Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. It causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples. Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages.
Effective acne treatments are available, but acne can be persistent. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others seem to crop up.
Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scar the skin. The earlier you start treatment, the lower your risk of such problems.
Symptoms
Acne signs vary depending on the severity of your condition:
- Whiteheads (closed plugged pores)
- Blackheads (open plugged pores)
- Small red, tender bumps (papules)
- Pimples (pustules), which are papules with pus at their tips
- Large, solid, painful lumps under the skin (nodules)
- Painful, pus-filled lumps under the skin (cystic lesions)
Acne usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders.
When to see a doctor
If self-care remedies don’t clear your acne, see your primary care doctor. He or she can prescribe stronger medications. If acne persists or is severe, you may want to seek medical treatment from a doctor who specializes in the skin (dermatologist or pediatric dermatologist).
For many women, acne can persist for decades, with flares common a week before menstruation. This type of acne tends to clear up without treatment in women who use contraceptives.
In older adults, a sudden onset of severe acne may signal an underlying disease requiring medical attention.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that some popular nonprescription acne lotions, cleansers and other skin products can cause a serious reaction. This type of reaction is quite rare, so don’t confuse it with any redness, irritation or itchiness that occurs in areas where you’ve applied medications or products.
Seek emergency medical help if after using a skin product you experience:
- Faintness
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the eyes, face, lips or tongue
- Tightness of the throat
Causes
Four main factors cause acne:
- Excess oil (sebum) production
- Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
- Bacteria
- Inflammation
Acne typically appears on your face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders because these areas of skin have the most oil (sebaceous) glands. Hair follicles are connected to oil glands.
The follicle wall may bulge and produce a whitehead. Or the plug may be open to the surface and darken, causing a blackhead. A blackhead may look like dirt stuck in pores. But actually the pore is congested with bacteria and oil, which turns brown when it’s exposed to the air.
Pimples are raised red spots with a white center that develop when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Blockages and inflammation deep inside hair follicles produce cystlike lumps beneath the surface of your skin. Other pores in your skin, which are the openings of the sweat glands, aren’t usually involved in acne.
Certain things may trigger or worsen acne:
- Hormonal changes. Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormone changes during midlife, particularly in women, can lead to breakouts too.
- Certain medications. Examples include drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium.
- Diet. Studies indicate that consuming certain foods — including carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, bagels and chips — may worsen acne. Further study is needed to examine whether people with acne would benefit from following specific dietary restrictions.
- Stress. Stress doesn’t cause acne, but if you have acne already, stress may make it worse.
1. Iced green tea
How to use
Take a glass of warm water and steep a green tea bag into it. Remove the tea bag and pour the contents into the tray. Place the tray into freezer and allow it to form ice cubes take one ice-cube and rub all over the face. Just note before rubbing the ice cubes steam your face so that the pores get open and the goodness of green tea enter the pores. Do it twice a day in the morning when you get up and before going to sleep.
Benefits
Green tea contains a high amount of antioxidants that fight free radicals that damages your skin. It has antiseptic properties that killed germs that causes acne and pimples and keep your skin beautiful and healthy.
2. Baking soda and lemon juice mask
How to use
Take a bowl add 2 tablespoon of baking soda and add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to it. Mix it properly to make a thick paste. Apply the paste to the affected area. Let it dry for 5 -10 minutes. Once it dries take some water on your hand and slowly scrub the affected area on your face. Wash your face using luke warm water and pat dry. If your face becomes too dry then apply some antiseptic lotion or moisturiser.
Benefits
Baking soda helps to keep the skin pores clean by removing bacteria and excess oil that causes pimples. Lemon acts as a natural bleach that lightens the skin and remove dark spots. It helps to remove the dead skin and gives a fairer complexion.
3. Green coconut water
How to use
Cut a fresh green coconut and pour the green coconut water to a bowl. Take a cotton dip it in the coconut water and wipe all over the face. Then wash your face using luke warm water. Wash your face with coconut water continuously every day to get best results.
Benefits
Coconut water has cytokinins and antioxidants that helps to eliminate acne, sagging skin and help deep scar recovery. Drinking coconut water keeps your skin healthy, smooth and younger looking.
4. Fenugreek (methi) and rosewater mask
How to use
Soak a handful of fenugreek (methi) seeds in a bowl of water. Leave them to soak for atleast 5 hours. Grind them in a mixer and make a fine paste. Add few drops of rosewater to it. Apply the paste on your face. Before applying the paste wash your face with warm water so that the pores get opened. Let the pack dry for 15 minutes. Once it completely dries rinse with cold water.
Benefits
Fenugreek has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that stops and reduce growth of pimples, blackheads and other skin infections. It helps in nourishing and rejuvenating the skin.
5. Fresh aloevera gel
How to use
Take a fresh aloevera plant slice away both the ends. Take the aloevera gel from the center part of the leaf. Take the aloevera gel and apply to the face. Keep massaging until the gel started to dry. Once the gel gets completely absorbed wash your face with luke warm water and pat dry.
Benefits
Aloevera contains medicinal and healing properties that helps to heal pimples, rashes and scars. It prevents skin discoloartion that is caused after acne heals. It makes your skin clear and smooth. It kills bacteria that causes skin infection.
6. Sandalwood, tulsi and rosewater mask
How to use
Take about 2 tbsp of sandalwood powder in a bowl. Add few crushed tulsi (basil) leaves to it. Then mix it properly using few drops of rose water. Make a thin paste. Apply this paste evenly on the face. Rinse your face with cold water and pat dry.
Benefits
Sandalwood helps in tightening the pores, removing impurities, excess oil and reduction in the redness of pimples. It also helps in reduction of dark spots and scars. Tulsi possess strong antibacterial and anti fungal properties that makes pimple heal faster.
