:Clear Skin Blog

If you’ve visited many sites on acne, chances are you’ve seen more than one diagram on how acne forms. The problem is, there are multiple ways this can occur, and if your acne is serious enough that you’re visiting websites about it, those diagrams are most likely not accurate for you.

Most acne diagrams on the net depict acne bacteria clogging up the main shaft of your pore. This is accurate for very mild acne, such as white heads or black heads. In these cases oil, bacteria and dead cells form a “plug” that blocks up your pore, appearing as a small white or black spot on your face. But this is quite different from the traditional “red bump with a white pustule” that many acne sufferers are familiar with.

When you experience redness, irritation or swelling, it’s usually because the acne pustule has formed not in the main shaft of the pore, but in the oil gland that sits off to the side of the pore. I’ve used my awesome photoshop skills to give you an example below:

When your glands pump too much oil too fast, that oil causes the gland cavity to swell, and then becomes pressurized and hardens into an acne pustule. These pustules are often too large to easily fit out into the main pore, which thus results in irritation. Acne of this sort is not a “plug” as described by most diagrams, and cannot simply be dislodged by a surface cleanser.

So while the typical acne graphic is fine for those tiny clogged pores you get on your nose, if you suffer from more serious acne, those images aren’t the real deal, and neither should you place your hopes in treatments intended to treat that kind of mild, surface acne. You need to treat acne not at the level of your pores, but at the level of your oil glands, if you want to get real results. That’s why Accutane works, and it’s why vitamin B5 also works for so many.

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Sometimes the most often overlooked solutions are the simplest, like drinking more water each day. One of those simple solutions is getting enough sleep. You may not realize it, but your body gets a lot done while you are asleep, and keeping your skin healthy is a big part of that. Of course, while dozing off sounds pretty easy, sleep is often one of the first things we sacrifice when a busy lifestyle leaves you feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day.

Some will tell you that you only need 6 hours of sleep. While it’s true that you can get by with 6, your body will be in better shape (adult or not) if you stick with a more generous 8 hours. While you sleep your body rejuvenates itself, and it’s during those hours that the body is most effective at tissue repair. That means acne blemishes will disappear faster if you are getting better sleep, and your skin’s defenses will be better able to handle whatever challenges the next day has in store.

Not all sleep is equal. The quality of your sleep can have an effect on your stress level and your skin’s ability to combat acne. If you frequently wake up in the night or have trouble falling asleep in the first place, consider a sleeping aid or consult a doctor if over-the-counter medications don’t solve the problem for you. Also, keep in mind that your body likes to keep things predictable. You’ll get better sleep if you keep to a regular schedule, going to bed and waking up at about the same time each day. An erratic sleep pattern leaves your body burnt out and takes a toll on your healing processes.

So while you’re working out a skin-healthy lifestyle, don’t overlook sleep. Acne blemishes will last longer and can crop up more easily if your body isn’t getting enough rest. And by the way, don’t forget to wash those bedsheets regularly! You sweat while you’re asleep, and your bedding is prime real estate for pore-clogging bacteria. Keep your sheets clean and your body well rested, and your skin will thank you for it.

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