What is Acne?
Acne is when follicles, often called pores, overproduce cells and sometimes get blocked. Sebum (oil) which normally drains to the surface gets blocked and bacteria begin to grow. This is caused by hormones and genetics, not by the things we do or eat.
There is may Types of Acne:
Non-Inflammatory
- Whiteheads – occurs when the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface. Whiteheads may show up as tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.
- Blackheads – occurs when the pore opens to the surface, and the sebum, which contains the skin pigment melanin, oxidizes and turns a brown/black color. It is not dirt and can not be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents drain very slowly to the surface.
Inflammatory
- Papule – occurs when there is a break in the follicular wall. White blood cells rush in and the pore becomes inflamed.
- Pustule – forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin. This is what people usually refer to as a “zit” or a “pimple”.
- Nodule – When a follicle breaks along the bottom, total collapse can occur, causing a large, inflamed bump that can be sore to the touch.
- Cyst – Sometimes a severe inflammatory reaction can result in very large pus filled lesions.
- Milia – are tiny white bumps that occur when normally sloughed (discarded)skin cells get trapped in small pockets on the surface of the skin The bumps disappear as the surface is worn away and the dead skin is sloughed.
Follow these steps everyday; you may not see results right away, you have to be very patient, I know it’s hard, but just give it time and do not stress or give up.
Keep It Clean and Moisturize:
- Wash your face in the morning and the evening. Use a mild Skin Cleanser and wash gently. There’s no need to wash more than twice a day, and you don’t want to scrub hard. Gently pat your face dry with a soft towel. Also avoid alcohol-based cleansers, which can actually cause irritation and aggravate acne.
- Once your face is dry apply a pea size amount of Epiduo to your entire face (ex: forehead, chin, each cheek), you many also apply a little more to severely affected areas. Give it time to dry
- Once your face is dry apply a daily moisturizer with SPF, that is non-comedogenic, and preferably one that is specifically formulated for your face. Too much sun is bad for skin anyway. But when you suffer from acne breakouts, it’s even worse. So stay out of direct sunlight as much as you can.
- In the evenings repeat steps 1 & 2, let the Epiduo dry before you lay down to go to sleep, we suggest you use white pillow covers, the Epiduo can bleach fabric. We recommend that you wash your pillow covers in hot water and bleach often, they carry germs.
Donts:
- DO NOT combine Epiduo with any other acne medication, mixing them will make the problem worse, and it could cause more irritation and inflammation.
- DO NOT touch your face with your hands; your hands carry plenty of germs and bacteria.