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"Ms. Zhang, your face is not an ordinary pimple, but a 'small stone' at work!" Dr. Liu, the head of the Department of Dermatology, couldn't help but exclaim as he carefully examined Ms. Zhang's face.
Ms. Zhang, 35, is an executive at a company. On weekdays, I am busy with work and socializing, and I have little time to take good care of my skin.
In the past six months, some small bumps began to appear on her face, and at first she thought it was just ordinary acne, and she didn't pay much attention to it.
However, these "acne" not only did not subside, but became more and more, and she could still feel hard when touched, which made her very troubled.
"Dr. Liu, you said that I have a 'small stone' on my face? What does this mean? When Ms. Zhang heard the doctor's words, she immediately became nervous.
Dr. Liu smiled and reassured, "Don't worry, Ms. Zhang. This condition on your face is what we call 'comedo-acne', commonly known as 'comedone'. The reason why they feel like 'little stones' is that the hair follicle orifice is blocked, and the oil secreted by the sebaceous glands cannot be discharged, and it slowly hardens after mixing with the dead skin cells, forming these small hard bumps. "
Ms. Zhang suddenly realized: "I see! I thought it was a normal pimple. Dr. Lau, can you tell me why I have this 'acne'? "
Dr. Liu nodded lightly and began to explain in detail: "Ms. Zhang, there are many reasons for the formation of acne. Stress and staying up late can be a significant factor. I noticed that your dark circles are more noticeable, do you often work overtime until late? "
Ms. Zhang smiled embarrassedly: "Yes, our company has been working on a big project recently, and I often work until the early hours of the morning. "
"That's right," says Dr. Lau, "that chronic stress and lack of sleep can lead to hormone imbalances in the body, stimulating the sebaceous glands to secrete too much oil, increasing the risk of acne." Your eating habits may also be a cause. Do you usually socialize and eat greasy and spicy? "
Ms. Zhang nodded: "That's true, as a company executive, socializing is inevitable. "
"A diet high in sugar and fat stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, which can also increase inflammation and make acne more likely to form," Dr Lau explains. I also noticed that your makeup is thicker, do you wear it often? "
"Yes," Ms. Zhang said, "I put on makeup every day, and I was so tired when I came home at night that sometimes I would go straight to bed and wash my face the next morning." "
Doctor Liu frowned: "Ms. Zhang, this is not good. Wearing makeup for a long time without removing makeup can clog pores and aggravate the formation of acne. There may also be a problem with the way you wash your face. Can you tell me how you wash your face? "
Ms. Zhang thought for a moment and said, "I usually wash my face with hot water, thinking that this can wash the oil on my face more cleanly. After washing, I wipe it vigorously with a towel. "
Hearing this, Dr. Liu couldn't help but shake his head: "Ms. Zhang, the way you wash your face is precisely an important cause of acne. Let's talk about a few common misconceptions about washing your face. "
Dr. Lau began to explain in detail:
The first myth: wash your face with hot water.
Many people think that hot water cleanses the skin better, but the opposite is true. Hot water stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, which in turn aggravates the formation of acne. The correct thing to do is to wash your face with lukewarm water, which should be close to body temperature, about 35-37 degrees.
The second myth: scrub your face vigorously.
Some people think that scrubbing vigorously will make them cleaner, but this practice will only irritate the skin, causing it to become more sensitive and prone to acne.
The correct way to wash your face is to gently massage it with your fingertips, and the movements should be gentle.
The third myth: washing your face for too long.
Some people think that the longer you wash your face, the cleaner it is, but this is not the case. Washing your face for too long can disrupt the skin's natural protective layer, which in turn makes the skin more susceptible to irritation. It is recommended to control the washing time of your face to about 1-2 minutes.
The fourth myth: use a towel to dry your face. This practice causes mechanical damage to the skin and stimulates sebaceous gland secretion.
The correct way to do this is to blot up the water with a gentle pressure on a soft towel or pat it directly with a paper towel.
The fifth myth: not applying skin care products in time after washing your face. Many people feel that their skin is clean after washing their faces, but this is not true.
When your skin is dehydrated after washing your face, applying skincare products that suit you in time can help lock in moisture and maintain healthy skin.
After listening to this, Ms. Zhang suddenly realized: "It turns out that there are so many problems with my way of washing my face!" No wonder there are so many acne. Dr. Liu, can you tell me what else can be done to improve my skin condition other than correcting these misconceptions about washing my face? "
Dr. Liu smiled and said, "Of course." In addition to the correct way to wash your face, you also need to adjust your daily routine, pay attention to a balanced diet, eat more foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, keep exercising and choose the right skin care products. "
It is advisable to use skincare products that contain salicylic or fruit acids, which can help remove dead skin cells and prevent the formation of acne. However, it should be noted that there may be slight irritation at first, so take it gradually.
Ms. Zhang carefully jotted down these suggestions, and then asked with some concern, "Dr. Liu, I already have so many acne on my face now, will they go away on their own?" Or do you need special treatment? "
Dr Lau explains, "Acne that has already formed usually does not go away on its own and requires proper treatment. Depending on your situation, I recommend starting with a few professional cleansing treatments to remove the pimples that have formed. I will then prescribe you some topical medications, such as tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide gel, which can help prevent new acne from forming. "
"When using these medications, you must follow your doctor's instructions and do not increase the dosage or frequency without authorization, otherwise it may irritate the skin and cause side effects such as redness, swelling, and dryness." Special attention should be paid to sun protection during the use of these drugs, as they can increase the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet rays. "
Ms. Zhang nodded, and then asked a little embarrassedly, "Doctor Liu, can you tell me how long it will take for a situation like mine to see obvious results?" "
Dr. Liu replied with a smile, "This varies from person to person, but in general, if you can adhere to the correct care and treatment plan, you can see significant improvement in about 2-3 months." Skin care is a long-term process that requires consistency. Even if your symptoms improve, continue to practice good skincare habits to prevent recurrence. "
Ms. Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and said gratefully, "Thank you, Dr. Liu. "
This real-life case shows us that skin care is more than just a simple cleansing, but also requires us to start with all aspects of our daily lives.
Let's work together to take care of our skin and bloom with a healthy glow!
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