This article explains how to prevent and treat acne.

<Things you should know> Correct knowledge about "acne" (2) Explanation of how to prevent and improve "acne"

Common methods for preventing and treating acne
[By Symptom] Acne Prevention and Treatment Methods
[By Body Part] Acne Prevention and Treatment Methods
Acne Prevention and Improvement Methods by Skin Type
Latest! The Future of Acne Treatment

If acne worsens, inflammation can become severe, making it harder to heal and increasing the likelihood of scarring. It's important to incorporate habits that help prevent acne and to address any breakouts promptly and appropriately. This article, supervised by a dermatologist, explains methods for preventing and improving acne.

Common methods for preventing and treating acne

To prevent acne, it's essential to review your daily lifestyle habits. We'll share specific measures that can help prevent and improve acne.

Common methods for preventing and improving acne

Incorporate the following habits to help prevent and improve acne.

Perform thorough skincare.

Wash your face gently twice a day with a mild facial cleanser, making sure to lather it well. It's important to rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water to avoid any residue.
Avoid scrubbing your face vigorously with harsh cleansers containing scrubs, as this can worsen acne. After washing your face, use a towel that absorbs water well to gently pat your skin dry without rubbing.
Furthermore, when the skin becomes dry and its barrier function weakens, it becomes more susceptible to external irritants, which can lead to acne. Be sure to properly moisturize areas that tend to dry out.
Get enough sleep

Lack of sleep is thought to worsen acne. Growth hormones, which help skin repair, are secreted while you sleep at night. When you wake up in the morning, get some sunlight to reset your body clock and help you fall into a natural sleep state at night.
Avoid indoor dryness.

When the indoor environment becomes dry, the skin also dries out, and its barrier function weakens. Especially during the colder months, be sure to pay attention to the humidity level in your room by making good use of humidifiers and other devices.
Do not irritate the skin.

Scrubbing your face vigorously while washing, or having your hair rub against your skin, can irritate the skin and worsen acne. It's also important to avoid touching acne unnecessarily.
Keep things that come into contact with your skin clean.

In addition to your hands, always keep clean anything that comes into direct contact with your skin, such as razors, towels, pillowcases, and sheets.
Try to eat a nutritionally balanced diet.

Skipping breakfast or having an unbalanced diet due to excessive dieting is not good. Eat three regular meals a day, paying attention to nutritional balance. Vitamin intake can help prevent acne.

Things to keep in mind when you get acne

Avoid touching or squeezing pimples, as this can worsen them. Thorough cleansing is essential to remove excess sebum. If you already have pimples, it's best to choose a mild, low-irritation facial cleanser or one specifically designed for acne.

Also, it's not recommended to apply a thick layer of concealer to hide acne. Instead, apply a thin layer of foundation all over your face, avoiding the acne, and try techniques to cleverly divert attention by highlighting point makeup or using the light-reflecting effect of highlighter.

If acne is a major concern, apply a thin layer of a gentle, low-oil foundation or use a skin-toned protective cream.

If acne worsens and persists, it not only becomes harder to treat but also more likely to leave scars. If you're concerned, see a dermatologist as soon as possible.

[By Symptom] Acne Prevention and Treatment Methods

[By Symptom] Methods for Preventing and Improving Acne

In addition to general prevention and treatment methods, let's also cover symptom-specific countermeasures. We'll also explain the causes and prevention methods for acne scars.

Acne prevention and treatment methods

It's important to address acne properly in its early stages. Touching it can worsen the condition and lead to acne scars. Avoid irritating acne as much as possible and focus on gentle skincare.

If whiteheads worsen, they can become inflamed and turn into red pimples, or small pimples can become clogged with dirt and sebum, widening the pores and turning into blackheads. If left untreated, the inflammation will intensify, pus will accumulate, and they will progress to yellow pimples, so it is best to treat them early with medication in addition to skincare.

Acne, which is common during puberty, is more likely to occur due to increased sebum secretion caused by hormonal influences, so thorough cleansing is important to remove excess sebum. On the other hand, adult acne is also influenced by lifestyle habits such as lack of sleep. It can also occur in dry skin, so reviewing lifestyle habits and using appropriate moisturizing care are important.

