The Best Minerals and Vitamins for Acne Treatment

Acne, also known as acne vulgaris, is a common inflammatory skin condition and occurs when hair follicles become clogged with dead skin cells, bacteria, and sebum, which is the oil that helps to keep the skin from drying out. Acne manifests in the form of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, and even nodules under the skin and ranges from one pimple or zit, to an entire outbreak of them. It most often occurs on the face but can also occur on the back, chest, and shoulders.

Acne affects about 85% of people between the ages of 12 to 24. It peaks in adolescence and early adulthood, so it is usually thought of as a teenage problem but can still occur at any age making it a common misconception. When acne occurs in teenage years, it is most common in males, and when it occurs in adulthood, it is most common in women. Severe cases of acne may lead to the development of painful cysts and nodules beneath the skin, potentially resulting in permanent scarring, which is known as cystic acne.

Fluctuations in hormonal levels such as androgens may cause acne due to the fact that they cue sebaceous glands to produce sebum. Therefore, if hormonal levels are high then sebum production will be increased, leading to a greater risk of producing acne. There are other risk factors that are associated with acne production as well and these include: genetic factors, a high glycemic load diet, endocrine disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome, medications that contain hormones or corticosteroids, stress, and the use of skincare products. Skin care products such as cosmetics, sunscreens, and moisturizers have the potential to block hair follicles, contributing to the development of acne. Modern skincare items often specify whether they are non-comedogenic, indicating that they do not worsen the occurrence of comedonal acne. Moreover, there are factors that do not cause acne but can make it worse, such as environmental irritants including pollution and high humidity, squeezing or picking at blemishes, or scrubbing the skin too hard.

While a multitude of acne treatment options are available, unfortunately the public tends to rely on the beauty industry to alleviate their symptoms and minimize their acne scars, rather than confiding in their dermatologists. Due to the fact that the beauty industry is constantly developing new products to target a younger population that have complexion insecurities and may not have as much scientific or medical knowledge, the public is attracted to these products that may have damaging long-term effects.

Additionally, another major contributor is the skin care boom that occurred towards the end of 2019, when the no-makeup look began trending on social media and suddenly young women became obsessed with having clear, dewy skin, otherwise known as "glass skin". In other words, a clear skin complexion that is so smooth and reflective that it’s like glass, hence the name. The glass skin trend originated from South Korea and while it was introduced to the Western world in 2017, it went viral online, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The beauty industry took major advantage of this, and suddenly everyone wanted to get their hands on the latest product that casted a luminous glow on the face.

Ultimately, a pharmacist's role in this is to counsel their patients by communicating the causes of acne, correcting misconceptions, and clearly explaining the rationale for treatment. Reassurance and emotional support often are necessary to reduce patient concern, as acne may only be controlled, and not cured.

References:

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/acne#:~:text=Acne%20is%20a%20common%20skin,commonly%20called%20pimples%20or%20zits.

https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/acne#:~:text=Acne%2C%20one%20of%20the%20most,common%20as%20time%20goes%20on.

https://retailbeauty.com.au/the-skincare-boom/

https://ankhamagazine.com/__trashed/#:~:text=In%202017%2C%20the%20K%2Dbeauty,like%20glass%2C%20hence%20its%20name.