Prevent Zits from Reappearing

Zits. The word alone evokes serious emotion. For anyone who has ever suffered from a few zits, or is currently suffering from them, they’re one of those little things that can present an incredible annoyance. Zits are just another word for the all encompassing term, acne. Acne represents blackheads, whiteheads, cystic acne, pimples and the ever popular term, zits.

When it comes to zits, there are as many misconceptions about the common skin disorder because there are remedies available to treat it.

All About Zits

Zits, or acne, are a common skin disorder that is most often experienced during adolescence during, and in most individuals it subsides before or during young adulthood. However, many individuals suffer from adult acne as a continuation from adolescent acne, or experience the onset of acne later in life.

Zits are the result of three main components, all natural aspects of the skin: Dead skin cells that shed from the surface; the P-Acne bacteria that is found on the skin; and sebum (skin oil) that is secreted by the sebaceous gland located in every hair follicle. When these three components combine, they serve to clog a pore and infect a hair follicle, resulting in a zit. This is how all acne is formed.

Zits known as whiteheads, or closed comedomes, are the result of a zit that is protected from the outside air—the pore only possess a microscopic opening at the surface of the skin. In direct opposition a blackhead, or open comedome, is exposed to air through a larger pore opening. The air serves to oxidize the material as well as the skin’s melanin giving it the darker color.

The most severe zits that develop in the skin are the ones that are classified as cystic acne. This acne occurs deeper in the skin (the inner layer known as the dermis), and often persist for several days or even weeks. These are the zits that can cause severe acne scarring if not cared for properly. For consistent problems with cystic acne, it is recommended that treatment is sought through a dermatologist.

Are Zits Hormonal?

There are many variables that affect the development and severity of acne, including hormones and diet. Hormonal acne is one of the reasons zits are so prominent in teenagers, as well as for women during menstruation and during pregnancy. Eating fatty, oily diets from fried foods can also lead to excessive production of sebum, creating a skin environment that is more susceptible to the development of zits.

Treating Zits

Regardless of what certain zit and acne remedies claim, there is no cure for acne. In fact, dermatologists spend much of their careers trying to figure out what might cause the severity of acne in specific patients. Again, it comes down to the three components of dead skin, bacteria and sebum that cause the problems. These three issues are what must be addressed to treat and prevent additional acne from developing.

The best way to treat zits is through a consistent skin care regime, and any guidance that is sought from a dermatologist. Generally, over the counter products that are used properly will offer positive results.