Acne scars

Acne scars can manifest in three ways: redness, hyperpigmentation, and craters.

redness

This condition involves residual inflammation from acne, or visible capillaries.
pigmentation

The brownish marks are caused by the large amount of melanin produced as the skin tries to protect itself.
crater

This describes a severe acne inflammation condition where the tissue is destroyed, resulting in an uneven, bumpy appearance.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation usually fades naturally over time due to skin cell turnover. However, pitted, crater-like acne scars are difficult to treat and may develop into keloids in some individuals.

If acne is irritated in its early stages, such as by touching it too much, it can worsen and leave scars. To prevent acne scars, it is important to treat it properly in its early stages. Consult a dermatologist as soon as possible before it gets worse.

[By Body Part] Acne Prevention and Treatment Methods

Acne can occur in areas other than the face, where sebaceous glands are concentrated. Understanding how to treat acne in different areas is important for preventing and improving it.

Even within the same face, the amount of sebum and the thickness of the skin vary depending on the area. Teenage acne is often seen in the T-zone, where sebum production is high, so thorough cleansing is necessary. Adult acne is characterized by appearing around the mouth and chin, where skin cell turnover tends to be slower. Get enough sleep to promote skin regeneration and prevent dryness with adequate moisturizing.

The hairline and forehead are areas that are easily irritated by hair, and where shampoo and makeup residue can easily accumulate, so these are parts that require extra care. The scalp and chest are also areas where a lot of sebum is secreted, so it is essential to wash them regularly to remove excess oil. Be careful not to scrub too hard, and rinse thoroughly to ensure no residue remains.

Acne Prevention and Improvement Methods by Skin Type

Acne can occur not only on oily skin, but also on dry and sensitive skin. Adopt prevention and treatment methods tailored to your skin type to control acne.

Oily skin

It's important to remove excess sebum by washing your face twice a day. Cleansers and skincare products that minimize oil are recommended.
dry skin

Don't let your guard down just because you have dry skin. When your skin dries out, its barrier function weakens, making it more susceptible to external irritants and disrupting skin cell turnover, which can lead to acne. Be sure to moisturize dry areas appropriately.
combination skin

This refers to a skin type where dry and oily areas coexist, but in fact, many people are said to have combination skin. Focus on washing the T-zone, where sebum tends to be produced, and don't forget to moisturize the dry areas.
sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is already easily irritated. Choose facial cleansers, skincare products, and makeup products designed for sensitive skin to minimize irritation as much as possible.

Latest! The Future of Acne Treatment

With advances in medical treatment, the options for treating acne are increasing. Here, we'll discuss some treatments to keep an eye on.

Acne treatment in medical institutions used to primarily involve topical and oral antibiotics. However, with advances in medical technology, a variety of treatment methods have become widespread.

For example, adapalene, a topical retinoid medication launched in 2008, is one such example. It not only quickly heals existing inflamed acne, such as red pimples, but also prevents the formation of whiteheads by removing clogged pores, thus suppressing the progression to red pimples.

Another drug that has recently been attracting attention is BPO (benzoyl peroxide), which is already used as an over-the-counter medication in the United States. It is said that when used in combination with adapalene, it can be expected to be highly effective, especially for people suffering from severe acne.

In treatments that heavily rely on antibiotics, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been a major challenge. Since no antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been reported with BPO, it is recommended for use as a standard treatment drug.

Adapalene and BPO require a doctor's prescription. Because they can cause irritation, it's best to use small amounts or every other day, following your doctor's instructions carefully.

Supervised by: Professor Tokuya Omi
Graduated from Nippon Medical School Graduate School. Visiting Research Professor at Aarhus University and Visiting Professor at Nippon Medical School. Certified Specialist in Cosmetic Dermatology and Laser Treatment by the Japanese Dermatological Association. Certified Specialist in Dermatology by the Japanese Dermatological Association. Certified Specialist in Allergology by the Japanese Society of Allergology.

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