The formation and treatment of acne scars

Many people are prone to acne at some point in their lives. It usually appears in the early teens, but can intensify around age 20 and persist in some adults between the ages of 30 and 40. Furthermore, the development of acne also depends on the type of skin and also whether a person has some pathological susceptibility.

Acne itself is already considered, depending on the expression, as a complicated and sometimes very painful skin disease. It simply does not fit into the picture, around aesthetically pleasing and especially healthy skin. However, when acne begins to heal, regardless of the cause of healing, another factor gets a lot of attention. This one also has a significant impact on the appearance of our complexion, but is no longer characterized by inflammation and other accompanying symptoms. We are talking about acne scars. Often acne scars appear in the form of small scars, elevations, pigment spots and other bumps and discolorations.

Even though acne scars are a side effect or consequences of acne, know that they should not affect your self-worth. The condition of your skin is temporary and you may accept yourself exactly as you are now. A holistic approach is certainly always most appropriate for treating your skin with gratitude and patience. And there are many gentle ways to support the regenerative ability of your skin - from the outside as well as from the inside.

Akne

Acneis an inflammatory skin condition that causes clogged hair follicles (open and closed comedones), blackheads, and deep boils (cysts or nodules) on the face, neck, back, and shoulders.

In general, acne disappears without treatment afterwards, but inflammatory acne can leave scars if left untreated.

Causes of acne

Acne may be triggered by male hormones (testosterone), which are present in both men and women. In adult women, periodic flare-ups may occur before menstruation and may be caused by stimulation of the sebaceous glands by corticosteroids secreted during emotional tension, stress, or lack of sleep.

When you look more closely at the skin barrier, you also need to know something about the sebaceous glands and sebum for a better explanation of the causes of this disease.

Sebaceous glands are abundant in the areas of the face, back and chest where acne is generally common. The sebaceous glands are connected to the hair follicles, where an oily substance called sebum is produced. Under normal conditions, sebum rises up the wall of the hair follicle and is discharged through the skin. However, when the hair follicle is clogged, the sebum cannot drain properly and gets stuck around the hair follicle, leading to an increase in bacteria. This inflammation is called acne.

For example, it is known that among the bacteria living in hair follicles, the most important is Cutibacterium acnessecretes lipolytic enzymes that form free fatty acids and stimulate these follicles, and it is also known that an immune response to this bacterium contributes to acne inflation

Types of acne

• Comedones:In the early stages of acne, pores are clogged or there is a buildup of dead skin cells, so excess sebum cannot leave the skin and begins to clump, leading to purulent acne due to secondary infection or the proliferation of acne bacteria.
• Papules (red acne): This is an inflammatory acne that occurs when bacteria multiply on the blackheads, which become red and painful when pressed. It is not recommended to try to squeeze them, as this can cause further damage to the skin.
• Pustules (purulent acne): A condition in which pus has formed due to worsening inflammation of the papule. Swelling occurs and yellow pus may be seen in this type of acne.
• Nodule: A large, deep, hard, palpable lesion. It is an advanced form of purulent acne.
• . Cyst: can be recognized as a large red pimple that swells on the skin. The depth of the lesions is greater than papules and pustules.

Acne scars

In general, the term acne and the scars it causes are often confused by normal people. Some red or darker colored spots are not necessarily a symbol of acne, but of acne scars. You can distinguish them quite easily: Acne refers to the pustules, papules or cysts that become inflamed, while the marks left behind by damage to healthy skin tissueby acne are called acne scars. Here is often a gap between the ideas of doctors and patients.

The currently speculated reasons are a series of steps that the skin goes through:

1. Acne needs a repair process after the inflammatory process is over.
2. During the repair process, the skin tissue needs nutrients and oxygen to rebuild and recover.
3. To transport these nutrients and oxygen, some new blood vessels must multiply and be able to transport them to their destination.
4. Once the tissue has recovered, these blood vessels responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen should slowly shrink, so that the skin has gradually regenerated completely.

However, in some people, due to genetic predisposition or carelessness, there are cracks in the walls of these follicles that cause these spots.

Types of acne scars:

Not all spots caused by this inflammation are the same, so you can tell them apart:

• Hyperpigmented scars: They have a dark coloration due to increased melanogenesis associated with the repair process. They may have a pink or brown coloration that persists even after the pimple has disappeared.
• Atrophic scars: These are the typical acne scars, which can be U-shaped indentations or "holes" and occur mainly in people with a light skin tone.
• Hypertrophic and keloid scars: These are red, hard and itchy. The former tend to remain at the edge of a wound, and the latter are characterized by growing beyond the boundaries of the wound onto the skin.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why do I have acne even though I'm not a teenager anymore?

Acne usually begins during puberty and is most common between the ages of 15 and 19 for men and 14 and 16 for women. Of these, about 80% of people have acne, which gradually subsides by their mid-20s. Sometimes acne persists after the age of 30 to 40, which is called adult acne.

The symptoms of acne can occur at any age, but can be simplified as follows:

Does eating sweets like chocolate affect the appearance of acne?

