Skin Blemishes: Everything You Should Know

Let's be honest: pimples, blackheads, and the like are annoying, whether during puberty or beyond. After all, clear skin is sold as "the ideal." Yet, it's completely normal to have skin blemishes now and then. Do you recognize these problems and want to learn more about them? We'll tell you about the possible reasons, why certain areas are often affected, and how these pesky fellows generally develop. Read on here!

The Different Types of Skin Blemishes

What are skin blemishes? Colloquially, three main types are hidden behind this term: blackheads, pimples, and acne. These differ mainly in their appearance. We'll now reveal the characteristic features of each variant and how to distinguish them! But first: the scientific term for all blemishes is 'comedo'. This comes from the Latin word 'comedo' and means 'to eat', 'to consume', or 'to eat with'. Essentially, all skin blemishes are a type of comedo, even if we colloquially only refer to blackheads as such.

Development of Skin Blemishes

The initial situation is actually the same for all forms. The process initially unfolds as follows:

1. Due to various causes (hormones, personal predisposition, etc. – more on this later), there is an increased formation of microcomedones, which arise from proliferating, keratin-forming cells.
2. Seborrhea occurs. This means your skin produces an excessive amount of sebum.
3. Your outermost skin layer thickens. This process is called hyperkeratosis.
4. The thickening creates a kind of horny layer.
5. If there is high cell production and dead layers are not sufficiently removed, the sebaceous gland ducts become blocked, hindering or interrupting the flow of sebum.
6. At this point, it is decided which type of skin blemish will develop. This depends on how the body continues to deal with the excess sebum. A plug forms, known as a closed comedone.
   • Due to this excessive sebum production, the bacteria already present on your skin surface multiply particularly strongly. These are called Propionibacterium acnes. The body reacts to this excess with inflammation, leading to the reddened pustules and pimples.
   • Alternatively, the follicle may open after some time. Then the chemical reaction described above occurs, and a blackhead forms.

The Blackhead

If the keratinization of the epidermis prevents the excess sebum from escaping, a plug forms, colloquially known as a 'blackhead'. This plug closes the opening of the follicular canal. Because the plug comes into contact with oxygen in the air, it darkens due to the melanin (skin pigment) it contains. Due to this discoloration, the blackhead is often also called a "blackhead." So, it has nothing to do with dirt accumulating in it, but only with the chemical reaction that happens there. These skin blemishes are particularly typical for the chin, forehead, or nose. If you have oily skin, they can also appear all over the face as well as on other parts of the body (e.g., the back).

The Pimple

Pimples are quite similar to blackheads. However, here we are dealing with a skin inflammation that is triggered because the plug does not come to the surface on its own. As a result, it is slowly decomposed by bacteria and other pathogens. The accumulated sebaceous gland secretion provides an excellent breeding ground for microorganisms that naturally live on our skin. Especially the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, which occurs deep in the sebaceous gland canal, multiplies very well under these circumstances. During this process, the characteristic redness around the pore appears: it becomes inflamed. Furthermore, pus forms in the hair canal. Due to this light secretion and because no discoloration can occur here due to the blockage, this closed comedone is also called a whitehead.

Acne

While blackheads and pimples usually appear individually, acne is a hormonally induced condition. Here, the imbalance between male and female hormones is the main trigger. More blackheads and pimples appear than with typical skin blemishes. We will briefly introduce four of the most common forms of acne here. Acne vulgaris – common acne – usually occurs in adolescents. Often, it outgrows itself and can be well managed with mild skincare products. However, if these and a change in diet don't help, and the blemishes continue to spread, we recommend consulting a dermatologist. The same applies to acne tarda, late-onset acne, which appears around the age of 25. Women are primarily affected by it. In addition, cosmetic or contact acne is also among the more widespread variants. This is usually triggered by medication or cosmetic products. The fourth basic version you may encounter in everyday life is Mallorca acne, scientifically: Acne aestivalis. However, this is more of a reaction to UV rays and thus a special form of sun allergy. The small pustules that form are reminiscent of the aforementioned blemishes.

Possible Causes: Why do you have pimples, blackheads, and the like?

When researching the reasons for pimples, you've probably heard all sorts of theories. Ultimately, we don't have a definitive explanation for what triggers them in your case, as it heavily depends on your individual circumstances. Nevertheless, in the following sections, we'd like to offer some starting points for further investigation.

