Is your skin prone to breakouts? Regardless if you are in your teenage years or well beyond them, an acne problem can be very frustrating. Acne is caused by irritation of the hair follicles at the base—they get clogged, inflamed and sometimes can get infected. Clogged pores can cause a blackhead, whitehead, or pimple to form.
As children begin their adolescent (puberty) years, the influx of hormones can cause more breakouts to occur. There is a connection between acne and family history, so if your parents had bad skin breakouts at some point in their lives, you may be more prone to have acne too. There has been no definitive link between the foods you eat and acne. Stress doesn’t cause acne, but if you are particularly stressed and often have breakouts, your stress may make your skin worse. In addition, if you wear a helmet for sports or work, you may notice irritation of the skin where your helmet sits.
Acne is different for everyone, and it can occur on the facial skin or on the body. The severity of your particular case will determine if you need to see a doctor. If you have acne, you may want to ask your doctor or dermatologist the following questions:
1. What is acne?
When skin sebum (an oily substance) gets trapped on its way to the skin’s surface, it mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria. This clog is what turns into the acne breakout. There are several different types of acne.
2. How is acne diagnosed?
There is no test to diagnose acne. A doctor or dermatologist often can look at the affected skin and determine if it is acne.
3. How is acne treated?
There is no cure for acne. However, many patients have experienced improved skin using topical treatments and modifying their skin care routine. There are abundant products and regimens on the market claiming to clear acne, and doctors may prescribe prescription strength medicines and treatments. Here is a list of treatments: http://www.empowher.com/condition/acne/treatments
4. What is the long-term risk of acne?
Acne typically will clear up on its own over time if treated and allowed to heal. Some people simply grow out of it when they age.
Comment on this postWe value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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