How frustrating it is that you are trying to achieve healthy skin and instead you get a skin blemish! An unexpected pimple can ruin the day and stubborn spots can be so heartbreaking. Blemishes can badly affect your confidence. If we want to tackle them effectively, we need to know what’s causing them. Let’s learn more about blemishes and their treatments so we can take a bare-face selfie!
What is a Skin Blemish?
Beginning with skin blemish definition, it’s any kind of imperfection that appears on your precious skin. It could be a mark or even discoloration. Now they can be temporary or permanent and may be caused due to various factors. It could be acne, excess exposure to the sun, aging or any underlying skin conditions. Blemishes on the face are more noticeable and impact how they feel about themselves. While some fade away naturally in some time, some need thorough blemish skin care and treatments to prevent them from worsening.
Common Skin Blemish Types
Once you understand the different skin blemishes you will be able to target those marks with the most effective treatments. Here are the most common ones:
Acne Blemishes
Those of us who have had acne would know how annoying it can be. Acne blemishes happen when pores get clogged, there’s excess oil production or due to bacterial infections. They certainly don’t look the same and over time, they can leave dark spots, redness, and scars. Here’s how they can be:
- Blackheads: These are basically the open clogged pores on your skin that turn black.
- Whiteheads: Notice those white bumps? They are closed clogged pores.
- Papules & Pustules: They are inflamed red or pus-filled pimples that don’t really hurt.
- Cystic Acne: The worst of all are these painful and deep lumps under the skin that will most likely leave scars.
Hyperpigmentation
If your skin has dark patches or spots, it’s hyperpigmentation that is the result of excess melanin production. It happens because of sun exposure, post-acne marks, wax burns or pregnancy or menopause effects. These marks can be really hard to deal with. You need to be consistent with sunscreen, vit C and exfoliants to fade them.
Melasma
Appears commonly on the forehead cheeks, and upper lip, it looks like brown or grayish patches and it’s just not easy to lighten it. It often gets triggered by hormonal changes, sun exposure or could be genetics playing with your skin. Now it takes a pretty long time to manage them along with multiple treatments for satisfactory improvement.
Sunspots & Freckles
The spots you can see on your face, neck and hands are the result of being in the sun. While there are chances that your freckles may fade with sun protection, sunspots stay. They may require professional treatments for removal.
Vitiligo
It’s actually a skin disorder that causes the body to lose its natural color. As a result, you see white patches appearing on the skin. It’s the autoimmune factors that slowly destroy melanin-producing cells. You immediately need to see a dermat for consultation.
Skin Rash Blemishes
If there’s constant redness, irritation and rashes on your skin, it could be a skin condition. Eczema causes dryness, itching and scarring. Psoriasis forms thick & scaly patches. Rosacea leads to visible blood vessels on the face. All of these require proper dermatologist guidance.
What Causes Skin Blemishes?
Having a skin blemish-prone skin will always cause new blemishes because it’s something beyond our control. However, here are a few things we can do to prevent them:
Avoid Sun Exposure
Excessive exposure to UV rays triggers an overproduction of melanin which leads to dark spots & sunspots. Freckles become darker and skin tone will get uneven. It is recommended to use SPF 30+ or higher, cover your skin and wear hats and sunglasses.
Hormonal Changes
Fluctuations in hormones due to puberty, pregnancy, periods, menopause and even stress are your skin’s enemy. It leads to oil production, acne, hyperpigmentation, and other skin blemishes. Have a consistent skincare routine to balance oil production and prevent breakouts.
Genetics
If blemishes run in your family, you need to be more alert. Your skin is more prone to acne, hyperpigmentation and skin conditions. While you can’t really do anything about your genetics, you can have a personal skincare routine using dermatologist-recommended treatments.
Poor Skincare Routine
We often buy and use harsh or wrong products that cause skin irritation, breakouts and discoloration. Skipping sunscreen worsens pigmentation and sun damage. Over-cleansing strips the skin’s natural oils. Harsh chemicals can trigger inflammation. Going to bed with makeup leads to acne blemishes and blackheads. Use gentle products and keep your skin clean.Inflammation & Acne
When you pop your pimples or don’t treat them, they leave behind dark spots, red marks, deep scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) that’s difficult to heal. Treat acne early with prescribed products and don’t pick on your acne.
Blemish Skin Care: How to Reduce Skin Blemishes?
If your skin is blemish prone, you need to take proper care of it and consistently follow these recommendations:
1. Everyday Cleansing & Exfoliation
The first step of a good skincare routine is effective cleansing. Your face has to be free from blemishes-causing dirt, oil, and pollutants. You can also use AHA/BHA exfoliants to unclog pores and fade dark spots.
2. Hydration & Moisturization
You must keep your skin hydrated at all times. The dryer it is, the more prone to blemishes it will be. Even if you have blemishes, use a moisturizer to maintain your skin’s barrier.
3. Sun Protection
Daily SPF is a must; it’s a game-changer. It is known to prevent blemishes on the face. If you already have spots or hyperpigmentation, UV rays will only make it worse. Don’t skip a broad-spectrum SPF 30 and above.
4. Targeted Treatments
Treatments differ with the blemish types. If you want skin brightness and reduced pigmentation, use vit C and niacinamide. To fade scars and fine lines, you need Retinoids. Chemical peels help in removing the dead and damaged skin layer. You can also go for laser therapy for deeper blemishes.
5. A Balanced Diet & Lifestyle
Not everything can be managed with topical treatments. You need to ‘feed’ your skin good food. Good fats and antioxidants fight skin damage. Plenty of water is non-negotiable and managing stress will prevent acne.
Skin blemish on your face can feel overwhelming but you can achieve clear and healthy skin. Understand your blemishes and be consistent with skincare and sun protection. With the right approach, achieving the skin of your dreams is possible!
