Everything you need to know about acne

Acne manifests itself in the form of inflamed sebaceous glands. Acne is popularly called "pimples" is completely harmless but can still be troublesome. Since we have the most sebaceous glands in the face, on the back and on the breasts and décolleté, this is where acne usually occurs. Milder forms of acne can be treated successfully with the help of treatments and / or products, but it may take some time. We recommend that you take the help of a dermatologist to find out what is right for you, as there are different types of acne that are treated differently. In this article we will tell you all about acne and what you can do about it.

What causes acne?

Acne is due to a combination of increased sebum production in the sebaceous gland, dead skin cells and the acne bacterium Propionibacterium acnes . Acne usually begins as a blackhead, which is when the mouth of the sebaceous gland becomes blocked by dead skin cells. The blackhead can then become inflamed by the acne bacterium that thrives in fatter environments and then develops into different variants of acne.

A blackhead looks like a black or white plop on the skin, while more severe types of acne are usually tender, swollen and red.

Different forms of acne

• Blackheads / comedones : Non-inflamed clots form in the sebaceous gland outlet and look like black or white plugs.
• Papules: Red nodules, abscess-like rash. The first indication that a blackhead is about to become inflamed.
• Pustules: Pustules develop from papules and are filled with nodules. They turn white as the body sends white blood cells to the inflamed area to fight the inflammation. After this fight, a white abscess is left which consists of white blood cells, the acne bacterium and sebum.
• Nodulus and cysts: These are deeper abscesses that form in the skin. 

Different degrees of acne

• Comodogenic acne: Mild acne. Often consists of non-inflamed blackheads.
• Papulopustular acne: You can have it in varying degrees, mild to moderate and severe. Often consists of blackheads, papules and pustules. Papules and pustules are what many people call "pimples".
• Nodulocystic acne: The most severe form where nodulus and cysts dominate.

Teenage Acne

The type of acne that you get around puberty is called acne vulgaris . This occurs when the hormones are out of balance when sex hormones are created. More sebum is formed in the sebaceous glands and when this is mixed with dead skin, you can get blackheads that develop into acne. Adolescent acne tends to be more inflamed than adult acne, as inflammation is often formed in overproduction of sebum. Therefore, adolescents have different types of acne such as blackheads (black and / or white), papules, pustules and cysts.

Adult Acne

Adults also get blackheads and various types of acne. This is often due to hormonal imbalance when starting with contraception, ending with contraception, during pregnancy or when taking various medications. It can also be due to the fact that cell renewal slows down the older you get and this means that dead skin cells remain on the skin surface longer and create a shield. The shield of dead skin cells causes the acne bacterium to thrive under the shield. New research shows that even stress and external factors such as exhaust fumes can cause impure skin.

What you can think of here is that young skin usually tolerates a little more than an older skin, so here slightly milder products are usually a good way to go. Adult acne tends to settle more around the cheeks, jaw, mouth and as the moisture levels in the skin decrease with age, one should treat an adult acne or blackheads in adulthood in a different way than in a teenager.

How should I treat my acne?

It can be difficult to see for yourself what type of acne you have and you can get help from a dermatologist or dermatologist. Comedonacne, that is, blackheads, is usually treated nicely with treatments and professional skin care as well as milder forms of papules and pustules. In more severe acne with cysts, however, you should see a dermatologist to find out if medical treatment is needed.

Products that can help
Skin care products can help reduce inflammation, reduce sebum production, strengthen the skin barrier and prevent blackheads from forming with the help of mild exfoliation. Good products in combination with treatments at the salon are usually the ones that give the best results.

Winning ingredients

Prebiotics and Probiotics: Probiotics are good bacteria and Prebiotics are food for the good bacteria in the skin. By adding this both through skin care and through the diet, it is seen that the risk of inflammation in the skin is reduced. The more good bacteria in the skin the less bad.

Vitamin A / retinol: Different forms of vitamin A such as retinol and retinal can work well on an acne skin as they regulate sebum production and increase cell renewal.

AHA acid: Different types of aha acid can work on different skin types, but mandelic acid has been shown to be extra effective as it is antibacterial, among other things.

PHA acid:For an acne skin that is also sensitive and dry, PHA acid can give a nice effect. The PHA acid consists of two moisture molecules and is therefore more moisturizing than other acids. In addition, this acid is larger in its molecular size and therefore not as far down the skin as the other acids, which is good for sensitive skin.

BHA acid: For oily acne skin, BHA acid (eg salicylic acid) is phenomenal as it is fat soluble. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Niacinamide: This ingredient is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens the skin barrier and suppresses inflammation in the skin. It also works against large pores.

Pregnant or breastfeeding?

We do not recommend that you start with active skin care with stronger acids or vitamin A while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is due to the following reasons:

- The skin can more easily react to new products as it is usually out of balance due to all hormones.
- No one conducts research on pregnant or breastfeeding women, and therefore it is difficult to say exactly what happens.

But what should I do then?

Top up with good bacteria that prevent the acne bacterium from multiplying. There, the ESSE Probiotic Skincare brand is a great alternative. The product Medik8 Firewall Mineral Antioxidant Serum is also great!