Showing posts with label skin types. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skin types. Show all posts

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Pimples that scar

Scarring is one of the worse things in the world of acne because it can affect your skin and appearance much more than acne itself. Those with scars on the face are most likely caused by acne in their youth. A lot of scars are very visible and is sometimes hard to cover up with make up. It is important to understand by scarring occurs and how to prevent it from happening in the future. Even though there are cosmetic procedures for treating scars, it is still not that effective because it cannot get rid of all of them completely.

There are many different types of pimples, see a complete list here. Moderate to severe acne has a tendency to scar. Scarring varies for each person and the location on the face. It is very hard to whether a pimple will scar based on its appearance. But as we age, our skin tends to repair itself slower and less effectively. You might have lots of moderate to severe pimples in your youth and it might not leave any scar behind. But five years later, it is another story. Even moderate acne will have the possibility of leaving some types of scar.

Pimples on the forehead tend not to scar even when they are relatively severe. Most teenage acne occurs on that part of the face at an earlier age. Pimples on the nose have a moderate to high tendency of scarring especially when you pick at it. Pimples on your cheeks have the highest tendency of scarring even when you don’t disturb it. That’s why you see a lot of post-acne sufferers with many visible scars on the sides of their faces. Pimples on the chin usually do not leave scars but redness can be there for many months.

Pimples that are not inflamed, with no red around it will usually not scar on any part of the face unless you disturb it by squeezing. When you hands are not clean and touched the pimple, the acne itself can get infected and takes the skin longer to heal. Anything that takes a lot time to heal is more likely to scar than a minor little pimple.

Most people believe that picking an acne lesion when the white head pokes through can accelerate healing. While it is true when done right, it does have the risk of making the problems worse if you don’t know how to properly squeeze your pimples. Here is why, if you squeeze the pimple when it is not “ripe”, acne will get into deeper layer of skin which will increase the chances of scarring. Whiteheads are the only type of acne that you can pop when you have lots of experience.

Other types of acne especially severe acne (nodules & cyst) shouldn’t be disturbed. They are already really severe and picking it can cause a very noticeable scar on the face. You should see a dermatologist and ask for a cortisone injection to heal it fast.

The best way to avoid scarring is to treat your existing acne and prevent new ones from forming. For most people, acne is the worse in their late teens and sometimes early twenties. A few that are unfortunate can experience breakouts even in their thirties. There are so many ways to treat acne and lots of daily routine skin care methods to try out. What works for one person might not work for another. Acne prone skin is all about trial on error.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

What is your skin type?

There are 4 different types of skin that people have. Why is it important to know your skin type? It is because some skin types are closely related to acne and knowing how to properly take care of your skin is one of the first steps to eliminate acne. Skin is the largest organ and people see it when they first meet you. It is also an indicator of age.

Dry skin:

Dry skin type is not problematic for acne because very little sebum production on the face is not enough to clog pores and won’t attract bacteria. Those with dry skin usually do not have acne problems; but it does have its share of problems. Because of very little sebum production, fine lines / wrinkles can easily develop even in your mid 20’s. It is important to compensate for this problem by using skin care products that add or lock in moisture for your skin.

Key identifying characteristic for dry skin:
- visible dry surface
- very small pores
- tends to be red in the cheeks
- absorb moisturizers quickly
- do not tend to get acne
- has more fine lines / wrinkles than other skin types if not taken care of properly.

Normal skin:

Those that have normal skin type are very lucky. This is the ideal skin type that has very little problems. Let me explain. Because sebum production is normal (not dry or oily), you do not tend to get acne or wrinkles.

Key identifying characteristic for normal skin:
- small pores
- do not tend to get acne
- do not tend to get a lot of wrinkles
- there is the “right” amount of sebum production in the skin

Combination skin:

Those with combination skin are oily at the t-tone areas / forehead and dry on the cheeks. This combination makes these people prone at breakouts where there is lots of oil. These area have bigger pores compared to the cheeks. Those with combination skin should care for the oily part using methods for oily skin. They should find a good moisturizer for the dry parts: cheeks. Mostly speaking, those with combination skin are very similar to oily skin. Pimples occur frequently.

Key identifying characteristic for combination skin:

- very oily t-zone compared to other parts of the face
- dry cheeks
- big pores
- lots of blackheads on the nose
- prone to acne flare ups
- do not tend to get wrinkles at a young age

Oily skin:

Those with oily skin hate their skin because it produces lots of oil constantly. Some people’s skin produces so much oil that in one hour after they wash it, the skin produces a visible layer of oil. It is very hard to deal with because of the appearance and constant breakout that it causes. Pimples occur frequently. Not all is bad about oily skin; those with oily skin do not tend to get wrinkles even later in life. Oily skin will become more manageable with age because the skin tends to produce less oil when you are older.

Key identifying characteristic for oily skin:
- face gets very oily in a short time after they wash it
- big pores
- lots of blackheads on the nose
- prone to acne flare ups
- do not get wrinkles at a young age