Absurd: A Skin’s Worst Nightmare
Written by Fiona Nikolla
Our skin is the largest organ and provides the outermost layer of our bodies. As we grow, our skin adapts to our ever-changing environments and surrounding conditions. But what happens when red, puss-filled bumps start to cover your forehead, chin, or other parts of your body, creating that unsettling feeling of disgust as they multiply? Irritation and frustration are common, as people often rush to find the root cause of acne. Bad diet? Hormonal imbalance? Non-exfoliating cleanser or lack of moisturizer? The real culprit for the root cause of acne differs for everyone, but learning how to balance and tackle it is key.
I was in sixth grade when the infamous red bumps started to infiltrate my forehead and chin. Taking nothing of it, I saw it as something that would pass with age, since the concept of acne is something most teens experience throughout their progression into adulthood. Over the following few years, I recognized that my acne did not budge, and it continued to pollute my skin, even with my normal face-washing routine. This underlined the fact that acne is a more drastic infection that occurs below the surface at the pore level. Clogged pores, the main cause of pimples, often result in excess oil, dirt, or dead skin cells that enter and accumulate under the skin. This usually arises due to a lack of cleansing, which results in an excess of dirt, bacteria, and even sweat that penetrates and clogs the skin’s natural circulation.
Cleansers and moisturizers are key to a face-washing routine. Non-comedogenic labeled products are key in their ability not to clog pores upon use and utilize fewer oils for acne-prone skin. Though this fights the formation of pimples, I noticed the presence of blackheads continued to persist on the oilier parts of my face. Although blackheads do not become red and inflamed like pimples, they are still an indication that there is clogging at the beginning of the hair follicle. More so, blackheads can be eliminated with more natural substances, such as charcoal strips that can be applied directly to a cluster of blackheads. Removing the strips after a certain amount of time peels off the blackheads and reduces the pore size drastically with the help of the natural minerals embedded in the charcoal. Products that contain prominent levels of natural ingredients, such as aloe vera or charcoal, can replenish the skin at a more natural rate.
People often question, why can't one just pop or physically extract blackheads? This is a common misconception advised against, particularly when popping pimples, because physically extracting pimples releases puss, otherwise known as the collection of bacteria and other unwanted contents trapped underneath the skin.
Acne comes in different forms and can vary depending on how it affects someone. It was a process that took years to adapt to and required finding out how and why my skin reacted the way it did. Finding what works, but most importantly, what does not work, to prevent further or reduce skin damage, is key. No matter the absurdity or irritation, the presence of acne is a journey to finding your skin’s true disposition.
Written by Fiona Nikolla from MEDILOQUY