Acne & Acne Scars

What does your skin need? Especially for and prone skin!

What does your skin actually need? Most people only need three things to keep their skin barrier intact, experts say.

Second key in acne problem: obstruction of the opening of the sebaceous gland.

Part I: what cause the obstruction?
1) Increase in shedding of cells in the gland, near to the opening, aka hyperkeratinisation

2) increased stickiness of these cells (due to increased desmosomes & tonofilaments that stick the cells together).

3) reduced shedding of normal cells into the lumen due to reduced lipid droplets(essential fatty acid linoleic acid)

What cause the above to happen?
1) Inflammation & androgen(testosterone) stimulate hyperkeratinisation.

2) The infamous bacteria, P. Acnes, known for causing the inflammation of acne, also secretes various substances to form a physical barrier to protect itself against the immune system. This substances may also be mixed with the sebum and glue up the opening.

And the outcomes of the obstruction are
1) micro-comedones (still very small and cannot be seen with the naked eyes)
2) closed comedones ( aka white heads as the opening is covered by the epidermis and appears whitish or of skin colour)
3) opened comedones (aka black heads as the sebum gets oxidized and looks like black dots on the skin)

The next post will be on home care to help reduce the obstruction!

Please like, comment and share! Or you will get more acnes! (Just joking!)

Wearing mask has become part of the new norm. For many, it may even feels a bit naked not to be wearing one! Unfortunately for some, acne starts appearing or worsened after wearing mask everyday. The new term has surfaced!

What are the top 3 picks for A&As to combat this issue?

1) Choosing the right ! There are many materials used for making mask. For sensitive skin, look for mask make of hypoallergenic materials like silk, bamboo, nano-fibers or the good old cotton mask. For additional protection of a surgical mask, go for a mask with a pocket to insert the surgical mask. This way, we get our protection and not aggravate our acne!
Why does a surgical mask aggravates acne, chemicals like formaldehyde, is a possible allergen or irritant that may be on the mask. This chemical is formed during the production of the material (polyprolylene) used. The rougher surface, & the need for a tight seal with the resulting hot & moist air within the mask are other factors.
For those who are working in the frontline or simply must use a N95 mask, there are also several types of design. Look for one that gives us lessen abrasion.

2) Barrier cream. To reduce the chemicals or material irritation, a good barrier cream with ceramides, hyaluronic acne, cica. Do avoid harsh chemicals like retinoic acid, Vit C and other acids as well. Gentle cleanser will be better so as not the strip natural protective layer on the skin as well. I know it feels counter-intuitive not to use a strong cleanser when the skin feels hot and oily after a whole day of wearing mask. But yes, use a gentle cleanser.

3) Keep the skin cool. Skip the make-up! What? No make-up? Yes! Make-up under the face mask is going to worsen your acne. We are wearing a face mask, why do you need to wear make up? But if we really must, choose one that is non-comedogenic, and go light!
And whenever we could, such as inside our own car or our room, remove the mask and cool your skin down. You may use a small hand-held fan or a cold pack. Don't wash the face 10 times a day to cool it down though, It will dry up the skin!

So these are the top 3 tips for Maskne. Share with us what works.

The next post will be on the obstruction of sebum

Our top 3 picks for home remedies to due to overactive sebum production:

1. Gentle .
Avoid harsh cleanser which might irritate and aggravate the acne. And please remember to choose an appropriate moisturiser to ensure that the skin is well hydrated and protected.

2. Diet high in (pumpkin seeds, nuts, beans, seafoods), isoflavones (soy, legumes, nuts), & vit A (tomato, carrot, green leafy vegetables, broccoli). These are well known to reduce sebum production.
And low in alcohol & simple carbohydrates (white rice, white bread, sugar). The spike in insulin from these will trigger more sebum production!

3. .
The raise in the stress hormone (cortisol) due to sleeping late is known to increase sebum production! Even if one doesn't feel stressed.

Try in and share with us what works!

Next post will be the top 3 tips to reduce acne due to wearing mask.

What are the common triggers leading to increase sebum production?
1) ! The sharp increase in androgens ( , DHT/dihydrotestosterone, maybe even ) is a major factor.
2) . The drop of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) just before the period also trigger an increase of sebum production! No wonder there is more acne before the period.
3) . This is due to friction, heat and pressure, causing irritation to the skin and leading to more sebum production. Now we know why wearing face-mask is giving us more acne.
4) . Wondering why? If I have , aren't I suppose to wash them off? The paradox is that excessive washing, coupled with the application of medications for acne that are often exfoliating and drying, and maybe even the oral intake of , would dry the skin so much that the skin would try to produce more sebum in an attempt to compensate the dryness. So instead of getting better, the acne might just get worse!

There are many more triggers. What are yours? Share with us and we will try to share the possible treatments for your acne.

The next post will be simple home remedy for the above triggers!

Acne is so common yet so frustrating! With too much information on the internet, it can be really confusing. At Acne & Acne Scars, we will break down the complex information into simple to understand bite-size posts for you.

Starting with the cause of acne!
Simple put, Acne Story is a trilogy:
1) Overproduction of sebum,
2) Obstruction of the sebum gland, &
3) Inflammation of the acne.

Each of these 3 keys may then be further looked into to understand what may be the cause of acne for you. The treatment will have to be tailored accordingly.

The next post will be on overproduction of sebum leading to acne!