What is Acne?

Hi. I’m Natalie Otto, licensed esthetician and a Corporate Educator for Repêchage. Close to 85% of people will experience some form of acne in their lifetime. According to the Academy of Dermatology, acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States affecting 40-50 million Americans at one time.

So let’s look a little more in depth what acne actually is.

What is Acne?

Acne is a lesion of the sebaceous glands. Teenagers are very prone to acne because of an increase in a hormone called Androgen that increases oil production in our skin.

What Causes Acne?

• The first is oil. Extra oil causes clogged pores.
• The second is bacteria. P. Acnes bacteria causes most types of acne.
• The third is is enclosure. This is the plug preventing oil from exiting the pores.

What Forms of Acne are There?

• The most common form of acne is blackheads.You may see these in your t-zone area (your nose, forehead and chin). Blackheads are dead cells and oil hardened in the pore.
• You may also see papules. These are inflamed pimples that can appear red and slightly raised.
• Pustules can be also be present during acne. These contain pus and can be painful.
• And lastly are milia, or whiteheads as you may call them.These are hardened white bumps commonly near the eyes or side of the face.

What Can You Do About Acne?

Do not “pop” any forms on acne on your skin! Instead, see an esthetician. An esthetician can perform a proper skin analysis, and has the tools and professional skills to properly perform extractions. He/she can also recommend professional at-home care – If you want to get ahead, you can start incorporating anti-bacterial products for acne skin, such as our Hydra Medic Collection, into you daily beauty routine.

If you have any questions leave your comments below and thank you for watching!