Facial problems acne treatment. Causes of acne - internal and external factors

Our expert - dermatocosmetologist, City Clinical Hospital No. 31 Ivetta Budanova.

Myth 1. Acne is an age-related problem. It is useless to fight them during your teenage years, and after 20 years everything will go away on its own. So it's wiser to wait.

Is it true. Manifestations of acne occur in 80% of young people under 25 years of age and in every fifth person over 25 years of age. So the disease itself does not always go away. And only timely treatment can help avoid severe and frequent exacerbations, as well as significantly reduce the severity of the consequences (scars, cicatrices and spots remaining at the site of acne). Unfortunately, in the first year of the disease, according to statistics, only about 8% of patients consult a doctor, mainly with severe forms of acne. But even mild acne that lasts more than three years can lead to the formation of permanent skin changes. Therefore, it is better not to delay contacting a dermatologist.

Myth 2. The best remedy for acne is the beach (or solarium). Ultraviolet light disinfects the skin and dries out pimples.

Is it true. If you sunbathe moderately—for a short time and only at a safe time—then a slight, albeit temporary, improvement occurs. But if you are exposed to the sun without measure, then acne can worsen with a vengeance. Moreover, a sun allergy may also occur. The explanation is simple: excess ultraviolet radiation increases the secretion of sebum, which interferes with the process of skin renewal. Dead scales of the epidermis clog the ducts of the sebaceous glands, causing the face to bloom with a riotous color.

Myth 3. Acne will go away if you go on a diet: eliminate soda, sweets, fatty foods, and alcohol.

Is it true. Unfortunately, diet alone cannot solve the acne problem. Healthy food will definitely improve the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, but will not solve the problem of increased activity of the sebaceous glands, which is based on hormonal changes. Young people who give preference to chips, soda, and excessive consumption of alcohol and coffee themselves contribute to the development of various pathological processes in the stomach and intestines, the occurrence of dysbacteriosis and, as a result, deterioration of the skin condition and increased rashes.

Therefore, proper and healthy nutrition is an integral part in the treatment of acne.

Myth 4. Pimples appear due to too oily skin, so it needs to be dried out using frequent washing with soap and alcohol-containing cosmetics.

Is it true. Acne is a disease not only of the skin, but also of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Due to the increased secretion of skin secretions by the glands, pores become clogged and inflammation develops. Therefore, it is imperative to remove grease and dirt. But not in such aggressive ways! Since alcohol and ordinary soap, by drying out the skin, change its acid-base balance and only increase the secretion of sebum, it is better to use special products for washing. For example, medicinal cosmetics for the care of oily skin prone to comedones. These include alcohol-free tonics, “soap-free soap”, scrubs, anti-inflammatory masks. You can also use folk remedies: decoction of chamomile, sage, plantain. Light emulsions and non-comedogenic creams containing hyaluronic acid and collagen are good for moisturizing the skin. If you have acne, it is best to consult a dermatologist who will recommend proper care for your specific skin type.

Myth 5. Increased sexual activity can lead to acne. Or, conversely, the absence of sexual contacts.

Is it true. Healthy sex is known to help balance hormonal levels. Everything seems to be logical, if not for an established fact: the level of total testosterone in the blood of most acne patients does not exceed the norm. But their conversion of testosterone to dehydrotestosterone is tens of times higher than that of people with healthy skin. And it is not sex or the lack thereof that is to blame for this, but most often heredity.

Myth 6. For treatment, external remedies are enough.

Is it true. With a mild form of the disease, it may be enough. For moderate to severe cases, systemic therapy is required. Treatment begins with a complete examination of the patient with the involvement of an endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, and, if necessary, other specialists. Based on the examination results, the dermatologist prescribes treatment, which may include immunomodulatory therapy (laser blood irradiation, ultraviolet irradiation of the blood, ozone therapy), antibiotic therapy, hormonal therapy (antiandrogens) or systemic retinoids (vitamin A preparations). Under no circumstances should you take these medications on your own, as they have many contraindications and can have side effects.

A pimple is an inflammatory element. The process of inflammation is associated with the sebaceous gland. When the outflow of sebum is disrupted for some reason, the ducts of the sebaceous glands become clogged, and acne propionbacteria begin to multiply in them (more recently they began to be called Cutibacterium acnes).

These microorganisms constantly live in human skin, but when the ducts of the sebaceous glands are clogged, an ideal environment for their reproduction is formed, since the bacteria that cause acne are anaerobes, that is, they do not require oxygen from the air to synthesize energy.