Hormone-related skin impurities

If you're currently in puberty and between eleven and eighteen years old, we can reassure you: it's completely normal to have some skin impurities. After all, 95 percent of teenagers deal with them. However, only 30 to 40 percent require medical support. For those who don't fall into that category, the problem should resolve itself, usually once your hormone balance is back in sync. Nevertheless, it's possible for blackheads and pimples to reappear even after these formative years. This can have various reasons. For example, in women, discontinuing the birth control pill often leads to it. Since the body has become accustomed to the hormone levels, not taking the medication leads to an excess of testosterone. The imbalance of female and male hormones can lead to excessive sebum production. Similar fluctuations occur, for example, during pregnancy or monthly – in a milder form – during menstruation. However, these impurities do not only occur in women. For example, men's skin generally has much more hair and is also about 0.2 millimeters thicker. Due to sweat accumulating, for example, in the beard, and the thickening, blackheads and pimples can easily form. In addition, men often have quickly oily and large-pored facial skin. This is mainly due to male sex hormones, androgens. The already mentioned testosterone also ensures that there can be increased sebum production and thus skin impurities.

The different skin types as a cause

Take a closer look at your facial skin. Not infrequently, its texture combined with an incorrect care routine is the cause of skin impurities. So, first find out what it needs.

Skin type	Characteristics	Care products
Normal skin	If it's not too oily, needs little moisture, and rarely shows pimples and the like, it's normal skin. However, external factors such as hormonal changes, air-conditioned or heated indoor air, or even incorrect care can still lead to pimples and blackheads.	Pyunkang Yul Deep Cleansing Oil Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop Pyunkang Yul Highly Moisturizing Essence Mask Pack
Oily skin	Oily skin is characterized by frequent shine or large pores. It can be hereditary or caused by medication or hormonal changes. It is particularly prone to blemishes, but don't worry, with the right care, you can combat them.	Cosrx AHA7 Whitehead Power-Liquid Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power-Liquid
Dry skin	The complete opposite is dry facial skin. If you have this, then pimples are actually not a problem for you. However, wrinkles, irritations, or inflammations occur more frequently, as your skin has only a limited protective function. Therefore, care tailored to this is also recommended here.	Benton Honest Cleansing Foam Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask
Combination skin	The combination of the last two types is called combination skin. The characteristics of the respective options appear in certain areas of your face. The oily areas usually affect the so-called T-zone – i.e., forehead, nose, and chin. The rest of the skin in this variant is usually dry. A routine tailored to this must therefore take many factors into account.	Klairs 4-piece dry skin set

Learn more about skin types in our blog post!

Further causes of skin blemishes

In addition to the aforementioned potential reasons, diet and lifestyle, as well as the environment, can also play a role. These include:

• Diet: too many carbohydrates, junk food, excessive consumption of cow's milk and dairy products
• Alcohol
• Cigarettes
• Stress
• Climate (humidity, UV radiation)
• Certain medications
• Wrong care products

Although there are no studies proving that junk food, for example, truly causes pimples and the like, it is clear that burgers and similar products often lack essential nutrients. If your diet is not balanced enough and consists only of these quick, often greasy products, it can lead to an imbalance. Therefore, it is important to consume enough vitamins, healthy fats (such as from nuts), and antioxidants. But stress can also cause temporary blemishes. Excess stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline lead to overstimulation of the sebaceous glands. Additionally, this weakens the body's defenses against bacteria. This impairment can quickly lead to unwanted skin problems. Products with snail mucin, by the way, can help regenerate the skin.

Whatever the cause of your skin blemishes – proper cleansing of your face and other areas is always beneficial. Read more here!

Where can pimples, blackheads, and the like appear?

The face can be divided into different zones where skin imperfections can occur. Depending on the affected area, these usually have different causes. For women, for example, pimples that appear during menstruation on the chin, jawline, neck, and décolletage are typical. If you have pimples and the like at your hairline, it could be because you haven't properly rinsed off your facial cleansing, hair care, or styling products. Residuals can lead to irritation. The fact that sweat quickly forms here can also be a reason. On the cheeks, skin impurities usually indicate classic acne. In the T-zone, however, it's also possible that stress alone, for example from adrenaline, was the trigger. But it's not just the face that can show blackheads. They can also appear in the areas of the neck, chest, shoulders, and back. This can also be due to hair care products that have settled on the skin and lead to impurities. But also tight clothing and associated sweat is a possible reason. It can also be that you use overly aggressive shower gels in your routine and generally over-stress the skin mechanically. This can also stimulate sebum production. By the way, we also tell you what you can do if pimples and the like have taken hold on our blog!

A small conclusion

As you've already read: You're not alone if you have skin imperfections. With the right diet and appropriate care, you should usually be able to prevent them well. In our online shop, you'll find a wide variety of products for blemished skin (for example from the manufacturer COSRX) that will support you. And if you ever have questions about individual cosmetics, feel free to write to us at hello@lovemycosmetic.de!

Provided by Purito

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