Dermatologist says 5 acne self-care commandments

 

First, the small, yellow, ripe pustules that stick out can be squeezed at home.

 

You can squeeze a small pustule yourself. Of course, if you have red or narrow pimples, you should seek advice from a specialist.

 

Here's how to weave it.

(1) First, wash your hands thoroughly and place a warm towel on your face for a few minutes. This supples the keratin and enlarges the pores, making it easier to extrude the contents.

(2) Gently disinfect the squeezed area with a single-use alcohol cotton pad.

(3) Use the thumb or index finger of both hands to gently pull the skin around the squeeze site away from the center. This movement alone is extruded in the case of pustules. The tip is not to press, but to pull. You should never press it with your long fingernails. This is because it causes scars.

(4) When the extrusion is finished, apply wound regeneration tape or apply acne spots to finish. (However, the wound regeneration tape must be changed the next day to prevent excessive growth of bacteria on the surface of the skin. After that, you can change it about once every 2 days if necessary.)

(5) It is best to apply BB cream or concealer about 1 hour after squeezing and when the extrusion area has calmed down.

 

Of course, there are times when it's necessary to seek help from a dermatologist.

(1) All pimples except pustules that are very small in size

(2) Large inflammatory pimples that are more than 5 mm in size

(3) When it is impossible to squeeze with a small force

(4) If you have a lot of inflammatory acne or are prone to acne scarring.

 

In addition, oral antibiotics are not essential for the treatment of mild acne, such as narrow acne or small inflammatory acne, but if you have severe inflammatory acne lesions that are larger than 5 mm in size or deeper, you should be prescribed antibiotics by a dermatologist.

 

Second, lower the activity of mTORCI, which is bad for acne.

 

The relationship between diet and acne is very large. According to a 2002 study by Dr. Codeine, none of the indigenous people of Kitavan Island in Papua New Guinea and the Aceh people of Paraguay had acne. This is because their diet consisted mainly of fish, vegetables, and fruits. Natives who moved out of the area to urban areas and ate carbohydrates that cause high blood sugar and ate mainly meat-eating foods have surprisingly developed acne.

 

Excessive consumption of saturated fats can worsen acne, while a sufficient intake of fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, prevents acne. A 2014 study showed that palmitic acid, the main fatty acid in saturated fats, increased the activity of mTORCI, while EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, inhibited the activity of mTORCI.

 

What foods should I avoid? Palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid, is found in the fatty foods we commonly eat, the fat in milk. Processed foods are found in butter and cream, and trans fats are found in margarine, ramen, sweets, cakes, and fried foods. Instead of reducing your intake of saturated fats, eat nuts and eat blue fish such as mackerel about twice a week. Food should not be fried, but boiled or steamed as much as possible.

 

Third, gut health is fundamental to skin health

 

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said, "All diseases begin in the intestines." The same is true for acne. The gut, called the "second brain," is connected to the brain, nervous system, and skin through numerous nerve fibers and neurotransmitters, transmitting and responding to each other's information. Therefore, when we are physically and emotionally stressed, bowel movements and intestinal bacteria change, and if we have poor intestinal health, the condition manifests itself as a skin problem. A 2008 study in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology also found that people with acne had 10 times more harmful bacteria in their small intestine than in people without acne.

 

In addition, lactic acid bacteria are a treatment for acne in their own right. A 2013 study by the Society of Dermatology and Surgery showed that lactobacillus enhances the anti-inflammatory effects of oral antibiotics and is valuable as an acne treatment or adjuvant. It reduces inflammation in acne. It is believed to be due to its ability to regulate the activity of T cells and inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines.

 

For gut health, it's recommended to eat plenty of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits, and to minimize refined carbohydrates, including sugars and syrups, which don't have fiber at all. Pickled vegetables such as kimchi, which is rich in lactic acid bacteria, and miso and cheonggukjang are also good to eat as a meal.

 

Fourth, washing your skin is the reason why acne gets worse.]

 

People with acne have a lot of expectation that if they wash their face well, their acne will heal quickly. However, contrary to expectations, cleansing your face will make your acne worse. Rubbing with a strong cleansing agent or soap damages the stratum corneum of the skin, disrupting the pH balance and increasing sebum secretion, and bacteria easily multiply, causing acne to worsen. Massage your face lightly with your fingertips, then rinse your face with lukewarm water several times.

 

In fact, it is the hands that need to be cleaned more than the face. When washing your face, you should wash your hands thoroughly. Your hands are dirtier than you think, so you should wash your hands first before you start washing your face.

 

Fifth, make good use of the remedies you apply.

 

Fundamentally, acne is a disease, so if you are prescribed a drug that has been proven to be effective and has side effects, you can use it at home to great effect. Effective topical acne treatments can suppress sebum production, prevent the growth of acne, and exfoliate pores to prevent clogging of pores. Treatments such as benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, salicylic acid, and retinoids have been proven to be effective to some extent.

 

Topical retinoids are the first-line treatment for acne and are named because they have a similar molecular structure to retinol and retinic acid, which are various forms of vitamin A. It allows the epidermis of the hair follicle to quickly change into new cells and makes keratinocytes fall off easily. It also promotes the shedding of dead skin cells, which helps to reduce the recovery period of pigmentation caused by acne. It exerts an antibacterial effect by creating an oxygen-rich environment that is not suitable for acne bacteria to live in.

 

However, topical retinoids can have side effects such as skin irritation, redness, and burning. The following should be applied with caution to prevent skin irritation.

 

(1) For the first use, apply a small amount to one area so that it is less than the size of a cotton swab, and apply it only once every 2~3 days.

(2) If you don't feel comfortable applying it immediately after cleansing, apply moisturizer first and then dry it thoroughly before using it, so you can feel less discomfort and adapt to treatment.

(3) Apply every night after 2 weeks as your skin gradually adjusts to it and the irritation decreases.

(4) In the beginning, avoid using topical agents such as benzoyl peroxide, AHA, and vitamin C that may irritate as much as possible.