatment with medications may be necessary. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to select the best treatment for your acne.