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A number of reasons can lead to acne such as hormones, pollution, dirt and debris settling into your pores, a poor diet and stress.
If your skin is particularly dehydrated, there is an increase in sebum production that can lead to acne. Acne is caused when there is an overproduction of sebum in the skin or if pores become blocked with dirt or debris.
Not all acne scars. A break in the follicle wall could lead to an acne pore swelling spread to surrounding tissues. In this case, scars are deeper and more apparent.
The number one rule to avoid acne scarring is not picking at the acne. This prevents the infected area to spill onto the surrounding tissue.
Acne scarring can also be genetic. Speak to a dermatologist if you notice acne scarring often, or in your family so you can prevent it before it occurs by controlling acne to the best of your ability.
What you can do?
Prevent acne before it starts
Here are some practices you can follow to minimize your chances of getting acne in the first place.
- Have a good skin-care routine. Use a gel-based face cleanser to start and follow it up with a pore-cleaning toner. Use lightweight moisturizer. Implement a detoxifying face mask once a week.
- Cleanse your face twice a day. Clean skin means fewer chances of dirt and debris blocking your pores. Use a mild soap and don’t over wash your face. A gel-based cleanser is a good option, especially if your skin is oily.
- Moisturise well and moisturise correctly. A common myth is that if you use moisturiser sparingly, your skin won’t be oily or get acne. But the truth is, if you let your skin dry out, it will need to overcompensate by producing more sebum, which can lead to acne. Use products that suit your skin.
- It’s important to keep yourself hydrated from within, to have hydrated skin. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated and your body able to flush out toxins.
- Keep your hair clean. Dandruff or product buildup can seep down onto your face to block pores. It could also sit on your pillow when you sleep, which brings us to the next point.
- Change your pillowcases regularly. Dead skins, dandruff or product build-up can block your pores when you sleep at night so do be diligent about changing your pillowcases.
Other Precautions
- Be careful about the products you use: Steer clear of oil-based products or anything that might make your skin greasy, unless they’ve been prescribed by a dermatologist. When looking at over-the-counter products, look out for a non–comedogenic label.
- Look for products with Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid is great for clearing pores. It reduces swelling and redness while exfoliating the skin.
- Read labels to look for these ingredients in your skincare products: Salicylic acid, azelaic acid, lactic acid, benzoyl peroxide and retinol.
- Visit a dermatologist: if you have trouble getting rid of your scarring or feel like you might need a more permanent step to get rid of it. There are lots of treatments that are aimed at fixing acne scarring that is effective and easy.
Sometimes your skin is brown where the acne heals but that is not necessarily acne scarring. Acne scar is in the tissue, not on the surface of the skin. The discolouration from acne is termed post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
