The most common skin condition in the world, acne is characterised by an inflammation of the pilosebaceous follicle. This involves a combination of a sebaceous gland clogged by an excess production of sebum and an unbalanced skin flora. The result is one we all know: blackheads, whiteheads, and spots emerge on the skin, much to our dismay.
Acne's favourite target is the face, but it can also appear on the back, arms, or chest. Acne is not solely a concern for teenagers during puberty. It also affects babies and nearly one in three adults under the age of 40! This chronic condition can persist for many years, alternating between periods of calm and frustrating flare-ups.
And the least we can say is that when you are affected by it, it's a rather difficult experience. Aside from the fact that these spots itch, burn, irritate, and annoy, and that they can leave long-term marks... They are also considered unsightly, and no one likes to see these blemishes invade their skin. To understand it better and learn how to fight it, join us as we dive deep into the world of acne!
Types of Acne
Infantile Acne
This form of acne affects just over a quarter of newborn babies. It is hormonally caused (like almost all forms of acne), as it originates from the final days of pregnancy when the mother's body releases large quantities of hormones. This triggers an overproduction of sebum in the newborn, and therefore their very first breakout of acne—a little preview of adolescence.
Polymorphic Juvenile Acne
This is the teenage acne that (almost) all of us have experienced. It rears its head by covering our own with spots when puberty and its hormonal surge arrive. Blackheads, comedones, whiteheads… While establishing a habit of regularly cleansing your face can help manage it, for severe acne, a medical treatment is necessary to relieve those unpredictable eruptions.
Cystic Acne
This is a type of acne that develops from cysts formed beneath the skin. The cysts are small, hard balls that are difficult to treat. You must not attempt to remove them yourself, as this risks worsening the situation. It is essential to seek a treatment plan from your dermatologist. In some cases, a doctor may lance the cysts one by one to prevent any risk of further inflammation or scarring.
Hormonal Acne
Même si toutes les formes d’acné se développent à partir d’un chamboulement des hormones, on appelle acné hormonale celle qui correspond à des périodes de bouleversements hormonaux flagrants. Il s’agit chez les femmes de la grossesse ou de certaines périodes du cycle menstruel, avec une montée de boutons qui peut survenir quelques jours avant les règles. Si vos règles conduisent inlassablement à une acné mensuelle féroce, vous pouvez demander à votre médecin de vous prescrire une pilule plus adaptée à votre situation dermique.
Conglobata Acne
It is an aggravated form of acne that combines every possible type of blemish: cysts, comedones, nodules, and pustules... It primarily affects young men and is especially prominent on the back. However, it does not spare the face and also commonly appears on the chest and arms. This is a dreaded form of acne, notorious for leaving persistent scars. It often requires the deployment of heavy-duty treatments to eliminate it, such as medical-grade peels, laser therapy, and other advanced medical artillery.
(Summer Acne / "Mallorca Acne")
On l’appelle aussi acné de Majorque car elle est associée au soleil…Ce sont en effet les rayons UV qui la provoquent. Elle touche plus majoritairement les femmes et survient au début de l’été, quand notre peau encore toute grise de mi saison subit les premiers rayons du soleil. Des boutons rouges et blancs apparaissent alors dans le cou, sur les bras, le visage… Elle s’en va généralement d’elle-même !
Cosmetica Acne
It is also known as makeup-induced acne. It is caused by a skin reaction to certain unsuitable or low-quality cosmetic products. It typically disappears once you stop using the products in question. These are generally products that are too heavy or occlusive for the skin, tending to suffocate it and clog the pores... Furthermore, make a habit of thoroughly removing your makeup and cleansing your skin to unclog the pores.
Rosacea Acne
It is a form of "acne" that is somewhat distinct; it is, in fact, a chronic condition characterised by the appearance of redness on specific areas of the face—the forehead, nose, and cheeks... Dilated blood vessels and red bumps blend together to create this rosacea. People with fair skin are more affected, as are women, and it is often around the age of 30 that this condition first shows itself. A medical treatment plan is usually necessary to prevent the skin's condition from worsening over the years.
Inflammatory Acne
Also known as common adult acne, this is the most frequent type of acne, the one that affects the largest number of people, and is probably the very reason you are reading these lines yourself. Blackheads, microcysts, and spots cheerfully spring up on your skin—on your face, back, and chest… And as for how to get rid of them? We tell you everything below!
Causes of Inflammatory Acne?
Genetic Heritage
Yes, if you have acne, it's probably also because of your parents… Some families are simply more prone to acne than others. If one of your biological parents had acne for most of their life, it's unlikely you'll escape it. Such is life. Some people have webbed feet; you have acne. But accepting it doesn't mean doing nothing about it! So, follow the advice a little further down.
Hormones
As mentioned above, acne draws its troublesome power from our hormonal upheavals. Certain hormones stimulate the production of sebum, which can clog pores and hair follicles, leading to acne flare-ups. Therefore, any period in life when our hormones are in flux is conducive to the development of acne.
