Cosmetic-caused acne is the most common type of this condition. It usually occurs after the age of 30 and is the result of improper care. Check out how to prevent it and how to cure it if it appears on your face as an uninvited guest.
There are several causes of acne – hormonal changes during puberty or pregnancy, environmental pollution, insufficient hygiene or various types of diseases. Nevertheless, the most frequent cause of acne is poor care. We acquire acne at our own request, by unawareness or a disrespectful approach to the principles of caring for the skin. That’s when we must deal with acne cosmetica. What does it mean?
Cosmetic acne
In fact, cosmetic acne is not much different from acne vulgaris. At first glance, it is impossible to distinguish them, because both varieties are very similar to each other. Cosmetic acne can take the form of classic changes. There are blackheads, subcutaneous nodules, purulent blemishes or papules of various shapes. All these unsightly changes are often accompanied by redness and irritation, which are standard for acne skin.
In contrast to the basic variety of this condition, cosmetic acne is not the result of hormonal changes or diseases. The causes lie deeper.
Where does cosmetic acne come from?
These kinds of acne lesions arise primarily when sebum produced by the sebaceous glands does not reach the outside. Improper care is to blame for, and the problem lies in the use of cosmetics with comedogenic ingredients that clog the pores. Then blackheads form, blocking the tubules in our skin. Sebum has nowhere to leave and classic blemishes are formed. What specific ingredients are we talking about?
Substances which may cause cosmetic acne include: paraffin, lanolin, hydrogenated vegetable oils, glycerin, silicones, artificial fragrances, certain vegetable oils, and detergents.
Anti-acne prophylaxis
The best we can do is to prevent acne. Since cosmetic acne arises as a result of our (conscious or not) act, it means that it can be avoided. Here are the most important rules that will help minimize the risk of cosmetic acne:
- pay attention to comedogenic ingredients in cosmetics,
- observe how our skin reacts to each new cosmetic,
- choose water-based cosmetics rather than oils,
- try introducing minimalism in makeup,
- make-up, preferably made with mineral cosmetics,
- let’s not forget about the daily evening skin cleansing.
How to cure cosmetic acne?
However, it happens that despite the best intentions, acne appears anyway. Like an uninvited guest who cannot be easily disposed of. Then, it is necessary to introduce appropriate rules in daily care and treatment that will minimize the problem.
1. Locate the changes
The easiest way to reduce acne is to discontinue the cosmetic that caused it. After some time, cosmetic acne should give up on its own. However, to apply this method, we need to take a closer look at the problem. If acne changes appear:
- on the face, probably the facial cream, cleansing gel or the foundation are to take the blame;
- in the area of the eyes, the eye cream or brightening concealer may be the problem;
- on the hairline or scalp, it’s a matter of bad hair care products.
2. Use exfoliating scrubs
As with any acne, regular and thorough skin cleansing is recommended. You might have heard that using scrubs on the acne-prone skin is forbidden. Why? Because exfoliating particles can spread the bacteria responsible for acne to other parts of the face and then the problem gets worse. In the case of cosmetic acne, this is not applicable, because it is not caused by bacteria.
Cosmetic acne can be minimized by peels. It may be enzymatic or mechanical peels, but you should remember to use fine-grained ones that are milder. Exfoliating treatments allow getting rid of excess sebum, dead skin and all other impurities that may lie at the sebaceous glands.
3. Consult the problem
Usually, it should be enough to give up on using the wrong cosmetics and thoroughly cleanse the skin, because the causes of cosmetic acne are not associated with any chronic changes in the body. However, if the problem still occurs, it is best to go to a dermatologist and run some tests.
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