Some of the reasons for the appearance of acne - both internal and domestic - are reflected in the video.

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons. Which ones are “right” for you? Draw conclusions: what needs to be changed in your usual lifestyle.

Scientists have a lot of thoughts on this matter; here are some of the most studied factors that provoke a violation of the outflow of sebum and inflammation of the sebaceous glands.

Poor nutrition

Flour, sweet, and fatty foods are blamed for the appearance of acne - however, these three can be blamed for almost any health problem. Indeed, if you remove these foods from your diet, your skin will become noticeably clearer.

Prevention of rashes includes a healthy, balanced diet and the presence of essential vitamins in the diet. In particular, vitamins A, C, group B. To compensate for the deficiency of useful substances, you can take them in tablets or capsules.

Illiterate care

Oily skin is especially prone to increased activity of the sebaceous glands. That is why she needs special care products. Cosmetics are not suitable for other skin types - they are not able to remove excess oil from the surface or properly moisturize. And hydration is necessary for the full functioning of all skin types.

The ducts of the sebaceous glands become clogged with excess sebum, which mixes with dead epidermal cells, particles of makeup, and everyday pollution. In this regard, when caring for oily skin, special emphasis should be placed on cleansing.

Obviously, touching your face with dirty hands or using unwashed brushes for cosmetics means provoking acne.

Hormonal imbalance

It is he who explains the occurrence of acne in adolescence, when powerful hormonal changes occur. Acne is traditionally associated with an excess of male sex hormones (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone), which are also abundant in the female body.

To combat acne, products based on zinc, salicylic acid, and clay are produced. © iStock

And if estrogens (female sex hormones) suppress the production of sebum, then androgens (male hormones), on the contrary, stimulate it. In addition, the point is not so much in the excess of androgens, but in the sensitivity of the sebaceous gland receptors to them. Therefore, with the same hormone levels, one person will have acne and another will not.

Acne in a woman after 20-30 years is a reason to visit a gynecologist and endocrinologist.

Diseases

These are mainly problems with the gastrointestinal tract. If there are problems with digestion (including as a result of poor nutrition), the balance of microflora is disrupted. This also affects the condition of the skin.

Digestive disorders lead to an excess of toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, from where they enter the bloodstream and can negatively affect the condition of the skin, contributing to the occurrence of inflammation.

Hormonal imbalance

One of the reasons why acne remains on the face after adolescence may be an increased level of male sex hormones, androgens. When they begin to prevail in the body, the sebaceous glands produce more sebum, which mixes with the epidermal cells. Sebum does not have time to be removed through the pores, clogs them, and, as a result, inflammatory elements appear. If not properly cared for, they leave spots, scars and even scars on the skin.

The thyroid gland is responsible for the amount of hormones produced by the body. When the thyroid gland overworks, pustules appear on the skin, body temperature rises and weight decreases. With reduced thyroid function, acne also appears, the skin becomes dry, and the menstrual cycle is disrupted.

Violetta Gromova, doctor, dermatologist-cosmetologist Alex Cosmetic:“To understand the cause of acne in adulthood, it is advisable to donate blood for sex hormones. Acne develops when there is an imbalance in the thyroid gland. The following laboratory blood tests will help evaluate the function of the thyroid gland: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), antibodies to thyroglobulin, antibodies to TSH receptors, calcitonin. Do an ultrasound of the ovaries, uterus and thyroid gland. Remember that the properties of hormones in the blood depend on the time of day and day of the menstrual cycle.”

To treat age-related acne associated with hormonal imbalance, consult an endocrinologist and gynecologist. Based on the test results, doctors will prescribe treatment. At the same time, contact a dermatologist-cosmetologist. Typically, various antibacterial ointments and creams are prescribed as medications. Products for the treatment of acne in adults regulate the functioning of the sebaceous glands and do not dry out mature skin.

Svetlana Bobko, PhD, dermatovenerologist at the Atlas Medical Center:“Acne is more common in men. They suffer from moderate to severe forms of acne more often than women (approximately 34% versus 3–12%). When a man comes in with acne, first of all, a visual examination of the skin of the face, torso, and limbs is carried out, a medical history is collected, an analysis of the medications used and an examination, including various tests. As a rule, blood tests and a consultation with a gastroenterologist are prescribed, including gastroscopy and testing for the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. In severe forms of acne, a detailed biochemical blood test is prescribed. This is necessary for safe treatment with retinoids. They are prescribed if antibacterial drugs are ineffective. There are cases when, based on the results of examinations and consultations with related doctors, it may turn out that a man does not have any internal problems. In such a situation, a hereditary pathology can be assumed. To find out, a genetic test is performed. Several gene variants (including HLA-DRA) are associated with the development of hereditary acne."

