What is Acne?
Acne is nothing but a skin disease and is medically known as Acne Vulgarise. Acne is related to the oil glands that are at the base of hair follicles. In most cases, acne is associated with puberty as it is the period during which the sebaceous (oil) glands are stimulated by male hormones. These male hormones are basically produced by the adrenal glands which belong to both males and females. Even if the acne is not something to panic about, it tends to leave skin scars. There are tiny pores on the human skin that connect all the oil glands which are under the skin. In order to connect the glands with the pores, there are small canals known as follicles. An oily liquid called sebum is produced by the oil glands. The basic purpose of the sebum is to carry all the dead skin cells to the surface of the skin through the follicles. The small hairs on the skin grow through these follicles out of the skin. Pimples are the result of the follicles getting blocked which causes the oil to accumulate under the skin.
Hidden causes of Acne
Stress
Stress is considered to be a major factor that can lead to acne. This has been proven by researchers who believe that during stress, some steroid hormones such as glucocorticoids and adrenal androgens are released which activate the oil glands. This causes clogging in the skin pores which results in acne breakouts. According to the researchers at the Stanford University, college students got more acne when they were under the stress for exams.
Carbohydrates
Another study was conducted wherein a group of young men were assigned to a 12-week diet that was high in carbohydrates while another group was assigned a diet rich in proteins, vegetables and whole grains. It was observed that there was a steady decrease in the number of pimples in both the groups though the the drop was double for men who had high-protein diet. This research has highlighted that the increase in insulin is a cause of concern as it can lead to inflammation in the skin and acne breakouts. So, it is preferable to eat less sugar and opt for whole grains.
The acne is actually a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit which constitute a hair follicle, sebaceous gland and a hair. These units are found on every part of the body except for palms, soles, top of the feet and lower lip. The pilosebaceous units are found the most on the face, upper neck and chest. The skin and hair is kept moisturised at all times by sebum which is a substance produced by the sebaceous glands. These glands get enlarged during adolescence which increases the production of sebum as it is influenced by hormones known as androgens. The excess of sebum then fills the follicle and spreads over the skin surface giving an oily look.
Top four home remedies
Ice
Ice improves blood circulation in the affected area and also freezes the skin pores. On holding the ice wrapped in a piece of cloth over the affected area, all the dirt and oil from the skin pores can be removed easily.
Lemon
The vitamin C rich lemon juice is a great way to dry up all the pimples faster. It is necessary to use only fresh lemon juice in which dip a clean cotton swab and apply it on the affected area. Another remedy is to make a paste by combining a tablespoon of lemon juice with a teaspoon of cinnamon powder, apply and let it stay all night. Wash off this applied solution with lukewarm water in the morning.
Honey
The healing process can be quickened by honey which is a source of natural antibiotics and also helps in preventing infections. Apply the affected area with a clean cotton swab that is dipped in honey and keep it for half an hour. Wash the skin thoroughly with lukewarm water. Another remedy is to apply the paste of cinnamon and honey before going to bed and wash it off in the morning with cold water. This helps in reducing the inflammation or swelling in the affected area.
Garlic
Garlic is known to have antiviral, anti-fungal, antiseptic and antioxidant properties that help in curing pimples faster. Apply the cut up pieces of garlic over the affected area for five minutes and wash the skin with lukewarm water. It is also necessary to eat one raw garlic everyday as it can purify blood. It also has sulphur that aids in quickly healing the pimples.
Conclusion
Having a stress-free life that is coupled with protein-rich diet helps in keeping the skin clean and healthy. This will aid in reducing the number of skin breakouts and make the skin look fresh and clean. Also if we use natural mineral makeup, you can be sure of not having any acne.
To Sum it all up
In order to keep the skin free of acne and other skin breakouts, it is essential to eat healthy food that is full of proteins and stay stress-free at all times.