ACNE ATTACK!

Expert Talk acne

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ACNE ATTACK! THESE TWO WORDS CAN SHAKE UP ALMOST ANY WOMAN’S COMPOSURE — MORE SO BECAUSE THEY DEFY THE WORD PERFECTION IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY. TIME ’N STYLE BEAUTY SHARES ADVICE FROM DR. JAISHREE SHARAD, COSMETIC DERMATOLOGIST (MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF SKINFINITI AESTHETIC SKIN AND LASER CLINIC, MUMBAI), TO HELP YOU BATTLE THIS DEMON

WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS CAUSES FOR ACNE? While there could be several causes for acne, a major one is hormonal imbalance. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and genetic predisposition could be others. As basic as it may sound, stress is definitely a cause. The use of cosmetics such as creams, oil-based moisturisers and foundations also stir up the germ for acne. Also, application of oil or gel on the scalp could lead to pimples on the back and forehead. Climate also plays its role, and hot and humid conditions often cause acne to come to the fore. Lastly, drugs such as oral contraceptives, steroids, isoniazid, lithium, phenytoin, and iodides can cause pimples.
HOW DOES IT DEVELOP? The skin has minute glands called sebaceous glands, which open into the hair follicle. These glands secrete an oily substance called sebum, which gets released on to the skin surface through the hair follicle. During puberty, the male sex hormones, which are normally present in both, males and females increase in the body and activate the sebaceous glands to increase in size, which in turn leads to an increase in the secretion of sebum. Secondly, the cells are shed more rapidly and they stick together, plugging the opening of the hair follicle, resulting in whiteheads. The pigment melanin present in whiteheads, when exposed to air, forms blackheads.
WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD ONE LOOK OUT FOR TO CATCH ACNE AT THE GRASS ROOT LEVEL ITSELF? If you want to treat acne before it takes a severe form, then you must look out for blackheads and whiteheads. Also, excessively oily skin is a cause of concern.
HOW CAN ONE GET RID OF ACNE? Here are a few simple ways to keep acne at bay:
    Wash your face with an
    anti-bacterial face wash
    at least two-three times a
    day.
    Include Vitamin C and
    zinc in your diet. You
    could start by increasing
    the intake of citrus fruits
    such as oranges, grapes,
    lime and lemon. Also,
    ensure that you drink
    plenty of water.
    Do not pick on or
    squeeze the pimples as
    this causes infections,
    pigmentation and even
    scarring at times.
    As much as possible,
    avoid the use of oily
    cosmetics, whether it is
    cleansing milk or gel.
    Be patient. Give the
    medication time to show
    beneficial results. You
    may have to take
    antibiotics for 8-10
    weeks.
    In extreme cases, you
    could require surgical
    intervention in the form
    of comedone extraction,
    cryoslush, cryo-peel with
    liquid nitrogen or a
    superficial chemical peel.
    These are best performed
    by a dermatosurgeon.
HOW LONG DOES IT USUALLY TAKE FOR ACNE TO CLEAR UP? It isn’t a problem that will vanish overnight; you will need about 6-12 weeks for it to fade out completely.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HAD ACNE AS TEENAGERS; WHAT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF ITS SUDDEN ERUPTION AS AN ADULT? While hormonal imbalance in the body can erupt at any time; consumption of oral contraceptives, excessive stress and facials or makeup, which clogs pores, could be many other factors that induce acne at a later stage in life.
WHEN SUFFERING FROM ACNE, WHAT KIND OF COSMETICS ARE ADVISABLE TO USE? I would suggest that you apply a moisturiser which has natural ingredients before stepping out in the sun. A milk-based coconut body lotion infused with tingling mint extracts will keep your skin refreshed and rejuvenated during summer. Use an oil-free, non-comedogenic cream, gel-based sunscreen and water-based foundation.
ARE THERE ANY SOLUTIONS FOR ACNE SCARRING? Scars can be tackled using both surgical and nonsurgical methods. While the surgical methods include subcision, punch elevation/ excision and grafting, dermabrasion and Co2 or erbium laser ablation; the non-surgical methods could be tried first. Some of these are chemical peels, microdermabrasion, nonablative lasers, fraxel, fillers and microneedling and radiofrequency.