Mikhail Lebedev, medical expert at the Center for Molecular Diagnostics (CMD):“The causes of hyperandrogenism (increased androgen levels) are varied. Among them: hereditary predisposition, thyroid disorder, adrenal hyperfunction and others. Treatment of hyperandrogenism directly depends on the cause that caused it. This can be conservative therapy, treatment of concomitant diseases, and, if necessary, even surgical treatment.”

Poor nutrition

If, according to test results, there is no hormonal imbalance, but inflammation still appears on the face, you should pay attention to your diet. Acne can occur as a reaction to sugary and starchy foods that you snack on or, worse, replace your main meals with. In this case, we are talking about an imbalance in the diet.

If your skin is sensitive to sweets and you overindulge in them, the level of insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, sharply increases in your body. Essentially, it is a conductor of glucose into fat cells. If carbohydrates are not burned in the body during sports or other physical activity, they are stored in subcutaneous fat.

Elena Lizak, cosmetologist, expert and certified iSystem trainer, honored judge of the Open Championship in cosmetology and massage:“Harmful foods with excess sugar provoke an exacerbation of acne. Insulin affects testosterone and increases sebum production on the surface of the skin. It is important to choose foods that are low in carbohydrates. This indicator tells you how strongly a food affects your blood glucose levels. In other words, when you eat a candy bar, your blood sugar levels spike, and so does your male hormone. It is necessary to ensure that there are no such high jumps during the day. Then inflammatory processes and the production of male hormones will decrease, and along with them the amount of inflammation will decrease.”

To treat acne due to poor diet, you should prioritize: do you want healthy skin or cannot live without sweets. If the choice falls on the first, reconsider your diet, reduce the amount of carbohydrates consumed to a minimum and distribute their consumption throughout the day. It is better to replace milk chocolate with dark chocolate, flour products with dried fruits, and drink tea and coffee without sugar. Introduce protein-containing foods into your diet: cottage cheese, kefir, bifilife and yogurt. It is allowed to add honey if you are not allergic to it.

Stress

Treatment of acne in adults should be comprehensive. Although the causes of acne may vary, no therapy will be successful if one of the main triggers - stress - is not eliminated. Stressful situations and constant overwork affect the activity of the sebaceous glands. They are directly related to the level of androgens - hormones that stimulate sebum production. Constant or chronic stress increases thyroid hormone levels. If you are constantly in nervous tension and do not relax in time, your hormonal balance will be disrupted.

Anna Smetannikova, clinical psychologist, teacher at the Institute of Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology, NLP trainer:“Stress and nervous tension affect the condition of the skin: inflammation and unhealthy complexion appear, immunity decreases. If you accumulate stress over the years, it breaks out in the form of rashes, blockages and irritations on the skin. The first rule to follow is healthy sleep of at least eight hours. It’s important to give yourself the opportunity to rest and relax.”

With constant stress, it is advisable to reduce the amount of coffee consumed, replacing it with green tea with mint. Learn to relax: practice meditation, yoga, swimming. Contact a cosmetologist or dermatologist, he will prescribe treatment and adjust home care. Thoroughly cleanse your facial skin with products that do not disrupt the skin's protective barrier. It’s easy to check: if after washing there is no strong feeling of tightness, then the product is suitable for you. Also use an exfoliating lotion to prepare your skin for cream or fluid application.

Important to know

Over the years, the process of skin regeneration slows down. If in youth acne left invisible scars, then in adulthood one squeezed pimple can leave a scar on the face. In addition, facial skin becomes drier, so it is important to choose products that will restore the epidermis and prevent aging and the formation of wrinkles.

Treatment methods

For treatment, cosmetologists and dermatologists prescribe drug therapy. For mild to moderate severity of the disease, external therapy is used. Pharmacy gels and ointments with active ingredients are used. If the disease is severe (more than 40 inflammations on the face, with pustules), antibacterial internal therapy is prescribed.

In order to remove scars, blemishes, improve complexion and skin texture, cosmetologists prescribe several peeling sessions. They contain acids that exfoliate the skin well. If we talk about hardware methods, the best option is hydromechanical peeling. This technique uses a special diamond-coated attachment that removes the surface layer of skin under vacuum. After this, the serum is applied with a nozzle. Microcurrent therapy is also often used, in which special attachments are applied to the skin. This procedure relieves inflammation, destroys bacteria and renews the surface layer of the skin.

