{"id":7969,"date":"2022-06-30T01:30:03","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T01:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/all-about-skin-breakouts-how-to-know-if-you-have-acne\/"},"modified":"2022-06-30T01:30:03","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T01:30:03","slug":"all-about-skin-breakouts-how-to-know-if-you-have-acne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/all-about-skin-breakouts-how-to-know-if-you-have-acne\/","title":{"rendered":"All About Skin Breakouts | How to Know If You Have Acne"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you\u2019re lucky, acne is something you haven\u2019t thought about since high school. But if you find yourself struggling with it in adulthood, it can be frustrating or even puzzling. Since you\u2019re well past your acne-prone pubescence, then why did that crazy huge pimple pop up overnight on your nose (or chest or buttocks or back)?<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s acne journey is unique,\u201d says board-certified dermatologist Adarsh V. Mudgil, M.D. \u201cMany patients have acne in their younger years that subsides, but for some, acne continues into their adult years, and others can even get acne for the first time in their 30s or 40s.\u201d Aside from disregarding age limits, acne also ignores geographical boundaries, and it can materialize anywhere from your scalp to your bum and all places in between.<\/p>\n
While it may be disturbingly satisfying to watch Dr. Pimple Popper extract a pint of pus from a mammoth back boil on YouTube, it\u2019s a good idea to prevent that sitch in real life. Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n
Blemish Breakdown<\/h2>\n
A pimple is essentially the result of inflammation in or around a hair follicle caused by an interplay between bacteria and a follicular \u201cplug\u201d \u2014 a combination of oil (sebum) and dead skin cells. Superficial pimples (acne vulgaris) such as whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules are generally caused by clogged pores and are most commonly found on your face, neck or back. Cystic acne is characterized by deeper pimples and inflammation beneath the skin and is generally hormonal in nature. \u201cThis kind of acne is commonly found along the jaw line and chin but can occur anywhere on the face, chest and back,\u201d Mudgil says.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s not technically acne, folliculitis looks similar and is caused by damage to a hair follicle, either through frequent rubbing of an area, wearing tight clothing or shaving. Germs, bacteria and\/or yeast can easily enter the damaged follicle and cause an infection. The result: a smattering of angry red bumps typically found on the scalp, chest, butt and pubic area.<\/p>\n
Is It Acne or Folliculitis?<\/h3>\n
\u201cFolliculitis tends to be more transient [than acne] and has a trigger, such as shaving or occlusive clothing,\u201d Mudgil says. \u201cAcne tends to be persistent and cyclic, arising around ovulation or menses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bumpy Roads<\/h2>\n
There are three main reasons why you might experience acne as an adult.<\/p>\n
Hormones<\/h3>\n
No one wants to relive adolescence, but the same hormonal mechanisms that ignited your sex drive and initiated puberty are still at work into adulthood. \u201cAdult acne is mostly due to hormonal fluctuations \u2014 estrogen goes down and progesterone goes up,\u201d says Anna D. Guanche, M.D., board-certified dermatologist in Calabasas, California. Menstruation, menopause and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are contributing hormonal conditions that can cause adult acne.<\/p>\n
Stress also can trigger breakouts: Under stress, your body releases cortisol, which increases sebum production within the skin. \u201cExcess oil is what bacteria loves and can enlarge the cysts and pustules of acne when the pores are clogged,\u201d Mudgil says.<\/p>\n
Treating adult acne can be tricky and is usually specific to the person experiencing the pimples. \u201cHormonal acne is androgen-dependent in both men and women,\u201d Mudgil says. Meaning that if you\u2019re breaking out, it could be caused by an excess of testosterone. Adjusting your hormones through prescriptive birth control pills can help if you\u2019re still menstruating, and women experiencing menopause might want to look into hormone replacement therapy. \u201cIf you\u2019re already on hormone replacement, your medication may have too much testosterone, which can cause acne to flare up,\u201d Guanche says. Conditions such as PCOS can be treated with a combination of medications, which include oral contraceptive pills and\/or spironolactone. \u201cSpironolactone blocks the androgenic effect of hormones on oil glands, which helps prevent acne,\u201d Mudgil says.<\/p>\n
Skin-Care\/Makeup Products<\/h3>\n
Surprise \u2014 the very products you use to care for your skin could actually be damaging it. \u201cIngredients to avoid include fragrances, essential oils, cocoa butter, algae extracts, lanolin and sodium lauryl sulfate, which is common in cleansers,\u201d says Peterson Pierre, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and owner of the Pierre Skin Care Institute in Thousand Oaks, California. Assess your product arsenal and eliminate things you suspect could be problematic for several weeks, then reintroduce each product individually and give it a weeklong test run to see how you react, Pierre suggests.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also important to discard outdated products. \u201cOld products lose their effectiveness over time and can become unsanitary by harboring bacteria,\u201d Guanche says. Clean your brushes and sponges regularly to give bacteria the boot, and purchase products touted as non-comedogenic to further reduce the chances of breakouts.<\/p>\n
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The term \u201cnon-comedogenic\u201d is derived from the word comedone, which is another way of saying \u201cblocked pore.\u201d Thus, a product labeled \u201cnon-comedogenic\u201d indicates that it will not clog pores.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n