Fatty foods such as chocolate or peanuts or highly stimulating foods such as coffee should be avoided if you have acne. However, there is no evidence linking them to the appearance of acne, and research has found only small associations between certain products such as skim milk and a diet with a high glycemic index.

Should acne be squeezed?

No, it is advisable not to squeeze them with your fingers, as this can further inflame acne, further sensitize the skin and cause scarring and breakouts. If you notice that your acne is starting to hurt or inflammation is hard to relieve on its own and you need urgent help, be sure to visit a dermatologist or, in an emergency, a hospital and have your skin treated by trained medical personnel, this will greatly reduce the likelihood of scarring.

How should I treat acne?

Before you start treating acne scars, be sure to consult a dermatologist. He or she can help determine the best way to reduce the appearance of inflammation, deal with scarring, or even find out if it's another type of infection.

Can you prevent acne and/or acne scars?

When acne occurs, the scars will remain if not properly treated and managed. Some tips can be:

• Never touch a pimple that is in an acne area. This requires patience, but with a lot of willpower, it is possible to achieve.There are a large number and variety of germs on the hands, so careless touching can cause inflammation and infection. If touching is unavoidable, you should wash your hands thoroughly beforehand.
• Make sure to eat a balanced diet that is free of foods with trans fats and sugar. A full dietis a prerequisite for the regenerative ability of the skin and a sufficient supply of all important nutrients. Often we know intuitively what is good for us and can more easily keep balance between the healthy and less healthy eating habits.
• Always cleanse and moisturize your face. Dirt and skin secretions such as sebum or sweat mix and can cause more severe inflammation, leaving acne scars. Use a facial cleanser morning and night, at least twice a day. Gently wash your face while gently massaging curved areas such as your nose, chin and eyebrows. Especially during activities or in situations where you sweat a lot (sports/summer...), it's also important to stress that you shouldn't overdo it with washing your face, as it can be counterproductive if you scrub the skin too much and end up hurting it. No matter what skin type you're dealing with, a cleanse should always be as gentle and mild as possible.
• Don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, and get enough sleep. Your skin is healthy when it is in good general condition. Alcohol can aggravate acne and pimples as they break down, the nicotine in cigarettes constricts blood vessels and dries out the skin, and lack of sleep worsens the appearance of the skin.

Daily cleansing as the mainstay to prevent acne spots: recommended products

Facial cleansing is important to remove excess sebum and dirt, as well as sunscreen and makeup from the skin. At CRAFT & CARE, we offer products that can be a great help in keeping skin free of excess and therefore less likely to develop acne, such as the LIPID & GLORY Cleansing Balm. It contains gently cleansing white kaolin clay, mild emulsifiers and a gentle collagen surfactant. Thanks to its non-irritating cleansing action, our cleansing balm preserves the skin's lipid barrier. It prevents excessive sebum and oil production as it does not rip off all the natural lipids occurring in the outer skin layers. Thanks to its formula it provides both benefits to prevent acne: moisturizing and cleansing. Thanks to its hydrating formula and mild cleansing active ingredients, it is suitable for all skin types. The cleansing balm is washed off completely with lukewarm water and leaves absolutely no residue.

In addition, our LIPID GLORY Hydrating Serumhas intense moisturizing properties without oil in a pure water based formula. It is very light, leaving the skin with a pleasant, moist and light finish. Our serum is absorbed immediately, is not sticky and does not roll off. This serum contains multifunctional active ingredients that are antimicrobial and moisturizing at the same time and is very well tolerated by skin prone to acne, blackheads and blemishes.

To complete our cleansing routine, we also offer a Balancing Tonerthat contains as a special feature the active ingredient niacinamide, a component that has a regulating, moisturizing, protective and cell-regenerating effect on the skin, reducing fine lines, enlarged pores and pimple marks. Our LIPID GLORY Balancing Toner is a boon in any skincare routine and also refreshes during the day. Lightly sprayed on, it leaves a long-lasting hydrated feeling without causing a feeling of dryness after a short time.

Is it advisable to use oils in your daily routine?

Contrary to what you may think, there are a number of oils that can be applied to the skin without causing acne breakouts or clogging the pores, which is called comedogenicity, because of their numerous benefits.

It is precisely from this concept that we can introduce noncomedogenic oilsthat have the ability to keep the skin free of pimples or any form of acne. This classification was achieved thanks to a study that classified them according to their classes with a numerical value as follows:

Non-comedogenic oils have the property of reducing excess oil production of the skin and actively contribute to a clean and healthy complexion. Basically, each skin reacts individually to oils. So comedogenicity is always dependent on the characteristics of your skin and can even change completely. Nevertheless, there are not only studies on comedogenicity but also experiences of many people with acne on the use of different oils. However, it may well be that you tolerate an oil, which is classified as highly comedogenic, very well with acne.

Our oil recommendations

Our day oil consists of organic jojoba oil with a comedogenic rating of 1-2, which makes it an ideal skincare product for skin prone to acne, blackheads and whiteheads. In addition, we also offer other oilsthat can complement your daily routine and guide you on your path to acne spot recovery:

If you have any questions about acne scars, feel free to send us a message. We wish you a lot of patience with your skin. If you like, check out our article on Meditation. Relaxation is a big factor in holistic skin care.