Let's Talk Acne Control

Coming from someone who has experienced mild acne in middle school and struggled with self-esteem because of it, I know what you should focus on to help improve your confidence and self esteem physically and mentally – taking control of your acne. I went through a rigorous journey of trying various skin products to research what best works for my skin type, and have picked up some crucial tips along the way for skin care building, which I intend to share with you. This helps establish the importance of skin care routines and how to build one yourself.

According to the National Institute of Health, acne is characterized as inflammation of the skin when hair follicles begin to clog with oil and dead skin cells [2]. This condition is typical in teenagers and affects not just the physical appearance of a person, but also their mental state.

The main causes of acne include genetics, which can be variants passed down from your family; bacteria buildup through constant contact and friction with infected pillow case, phones, or even your hands; hormones, which similarly cause an imbalance in your system when taking antibiotics or medication; lifestyle influences such as your diet, stress levels, and amount of sleep can cause acne responses; cosmetics through bacterial buildup can provoke skin sensitivity to increase acne.

Common in individuals going through puberty, acne can vary from hormonal responses of the body to genetically passed down variations. On a mental note, studies by the American Academy of Dermatology association have displayed the emotional effect of pimples through increased anxiety and depression risks due to the promotion of a poor self-image [1]. 

Bullying, combined with low self-esteem, is a main factor in the emotional pain caused by acne because of the variation in physical appearance.

However, we must understand that acne is extremely common, affecting over 3 million individuals in the United States yearly. Acne should be normalized in society as people of different ages and genders suffer different variations of it, whether that be hormonal, mild, or even severe. 

Although I am not a dermatologist, I have experienced going through various skin care routines myself and can help aid the process of acne cleansing. Skin care routines can help you take control of your acne, which in turn improves your self-esteem and physical appearance, while continuing to also minimize the health risks of inflamed skin and folliculitis which result from ingrown hairs.

To help curate a simple and effective skin care routine, I am going to go over some tips and tricks to help improve your skin and even your existing routine. 

First and foremost, identifying your skin type is important for taking control of your acne. Whether you have a drier, combination, or oily skin complexion can really affect the products that you purchase to help combat acne. Different skin types need alternative ingredients to help target specific problems such as flakes, blackheads, and clogged pores. 

The usage of a cleanser is important because it helps to unclog pores, and prevent acne from increased inflammation. For example, oily skin types should opt for ingredients like salicylic and glycolic acid which reduce oil production, while drier skin types should focus on nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid to stimulate hydration barriers in the skin. 

After buying your cleanser, you should be sure to include a moisturizer in your skincare routine. While oily skin types should opt for water-based moisturizers, drier skin types should focus on cream-based products. Water-based moisturizers help with cooling and soothing oily skin to help prevent inflammation, while cream-based products can help with nourishing the skin and keeping the hydrating skin environment constant. 

Finally, the most important step of your skincare routine should be sunscreen. Sunscreen helps block the damage of ultraviolet rays (UV) from the sun to help prevent dark spots and acne scarring. UV rays damage the skin barrier by breaking the hydrogen bonds in the DNA of our skin cells, which promote harsh skin reactions in the body. 

Typically, you should follow this 3-step skin care routine in the order of cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen to help fully prevent acne and its skin-affecting counterparts. Adding other ingredients like serums and toners are optional but may be beneficial based on your situation, and monetary situation. 

Although a skincare routing is crucial towards controlling your acne, one more characteristic it’s important towards marinating balanced skin — repetition. Repetition is vital for creating a difference in your skin. Combating acne with cleansers and products constantly will help prevent and clear the negative effects of clogged pores on your skin. 

Overall, it's not just the skincare routine but also the mental aspect of perseverance and determination to constantly promote change, helping create a lasting impression that improves your self-esteem and physical appearance continuously. So, everyone should have a skin care routine!