Question 1

What is acne?

Accepted Answer

Acne is a very common skin condition that causes pimples, mainly on the face but also on the forehead, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms.

Question 2

Who gets acne?

Accepted Answer

Anyone can get acne, including adults, but it’s most common in teenagers. Three in four teenagers experience pimples and blemishes.

This is because puberty is when the sebaceous glands activate. The sebaceous glands produce a naturally-occurring oil that moisturises and nourishes the skin.

Question 3

Why does puberty cause acne?

Accepted Answer

The sebaceous glands are stimulated by androgens, hormones produced by the adrenal glands in males and females.

While a range of factors trigger acne, the main cause is thought to be a rise in androgen levels.

Rising androgen levels cause the oil glands under the skin to grow. This enlarged gland produces more sebum.

Excessive sebum can break down cellular walls in the pores, causing bacteria to grow.

After puberty, other factors can trigger acne breakouts, including genetics, greasy cosmetics, hormonal changes, anxiety, emotional stress, hot and cold climates, environmental factors, and menstruation.

Question 4

How are pimples formed?

Accepted Answer

A pimple forms when oil and dead skin cells combine to form a plug that blocks a pore.

Sometimes, a bacteria (Cutibacterium or Propionibacterium acnes) that resides naturally on the skin also gets trapped in the pore. It grows within the plugged follicle and becomes inflamed.

This is how papules, pustules and cystic lesions appear.

Question 5

How can I prevent acne?

Accepted Answer

There are so many different ways to treat acne that it can be hard to find the best treatment for your skin.

The best way is regular use of the best acne treatment products containing active ingredients that have been proven to work.

Question 6

What actually works for acne?

Accepted Answer

These active ingredients in the best acne treatments have been proven to work. Always read the labels to see what’s in any product.

These are the most common ingredients that actively reduce acne, blemishes and pimples.

Salicylic acid is the go-to fix for pimple remedies and it’s the active ingredient in the majority of acne treatment products. It’s a naturally occurring beta hydroxy acid.

It works by breaking down blackheads, unclogging pores and reducing swelling to help pimples shrink and disappear.

Salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce inflammation and swelling in cystic breakouts that occur when blockages deep in hair follicles rupture beneath the skin.

Salicylic acid in toners and leave-on spot treatments give the treatments more time to work.

Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates the skin, helping to remove the dead skin cells and sebum in clogged pores.

Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial ingredient that’s effective at killing the bacteria that cause breakouts. It accelerates the replacement of skin and slows the production of sebum.

Lactic acid is also an AHA, which means it works like a chemical exfoliant on the skin. Generally, it’s gentler than glycolic acid, so it’s a good active ingredient in an acne treatment for people with more sensitive skin.

It’s also a humectant, which means it draws water to itself and can be hydrating. Exfoliants containing lactic acid work well for people with dry, pimply skin.

Retinol is an active ingredient commonly found in anti-ageing products, but it’s also efficient at clearing up acne. Retinoids cause skin cells to turn over at a faster rate, decrease oil production and help skin exfoliate.

Retinoids are also anti-inflammatory, so they help reduce acne flare-ups. They’re beneficial not just for treating acne but for preventing it from forming as they prevent the follicle from getting clogged.

Benzoic acid is an active ingredient commonly found in skin care products. Its antiseptic properties help prevent infection caused by bacteria and fungi.

It reduces inflammation to make acne less visible, red and irritated. It helps the skin renew itself and reduces the formation of blackheads and pimples.

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