Weathering Acne in Central Florida
August 26, 2024
A very common skin condition that arises when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells is called acne. This clogging can be triggered by various factors, including hormonal changes, skin contact, cosmetic products, exposure to industrial substances, certain medications, and sweating.
Unfortunately, Florida’s heat and humidity can increase the amount of sweat and oil on your skin and can make acne outbreaks worse. Although moisture helps to keep your complexion soft and supple, humidity above 50% can lead to oily, acne-prone skin and the sun’s drying effects often triggers hard-to-handle breakouts.
Acne typically manifests as blemishes on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and upper back. These areas have active oil glands and hair follicles that can become clogged by an oily substance and dead skin cells. Such blockage can attract bacteria, leading to inflammation and infection that results in a more severe case of acne. While you can’t stop sweating, you can develop a good skin care regime for hot, humid weather.
Genetics may play a role...
A family history of acne seems to increase the likelihood of developing the condition. If you have sensitive skin, acne involves ongoing issues with the skin’s oil glands and hair follicles, which can lead to persistent blemishes and inflammation. Acne can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the type and how it’s treated. Whether your skin tends to sunburn or not, it’s essential to wear sunscreen when outside.
Some individuals experience short-lived outbreaks that clear up in just a few days, but stress-related acne can persist as long as the stressful situation continues. Lack of sleep can exacerbate acne by causing the body to become stressed, leading to an increase in pimples and blackheads. During sleep, skin cells regenerate, and increased blood flow and collagen help repair damage caused by environmental factors and UV exposure.
What’s the difference between acne and pimples?
Although the words pimple and acne are often used interchangeably, pimples are caused by clogged pores, which happens when excess sebum mixes with dead skin cells. Bacteria that live on the skin can then infect the plugged follicles, leading to acne. It's important to differentiate between acne and pimples, as pimples are a symptom of acne, while acne is the broader skin condition. People with acne-prone skin experience frequent pimples, but not everyone who gets an occasional pimple has acne-prone skin.
Understanding this distinction can help in managing and treating skin conditions more effectively. To speed up the healing process, it's essential to maintain a good skincare routine and use over-the-counter products. But, severe acne outbreaks may last for weeks even with your treatment regimen. Popping pimples might seem like a quick fix, but it's actually one of the worst things you can do for your skin. For healthier skin, it's best to leave pimples alone and allow them to heal naturally.
When you squeeze a pimple, you risk pushing the core deeper into the pore, causing more damage and increasing the likelihood of acne scarring. Not only can this make your acne worse, but it can also lead to a host of unwanted side effects. The pressure from squeezing can force pus and bacteria deeper into your skin, resulting in increased swelling, redness, and inflammation. If there's no improvement after several weeks, consulting a dermatologist for tailored treatment is highly recommended.
How to Identify Common Skin Lesions
Acne severity can vary and the type of blemishes that appear on the skin depends on a variety of factors. Whether noticeable or not, the white substance inside a pimple is called pus. When dead skin, sebum and inflamed debris get trapped in pores, pus is the body’s response to invading bacteria. Discussed below are common names given to skin lesions, both before and after an infection occurs:
Papules: Small tender bumps less than a centimeter wide that are raised and inflamed. Papules appear when excess oil, skin cells, bacteria, hormones, or certain medications clog pores. Papules are a symptom of inflammatory acne but don't have a pus-filled tip. They can vary in appearance depending on skin tone, but often look smooth or shiny as a red or white bump.
Pustules: Small tender bumps that are inflamed and have pus at the tip are pustules. These pimples are both larger and more inflamed than whiteheads and have a defined circular center filled with pus. The whitish or yellowish pus is a combination of immune and bacterial cells in the blocked pore. The area around a pustule may appear red or pink on light skin, or deep brown or black on darker skin tones.
Nodules: Painful lumps beneath the skin's surface are usually called nodules. Also known as nodulocystic acne, these blind pimples are firm, solid swellings. Since they are inflamed and sometimes get infected, they produce feelings of pain that is readily noticed. However, it is not recommended to pop blind pimples, as it can lead to more inflammation, spread of infection, and scarring.
Crusty Skin Bumps: There are a number of causes of crusty skin bumps from pre-skin infections to actinic keratosis (pre-cancer). Typically, a combination of oil and dead skin in a hair follicle create sebaceous filaments that are natural. You should avoid squeezing them as your pores will simply fill up again. This in turn makes a blemish more noticeable and can lead to scabs, discoloration, permanent pits, or crusty skin bump scars.
Cysts: Deep, pus-filled pockets that are painful lumps beneath the skin are usually cysts. Cysts form a hard ball, which is a pustule that has become painful due to an infection. This condition is also known as cystic acne. Pimple pearls (small white milia) are harmless cysts formed by dead skin that doesn’t fall off or keratin protein and appear as a cyst on the skin. They are also known as milk spots, oilseeds, pearl acne, or milium cysts.
