We are so excited to talk to you about our newest educational series at The M Factor Corrective Skincare that is going to be centered around the topic of Acne. We love working with acne clients and helping them understand and treat their acne skin problems.
Acne Topics We Will Be Covering Over The Next Few Months:
Understanding what Acne is
What causes Acne
The different types of Acne
Treating Acne
Understanding Acne:
Let’s start with understanding exactly what Acne is. Acne is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that causes spots and pimples, especially on the face, shoulders, back, neck, chest, and upper arms. If you suffer from major or minor breakouts, you are not alone... Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States.
Acne occurs when the pores on your skin become blocked with oil, dead skin, or bacteria. Each pore on your skin is the opening to a follicle. The follicle is made up of a hair and a sebaceous (oil) gland. The glands produce oil and are stimulated by male hormones produced by the adrenal glands in both males and females. It commonly occurs during puberty, when the sebaceous glands activate, but it can occur at any age.
Acne is not dangerous, but it can leave skin scars (especially if you "pick" at your pimples - read our blog post on this topic: https://www.mfactorskincare.com/single-post/acneskincare).
Facts About Acne:
Acne is a skin condition involving the oil glands at the base of hair follicles.
It affects 3 in every 4 people aged 11 to 30 years.
It is not dangerous, but it can leave skin scars.
Treatment depends on how severe and persistent it is.
Risk factors include genetics, the menstrual cycle, anxiety and stress, hot and humid climates, using oil-based makeup, and squeezing pimples.
Here is a great article from Bioclarity that we LOVE:
How Acne Develops:
General causes: There’s a plethora of myths about the causes of different types of acne, many of which are untrue and baseless. You might have been told to wash your face more, or cut down on your chocolate-eating habits, perhaps even told to get some more sun for your skin condition. None of these common acne myths are true. Poor hygiene doesn’t cause acne, chocolate won’t make you break out, and sun exposure can actually damage your skin and make breakouts worse. Acne is caused mainly by genetics and hormones, and there are many factors that can exacerbate this skin condition.
Hormonal Changes: Acne Vulgaris generally develops during the teen years, when the onset of puberty causes the hormonal level to fluctuate. As hormone levels rise, especially testosterone, the skin glands begin producing larger amounts of sebum. What causes oily skin? Sebum, which can lead directly to acne bumps or breakouts.
Puberty isn’t the only time we experience hormonal changes. Women experience regular variations in hormone levels, specifically that of estrogen and androgen. Men also experience hormone level fluctuations, especially in their teens, but this usually mellows out by adulthood.
Hereditary Factors: Acne is also a result of hereditary factors. Children whose parents have dealt with acne are more likely to struggle with this skin condition. While it’s not a genetic disease, hereditary components have been linked to the presence of this skin condition. Genetics have a huge bearing on how your immune system works; say two individuals experience the same bacterial infection. One might react with painful, pus-filled nodules, while another’s skin may only result in the formation of blackheads. Similarly, one person may have more sensitive skin that grows raw and inflamed more often due to their genetic predispositions. Ever asked yourself: Why do I have dry skin? Family history can have a lot to do with the way your skin looks and feels, and is usually a good indication of whether or not an individual will deal with acne breakouts.
Stress: While stress doesn’t directly cause acne, it can trigger or exacerbate a breakout. We see this occur in students across the globe when they're handling stress during finals. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol and androgens. When these hormones fluctuate, your skin secretes more oil, which can bring on a breakout or worsen pre-existing pimples. If you find that your skin is particularly sensitive, be sure to integrate healthy skin care tips to counteract the inevitable stress in your life.