How to Manage Acne

Acne vulgaris, usually referred to as acne, is a common, noncontagious, and chronic disorder of the sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands secrete excessive oil, which is deposited at the openings of the glands. Eventually this oil deposit becomes hard, or keratinized, plugging up the opening. This prevents the escape of the oily secretions, and the area becomes filled with leukocytes (white blood cells). The leukocytes cause an accumulation of pus.

Acne occurs most often during adolescence and is marked by blackheads, cysts, pimples, and scarring.   

Triggers of Acne

Certain things in your environment contribute to acne or they can make an acne breakout worse, including:

•    Wearing tight-fitting clothing and headgear, like hats and sports helmets.
•   Air pollution and certain weather conditions, especially high humidity.
•    Using oily or greasy personal care products, like heavy lotions and creams, or working in an area where you routinely get in contact with grease, such as working at a restaurant with frying oil.
•     Stress, which increases the hormone cortisol.
•        A side effect of a medication.
•     Picking at your acne.

 How is acne treated?

There are several ways to treat acne. Each type of treatment varies based on your age, the type of acne you have and the severity. A healthcare provider might recommend taking oral medications, using topical medications or using medicated therapies to treat your skin. The goal of acne treatment is to stop new pimples from forming and to heal the existing blemishes on your skin.

Topical acne medications

Your healthcare provider may recommend using a topical acne medication to treat your skin. You can rub these medications directly onto your skin as you would a lotion or a moisturizer.

How to make acne go away at home

If you have acne, you can start an at-home skin care routine to help your acne go away by:

•    Washing your skin at least once daily with warm (not hot) water and a gentle cleanser. Cleansers are over-the-counter skin care products that help clean your skin.
•       Washing your skin after you exercise or sweat.
•    Avoid using skin care products with alcohol, astringents, toners and exfoliants, which can irritate your skin.
•    Removing your makeup at the end of the day or before you go to bed.
•   Choosing an oil-free moisturizer to apply on your skin after cleansing.
•    Avoid popping, picking or squeezing your acne. Let your skin heal naturally to prevent scars from forming on your skin.

How long does it take for acne to go away?

On average, it can take between one to two weeks for acne pimples to clear up on their own. With medicated treatment and a good skin care routine, you can speed up your body’s healing time to make acne go away faster. For severe acne, it can take several weeks for your acne to go away, even with treatment.

Prevention

You can’t completely prevent acne, especially during hormone changes, but you can reduce your risk of developing acne by:

•     Washing your face daily with warm water and a facial cleanser.
•     Using an oil-free moisturizer.
•   Wearing “noncomedogenic” makeup products and removing makeup at the end of each day.
•     Keeping your hands away from your face.