If you have comedonal acne, stress not my friend! First, because stress makes it worse and second, if you approach them soon enough it is easy to clear them up. Here is how to!
If cystic acne is the worst type of acne, comedonal acne is at the end of the spectrum. To put it in another way, if you approach your breakouts as soon as they appear, you can actually clear them up.
What is comedonal acne?
When the cells lining the ducts of the sebaceous gland overgrow it leads to increased sebum production and debris and eventually blocks the surface of the skin. There are two types of comedones:
- Open comedones –commonly known as blackheads– When the sebum is in the open, the follicle turns black because of it being exposed to air.
- Closed comedones –or whiteheads– when the follicle is completely blocked by dead skin, sebum and bacteria, it looks while.
Both types do not typically become inflamed, on the other hand, inflammatory acne typically leads to pustules, cysts and inflamed bumps.
Comedonal acne is most commonly seen in the face, chest and back because it pops up in areas where the skin has more sebaceous follicles.
What causes it?
It is most likely that they appear when the pores are clogged with dead skin and sebum. The most common factors that contribute to comedones are:
- Hormones can trigger sebum production and the dead skin lining the follicle cannot shed.
- Skin products: Other causes of pore blockage can be due to makeup, moisturizers and sunscreens.
- Hygiene: poor hygiene can allow dead cells to clog your pores. So make sure you wash your face twice a day and you remove sweaty clothing and have a shower right away.
- Stress and a poor diet can lead to hormone surges and make you more prone to comedones.
How to treat it?
Topical retinoids and retinol will speed up cell turnover and consequently prevent the formation of comedones and treat existing comedones. Tea tree oil and benzoyl peroxide can kill bacteria and help soothe inflammation.
If you still don’t notice any improvement, a dermatologist can assess your situation and prescribe a chemical peel or microdermabrasion.
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