11 things to remember to avoid having severe pimple problems

After Kyline Alcantara and Ayra Mariano opened up about their past pimple problems, it's safe to say acne isn't just skin deep inconvenience affecting teens. 

It's a real health concern that adults also often contend with.

According to Dr. Tanya Perez-Chua, a board certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist and a fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society, acne can be the effect of something else — a more serious health concern for instance, or even an effect of medication.

Dr. Stacy San Diego of Stelton Dermascience reminds treating acne is not an overnight process because there are a lot of things to consider: skin type, causes, treatment, and the possibility of a more serious underlying health problem.

Here are  things you need to keep in mind to avoid having severe acne.

1. If PCOS is causing the acne, lifestyle changes should be done

PCOS or polycystic ovary/ovarian syndrome is a hormonal disorder common among women caused by a myriad of things like excess insulin, low-grade inflammation, heredity and excess androgen.

San Diego said those who have PCOS are "twice as likely to develop diabetes mellitus, gain weight, have acne and excessive hair growth."

Other than the external treatment on the skin, she said "lifestyle changes should be initiated and maintained. It’s not just about solely treating the skin. It should be about treating the whole body."

She said the patient's gynecologist may also prescribe them COCs (combination oral contraceptive) if the PCOS is causing the acne. Its "antiandrogenic effects of the pill treats and prevents acne."

But San Digeo warned that COCs are not always prescribed to patients "as some women may not be suitable for this type of treatment, like those with a strong history of breast cancer and venous thrombosis."

2. Watch out for hyperandrogenisim

According to Perez-Chua, "Hyperandrogenism is the excess levels of androgen in women. It manifests as acne, increased hairiness of the face and body, and even hair loss of the scalp. It may also be associated with an underlying cause."

"Conditions that cause hyperandrogenism can cause severe acne," San Diego says, adding adrenal hyperplasia and cushion's disease are a few examples of such conditions. 

Because the acne that accompanies hyperandrogenism may scar, it is important for it to be treated right away, Perez-Chua said. 

"A complete work up should be done on a woman presenting signs of hyperandrogenism. It is corrected by fixing the hormones with birth control pills and other medicines," added Perez-Chua. 

3. Check your medicines 

According to Perez-Chua, "Intake of high doses of certain vitamins and supplements could cause acne. Oral and topical steroids when used for prolonged periods can cause an acne flare, too."

She adds, "A lot of seemingly harmless supplements and organic products may cause also pimples. This reminds us to take everything in moderation."

4. Foods in high glycemic index and even skim milk can influence acne

San Diego compares the skin to any part of the body: It benefits from a healthy diet. She cited emerging data that suggested "foods in with a high glycemic index may be associated with acne."

WebMD defined glycemic index as a number that tells how fast the body converts carbohydrates in food into glucose.

"If your diet gives you a high glycemic index, meaning the food that you take makes the blood sugar increase rapidly, you will more prone to oiliness and inflammed pilosebaceous units. These will lead to more pimple formation," Perez-Chua adds.

Some food that have high glycemic index, white rice, white bread, corn flakes, and potatoes are best to be eaten in small portions.

If you want to maintain a lower glycemic load, switch to eating whole grains, nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables without starch. 

San Diego also mentioned there is evidence that suggests that "some dairy products particularly skim milk may influence acne."

She said studies have examined taking antioxidants "including oral zinc, probiotics and fish oil have a positive effect on acne."

5. Don't prick your face

No matter how annoyed you are with your zits, San Diego says you should "avoid pricking your face. It is sometimes hard to resist but it may lead to scarring."

Perez-Chua agrees. "When you prick, the zit ruptures inside your skin and this causes more inflammation inside. When inflammation happens, the risk of having permanent scars is higher."

6. Change your pillow sheets 

San Diego also said people shouldn't underestimate the power of clean sheets and pillow cases.

"We recommend using mild detergent for fabrics that comes in contact with the face such as bed sheets pillow cases, towels etc," she said.

7. Stop following trendy skincare 

Not all skincare routines you see on YouTube will work the same for you. San Diego said "treating acne is not a one size fits all."

In fact, San Diego said following other people's personalized routines is dangerous since "these routines are based on their personal experience."

She said "It can range from easily treated to hardly manageable. Applying products that are wrong for your skin type may exacerbate acne. "

8. For puberty acne: It is never too early to start treatment

San Diego said teenagers who are undergoing puberty and are pimple problems can do "facials and comedone removal" for starters or "lasers and peels."

She suggests consulting a dermatologist first before doing your own home remedies.

"The varying formulations and concentrations out of anti acne medications in the market can be overwhelming and the misuse of these treatments can exacerbate acne," she said.

9. Choose your facialist wisely 

Perez-Chua reminds everyone to choose a facialist wisely. "Most facialists are just instructed to prick whatever they can without realizing that this may cause more scarring. Pimples are temporary. They will go away, but the scars that form after the pimple are permanent."

10. Don't take anti-acne medicines without prescription

Just like COCs, San Diego said anti-acne medications should only be taken with prescription.

"A lot of the anti acne medications are only given with prescription such as antibiotics and isotretinoin. COCs should also only be taken after a doctor’s advice. "

11. It's OK to wear makeup as long as it's hypoallergenic and non comedogenic

You may think that a person with severe acne should avoid wearing makeup because it might get worse but that's not what San Diego suggests.

She said since acne is visible and so it can cause a person to have "stress and anxiety" which leads to worsening of acne.

San Diego said it's OK to wear makeup as long as it's hypoallergenic and non comedogenic, "Also make sure to thoroughly remove makeup before heading to bed." — LA, GMA News