Acne: The Issue Simplified

Acne is a broad term for different types of breakouts that all have different symptoms, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The National Institutes of Health and New York University Langone Health note that there are six specific types of acne:

• Whiteheads A whitehead forms when a closed pore becomes impacted with oil and dead skin cells. It appears as a white bump on the skin’s surface.

• Blackheads In a blackhead, the pore is only partially clogged and remains open. Blackheads turn black when oil and dead skin cells react to oxygen in the air.

• Papules Papules are tiny red, hard pimples. They form when bacteria get trapped in a pore.

• Pustules Pustules are similar to papules, but contain pus that’s made of dead white cells.

• Nodules These large inflamed lesions occur when a pimple extends into the deeper layers of the skin.

• Cystic acne This type of severe acne is similar to nodules and forms when the deeper layer of skin becomes inflamed. The difference is that cysts contain pus. These red lumps are soft, painful, and difficult to treat. Usually, they require a visit to a dermatologist.

Prevention of Acne

It really isn’t enough to understand what causes acne. You should also take steps to stop pimples before they pop up.

• Wash your face twice a day. Use warm water and a mild cleanser, and don't scrub too hard, or else you could damage the protective layer of your skin and make acne worse.

• Keep hair off your face. Greasy, oily hair can make your skin oily, which can clog your pores and cause acne. Wash your hair regularly and keep hair off your face.

• Use oil-free skin-care products. Look for "noncomedogenic" skin-care products, which don’t clog pores. Noncomedogenic products are less likely to result in acne breakouts.

• Don't sleep in your makeup. Removing all traces of makeup before bedtime keeps your pores open and prevents acne. Sometimes, warm water isn't enough to remove makeup. “You will usually need to use oil-free makeup remover wipes in addition to your cleanser,". Some dermatologists recommend micellar water, too, as part of a double-cleanse routine to help remove makeup without leaving an oily residue behind.

• Don't touch your face. The more you touch your face, the greater the risk of transferring oil and dirt from your hands to your face, per the AAD. Acne tends to occur on the face and forehead because this part of the body has more sebaceous glands.

Diet Tips for Acne

Maybe you've heard that soda, chocolate, and junk food can cause acne. Some people claim that these and other foods trigger their breakouts. Yet registered dietitians and researchers are split on whether food is a culprit. Multiple studies have found that acne tends to be worse in people who eat sugary foods, refined carbohydrates, and dairy. A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2016 investigated the link between dairy and acne in teenagers between ages 14 and 17. According to these findings, milk consumption was associated with more acne. But oddly enough, this study found a link only with low-fat or skim milk, and not full-fat (whole) milk. Past research evaluating the association between diet and acne in teenage girls, however, did find a positive link between acne and the consumption of whole milk. Milk and other dairy products appear to raise levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which may trigger greater sebum production and contribute to breakouts. Blood sugar spikes sparked by eating sugary foods and refined carbohydrates can also lead to skin inflammation and cause the skin to produce more oil, past research suggests. While the jury’s still out on whether diet choices definitely contribute to acne, experts recommend erring on the side of caution. “The best diet for people with acne should include anti-inflammatory foods with a low glycemic load,” he says. The glycemic index (GI) ranks carbohydrates by how fast they increase blood sugar. Since low-GI foods eliminate blood sugar spikes, they might also reduce acne, per the AAD. “Good examples are cold-water fish like mackerel, salmon, and sardines, leafy greens, nuts, certain seeds, and complex carbs like wild rice and quinoa,