Medical skin care professionals of Doral, Florida share the science behind acne and what can be done to treat it
Acne is a problem that most people deal with at some point in their lives, but it is more severe and problematic for some than it is for others. It can affect people in any stage of life. In this post, we will discuss a bit about the causes of acne and what we can do in our clinic to make you and your skin feel and look better.
What Exactly Is Acne?
Many people have misconceptions about what acne is. They associate it with sweat glands and teenagers and may not know the truth behind this skin condition.
Acne is defined as any clogging of the hair follicles by dead skin cells and oil produced by the body’s sebaceous glands. This means the term acne covers more than just pimples and cystic lesions. It includes any sort of blackhead or whitehead.
What are the Causes of Acne?
There are several factors that contribute to the development of acne:
- Overproduction of Oil: The sebaceous glands that produce oil or sebum for the hair follicles can sometimes produce too much oil, causing a clog in the pore.
- Bacteria: Skin flora is natural and even essential to healthy skin, but bacteria can sometimes run rampant and cause acne problems.
- Inflammation: Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to infection. The red, swollen, and irritated bumps that are often associated with acne can be caused by an inflammatory reaction, whether it is to a bacteria as mentioned above, or some other immune issue.
- Hormones: Changes in hormone levels often contribute to acne. This is the largest reason that acne is considered to be a teenager’s issue, even though it can affect people of any age. Women often experience a break out before menstruation.
- Medications: Certain medications can cause or exacerbate acne. This is something that should be dealt with by a medical professional.
There are other factors that can be measured as well. It has been shown that certain foods (refined carbohydrates) and stress tend to worsen already existing acne.
What are the Risk Factors?
Risk factors are defined as variables that are associated with an increased chance of developing a certain disease or infection. This is slightly different from the causation factors that are listed above. These are things that can contribute to the development of acne when combined with the causes above.
Some of the risk factors for acne include:
- Age
- Genetic tendency
- Friction or pressure can cause irritation that leads to acne
- Using oils or oily products on skin
Common Acne Myths
There has been a great amount of research into the causes of acne, but some false ideas do persist. One of the most common myths about acne is that bad acne is somehow associated with poor hygiene. This is simply not true.
People can wash daily and still have acne issues. Bacterial growth is usually at the core of this. Another common misconception is that high fat foods cause acne. Again, this is inaccurate. There is no link between chocolate consumption and acne.
Results of Poor Acne Treatment
If acne goes untreated it can actually cause damage to the skin. Just like any other form of inflammation, permanent issues can result from severe acne that goes untreated or is not treated appropriately.
Acne scars are common among people who have suffered more severe forms of acne like cystic acne. It can also change the texture and color of the skin, making it hyperpigmented or hypopigmented, an increase to decrease in the shade of the skin.
These sorts of problems can be very difficult if not impossible to correct. It is better to deal with the acne while it is happening and keep it from forming new comedones.
Acne Treatments and Professional Skin Care are Available
Here at FaceBeauty Med Spa, we offer options to help reduce and eliminate acne.
One of the ways we can help is by providing monthly facials to help improve the appearance of your skin. We also offer Jan Marini skin care products, a line of medical-grade skincare for personal use which is the perfect day to day treatment for active acne.
Our secret weapon against acne scars is Secret RF. This treatment was approved by the FDA in 2021 and combines the use of radio-frequency tech and microneedling to reduce the appearance of sagging, fine lines, acne scars, and more.
About FaceBeauty Med Spa
Conveniently located in Doral, FL, FaceBeauty Med Spa offers a professional facility and certified nurses and technicians. Call today to revitalize your natural beauty with a consultation.
