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Good Hygiene, Tips by: Dr Parvathy Bharathan

A very common skin condition that usually develops around the teenage years, but may also be found in adults of virtually any age as well as pre-teen children is Acne. Cases of acne can range from very mild and barely noticeable to very prevalent and highly visible. Acne, while not life-threatening, often has a very big impact on self-esteem and can lead to scarring and even disfigurement in severe cases.

What is Acne?

Acne is a disease that affects the skin's oil glands.

How Does Acne Develop?

Sometimes, the hair, sebum, and skin cells clump together into a plug. The bacteria in the plug cause swelling. Then when the plug starts to break down, a pimple grows.

The most common types of Pimples are:

• Whiteheads. These are pimples that stay under the surface of the skin.
• Blackheads. These pimples rise to the skin's surface and look black. The black color is not from dirt.
• Papules. These are small pink bumps that can be tender.
• Pustules. These pimples are red at the bottom and have pus on top.
• Nodules. These are large, painful, solid pimples that are deep in the skin.
• Cysts. These deep, painful, pus-filled pimples can cause scars.

What Causes Acne?

• The cause of acne is unknown. Doctors think certain factors might cause it:
• The hormone increase in teenage years (this can cause the oil glands to plug up more often)
• Hormone changes during pregnancy
• Starting or stopping birth control pills
• Heredity (if your parents had acne, you might get it, too)
• Some types of medicine
• Greasy makeup.

Acne Tips:-

• Keep skin clean. Wash face when one feels it sticky/oily. Plain water washing is good enough .
• Do not make skin extremely dry  by repeated washing .
• Do not use strong soaps. A mild cleansing/foaming gel could be a good face cleanser
• Use a moisturizer on a regular basis. Oil free/ water based moisturizers would be ideal .
• Relationship of certain food intake  with acne is debatable, try and use less of greasy foods as accidental touching of face with greasy hands as this can trigger exacerbations.
• It is ideal to avoid make up on oily skin on a regular basis. However water based foundations may be used once in a while if need arises.
• Consult your dermatologist to evaluate the kind of acne u have as certain kinds of acne needs prolonged / intensive treatment .
• Drink enough water.
• Avoid too much of sun.
• Correct dandruff.
• Shave lightly and only when you have to ,if your skin is prone to acne.