Most common skin problem our customers encounter - The IRRITATING ACNE

Other than many good and effective over-the-counter products, Hairloom greatly believes in natural skin remedies as well. In our blog, you will read and receive unbiased reviews and facts about many skin remedies, both natural and processed skincare products, all tried and tested! (AND YES - WE TRIED THEM ALL PERSONALLY!)

Our philosophy is to share our beauty tips with each and everyone of you here, in looking your best everyday, be happy and confident about yourself!

Lots of people have always been plagued by their skin problems, whether you are a teenager or adult. Probably, you are just another one of them. All these are in fact, common. Especially in a humid country like Singapore, a lot of us are facing skin problems. The most common culprit being, acne. We are now going to discuss about the most common kind of acne which a lot of us have experienced before, or unfortunately is still experiencing.

Before we get any further, it is very important for you to understand how our skin works. Let's take a closer look on our face.

A normal follicle looks like this:

Follicles, often called pores, sometimes get blocked. Sebum (oil) which normally drains to the surface gets blocked and bacteria begins to grow. Both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a microcomedone. The picture below is a microcomedone:

Acne comes in various forms.

First, we have the non-inflammatory acnes. There are basically 2 kinds of non-inflammed ones.

1) Whiteheads (usually known as closed comedones) - When the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface, a whitehead is formed. Whiteheads may show up as tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.

2) Blackheads (usually known as opened comedones) - A blackhead occurs when the pore opens to the surface, and the sebum, which contains the skin pigment melanin, oxidizes and turns a brown/black color. It is not dirt and can not be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents very slowly drain to the surface.

A blackhead or whitehead can release its contents to the surface and heal. Or, the follicle wall can rupture and inflammatory acne can ensue. This rupture can be caused by random occurrence or by picking or touching the skin. This is why it is important to leave acne prone skin relatively untouched. (Do remember to slap your friend's hand if you ever see them picking on it! This is what I do to my girls!)

Next, we have the inflammatory acnes. There are also 2 different kinds.

1) Papule - A papule occurs when there is a break in the follicular wall. White blood cells rush in and the pore becomes inflamed.

2) Pustule - A pustule forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin. This is what people usually refer to as a "zit" or a "pimple".

HAIRLOOM'S WORD OF ADVICE:

Those remedies we've discussed before helps prevent new acnes from forming and to keep your skin clear. Some mild acnes will probably even heal. However, MOST non-inflammed acnes, especially those existing blackheads and whiteheads usually don't go away by themselves - it is best to get an appointment with an esthetician and have them do extractions for you. DON'T TRY TO GET THEM OUT YOURSELF! - believe me, it is hard enough with an extraction tool. Most people end up "digging" blackheads and non-inflamed lesions out. This leaves a scab that will stay red for much longer than if you let someone do it for you. You can also scar from doing this, so leave it to the pros!

Do stay tuned to our blog for tried & tested remedies to help combat ACNE!

Love, SUN