What Really Causes Acne (And What You Can Do to Stop Breakouts and Remove Scars)

At the very root of acne – literally – is blocked hair follicles. While many factors are listed as causes of acne, at the very bottom of it is oil production.

So if you want to know how to treat pimples on your own or with help from a medical aesthetic clinic, you have to understand how pimples develop in the first place.

How Do Pores Become Clogged?

Sebaceous glands are located near the surface of the skin and are attached to hair follicles. These tiny glands produce an oily substance called sebum, which lubricates hair and prevents the skin from drying out.

However, when sebum mixes with dead skin cells, they start to form a clog in the follicle. This combination creates the skin problem as the clogged pores become a breeding ground of bacteria leading to inflammation and swelling – pimple – which may end in scars.

A well-known example is acne vulgaris, a common skin concern of having too much sebum which eventually blocks the pores resulting to pimples, blackheads and whiteheads as well as very oily skin.

Acne Not Caused by Dirt

Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by buildup of dirt.

Proper hygiene is still very important as cleansing the face removes excess oil and impurities from your skin. Without proper hygiene, a pimple can become worse especially once the dirt builds up on top of an already clogged pore. On the extreme end, frequent washing is not beneficial as chemicals from soaps or facial products might further cause inflammation and aggravate the skin.

Wash your face at least two to three times a day. It’s recommended to use antibacterial and anti-inflammatory facial wash that can clarify and cleanse your skin from excess oil and impurities. An individual with a history of acne, acne scars, oily skin and chronic congestion can benefit from Dr. Sylvia’s Purifying Aza Cleanser and Toner.

Dr. Sylvia Ramirez is a renowned female dermatologist in Singapore who has developed a range of advanced skin care products that address various skin concerns at the cellular level.

Purifying Aza Cleanser and Toner are acne removal and prevention products that contain anti-inflammatory ingredient such as azelaic acid, kaolin clay and sulphur. These ingredients prevent recurrence of new acne and keep the skin clean and the pores clear. It stops the growth of bacteria, soothe the skin, balance and regulate the hyperactive sebaceous glands.

Proper hygiene also includes removing makeup before going to bed. Using an oil and alcohol free makeup remover such as Ultra Gentle Makeup Remover can help remove makeup and other impurities without clogging the pores or leaving a sticky residue. Cleaning your makeup brushes of dirt, and swab your phone with antiseptic are also beneficial to prevent acne from getting worse.

Do Fatty Foods Make You Break Out?

The relationship between diet and acne has long been under debate. What’s clear is the connection between diet and the sebaceous gland; if you want to remove acne, you have to avoid eating foods that make the sebaceous glands hyperactive as fatty acids in food may encourage inflammation or dampen it.

Pizza is Not to Blame for Your Acne

Other suspected culprits of acne breakouts are gluten (which makes pizza dough elastic), dairy, and sugar. There is no established scientific link between gluten, dairy, sugar and acne, but based on observations or anecdotal evidence from a wide range of acne patients indicate that their acne clears up when they take away any or all of these foods from their diet.

While clear cause and effect relationships between these trigger foods and acne are yet to be established, cleaning up your diet of these foods that may set the stage for a break out detoxifies your system of inflammation-inducing chemicals.

What to Do With Your Pimple Scars

Pimple or acne scars commonly occurs when the tissue in the skin is destroyed and then replaced by a fibrous tissue. To prevent acne scars, it is important not to prick or pop out a pimple to avoid spreading the infection to other areas of the face. If the acne persists or gets worse over time, consult a skin care specialist for a personalized acne treatment and acne scar removal plan

Removing acne scars can be a process as the treatments to will vary depending on the severity of the scar. Among the effective treatments for acne scar is Dermapen, a micro-needling procedure that breaks up this fibrous and uneven scar tissue and stimulates the growth of new tissue.

Dermapen is an appropriate treatment for multiple types of scars and textural issues such as acne scars, chicken pox scars, pores, and even stretch marks.

Another way to treat acne scars is with VI Peel, a chemical peel solution that treats the top layer of the skin to “peel” resulting to an improved skin tone, cleared acne skin conditions; reduced acne scars and a firmer, more youthful skin.

In Singapore, several aesthetic clinics provide these acne and acne scar removal treatment. However, it is still best to consult with a certified aesthetic doctor in Orchard or within your nearest location to know the recommended treatment options such as Dermapen or VI Peel that will clear your acne scars safely and effectively.