Your Wandering Hands
It's very tempting to pop spots. It's relieving, even satisfying, especially when they itch... But you risk making things worse by creating new infections across the entire area.
The sun
Avoid it or cover your skin with sunscreen! While the sun has a reputation for drying out spots, this is only a temporary effect that leads to a worse rebound later. Indeed, because the sun dries out the skin, your skin will produce even more sebum to compensate for the lack of hydration... sebum that will then clog your pores and lead to more acne!
Stress
Stress and acne share a very intimate relationship. This relationship becomes even more entrenched over time, as acne causes stress, which in turn triggers further breakouts. Indeed, stress leads to hormonal surges, which cause an overproduction of sebum that then promotes acne. This is why a session with a therapist can sometimes be as beneficial as an anti-blemish treatment!
Tobacco
Researchers have recently discovered that smoking can be the cause of acne flare-ups. Indeed, tobacco promotes the keratinisation of follicles, leading to their obstruction. Blackheads and spots then emerge on the skin. Furthermore, as tobacco impairs blood flow, the bacteria that promote acne can proliferate without being challenged by antibodies that are slow to arrive. Finally, tobacco slows down the healing of blemishes once the acne has cleared.
Hair
You should avoid having your hair whipping against your face all day long... This can stimulate the sebaceous glands on your face, which risks clogging pores and triggering the appearance of spots.
Friction
If you have acne on your neck, avoid tight collars or scarves... If your shoulders are affected, backpacks should be avoided. This friction tends to aggravate acne. Be gentle with the affected areas!
Feeding
Privilégier les fruits et les légumes riche en vitamines et en antioxydants. Ces derniers combattent les radicaux libres susceptibles d’accélérer l’inflammation de la peau. Tournez-vous aussi vers le zinc qui a la réputation d’être un excellent anti-acné : vous en trouverez dans les abats, les huitres, les œufs et le pain complet notamment. Par ailleurs, les aliments riches en fibres comme les céréales sont réputés pour une bonne régulation de l’insuline, hormone qui peut provoquer des imperfections. Enfin, des scientifiques ont démontré que le sucre et le lait pourraient être à l’origine de poussées d’acné !
Some cosmetic products
Check the ingredients in your cosmetics to ensure none are comedogenic (pore-clogging). Many online lists can point out the culprits. Also, prioritize gentle cosmetics. Indeed, by cleansing your skin too vigorously, you risk drying it out, and your body will produce excess sebum to compensate. Therefore, avoid cosmetics containing alcohol or those that are overly stripping. Conversely, do not choose products that are too oily, as they can clog hair follicles.
Some medications
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if your medication could be the cause of your acne flare-up! Certain ingredients can promote it, such as lithium or steroids.
What to do against acne
Gentle and Frequent Cleansing
Nettoyez votre peau matin et soir avec un nettoyant doux. Utilisez une brosse nettoyante vous assurer qu’aucune impureté ne reste sur le visage ! Par ailleurs, l’intérêt d’employer une brosse est que vous éviterez de frotter les zones de boutons et leur assurerez, au contraire, un nettoyage tranquille mais optimal. Assurez-vous de bien nettoyer votre brosse après chaque usage.
A daily moisturiser
Once your face is cleansed, use a mattifying treatment in the morning to combat excess sebum, and a non-greasy moisturiser in the evening to refresh your skin without clogging your pores.
A Gentle Scrub
As you will have gathered, gentleness is the key when managing acne-prone skin. While it's necessary to clear pores of excess sebum, a gentle exfoliation from time to time will do it a world of good. However, you must ensure you use mild products specifically formulated for acne-prone skin.
Seek advice from your dermatologist
If you cannot get rid of your acne, or if it is severe, consult a doctor to get a formal diagnosis. They may need to prescribe creams or medication to help you overcome it.
Preventing and treating acne scars
Do not touch the spots
On insiste sur ce point : l’une des conséquences à triturer ses boutons et a les percer sans cesse est le risque de laisser des cicatrices. En effet, en les perçant, vous abimez le tissu, les veines et déchirez le derme… Alors le moyen d’éviter d’avoir des cicatrices, c’est de ne pas toucher à votre acné !
Do not waste
If your acne is invasive or severe, go straight to a dermatologist to get a treatment plan tailored to you. If you let spots develop on your skin without preventing them, the risk is much greater that they will leave scars.
Massage
Use a cream and massage the scars left by your spots. You will see results if the scars are mild, but you will need to be patient…
The War on Spots
This is all about giving your skin a welcome polish, to help you feel better in your own skin... However, there is one form of acne we haven't discussed here, firstly because it is rare, and secondly because all our otherwise effective advice would not be enough to free you from it. This is the most severe form of acne, the one that could frighten teenagers at night: Acne Fulminans. In addition to seeing one's body suddenly covered in invasive and painful nodules that become inflamed without warning, this acne is often accompanied by fever and general malaise and may require hospitalisation. At the first sign, rush to your doctor! In all other cases, they are just spots, to which you simply need to declare war...