Mesotherapy is an ideal injection technique. The skin is saturated with vitamins, microminerals, and medicinal substances. The cosmetologist selects the necessary products and their concentration, adds vitamins, microelements and antioxidants. The “cocktail” is injected intradermally at a depth of 1–2 mm. After this procedure, the facial skin becomes fresh, scars, spots and inflammation gradually disappear.

Partly. Acne does disappear with age, but not for everyone. There are people who constantly suffer from unpleasant rashes on their face and throughout their body. Moreover, their problem not only does not disappear over time, but also worsens with even greater force.

It’s especially bad for those who have unfortunate acne that appears on their face. After all, for example, rashes on the shoulders, on the back and even on the chest are a problem that can, if not be solved, then at least be covered with clothes. You won't be able to wrap your face in rags.

Pimples on the face. Reasons

In order for the approach to solving this problem to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to find out why acne occurs. Here is a list of the main factors why acne (acne) appears not only in teenagers, but also in adults:

• alcohol, smoking or drug abuse;


• adolescence with concomitant hormonal activity;


• use of cosmetics that are not suitable for this skin type;


• unhealthy diet (for example, eating foods containing GMOs);


• the occurrence of constant stressful situations.

The above are, perhaps, the main provocateurs of the hated acne on the face and entire human body. Accordingly, in order to reduce acne on the face to a minimum, you need to change your lifestyle for the better.

Proper nutrition is the key to health and beauty!

A healthy diet is the first step towards health, while poor nutrition has a direct impact on a person’s appearance. The fact is that substances contained in food enter the bloodstream after eating, taking a direct part in metabolism. This, in turn, either benefits the person, or manifests itself in the form of constant acne and, to be honest, in the form of new fat deposits on the sides. But that's another story.

Visit to the doctor

If it is not possible to adjust your menu yourself, you need to consult a nutritionist who will help you create an individual diet. The doctor will advise you to exclude (or minimize) spicy and fatty foods, sweets, alcohol and coffee. Who knows, maybe this is what causes acne on the face.

Calm, just calm!

It is important to understand that any stressful situation does not pass without leaving a trace on the human body. In particular, this affects the skin: its color becomes unhealthy, wrinkles and acne appear. There are many problems, and they arise constantly. However, you need to pull yourself together and calm down. Stress destroys not only nerve cells, but also the face!

You should approach problems with endless optimism and, most importantly, with healthy self-irony. You shouldn’t lose heart and “bury” your sense of humor, because a smile is often a more effective “medicine” in the fight against acne than various targeted hormonal creams.

Girls and women are constantly surrounded by tubes, jars, pencils, and shadows. Perhaps the cause of the hated acne on the face is hidden in incorrectly selected cosmetics. To solve this problem you need to make an appointment with a cosmetologist. He will help determine your skin type and select the optimal cosmetic products that will not make it oily, clog pores and, accordingly, cause an allergic reaction in the form of acne.

How else to get rid of acne on your face?

1. You need to accustom yourself to washing your face in the morning without soap, and in the evening with soap and a special mild product that does not dry out your skin.


2. Once a week you need to use a homemade facial scrub. It can be purchased either in the cosmetics department or found in your kitchen: ground coffee or soda is an excellent scrub. Before applying it, your face needs to be steamed well. The product will allow clogged pores to open, allowing you to easily cleanse your skin. If the skin on your face is very inflamed, then you should forget about the scrub for a while.


3. You should drink as much water as possible (not soda, not beer, not cocktails). The fact is that it is water that removes from the body various toxins, decay products and other toxins that shamelessly clog the human body.


4. Teenage boys with acne need to shave more often. Razor blades can injure the top layer of skin, which leads to the erasing of dirt and other accumulations, and also opens the pores and saturates them with moisture.

A healthy mind in a healthy body!

It is not for nothing that they say that a healthy mind exists only in a healthy body. To get rid of acne on your face, you need to try to rid yourself of bad habits (smoking, alcohol, poor diet) or at least reduce them to a minimum. If possible, you should engage in sports, for example, regular jogging in the fresh air, swimming, yoga.

What not to do in the fight against acne

You can't squeeze them out! This must be forgotten once and for all. Such radical methods of removing acne on the face and body are fraught with the risk of introducing additional infection under the skin and into the blood, which can provoke more serious inflammation, scarring, and in some cases, death from blood poisoning.