Whiteheads: Clogged pores that are inflamed with a white top are a type of acne known as whiteheads or closed comedones. Whiteheads do have a core that’s covered by a thin layer of skin. These comedones are filled with dead skin cells and hardened oil, but not pus. A white matter that comes out of the pores when you squeeze a pimple is called sebaceous fibers. A common cause is skin bacteria that contaminate plugged follicles.
Blackheads: Clogged pores that are not inflamed and have a top that has turned black from exposure to air are called blackheads. Also known as open comedones, blackheads have a core or plug that was exposed to air. This causes a dark, oxidized appearance that can easily be seen. However, contrary to some people’s belief, the dark black color is not caused by dirt but is an irregular light reflection off the clogged follicle.
Acneiform Eruptions: These skin conditions are raised acne-like bumps that usually form on the face, scalp, chest, and upper back that can be itchy, tender, or painful. Acneiform eruptions are cutaneous reactions that produce drug-induced blemishes that resemble acne vulgaris. These acne mimicking eruptions can manifest as various types of skin lesions, such as red pus-filled bumps or hard lumps that are nodular or cystic.
Folliculitis: Caused by irritation, injury or infection, folliculitis is the infection or inflammation of hair follicles that usually appears as a tiny red bump or white-tipped pimple that can occur anywhere on the body with hair. Gram-negative folliculitis is a pustular rash that resembles acne. It is often mistaken as a worsening of acne in patients with existing acne but does not contain a comedonal core.
In caring for your skin, it is important to recognize that any skin type can be sensitive or prone to acne breakouts. With the right skincare products, people can effectively manage skin concerns like tender bumps and acne blemishes. Acne is often a normal part of puberty and generally improves as individuals get older, typically disappearing by the mid-20s. However, some people may continue to experience acne into adulthood.
Understanding Causes of Adult Acne
Acne is often seen as a teenage issue, but it can affect people of all ages. While many outgrow their acne after puberty, some battle it throughout their lives due to various types of acne. When oil, dead skin cells or dirt block your pores, breakouts tend to occur. Adult acne, or acne occurring after age 25, shares similarities with adolescent acne in causes and treatments but has unique aspects too. Products for hair care, skincare and makeup can further contribute by clogging pores, as can medications like steroids or estrogen.
The development of acne is often influenced by a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, and oily skin, and can manifest as lumps, nodules, pimples, or cyst-like bumps. Hormonal changes during menopause can also trigger acne due to hormone imbalances, which often lead to an increase in androgens and a decrease in estrogen. This hormonal shift can result in acne, excess body hair, and even baldness. Therefore, it's crucial to be cautious about misinformation regarding adult acne.
Adult acne may also signal systemic conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome or other endocrine disorders, especially when accompanied by symptoms like hair loss, excess hair growth, irregular menstrual cycles, or rapid weight changes. Dietary intake can affect acne, as consuming certain foods may trigger inflammation and hormonal imbalances. Hormonal changes related to puberty, menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stress can increase oiliness. To avoid skin damage, the use of sunscreen is recommended regardless of weather.
Managing Skin Types Prone to Acne
Virtually all skin types are prone to acne breakouts, although some people’s skin can be more or less sensitive to the causes discussed above. Nonetheless, problematic outbreaks should be seen by a health care professional as there is a broad range of treatment options for different causes as well as the severity of adult acne. These include topical medications, oral medications, light-based therapies, microdermabrasion, prescription cleansers, antibiotics, and hormone-based treatments.
With proper assessment by a board-certified dermatologist and a personal dedication to a treatment regimen, almost all cases of acne can be successfully treated. After all, being an adult is stressful enough without having to deal with frequent acne breakouts. A dermatologist can assist you in managing acne with various medications and treatment therapies. Additionally, it's important not to pick at acne lesions, as this can worsen discoloration and scarring.
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SteppieMD ETHEREAL BEAUTY
It's crucial to use non-irritating skincare products that are gentle and safe for acne-prone skin and to avoid harsh products that could exacerbate your condition. At SteppieMD ETHEREAL BEAUTY, we offer dermatologist-designed advanced skincare options formulated with highest quality standards to address aging skin, sun protection, cleansing, moisturizing, and acne treatments. Our cleansers and pads help clear blemishes to combat breakouts and reduce excess oils.
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If following an approach that uses these natural remedies proves ineffective, there are a host of medical acne treatments available. Make your appointment online or call 800-877-7546 to schedule an appointment at one of our sixteen dermatology offices in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Celebration, Clermont, Davenport, Dr. Philips, Hunter's Creek, Kissimmee, Mount Dora, Ocoee, Poinciana, Sanford, or St. Cloud.
