Are you afraid to take off your mask for fear that others will see these disfiguring friends sitting on your chin? Not necessary for anything, because there is a good chance that someone else will also suffer from it. Did you know that acne is one of the most common ailments in humans? Acne is an inflammation of the sebaceous glands in the skin. This causes blackheads, blemishes or pimples. Sebaceous glands are all over your skin except on your palms and soles. The skin condition mainly occurs in places where there are many sebaceous glands, such as on your back and face (especially your forehead and chin).
Acne mainly occurs between the 14th and 25th year of life. That is why it is also called ‘youth pimples’. But adults can also suffer from it. It is a harmless condition, but it can be cosmetically very disturbing and even lead to uncertainty.
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Most of the time acne is caused by hormonal changes during the puberty, but there can be other causes as well.
Hormonal acne
During hormonal changes, many more hormones are released that affect growth, sexuality and emotions. But the same hormones also ensure an increased production of sebum (skin fat), which can cause oily skin and pustules.
The combination of sebum and dead skin cells blocks the exit of a pore and causes swelling. The bacteria on the skin can then multiply within the clogged pore causing inflammation.
Because the hormonal changes are sometimes temporary, for example during your period or pregnancy, it may be that one moment you have a beautiful even skin and the next moment you have impure, oily skin with pustules.
Other causes of acne
Besides hormonal changes, there can also be other causes for the development or worsening of the pimples, namely:
And now more and more often due to the frequent wearing of a mouth mask. Medical beautician Inge van der Meulen said rather against EditieNL that she encounters ‘mascne’ – a combination of the words ‘acne’ and ‘mask’ – more and more in her practice. And especially for people who (have to) wear a mouth mask all day long. “This is mainly because the skin cannot breathe.”
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What to do about acne?
Some care tips that ensure that your skin stays healthy and gives your pimples little chance:
- Eat healthy and drink enough water. This affects not only your body but also the general condition of the skin. Note: it is a myth that, for example, chocolate or pork causes pimples. However, if you notice that you have more problems after eating a certain food, then it is best to stop.
- Wash your face with lukewarm water. Hot water dries out your skin and cold water doesn’t open your pores well enough.
- Wash your face for 30 to 45 seconds. That’s how long it takes to wash all the dirt and grease off your face.
- Wash your face with a face wash and not with soap. The use of soap can change the acidity of the skin. Your skin will become drier and will therefore produce more sebum. Therefore, it is preferable to use a face wash, followed by a cleansing lotion. Then pat your face dry.
- Change care product if no result. If you do not notice a visible or tangible difference after two months of use, choose a different care product that better suits your skin type.
- Do not use a washcloth to wash your face. A washcloth is often too coarse, which can irritate your skin. Better to just use your hands. Make sure they are clean, of course.
- Also clean your neck and neck. This way you prevent pimples from forming in those places.
- Don’t cleanse your skin more than twice a day. If you do, there is a chance that your skin will become more susceptible to bacteria.
- Don’t go to sleep with makeup on. Make sure to always take your makeup off your face before going to sleep. No matter how tired you are, don’t skip this. Your skin recovers best at night and that goes better when there is no more dirt on your face. The make-up is also pressed even more into your skin by the pressure on your pillow and that can clog your pores. Make-up residue causes your sebaceous glands to clog more quickly, causing blemishes and blemishes.
- Also use a cream on oily skin. The idea that it is better not to apply a cream, because your skin will glow more, is not justified. If you don’t use a cream, the skin will produce more sebum to compensate for the lack of nutrients. Even if you suffer from a shiny face, it is therefore important to hydrate your skin well. Choose one that is suitable for oily skin.
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Crèmes to the rescue
Is it already too late and do you still suffer from pimples? Then you could treat your skin with special lotions and creams. Two examples of mild forms of pimples are:
- Benzoyl peroxide. This cream lowers the number of bacteria on the skin and unclogs the sebaceous glands.
- Tretinoin cream (vitamin A acid) can unclog the sebaceous glands.
Treatment for severe acne
For severe acne, your doctor can prescribe a topical antibiotic. Oral antibiotics can also be prescribed. You must take this for at least six months. Women can, in exceptional cases, take the Diane pill, one birth control pill, are prescribed. However, this pill has many dangerous side effects, which is why it has not been recommended for acne treatment since 2007.
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For this article we collaborated with Gezondheidsplein.nl. There you will find many more articles on health, checked by doctors and medical specialists.
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