Has your face been witness to many a different experiment just so you may wake up to an absolutely spot-free look? Blemishes can not only ruin your face but your happiness as well. Namrata D’souza helps you tackle these spots head-on to get a blemish-free complexion
I just can’t seem to get rid of these dark patches on my face. They never seem to vanish!” This is a common complaint for many and it mostly stems from the deep unawareness where the solution lies to the problem faced. Blemishes are dark patches or discolouration of the skin, and these are the spots you desperately seek to hide. Shewli Mukherjee, Associate Manager, Cosmetics, Amway India, says, “Any mark or patch which is not normal for facial skin, such as pimple scar, pigmentation, freckles, etc. is a facial blemish.” For a spotless complexion, you need to get to the root of these blemishes that arise due to varied reasons. “Blemishes can occur on the face due to infection or irritation of the skin. Acne can create several different types of blemishes on the skin, including comedones, cysts and papules, as a result of clogged pores. A person can also be born with a particular blemish,” states Delhi-based Dr Varun Katyal, Consultant dermatologist and cosmetologist, The Skin Centre. These time-tested tips will help you beat the cause, beat blemishes!
Know the culprit
Dr Katyal highlights the role of a dermatologist when he mentions how it is very important to diagnose correctly what caused the blemish before you treat it. Acne residual is one of the main reasons for visible blemishes on your face and here are the more common ones you need to be wary of says Dr Manish Patwardhan, Founder, Spa Consultants:
Comedones: They are small, white or dark coloured bumps i.e. whiteheads or blackheads that give the skin a rough texture. Common belief is that these are caused due to poor hygiene. However, it is the accumulation of excess oils in the sebaceous glands duct that causes comedones.
Pimples: It is a kind of acne and one of the many results of excess oil getting trapped in the pores.
Pustules: They are small, inflamed, pus-filled, blister-like lesions on the skin surface. Treatment is the same as that for pimples and acne.
Additional culprits
Brown spots could mean one is suffering from a skin condition called melasma, which can occur when
one’s body’s natural hormonal state is disrupted.
Dark spots may also be caused by the sun, and that’s why it is very important to practise adequate and appropriate sun protection throughout the year.
A wide variety of benign lumps and bumps can arise on one’s skin. Common examples are warts and verrucas, skin tags, little vascular lesions such as ‘cherry angiomas’ and pigmented lesions known as seborrhoeic keratoses.
Acne management
Dermocosmetics is beginning to play an increasingly vital role in acne management across the world with the benefits of dermatology and cosmetics coming together to get rid of acne and
acne-induced blemishes.
Dr Sushil Tahiliani, MD, D.V & D says, “Acne management has undergone a sea change and we as dermatologists can boast of being able to offer a ‘one-stop shop’ treating the condition comprehensively (medical management of acne, underlying hormonal disorders, procedures for treating acne and marks, lasers for accompanying hirsutism, lasers and surgical procedures for acne scars).
Treat it right
Dr (Prof.) Giuseppe Micali, Head of Department of Dermatology, University of Catania, Italy makes a very pertinent point when he states that cosmetics available to treat acne and other skin problems are very often not labelled and consumers are not made aware of the chemicals used. He says, “At least if the products are labelled with what ingredients are used, as dermatologists, we can then advise the patient whether the product suits their condition and skin type or not. But without a mention of the chemicals used, it makes it more difficult for us.” Dr Katyal reiterates this fact and adds, “Blemishes caused by acne breakouts are most often due to toiletries and cosmetics that may be greasy or comedogenic. Therefore, anyone with a predisposition to blemishes should only use cosmetics labelled as non-comedogenic.”
A right balance of dermatological procedures and homemade remedies can help you treat those blemishes just right in order to get a spot-free complexion.
Dr Katyal explains the following dermatological treatments commonly in use to get rid of blemishes:
Chemical peels – Specialised chemicals are used to detach the outer layer of skin cells from the body. This allows the outer layer to peel off, revealing new skin cells beneath. Your dermatologist can adjust the strength of the peel based on what type of blemish you have, and how deeply the blemish affects the skin tissue.
