acne - Rao Dermatology

What Does Your Acne Mean?

Acne is widely accepted as a normal part of skin care discourse. As a result, when those pesky little spots appear on the surface of the skin, it is easy to dismiss their existence with a simple, “It’s just acne” attitude. The reality is, acne is a lot more than that. Specifically, the location of acne on your body can function as a telltale sign of specific health issues. The following acne guide will help you extract a lot more information about your skin and its health.

Recent research reported on provdr.com by Nastasia Delmedico revealed the following findings:

Lower half of your body

Acne that appears on the lower half of your body, namely your legs, thighs, or around the buttocks, can be a result of an internal or external problem. Internally, the acne may be related to an issue in your diet. It might be difficult to pinpoint exactly what the issue is; therefore, researchers suggest experimentation. For example, try adding more water to your diet or consuming less sugar, both in its natural and processed forms. Externally, acne on the lower half of your body can also suggest a lack of air. In other words, the fabrics you wear may inhibit circulation. Try wearing breathable clothing to avoid trapping heat and moisture that is likely to promote breakouts.

Jawline and neck

While breakouts in this area are a little more common there are two potential causes of acne on the jawline and neck. Specifically, it may be a result of “overactive adrenal glands” related to your hormones or it can be a result of a high-sugar diet. Limit and monitor your sugar consumption to avoid these types of breakouts.

Shoulders

When acne materializes along the shoulders, research suggests it is a sign of stress. The easiest way to combat this type of acne is to take some time to rest, relax, and get away for a little while.

Chest

Perhaps more common among women than men, chest acne may be a sign of poor diet and digestive issues or it may be related to the consumption of excessive spicy foods or cold beverages. The solution here seems quiet apparent; cut back.

Stomach

Less popular is acne on the stomach. According to research, acne on the stomach might be a reflection of dangerous blood sugar levels. If acne is on your stomach, you should see a dermatologist or your family physician immediately.

Back

Finally, nicknamed “bacne”, acne on the back is not only the most common form, but can also be caused by a series of different factors. Some of these may include stress, issues with your digestive system, or challenges with your nervous system, among others. Should acne appear on your back, contact your family doctor immediately to obtain a professional diagnosis.

Natural Remedies for Treating Acne

Life is constant. You make time for the moments you want to hold on to, such as time for work, time for laughter, and time for love. The one thing that never has a spot on your calendar, but never fails to show up, is acne. There is simply no time for that! Let’s face it: Acne is an inconvenience. Fortunately, you can conveniently get rid of it using natural remedies. Keep in mind that everyone’s skin is different and while these remedies may yield results for some, others may require further dermatological advice. What occurs on the outside of your skin is quite often a reflection of what’s going on on the inside. All individuals can benefit from adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Cleansing with honey

Combine 1 tablespoon of melted coconut oil, 3 tablespoons of pure honey, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 20 drops of melaleuca essential oil, and 2 capsules of live probiotics in a small bowl. Mix the ingredients together, pour into a small bottle, and store it in a warm place. Use this mixture to wash your face once daily. The formula kills acne-causing bacteria and unclogs impurities that are suffocating your pores.

Spot treatment using tea tree oil and coconut oil

Mix 4 to 8 drops of tea tree oil with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and dab lightly onto problem areas. Ensure to use a carrier oil as well as tea tree oil, as tea tree oil alone might be too severe to apply directly to the skin.

Exfoliate

Pair 2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal, sea salt, or brown sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons of one of these bases: coconut oil, kefir, or honey. Rub this mixture into your skin in a circular motion. Once the desired area is covered, remove the mixture with a damp cloth and rinse using lukewarm water. The hard ingredients work to remove dead skin and unclog pores while the bases fight bacteria and fungi.

Eat well; drink well

Finally, make healthy diet choices and remain hydrated. Your skin needs to breathe and its health thrives from the inside out. This is important because while you are doing all of the right things on the outside, neglecting internal care may have a significant impact on your overall results.

Common Skin Conditions

The skin is funny. Not in an “LOL” way, but in the sense that it is unusual, unpredictable, and easily misinterpreted. This “funniness” is culpable, to a certain degree, in the ongoing ignorance, and misdiagnosis of some of the most common skin conditions. Some rashes are minor, but others are quite telling and require further medical attention. Skin discolouration too, is easily blown off as a simple bruise. It is fair to say, many individuals have a difficult time trying to decipher between minor and major skin conditions. We’ve compiled a short list of common skin conditions to help you determine what is urgent and what is not!

Acne

Acne is easily the most common skin disorder, occurring primarily in teenagers.

