A skin blemish is a flaw, discoloration, or mark on your body. It could be nothing more than a bit of annoyance for you, or in some other cases, it could be a severe sign of skin cancer. Here are the different types of skin blemishes.
Types of skin blemishes
1. Acne
This is the most common, and most people will have acne as they grow up. Acne refers to skin blemishes on the face, and they include dark blemishes on the face (blackheads) or white blemishes on the face (whiteheads).
They can be caused by dirt, oil, clogged follicles, and bacteria. Your hormones play a big role in this condition which is why most teenagers tend to suffer from acne.
2.Nodules
This includes skin tags and warts, and they are the most common nodules on one’s face. They are simply a collection of tissue cells that tend to rise to 2 centimeters in diameter. Nodules are the same color as your skin, though they might be a little red.
3.Discoloration
You can have discoloration if you have blemish prone skin. Dark spots can show up on anyone over 50 and are mostly known as age spots, and they are usually due to sun exposure.
Alternatively, birthmarks are types of color changes on your skin that are found immediately after birth. These can vary in color, size, and shape.
What causes skin blemishes?
The leading causes for skin blemishes are:
1. Viruses
Common blemishes like cold sores could be caused by a virus, such as the HSV-1 virus that also causes chickenpox.
2. Infections
Certain skin infections could cause blemishes to erupt on your skin, including Malassezia folliculitis, which is an infection found in your hair follicles.
3. Genetics
Acne, one of the most common facial skin blemishes types, is connected to certain hereditary conditions: Darier disease, Fabry disease, and gangliosidosis.
4. Sun exposure
When overexposed to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, you could suffer skin blemishes on the face and be at risk of hyperpigmentation, skin cancer, and other skin damage forms.
5. Diet
What you eat can directly impact your skin. Some dairy products such as skim milk can cause acne in some people, while diets rich in sugar such as carbohydrates are likely to lead to some skin blemishes on blemish prone skin.
6. Medication
Specific prescription drugs such as corticosteroids, lithium, androgenic steroids, and antiseizure drugs can cause acne.
How do you get rid of skin blemishes?
There are many ways of treating skin blemishes, including using blemishes cream and other homemade treatment options. Still, when you have no clue what type of blemish you have, the best thing to do is to see a doctor, most preferably a dermatologist.