Prevention

To prevent new acne breakouts, it is recommended to regularly clean your skin from specialist cosmetologists. If you want to do this at home, then you need to do it carefully, following all the recommendations and, of course, sterility. Otherwise, it may happen that just one pimple, carelessly squeezed out at home, will become the source of quite serious problems.

The causes of acne, both on the face and on any other parts of the body, are different, they can be immediately divided into two categories:

1. Appearance from external factors
2. Appearance from internal problems of the body

Pimples are not only unpleasant, but in some cases dangerous, especially if you start squeezing them out. Therefore, the search for the real reason for their appearance must be taken with full responsibility. So, let's break it down.

Internal causes of acne

Changes in hormonal levels (adolescent acne)

This is one of the most common causes of acne. Very often you can observe boys and young girls whose facial skin is simply dotted with acne. Acne in adolescence is caused by a sharp increase in the production of androgens - steroid hormones. This causes a sharp increase in sebum production, which also becomes more viscous and dense. Thus, sebaceous plugs begin to form in the pores of the skin, forming juvenile acne.

Acne with severe inflammatory processes is the result of the vital activity of propine bacteria, which begin to actively multiply (after all, there is much more food than usual). The waste products of these microorganisms irritate the skin, and the pores become so clogged that they may not withstand the pressure and rupture. Ruptures lead to severe inflammatory processes and ulcers begin to form.

But you may notice that not all teenagers have acne. Many people do not know this problem at all, their skin is smooth and clean. In fact, there is a genetic predisposition to this problem. If one of the parents had acne in their youth associated with hormonal imbalance, then the child will also have the same problem. If both parents were exposed to this unpleasant disease, then the child may develop a serious form of teenage acne.

Solving the problem of juvenile acne

It all starts with proper nutrition. It is necessary to completely exclude fast food, sausages and all kinds of smoked meats from your diet. Drink the optimal amount of water to normalize metabolic processes and cleanse the body. Cleanse your skin regularly with natural products that not only clean your pores, but also relieve inflammation and restore your skin. Here we can recommend you a proven folk remedy for the skin - jojoba oil. We bring to your attention a review of the five best essential oils for acne - TOP 5 essential oils for acne.

Hormonal imbalance (for those over 30)

One of the causes of acne in middle-aged people is hormonal imbalance. This occurs due to a disruption in the normal production of sex hormones.

In women, the cause of “hormonal” acne can be a disease such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Often the appearance of acne in women is associated with menstruation. Acne can also appear during pregnancy and as a result of abortion.

In men, the cause is a problem with hormone production, often caused by poor diet. Therefore, the first thing a man needs to do is start eating right.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Poor nutrition, abuse of fast food, smoked and fatty foods, a small amount of fiber and raw vegetables and fruits in the diet cause various gastrointestinal diseases. The main ones are gastritis, colitis, dysbacteriosis, cholelithiasis and others.

Slagging in the body

There are several factors to blame here: dirty water, poor diet, air (especially in big cities), synthetic drugs, and all this is aggravated by age, namely, the older we get, the more clogged our intestines, lymph and cells of the whole body become. And acne in this case is simply an indicator of the state of our body. The solution to the problem is regular cleansing of the body in various ways.

Reduced immunity

Due to weakened immunity, the natural microflora of the skin (bacteria and mites living on the skin) begins to “go beyond what is permitted” and multiplies uncontrollably, which becomes the cause of various rashes and acne. Here, again, it is worth paying special attention to proper nutrition and especially worth looking at improving the health of the intestines. After all, the intestines and its beneficial microflora are the basis of good immunity. Therefore, we recommend cleansing the intestines in various ways and the immune system will always be at its best.

External causes of acne

Heat and high humidity

In the hot season and with high humidity, some people may experience an aggravation of the acne problem due to the individual characteristics of the body. Therefore, if the problem is temporary, chronic, then it is worth monitoring the conditions under which acne begins to appear.

Cosmetics

While preening, women sometimes cause damage to their skin with all sorts of synthetic creams, powders, lotions, etc. The best solution here would be to use proven natural and naturally not cheap cosmetic products.

Working with harmful substances

Those people whose professional activities are replete with contact with petroleum products, chlorine and other harmful substances also risk joining the ranks of people with problem skin. Pimples and irritation are a natural result of frequent contact with toxic elements that clog pores and poison the body as a whole.

Squeezing pimples

You have learned the most common causes of acne. Naturally there are much more of them. The main thing is to take care of your body, and it will repay you with good health and a beautiful appearance.