Sand acne is a type of acne that is small in size, but appears in large numbers. Not only causing discomfort, sand acne may also reduce the self-confidence of the person experiencing it. Come on, know the various ways to get rid of sand acne in the following article.
Acne, including gritty acne, is a fairly common skin problem. Sand acne usually appears in the form of small spots or bumps on the skin. This acne appears due to the blockage of the skin pores by the skin's natural oil or excess sebum, dead skin cells, dirt, and bacteria.
Sand acne is generally formed from white comedones (whitehead) and may resemble prickly heat or papules. Although rare, this type of acne can also be in the form of pustules or purulent pimples.
The appearance of sand acne can be caused by various things, such as frequent sweating, oily facial skin, puberty, hormonal disorders, to stress.
Various Ways to Get Rid of Sand Pimples
The appearance of sand pimples, especially on the face, will certainly interfere with your appearance and make you feel uncomfortable. Sand acne usually goes away on its own.
However, to get rid of annoying gritty pimples, you can take the following steps:
- Wash your face with a facial cleanser that doesn't contain alcohol.
- Try using over-the-counter acne medications, such as creams, ointments, or gels that contain benzoyl peroxide. tea tree oil, and sulfur.
- Immediately dry facial skin when the face is sweaty or oily.
- Avoid touching or squeezing the pimple.
If the gritty acne you are experiencing does not improve with the steps above, you can consult a dermatologist. To treat sand acne that you are experiencing, your doctor can prescribe the following medicines:
Retinoids
Retinoids are drugs made from vitamin A and function to prevent blockage of sebum, dead skin cells, and bacterial infections in the skin pores. This medicine is used by applying it 3 times a week at night all over the face.
In the early days of use, retinoids may make your skin feel sore, dry, and red from irritation. However, over time these side effects can subside once your skin is used to the retinoid.
However, this acne medication should not be used by pregnant women because of the risk of harming the fetus.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be used if the gritty pimples that appear on your skin are caused by a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are generally used in conjunction with other acne medications, such as retinoids and benzoyl peroxide.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid has antibacterial properties that can eliminate acne-causing bacteria and reduce excess oil in the skin pores. However, the use of salicylic acid has side effects, namely irritation and skin discoloration.
If the sand acne that appears is severe, the doctor may recommend how to get rid of sand acne by giving corticosteroid injections to the acne or by other methods, such as laser therapy and chemical peels.
How to Prevent the Appearance of Sand Pimples
To prevent the appearance of sand pimples on the face, you can do some simple facial care steps. The following are some tips to prevent the appearance of sand pimples on the face:
- Clean your face before going to bed and after exercising with warm water and facial cleansing soap.
- Avoid exfoliating too often or scrubbing on the face because it can cause skin irritation.
- Apply sunscreen on your face every time you go outside or in the hot sun.
- Choose make up with an 'oil-free' or 'non-comedogenic' label that does not clog skin pores.
- Throw it make up expired, clean the equipment make up after use, and avoid sharing use make up with other people.
- Wash your hair regularly, especially if you have long hair, so that the oil in your hair doesn't clog your skin pores.
Sand pimples that appear occasionally and disappear on their own are generally harmless and do not require special treatment. However, you are advised to consult a dermatologist if you experience sand acne that often recurs or appears more and more.
In addition to improving the appearance of facial skin, sand acne that does not improve also needs to be treated by a dermatologist so that the condition does not get worse or appear more often.