Acne, often believed to be a teenage-trouble, in reality affects people of all ages. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), about 80 percent of people between the ages of 11 and 30 are affected by acne. While it may not be a serious health condition, several studies confirm that acne affects a person’s emotional well-being adversely. Their self-esteem shrinks and so does their social circle. Therefore, it is important to understand acne, its causes and opt for an acne treatment that is a blend of the right products, skin care regime and lifestyle choices.

What is Acne?

Acne is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that can be caused due to bacterial infection, hormonal fluctuations or clogged pores. It commonly occurs on the face, neck, shoulders, upper arms, chest, and back. Sebaceous glands, found near the surface of your skin, begin to produce excess sebum. This extra sebum merges with dead skin cells and the result is clogged hair follicles or pores. Whiteheads and/or blackheads are the first mild forms of acne. And, if bacteria (already present on the skin) happen to contaminate the clogged follicles, they cause moderate to severe acne in the form of papules, pustules, nodules or cysts.

Causes of Acne:

In order to control acne, it is important to first discover the causes of acne. The main causes are:

Hormonal changes: A stark rise in androgens in both - boys and girls at the time of puberty causes the sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce excess sebum resulting in acne. Also hormonal changes in women, especially during menstruation, pregnancy or a condition called PCOS can cause acne.

Certain medicines: Drugs that contain corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium have been observed to cause acne.

Diet: Foods rich in carbohydrates or sugar such as white bread, rice, chips, and soda can cause acne.

Stress: Stress itself does not cause acne, but it can worsen it.

Smoking: Research suggests 42% of smokers are affected by acne as against just one in ten non-smokers.

How to Keep Acne under Control?

Treatment of acne depends on the severity of the acne. Nevertheless, all acne treatments whether it is an acne cream or serum, aim at reducing the production of excess sebum, preventing inflammation and limiting the number of breakouts. Expert dermatologists at Kaya suggest the following steps to ensure your acne treatment is effective:

1. Keep your face clean:

The skin on the face is most exposed to excess heat, light and impurities. Therefore, it needs a good cleanser that gently cleanses pores, and removes excess oil, dirt and impurities. We recommend using Kaya Purifying Cleanser twice a day as it contains Salicylic acid that helps prevent acne and future breakouts. It also contains unique skin conditioners to ensure that your skin doesn’t feel stretched and dry.

2. Tone your skin:

Immediately after cleansing, what your skin needs is a toner. We recommend Kaya Purifying Toner, an alcohol-free formula enriched with Mandelic Acid that gently exfoliates the skin, helps unclog pores and restores the skin’s pH balance. It contains skin soothing agents that help control excess sebum, leaving your skin feeling comfortable and refreshed. All Kaya products are researched and developed by dermatologists.

3. Moisturize your skin:

A good acne treatment remains incomplete without a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer that gets easily absorbed into the skin. We recommend Kaya Purifying Nourisher, a light, gel-based formula enriched with Aloe Vera, Almond oil and Rose extract that soothes and hydrates your skin making it soft and supple.

4. Eat healthy:

You are what you eat. Ensure that you eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and dietary fibre. Also, maintain a food diary to help identify foods that cause or worsen your acne.

5. Sleep well:

Maintain regular sleeping habits and ensure you change your bed sheet and pillow cover at least once a week.

6. Live hands-free: Millions of bacteria get transferred from your fingers to your face every time you touch your face. Resist the urge to touch your face.

7. Use oil-free makeup:

Choose products that are non-greasy, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, non-irritating and oil-free. Ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid are preferred as they hold the moisture within your skin.

So, whether you have mild to moderate or severe acne, our daily regime for oily skin of Kaya Purifying Cleanser, Kaya Purifying Toner, and Kaya Purifying Nourisher can provide the tender, loving care and nourishment that your skin needs. So what are you waiting for, reclaim that perfect, acne-free skin you desire with Kaya!