It is formally defined as “an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, characterized by comedones and pimples, especially on the face, back, and chest, and, in severe cases, by cysts and nodules resulting in scarring”. It is often wrongfully labeled as pimples. However, acne is the combination of pimples, blackheads and cysts. Acne should not be remedied by a simple over-the-counter formula. Instead, it should be treated by a dermatologist, especially to avoid severe acne, which results in permanent scarring.

Eczema

Although not as common as Acne, Eczema is more physically abnormal and therefore, more apparent. Eczema is an inflammatory condition of the skin attended with itching and the exudation of serous matter. Further characteristics include scaly, dry skin. It can materialize in both children and adults. In fact, Atopic dermatitis is the frequent form of eczema that plagues young children. Although its origin is unknown, dermatologists believe there are both genetic and environmental factors at work.

Hives

Hives can be classified as any of a series of eruptive conditions of the skin including wheals of urticaria. The relevant area may be red, raised, and itchy. They can derive from numerous dispositions such as bites, stings, food, and medication. They don’t tend to last beyond four hours. However, a person with chronic urticaria has hives for months or years.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic form of acne whereby facial blood vessels enlarge resulting in red pustular lesions. Although no official cause has been determined, researchers have attributed the skin condition to the immune system and the environment. Although Rosacea is most common among women over 30, individuals outside this demographic can be affected as well, at less frequent rates.

While this list is not exhaustive, we hope it functions as a useful guide for categorizing your skin condition. If you’ve observed anything about your skin that does not quite meet any of the above criteria it can be serious; contact our office as soon as possible.

Should I be calling my Dermatologist?

To some people, skincare is a trivial matter. There is very little concern for the products and methods that are used on the skin. In a lot of cases, so long as your skin isn’t on fire or isn’t severely irritable, you’re okay. While these instances are causes for concern, the need for a dermatologist span far beyond matters of severity.

At Rao Dermatology, we offer a myriad of services that are beneficial for your skin, but how do you know you need them? This article provides a list of instances when you should call or visit, or get a recommendation from your GP to see a dermatologist.

Stubborn Acne

One of the first signs of bad skin is stubborn acne. If you have been using over-the-counter products for a long period of time and your condition has not improved or has worsen, you must see a gynecologist. Although your Family Doctor can prescribe quick fixes for mild acne, Dermatologists can advise and administer treatments that are geared specifically towards your skin type.

Sunburn

Excessive exposure to the sun can have serious effects that creep up silently. If you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun or visiting tanning salons, a Dermatological check up should be a part of your yearly routine. The skin is a sensitive organ, but it is also discrete. Dispositions occurring under the skin as a result of sunburn or overexposure to UV rays may not be immediately apparent.

Spots, unusual rashes, discolouration

If you observe a change in colour, consistently, or notice that your skin is more than one colour at a time, you need to see your dermatologist. Random spots that appear and remain as well as old spots that seem to be changing are also matters to bring to a dermatologist’s attention.

Hair Growth

Sudden and rapid hair growth on your face and chest can be warning signs of a disposition in your skin. If this occurs, let your dermatologist know.

Wrinkling/Aging

Sometimes certain products that you use on your skin can accelerate skin wrinkling and aging. If you notice an increasing amount of wrinkles over a short period of time on your skin, call your dermatologist.

This list is not exhaustive, but if anything about your skin is abnormal it is worth bringing to your Dermatologist’s attention.

To Pop or not to Pop?

It is extremely difficult not to yield to the temptation of popping your pimple, especially when you have to be photographed or make an appearance in a short time frame. You assume that the sooner you can deflate the attention grabber on your face, the sooner it will go away. The truth is, you should always aim to refrain from making any contact with it at all.

Pimples contain a lot of bacteria. Once you tamper with them and allow the puss to ooze out, it creates the potential for other pores to become contaminated. This will, in turn, create more pimples. Further, you can spread the germs from your fingers to other parts of your body, and unto someone else. One of the more troubling risks however, is the possibility of pushing bacteria further into your skin. As a result, the pimple may become further irritated, inflamed, or infected and it can lead to scarring.

If the reasons above are not persuasive enough for you to minimize your pimple popping, then at least ensure you proceed in the proper way. Specifically, dermatologists recommend using a sterilized needle to pierce the pimple in a parallel manner then rip the skin upward. This method is favoured because it minimizes further damage to the skin.

We recommend that you visit our office and have one of our dermatologists assess your skin. We offer myriad treatments that aim to combat acne. We recognize that each individual’s skin type varies, but we are confident our treatments will be satisfactory. If you are finding it difficult to restrain from popping your pimples, give us a call and we will pop the problem with a dermatological solution.