Acne is a common and frustrating skin struggle for millions of teens and young adults. Acne occurs due to inflammation of clogged hair follicles under the skin. Acne outbreaks commonly occur on the face; however, the chest, shoulders, and upper back are also routinely affected.

What is Acne?

Anyone, regardless of age or race, can get acne. Acne is explained as an inflammatory disorder of the skin. It occurs when the sebaceous (oil) glands that connect to the hair follicles beneath the skin become clogged. When your skin is healthy, the sebaceous glands make an oil called sebum. Sebum is released onto the skin surface through your pores. Also, a specific type of cell called keratinocytes line the follicles, and as your body sheds dead skin cells, the keratinocytes rise to the skin's surface and are shed along with other dead cells.

Dead skin cells and excess sebum are not problematic when your skin is healthy. However, when someone struggles with acne, the sebum, hair, and keratinocytes remain stuck inside the pore. This prevents both the skin cells from shedding and sebum from emptying onto the surface of the skin. This causes the bacteria that generally live (harmlessly) on the skin to grow and multiply inside the hair follicles, leading to inflammation and all too familiar pimples. 

Tips for Reducing Acne Scarring

For most people, acne typically resolves with age. Most people who struggle with teen and young adult acne will be free from noticeable pimples by the time they reach their 30's. Unfortunately, one thing doesn't disappear as easily; acne scarring. Although scarring is frustrating, there are things you can do to reduce the appearance and size of acne scars.

First, begin by treating your acne with the help of the professionals at UPKEEP Med Spa right away. Without medical treatment, acne will inevitably get worse. A skincare professional will help you learn more about the causes of acne and how you can manage the root causes of inflammation. There are a variety of topical treatments that can prevent acne lesions from growing more prominent, causing scarring.

Next, find ways to reduce inflammation. Large and heavily inflamed lesions typically cause damaging acne scarring. These particular lesions can lead to scarring or permanent skin discoloration. Applying skincare products (carefully) as recommended and avoiding irritating the skin during showers or cleansing can help limit the severity of acne lesions. Also, using recommended spot treatments designed to target acne inflammation can help.

Remember to not pick at acne lesions on your face. If you struggle with acne, it is essential to avoid popping acne lesions or otherwise touching your acne with dirty hands. Squeezing pimples can introduce more bacteria into your pores, rapidly worsening inflammation. Also, popping blemishes can lead to scabbing, which worsens potential scarring.

Although some scarring may be permanent, the professionals at UPKEEP Med Spa can help with various professional medical procedures designed to reduce the visibility of acne scarring and discoloration. We can help with specialized treatments to significantly reduce or even remove acne scars when scars do occur. Contact Upkeep Med Spa today to learn more about our med spa services that will help you.