Tips for acne-free skin

Get rid of your teenage trauma: You don’t need to live with acne scars.

It’s something teenagers dread the most. The appearance of an acne or pimple that would itself last a week or so but leave their mark for years altogether. Acne scars are something many young people are forced to live with. No matter how many ointments and creams you try, the marks are there to stay.

Acne or Acne vulgaris as it is called is caused by oil glands at the base of hair follicles. The problem commonly occurs during puberty when the sebaceous (oil) glands come to life. Also, acne in men can be much worse as compared to women.

While acne are largely harmless, they can leave a lasting mark. The scars can be all the more noticeable when they are on the face. Human skin has pores which connect to oil glands located under the skin. These glands produce Sebum, an oily liquid that carries dead skin cells through the follicles to the surface of the skin.

Pimples occur when these follicles get blocked, resulting in an accumulation of oil under the skin.

The author is a leading dermatologist, Skin Alive Clinics

Acne also occur due to hormonal imbalances which induce sebum secretion. When we touch our face or pick our acne, bacteria gets entry and all boils, blackheads and pus comes out as a result.

Follow these tips to prevent a breakout from getting worse.

Make sure you keep your face clean. The main cause of the spread of acne is bacteria that develop in clogged pores. Hence the need to keep your face and skin clean. Cleanse it and wash it well twice a day but do so gently, do not scrub too hard.

Several skin problems also erupt due to problems with the skin of your head. If you have oily hair, wash it often and keep it off your face. Better use a rubber band to tie up your hair to avoid them falling on to the face.

Avoid touching your face. Hands often carry bacteria that are transferred to the skin of the face and can trigger a breakout. Often people who have acne have an urge to keep touching their faces, this should be strictly avoided. Our hands touch a number of things daily, from mobile phones to keyboards to handbags and all, and all these things are carriers of bacteria.

Make sure your towels are regularly washed. Towels are accessories that you rub your face with at least twice or thrice a day. Sometimes towels are also left on chairs, on the bed, on your balcony and may catch dust and bacteria over time. Besides, do not repeat clothes that you have already worn. The sweat and bacteria may trigger acne.

Never pick your pimples. It may worsen the problem and in acute cases, even if they are not picked, cysts can lead to scarring because of the intense, collagen-damaging skin inflammation.

Use water-based "noncomedogenic" skin care products. These would not contain oils and would not clog your pores.

Use make-up with caution. If you have an acne prone skin avoid wearing thick foundation or make up that would clog your pores further. Again, use water-based products rather than oil-based. Make sure you clean up and wash your face thoroughly at the end of the day.

Use anti bacterial products. A number of over the counter products are available with anti bacterial properties to treat acne. Try them. As they prevent the spread of bacteria, they also prevent breakouts.

Seek expert advice. If all these efforts do not help you, you need to visit a dermatologist and examined clinically in a comprehensive way to zero in on the reasons. The doctor will also check you for a hormonal syndrome, require a blood test to know the clinical reason of your acne. The doctor will then treat you accordingly, more than topical treatment may be needed.