Dusty climate & acne?
10 months ago I moved from Nebraska to Las Vegas, Nevada. Before then, I hadn’t had any acne (or very little and very mild) for about 5 years * I am 22 now * …Since moving here, my acne has gotten 10 times worse. It seems like it is never ending and I use proactive and take birth control (same as before). Regardless of the fact that I have been under a lot of stress/anxiety because of my senior year in Business College….I was wondering….Does the desert climate have an affect on acne?? My mom was here a few weeks ago and noticed that my fan was WAY dustier than our fans at home in Nebraska..and I had cleaned it a few weeks prior. I am moving to Charlotte, NC in 2 months and am hoping this will help me get back to clear skin but am scared ….I don’t read a lot online about dusty climate causing acne. Anyone???
Tagged with: acne • Climate • Dusty
Filed under: Acne & Anxiety
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It’s all in the hormones and stress. Welcome to my life. I take the same thing you take, but I don’t use proactive because I tried it twice and didn’t do anything for me. I go to a dermatologist. You should too.
Acne occurs when a pore becomes filled with that nasty white pus, as you well know. Why is the pus there? It is there because the pore has become infected. Why is the pore infected? Because the bacteria and oil that normally comes out of your pores and spreads out on your skin is TRAPPED! OH NO! Teens get acne mostly because their hormones tell their skin to produce extra oil that makes their dead skin cells form a sticky goo that clogs pores. When the pore is full of oil and bacteria because it’s clogged up with dead skin (or possibly DIRT and DUST), the immune system responds by making the pore swell, turn red, and fill with pus. Thanks, immune system…
It sounds like the combination of the dry climate, which will make your skin produce more oil, and the massive amount of dirt floating around out there are helping to clog your pores up. You should focus on exfoliation. Get the dirt and oil and dead skin OUT of your pores. Don’t let your skin get too dry, either. Wash your face daily with a mild soap (dove is great) before using an exfoliant of some sort. I like to scrub my face with salt and sugar, but you can buy exfoliating scrubs in the store. Use a very gentle, hypo-allergenic moisturizer on your face right after you exfoliate or wash your face, because this will dry your face out. As a tip, salicylic acid is an ingredient in lots of acne medications that I’ve found rather ineffective. Benzoyl peroxide is an ingredient that does much better for me. It is harder to find, but it works very well because it kills acne-causing bacteria.
Hi .
Acne – Blackheads & WhiteheadsAcne is the most common skin disease treated by physicians. It is a chronic condition that affects over 85% of adolescents and young adults. One study showed that two-thirds of teenagers with acne wanted to talk to their physician about their acne, but only one-third actually did.
TYPES OF ACNE
Not all acne is the same. Simplistically, acne can be divided into red bumps and blackheads/whiteheads. This division is important because each type is treated differently. Blackheads and whiteheads, known as comedones, can be more numerous on the face and shoulders than red bumps filled with pus. Good, consistent skin hygiene can help improve this condition. Therefore, knowing more about what causes comedones and how to treat them is a step towards clearer skin.
WHY DOES ACNE OCCUR ?
BLACKHEADS
Blackheads, also known as open comedones, are follicles that have a wider than normal opening. They are filled with plugs of sebum and sloughed-off cells and have undergone a chemical reaction resulting in the oxidation of melanin. This gives the material in the follicle the typical black color.
WHITEHEADS
Whiteheads, also known as closed comedones, are follicles that are filled with the same material, but have only a microscopic opening to the skin surface. Since the air cannot reach the follicle, the material is not oxidized, and remains white.
SKIN CARE FOR BLACKHEADS AND WHITEHEADS
The key to skin care for acne is consistency. An overnight cure has not been found. But using good skin care methods aids in the daily, steady improvement of follicle health. Since acne is not caused by eating certain foods, restricting the diet is not helpful. Since it is also not caused by “dirty” skin, excessively scrubbing does not help and can even make the skin more irritated.
The best skin care for comedones consists of once-a-day cleansing with a mild soap or facial scrub to aid in the removal of excess sebum and dead skin cells. Oil-based makeup should not be used since these can contribute to the buildup of oil in the follicles. Water-based makeup labeled as non-comedogenic can be used safely.
TREATMENT FOR BLACKHEADS AND WHITEHEADS
Treatment of whiteheads and blackheads takes time. Most treatments take several weeks to months before a noticeable change is seen.
BENZOYL PEROXIDE
Benzoyl peroxide has an antibacterial effect and may also decrease the chemical reaction that changes the lining of the hair follicle. This may help reduce the plugging that causes comedones. Benzoyl peroxide may be used for a mild case of comedones or to help prevent formation of others.
TRETINOIN (RETIN-A)
Tretinoin (Retin-A, Avita, Renova) is the mainstay of treatment for whiteheads and blackheads. Tretinoin is a derivative of vitamin A and works by increasing cell turnover and reducing the “stickiness” of the sloughed cells. It helps expel the plugged material returning the pore to normal. Tretinoin can be irritating, so specific instructions on how to use it can be found here.
ANTIBIOTICS
Prescription topical antibiotics or oral antibiotics might be used if some of the blackheads and whiteheads are infected, but antibiotics do not help with comedones that are not infected.
ISOTRETINOIN (ACCUTANE)
Isotretinoin (Accutane) is used for severe cystic acne and has many side effects. It is very effective for comedones when used properly, but is not usually prescribed for mild acne of either type.
EXTRACTION
Extraction may be used by a health care provider on open comedones. This process is performed using a device called a comedone extractor. This is a small, metal, circular instrument that is centered on the comedone and pushes down the surrounding skin, causing the plug to extrude.
NO NEED TO SUFFER
Whiteheads and blackheads are types of acne that affect many people. There are good treatment options available, so there is no need to suffer with this condition in silence. A primary care provider can initiate treatment for acne and follow mild to moderate cases. Severe cases or those resistant to treatment should be seen by a dermatologist.
Regards. Take Care.