Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. It often causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples, and usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders. Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages.
Effective treatments are available, but acne can be persistent. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others seem to crop up.
Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scar the skin. The earlier you start treatment, the lower your risk of such problems.
Acne signs and symptoms vary depending on the severity of your condition:
Whiteheads (closed plugged pores)
Blackheads (open plugged pores)
Small red, tender bumps (papules)
Pimples (pustules), which are papules with pus at their tips
Large, solid, painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin (nodules)
Painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin (cystic lesions)
Four main factors cause acne:
Hyperpigmentation occurs when the skin produces more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. This can make spots or patches of skin appear darker than surrounding areas. Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition. It affects people of all skin types.
Some forms of hyperpigmentation, including melasma and sun spots, are more likely to affect areas of skin that face sun exposure, including the face, arms, and legs.
Other types of hyperpigmentation form after an injury or skin inflammation, such as cuts, burns, acne, or lupus. These can occur anywhere on the body.
Loose, sagging skin can be frustrating and can have a great impact on self-esteem. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and fails to return back into place when stretched. The loose skin can cause wrinkles and fine lines to appear on your skin. All of this happens due to the slow production of collagen and elastin – there are several other factors that are likely responsible for making skin appear droopy. With long-term exposure to the sun, skin begins to stretch, sag and look dry, leathery and mottled. Smoking and consumption of alcohol can trigger the destruction of collagen and elastin, contributing to premature wrinkles and sagging of the skin. Stocking up on sugar and starchy foods may accelerate the ageing process and make facial skin more susceptible for sagging and wrinkling.