Acne is a combination of dirt, oil and debris that forms then gets clogged in your pores. When can acne occurs in people in their 20s or older, it is classified as adult acne.
Acne Formation
The debris in acne formation comes from dead skin cells that have not been exfoliated, or even left over makeup on your skin. When these items mix together, they can become infected, and bacteria can form. Once the bacteria forms, this can put pressure on the wall of a hair follicle.
As new skin cells are replicating themselves, if they aren’t being cleaned away with exfoliation, they cause a new layer over the pores, causing the debris and oil (sebum) to become trapped. Now that it is trapped under the skin, it has started to form into the beginning of a pimple. There’s a big fancy name for acne bacteria, but most people just call it “P. acne bacteria”. The long name is Propionibacterium acne.
Whiteheads versus Blackheads
When a blemish is under the skin, with no opening- it is called a whitehead and is considered closed. If there is an opening to the surface, air can get inside the pore. The oxygen from the air oxidizes the oil mixture and causes the once white pus to turn black. The black color is due to the oxidation process. This is called a blackhead, or a comedone.
Preventing Acne
One of the most important things to remember with acne is that prevention is the most important step in having clear skin. When we are younger, our skin cells replicate rather quickly. In adults with acne, other triggers may be contributing to the generation of dead skin cells. The presence of these cells combined with sometimes a lack of a proper skin care regiment is often the perfect breeding ground for new acne to form.
As these dead skin cells are being produced, if they aren’t scrubbed away, they start to clog your pores. The combination of your sebum and your skin cells makes for a sticky combination. The sebum and cells combine almost like a paste, and before you know it, you have more pimples forming.
The two things you absolutely must work into your skin care regime is to cleanse your skin 2x a day, and exfoliate (gently scrub) your skin twice a week. These two simple steps can not only help you clear your skin, but they can also help future breakouts by removing the debris that contributes to acne. This may not be enough to completely cure your acne, but proper skin care is the first step in finding an effective adult acne treatment.
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