Confessions of ... ACNE

Acne. 

Quite frankly needs to be redefined as a swear word along with fat and ironing. 
I hate acne. It's a fact. I damn well hate it. 

What purpose does it serve other than ruin the self confidence of an already self conscious nation? 

In this new world of social media I feel under the microscope. I keep my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on private settings and keep it for people I actually know. However, I still feel pressured to portray a perfect self image. 

I'm not perfect. NEWS FLASH - No one is.

But, people really do appear it online. As a teenager in the 00's I remember people blaming magazines for unattainable beauty. People were outraged at the airbrushing of celebrities. Now everyone can slap on a filter and smooth their skin. 
This is not reserved for the A-Listers anymore. What's more damaging? Thinking a small percentage of self acclaimed stars are perfect or thinking every Tom, Dick and Harry has a six pack, great hair and flawless skin?

I'm not so fussed about amazingly styled hair. I'm known as pineapple head. I wear my hair up every day in one of those messy buns. I did it before it became a trend and I will continue it for years to come. 

6- pack? Ha. My sister has the body of a sculpted Greek god. She looks awesome. But she is not lazy, she works hard. I am lazy. I like long walks but you won't see me run. I'll carry shopping but not weights. So, as much as I am slim I'm not trim and I'm OK with that. 

Skin on the other hand I do care about. Ever since I can remember I've been obsessed with good skin and good teeth. If I'm checking a guy out it's not for his body, it's his teeth. If he has great skin then I'm in heaven. 
Because these are qualities I look for in other people it's what becomes important for me. Side note, my boyfriend has amazing skin and perfect teeth, so I've stopped looking lol. 
Sadly I turned 25 and Mother Nature flipped me the bird and slapped me with the acne stick. What a bitch. 

I've got a very good very regular routine. I posted about it in my Skin secrets blog. However, I've got closed comodones on my jaw line and cheeks. My skin problems are caused by a build up of sebum under the skin. Luckily its not bacterial nor is it hormonal. 

Acne is not just large red pustules on the skin, or those big hard lumps under it. 
There are so many forms and they all need treating differently. All types can be debilitating for those suffering. 

Personally I've cried over my skin. Yes I am aware that it sounds ridiculous. But the blemishes make me feel embarrassed. Sadly foundation only highlights the issue. Also some of the treatments I've tried have left my skin burning and raw as if I'd been scolded with hot water. 

So many acne treatments are excessively drying and harsh on the skin. For instance, foaming cleansers predominantly advertised for acne prone skin disrupt the acid mantle turning the skin more alkaline. When the skin is a more alkaline PH it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Bacteria = spots. 

Let's talk about acne 

Adult acne is caused by excess oil production which clogs the pores and causes a reaction in the skin. It can also be caused by an increase of testosterone. Some acne is caused by bacteria on our phones or in our makeup brushes. It can even be caused by tight fitting hats. Acne normally appears during puberty in our teenage years and then decreases over time, but this is not always the case. It can rear its ugly head in adulthood. Lots of adults are also left with acne scars even when the condition has improved. My fear is leaving my current condition and the scaring becoming permanent. I've got some dark marks but no pitting of the skin. 

A comedo is a basic acne lesion. A closed comedo is a white head and an open comedo is a black head. The plural of comedo is comedones. Comedones occur when a hair follicle in the skin becomes clogged with oil and dead skin cells. When the comedo is under the skin its a white head. When the follicle is open and the oil reacts with oxygen it becomes dark and that's a blackhead. Many over the counter products claim to provide relief from these. 

Papule's are comedones that become inflamed. They look like small red bumps on the skin and may be sensitive to touch. Picking at these can make them worse and more inflamed. Squeezing these can lead to scarring. 

Pustules are another type of inflamed comedones. They are what you would normally think a white head is. If you imagine what a spot looks like this is a pustule. A lump on the skin with a white or yellow head and a red edge around it. 

Nodules are large deep under the skin lumps. Nodules can be painful and should be treated by a dermatologist. These are not pickable. Over the counter treatments probably ( in my opinion definitely) won't work. Prescription drugs can be effective. But remember treatment takes time to start working, anything from 3-6 months. 

Cysts are large pus filled lumps that like nodules can be painful. They can cause deep scarring and are considered a severe form of acne. Again, treating this acne is more difficult that simple comedones but it is possible. There are plenty of success stories, but an over night fix? Don't be fooled. 

If you're suffering with acne go to your doctor. Granted not all GP's are great when it comes to skin but its a good place to start. If not, they can refer you to a dermatologist or point you in the right direction of a good private practitioner. 

Acne is known as a disease. Its not curable but it is treatable. If you are suffering ...You really don't need to! 

I have had closed comedones all over my cheeks for almost 18 months. I tried changing my diet eating "clean" no relief. There is no proven link between diet and acne. If you eat greasy food or chocolate it doesn't mean you will get acne, likewise acne is not caused by dirty skin. However, over washing can cause irritation and make it worse. 

The do's and don'ts are endless. The truth is your acne is as individual as you are. What works for one person may not work for another. 

A good consistent skin care regime is paramount. Keep phone, pillow cases and makeup brushes as clean as possible. 

I decided that after trying what felt like every option in the pharmacy that I would have Isolaz treatment. Its a vacuum laser treatment that brings the sebum to the surface and kills bacteria deep within the skin by the light of the laser. The therapist will then extract the sebum that has been pulled to the surface. 

My next post will be a detailed account of my first treatment. 

Stay tuned for updates.