By: Zayna Azimi
Acne- we all know it, we all hate it. But what is it?
Can’t seem to get rid of stubborn acne? Let’s clear a few things up so you can understand what acne is and how to get rid of it– depending on your acne type!
Acne is a skin condition caused by clogged pores that can manifest in many different ways. Understanding your acne type can be confusing, so hopefully this post will help you understand a bit more about what's happening in your skin!
It’s worth noting that not all acne is created the same. Understanding the different symptoms is the key first step to treating it. We can divide acne into two types: non-inflammatory and inflammatory.
Non-inflammatory acne
Non-inflammatory acne consists of whiteheads and blackheads:
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Whiteheads: clogged follicles that present a white bump on the surface of the skin.
→ Pimple patches can help treat these small bumps.
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Blackheads: clogged follicles that have opened up to the surface of skin, causing the sebum to become discolored and present as black dots.
→ Use active ingredients like retinol for this type of acne to break up the blackheads.
Inflammatory acne
Inflammatory acne consists of papules, pustules, and nodules. These types of acne have induced an inflammatory response, meaning cells from our immune system have been called over, causing the skin to appear red and swollen. This is thought to be caused by a bacteria called Cutibacterium acnes, formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes, a normal bacteria that resides in everyone’s skin but tends to wreak some havoc in an individual with acne-prone skin.
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Papules: Tiny, raised red bumps that lie in the outer layer of the skin.
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Pustules: comedones that present with a circle of white or yellow at the surface of the skin which is filled with pus and surrounding area of red, inflamed skin. This pus contains white blood cells from inflammatory response and products from the bacterial reproduction of P. acnes
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Nodules: Comedones that lie deep in the dermis (the middle layer of the skin) where many nerve endings are, causing them to be painful.
Use anti-inflammatory agents to treat this type of acne like salicylic acid and azelaic acid.
What are “clogged-pores”?
Now, I’m sure we all know acne is caused by “clogged pores” but we’re going to get down to what this really means.
Clogged pores are caused by the overproduction of sebum, bacteria, and buildup of dead skin cells.
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Sebum- this oil is produced by our skin and acts as a protective layer. Sebum provides moisture, but also acts as an antimicrobial to fight against harmful bacteria. The overproduction of sebum is usually caused by fluctuations in hormones and leads to clogged follicles
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Bacteria- everyone has bacteria in their skin, but some bacteria react differently to the environment of acne-prone skin. Substances produced by P. acnes cause the outer lining of the comedone to break, releasing the contents to spread into the dermis, causing inflammation. It also releases molecules that cause an inflammatory response.
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Dead skin cells- Shedding of skin is normal, but for individuals with acne these dead skin cells get trapped inside pores along with the other acne-causing culprits. In turn, sebum is unable to reach the surface, causing pores to become even more clogged! Healthy Hotties® who are acne-prone might shed five times more dead skin cells per day than normal pores.
Our tips:
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Use active ingredients that target the cause of acne like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
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Use products that are non-comedogenic (these will minimize clogging of pores!)
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Back off the UV!
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Don’t let it get you down- remember to make yourself feel like the Healthy Hotties® you are!
Check out these acne-friendly makeup products:
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Kosas BB Burst Tinted Moisturizer Gel Cream with Copper Peptides
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Saie Beauty Slip Tink Radiant All-Over Concealer with Niacinamide
XO,
BiotechBeauty®