Dead Skin & Acne
Acne has many rumored causes, like infrequent washing and eating too much chocolate or greasy foods like hamburgers and french fries, according to the National Institutes of Health. In reality, these things do not affect acne at all. It is actually caused by a specific physical process that involves dead skin cells and two other factors.
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Definition
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Acne is a skin condition that causes pimple breakouts on the face and sometimes on other body parts, such as the shoulders, back, neck and chest. The Mayo Clinic says acne manifests itself as blackheads, whiteheads, nodules, papules and pustules. Cysts may develop in extremely severe cases. Many of these pimple types are filled with pus formed from oil and dead skin cells.
Cause
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Dead skin cells are one of the trio of acne triggers. The other two are a type of oil called sebum produced by skin glands and a bacteria known as propionibacterium acnes. The Nemours children's health network explains oil glands may produce too much sebum, especially in teenagers. The oil mixes with dead skin cells and blocks hair follicles. Bacteria get trapped with it and grow. The follicle turns red, swollen, and irritated and develops into a pimple.
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Other Factors
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Other factors contribute to the frequency and severity of acne outbreaks. For example, oily makeup and skin care products block pores, which promotes trapping of the dead skin cells, sebum and bacteria. The Mayo Clinic advises acne may be worsened by eating potato chips, bagels and other starchy foods because of the way they affect your blood sugar. Pimples are irritated by washing your face too much or scrubbing it vigorously. Women may get outbreaks linked to hormone fluctuations due to their menstrual cycles.
Treatment
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Acne treatments must attack at least one of the three causes to be effective, and many work in multiple ways. The Mayo Clinic explains a good product speeds up new skin cell production and promotes shedding of old, dead cells. It works even better if it dries up oil and kills acne-causing bacteria. The clinic cites benzoyl peroxide as the best over-the-counter treatment because of its ability to attack all three of these factors. Salicylic acid, another popular product ingredient, slows skin cell shedding in the hair follicles. Alpha hydroxy acids get rid of dead skin and stimulate growth of new, healthy cells while reducing inflammation.
Prevention
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You cannot prevent skin cells from dying. It's part of your body's natural process. Center your acne prevention on washing your face once or twice a day with a non-irritating cleanser. Do not rub or use a wash rag, and dab the skin dry with a very soft towel or let it dry on its own. Use only water-based makeup, and tie your hair back if it's long, to keep it from irritating your facial skin.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit woman washing her face image by Jarek Miarka from Fotolia.com
