Once we hit puberty, our body goes through a multitude of changes. The most annoying and troublesome of them all- PIMPLES! Every one of us has woken up to find a red painful zit on our faces, usually on the day we need to look our best.
Acne vulgaris, commonly referred to as pimples, are due to the blockage of the hair follicles with dead skin and sebum. Sebum is what gives the skin an oily feel; this is produced in excess in some, making them prone to develops pimples. This combined with poor hygiene or incessant picking at the pimples, makes it spread and leave behind ugly marks and scars.
Here’s what we need to remember when we are faced with that pesky pimple
- Wash you face frequently- this ensures that the excess oil/sebum is washed off, thereby reduces the chances of it to clog your pores. Washing also removes the excess dirt and dead skin cells, allowing the skin to breathe and glow.
- Use face washes that are water based rather than cream based- these helps keep the sebum production in check. Avoid using ordinary soaps on your face- these dry out the skin more than necessary.
- Makeup lovers- make sure you wash it off before you sleep. The chemicals in the makeup can cause inflammation and clog your pores.
- Use as few cosmetics on your face as possible, as those worsen the pre-existing oiliness of the skin.
- Avoid deep fried stuff, cakes and pastries- these are known to worsen the sebum production and increase your pimples! Eat more fruits and vegetables to keep your skin nice and shiny.
- Try natural remedies to rid yourself of that zit- lemon juice, tomato juice, mint leaves paste and turmeric paste etc. there are anti-bacterial and help prevent the scarring and blemishes
- Apart from the face, if you find pimples anywhere else on the body, consult a doctor. This could also be associated with weight gain, menstrual disorders etc.; This could indicate a hormonal issue.
- Most importantly, don’t poke and prod that pimple. It’ll take a few days to naturally subside, so just let it be!
Author :
Dr Amulya MBBS MS Pursuing Cardiothoracic surgery
amicool91@gmail.com