Pimples, Acne or Zits-however they are called in your locale, nobody wants them. As slay-queens and kings, pimples are our worst nightmare, (second of course to having zero likes on Instagram).
You might be wondering who in the universe is punishing you with these, but a lot of factors are behind these break-outs. Before we consider these factors, it is important to know that there are many forms of acne such as:
- Steroid-induced acne,
- Neonatal acne
- Acne rosacea
- Acne fulminans- a severe form of skin acne
- It may also be a sign of serious conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (associated with infertility)
However, in the course of this article, we will be discussing-Acne Vulgaris-The most common form of pimples among young persons.
What are the possible causes of Acne (pimples)?
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Hormones
: At a certain age (usually at the onset of puberty), production of a hormone called androgen or oestrogen as the case may be makes the oil glands get larger and increases oil production or sebum which may clog skin pores causing pimples. Hormonal changes can also occur during pregnancy or when you start or stop using birth control pills. Hormonal changes associated with “your time of the month” also may be responsible.
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Oily Scalp
: Oily scalp may be responsible some times for zits on the forehead, as oil tends to seep through the hair and settle on the forehead clogging and resulting in “you-Know-what”. De-greasing is important, so it might be alright to go easy on oiling your scalp, especially if you have an oily scalp.
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Stress:
The Almighty Culprit for a lot of “illnesses”, Acne inclusive. So don’t assist pimples by stressing. Cultivate a healthy lifestyle; Sleep early (if and when you can- don’t be an Owl.) and sleep smart- Change pillow casings and bed-spreads regularly. Exercise and show yourself some love (A weekend at a spa won’t hurt anyone, only maybe your account balance, but “Me-time” has its own perks!)
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OD-ing on Treatments, Soaps and Cleanliness:
As ridiculous as it may sound, being too clean or scrubbing too vigorously will aggravate your acne. Thing is, when you scrub your face or the affected area frequently, and then apply topical treatments too generously, like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide which are said to reduce oil production on the skin, it could result in skin irritation and the active ingredients burning the top layer of your skin, leaving your skin look worse off. Little wonder that the saying goes “Too much of everything is bad”. At best exfoliation should be done not more than twice a week and whatever topical treatment used should be applied sparingly.
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Picking or popping your pimples
: If you want to pop something, save up and buy Champagne! (I have always wanted to say that!) Never, I repeat never pick or pop pimples. Try not to pick for a week and see how much better your skin looks. I know it’s hard, but you can stifle the urge. Having ACNE–FREE skin is more than worth it plus you can reward yourself with whatever you’ve been craving; Chocolate, that shoe or bag– just make sure you work for it!
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