What are Blemishes, and How Can You Get Rid of Them?

What are blemishes?

Any form of spot, stain, discoloration, or imperfection that develops on the skin is referred to as a blemish. Although blemishes are unsightly and might make you feel unpleasant, the majority of them are harmless and do not pose a health risk. However, some blemishes may indicate the presence of cancers on the skin.

You may be successful at reducing the appearance of blemishes by opting for medical solutions or even some at-home solutions with natural products or OTC skincare.

Your guide to the different types of blemishes - plus how to get rid of them

1. Age spots

Any part of the body that has been exposed to the sun might develop these little, black patches. They're more frequent in adults over 50, although they can also affect people younger than that. Exposing your skin to the sun creates certain areas on the skin rich in melanin, leading to harmless age spots.

• Treatment - You can opt for prescription medications and laser treatments to treat age spots.

2. Rash

Medication and food allergies, excess heat or infections can cause a rash flare-up on your skin. Your skin changes in colour and texture and usually turn red.

• Treatment - Taking allergy medication or applying it topically can subside your rash.

3. Acne

When excess oil and dirt clog your pores, it becomes infected by bacteria, causing acne. Hormonal imbalances and stress can cause acne and can lead to scarring. They can be of several types like blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, nodules and cysts.

• Treatment - Try the Carmesi Hormonal Acne Skincare range to treat your breakouts. Further, you can maintain a diet that does not increase your body’s inflammation levels and keep your face clean.

4. Birthmarks

Birthmarks can vary in size, colour, form, and texture, and they usually appear during birth or shortly after. Birthmarks such as port-wine stains and moles generally linger a lifetime. It’s not exactly known why birthmarks occur.

• Treatment - Some birthmarks fade over time, but you can opt for prescription medication or laser treatment to remove them.

5. Melasma

Melasma is a brownish patchy skin disease caused by sun exposure and hormonal changes such as those seen during pregnancy. Melasma is caused by an overabundance of melanin in the skin.

• Treatment - In-office procedures like chemical peels, laser therapy and micro-needling can help lighten melasma spots. You also have the option of using the topical or oral medication as prescribed by your doctor.

6. Razor bumps

Sometimes, after shaving or waxing, ingrown hair can appear on the skin in the form of razor bumps. These are hair that got trapped into the skin while trying to break out. You may notice reddish rashes or bumps on your skin, which can sometimes turn into large, fluid-filled cysts.

• Treatment - Your doctor can prescribe an oral or topical medication for the ones that become large and infected. For small bumps, you can treat them with gentle exfoliation or aloe vera gel.

7. Hyperpigmentation

As a result of sun damage, age, acne scarring and genetics, hyperpigmentation occurs, which is a form of blemish that looks darker than other areas of skin. Freckles are a kind of hyperpigmentation that can be passed down through the generations. They are tiny, flat spots that can occur anywhere on the body and can be brown, black, red or tan.

• Treatment - All hyperpigmentation cannot be treated, but you can try some strong prescription medications and laser therapy to reduce their appearance.

8. Cold sores

Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that appear on or near the mouth and are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). They can itch or tingle, and if they open and drain, they can leave scabs behind.

• Treatment - Oral antiviral medications work against cold sores. In the meantime, you can apply ice or aloe vera on them for relief.

9. Scars

When the dermis layer of the skin is injured, scarring develops. Sweat glands, nerve endings, hair follicles, and capillaries are all found in the dermis, which is the deepest layer of skin, and scarring can result from anything that bursts open the dermis layer of the skin, such as a popped pimpled or a skin wound.

• Treatment - Scar treatment creams and gels and laser therapy can help fade scars over time. There are also natural remedies for treating scars that you can pick from.

10. Skin cancers

Skin cancers come in a variety of forms and can show in a number of ways. Some types of skin cancer appear as raised red pimples or yellow scabs, while others appear as black moles with uneven borders. Only your doctor can determine whether a mole is actually cancer, so anything suspicious should always get checked.

• Treatment - Chemotherapy and radiation therapy is normally used in the treatment of skin cancers. You may also need to undergo surgery and any remaining scars at the end of the cancer battle can be treated using laser therapy.

Can you prevent blemishes?

While it’s impossible to prevent the formation of blemishes completely and achieve perfect skin, you can do several things to minimize their formation and appearance:

• Always wear sunscreen - Always opt for sunscreen and sun-protective clothing and accessories to minimize sun damage from exposure to UV rays.

• Check your diet - Maintaining a food journal will help you identify the items that are causing you to break out, and you can try removing them one at a time over the course of the next few days. Additionally, meals rich in vitamins C and E may aid in the maintenance of healthy, glowing and blemish-free skin.
  
  
• Keep your face clean - It’s important to wash your face twice a day with a mild cleanser like the Carmesi Foaming Face Wash, double cleanse when you wear makeup and make sure to never sleep with your makeup on. Keeping your face clean and bacteria-free can help keep your pores unclogged and free from acne.