Dermabrasion/microdermabrasion – Dermabrasion involves the use of a rotary metal scrub brush or other abrasive tool to scrape off skin irregularities and resurface the skin. Microdermabrasion is used for less severe blemishes, and works by using a wand-like tool to shoot abrasive aluminium or zinc oxide crystals at the skin.
Ablative laser treatments – A controlled laser beam is used to evaporate the outer blemish-affected layer of the skin. This procedure acts similar to a chemical peel or dermabrasion, by removing the outer layer of blemished skin and revealing a new, smoother level beneath. As the treatment area heals, the blemish will become less noticeable. The effectiveness of this treatment depends on the depth of the blemish.
Mix it up
Dr Patwardhan suggests using the following face masks to reduce the breakout of blemishes according to your skin type.
For Combination Skin (Oily + Dry)
A. Take 2 tsp gram flour and a pinch of turmeric. Add a few drops of lemon juice to it. Then add a tsp of curd and make a smooth paste. Apply this pack to your face and other affected areas with blemishes daily for a few days to get rid of acne scars and other skin blemishes.
B. Apply juice of raw potatoes on skin blemishes. Sulphur, potassium, phosphorus and chlorine present
in potato juice helps bleach the skin naturally and clear blemishes and acne scars.
C. Mix tomato juice and lemon juice, store in a bottle and refrigerate. Apply this mixture on your face or skin blemishes at other areas daily with the help of a cotton ball to lighten your skin tone and facial hair and to reduce blemishes.
Dry Skin
For very dark blemishes, store some lemon and orange peels in a dry place and let them dry out. Grind them into powder form and mix this powder with rose water and curd water. Apply it on areas with blemishes. When milk cream is added instead of curd water, it becomes an effective remedy for skin discolouration too.
Oily Skin
A. Make a paste of finely ground almonds and yoghurt. This will give you a granular mixture. Apply this evenly on skin blemishes, acne scars, etc. It helps in cleansing and exfoliating the skin to make it glow. It is particularly effective for blemishes due to pigmentation.
B. Make a paste of coarsely ground green gram and apply on blemished skin to cleanse and exfoliate it. This natural cleanser bleaches the skin with regular use and makes the skin appear lighter and blends the scars with the skin colour gradually.
The healthy way to beat blemishes
Eating the right food and taking in adequate amounts of the right vitamins will let your face breathe easy and nourish it from within to beat those spots and scars. Here is what Ritushree Ray, Nutritionist, Amway India suggests one must include in one’s diet for a blemish-free complexion.
Omega-3-fatty acid for dry and inflamed skin or skin that suffers from frequent appearance of whiteheads or blackheads.
Protein from foodstuffs such as milk, eggs, soya and meat for healthy skin.
Vitamin A to prevent dry skin and acne that can be acquired from foods like carrot, papaya and other yellow-orange fruits and vegetables.
Acne in itself is a symptom of zinc deficiency. Zinc acts by controlling the production of oil in the skin, and may also help control some of the hormones that create acne. Sources for the same are milk, yeast, beans, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, chicken and salmon.
High anti-oxidant rich diet is a must, for example, vitamin E food items.
Take note
There are certain factors one must keep in mind when it comes to blemish formation which may ask for lifestyle changes. “The most common causes of skin blemishes include heredity, hormone fluctuations, dietary habits, and environmental factors. Some types of skin blemishes result from the natural ageing process as well,” says Dr Katyal. He adds that blemishes such as port-wine stains are discolourations present from birth. Excess oil production is a major trigger factor in the formation of acne and blemishes. Control this oil secretion by using a mild antibacterial cleanser on your face twice a day as well as shampooing your hair daily to prevent the oil from migrating from your hair to your face. Hereditary factors also play a role in blemish formation. Says Dr Patwardhan, “Some medical researchers suggest that sufferers may have an inherited sensitivity to certain bacteria that can lead to the redness, itching, and swelling associated with these conditions.”
