image by: Daniel Wu

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How fashion is embracing the pimple positivity movement we desperately need

Airplane restrooms. Clothing store dressing rooms. The bathroom cabinet. As any skin-obsessive knows, these places have that perfect combination of uninterrupted mirror access and unflattering lighting necessary to inspect every (blocked) pore of your face. Crucially, each of them is also private. Because pimples are still, for the most part, a reality we try to reckon with in secrecy. We tend to them alone in our bedrooms. We apply creams and cover-up. We erase them with skin-smoothing app filters. And when they break out into public view we're at best annoyed (see: My So-Called Life episode "The Zit") and, at worst, dangerously depressed.

But things are changing. Thanks largely…

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Featured

  Maskne Is the New Acne, and Here’s What Is Causing It

Call it a sign of the times: The Korean skin-care brands Dr. Jart+ and Peach & Lily offer collections of “maskne essentials” on their websites. The patch purveyor Hero Cosmetics recently posted an entry about maskne on its blog. But don’t dismiss maskne — acne and irritation from wearing a mask — as just another portmanteau to market skin-care products.

 Why Do Adults Still Get Pimples?

One of the biggest lies of teenager-hood is that when you get older, your acne will go away. The premise is that as a teenager, you’ve got all sorts of weird hormones going on in your body, which makes your skin oily, which causes acne. Once you settle into adulthood, that oil goes away, and your skin clears up. This is sort of true. But it’s sort of not. Here’s how acne really works.

 Why you shouldn't pop pimples — and 9 other things to know about acne

What scientists have learned so far, though, can tell us a lot about the trillions of bacteria that live throughout our bodies and profoundly affect our health in all sorts of ways. It can also provide a few practical tips — including why you shouldn't pop pimples.

Previously Featured

I’m an Adult. Why Am I Getting Acne?

Pimples can pop up at any age, experts say. But at-home treatments can help.

The Long-Term Psychological Effects of Having Acne as a Teen

Women specifically reported greater impairment in their quality of life, and showed more symptoms than men.

Acne bacteria, study suggests, thrive when skin oil turns infection-fighting cells into accomplices

Cutibacterium acnes, a crunchy Cheeto-shaped bug that lives on human skin, loves the oily pocket around hair follicles. No face is quite as greasy as that of adolescents, flooded with hormones that grow hair, deepen voices, and ramp up production of sebum, a secretion that makes the skin a moist and protective barrier. Too little sebum means dry, flaky skin, like patches of eczema. Too much sebum means acne, the skin disease caused by C. acnes

Acne During Pregnancy

During pregnancy elevated hormone levels can bring a variety of skin changes, including acne. When is it safe to use the usual drugs for this issue?

Does 1 Type of Bacteria Cause Acne?: Zit All Depends

Genetic analysis suggests some acne bacteria strains contribute to the skin disease, whereas others fight it.

Does Eating Sugar Really Cause Acne?

Excess sugar in your diet makes it more likely that you’ll develop insulin resistance, which can manifest as excessive hair growth (hirsutism), production of dark patches on the skin, and aggravation of acne breakouts.

Good News, Acne Sufferers: You'll End Up Living Longer and Looking Better Than Non-Acne Sufferers

A new study has proved that we spotty people will have our day.

Here’s What’s Really Behind Your Acne Breakouts

About 85% of people get acne at some point in their lives, and scientists have long blamed it on the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. But so-called P. acnes never entirely explained acne, because research has shown that it’s abundant in hair follicles of people with clear skin, too—not just those with pimples. Now, new research puts forth a different potential acne culprit: an imbalance of bacteria living on the skin.

How Cocokind's Founder Turned Her Experience With Acne Into A Multimillion-Dollar Skincare Brand

My journey into the skincare world started off as a consumer, not as a career move. I’ve dealt with hormonal acne since I was a teenager.

How St. Ives's Apricot Scrub Plays on People's Shame

St. Ives Apricot Scrub and its ilk perpetuate this idea that the best way to get the skin you want is to destroy the skin you have.

Researchers Have a New Explanation for Adult Acne

The current method of applying antibiotics kills all facial bacteria, whether they're harmful or beneficial. Knowing that one strain of P. acnes is actually beneficial would likely lead to more targeted treatment, including probiotics to encourage the growth of healthy bacteria.

The agony of acne: ‘I channelled adolescent turmoil into a fixation with my face’

I was 14 when the spots arrived, turning a boy who got admiring glances on the bus into an unlovable outsider. But were my problems more than skin deep?

The Emotional Toll of Adult Acne

The skin blemishes can affect people in their 30s, 40s and beyond and lead to depression, anxiety and social isolation.

The Human Skin Condition

Mother Nature gave us pimples, and then she made us self-conscious about them.

The Problem With Adult Acne

Growing concern over antibiotic resistance is changing how dermatologists treat acne. They are relying more on topical treatments, which can require a lot of patient education and hand-holding to assure reliable use, and on hormonal medications for some women. Some dermatologists say they are putting more patients on isotretinoin, an effective acne drug with a controversial history that used to be sold under the brand name Accutane.

These mice got acne so future teens might not have to

You can give a mouse a cookie, but until recently you couldn’t give her acne. And that was a problem.

Why Does Acne Still Exist?

It's not about bacteria; it's about our reactions to them.

Why Hasn’t Science Solved Acne Yet?

Dermatologists are cautiously optimistic that a new vaccine could work better than so many other flawed treatments.

Resources

Acne Guide

Acne is the most common skin disease seen by dermatologists, and is a common source of anxiety of embarrassment for teenagers, as well as adults. Acne can cause permanent scarring, pigmentation problems, and even be a source of depression. Fortunately, there are many treatments that can manage the disease effectively.

Acne.com

Our mission is to give you the facts you need about Acne fast so you can get on the road to clear skin right away.

Acne.org

Our step-by-step guide. Includes how acne forms, myths, personalized advice and treatment options.

AcneTalks

Stop worrying about acne! There are way too many acne treatments available to resolve the problem. Almost 80 % of population all over the world is perplexed by the action of acne. All of them suffer from acne at some or the other point in their life. So, every acne sufferer should learn what basically is acne.

Curology

No drugstore product is this customized. We use your photos, your history, and your goals to pick powerful active ingredients just for you. From occasional spots to full-on breakouts, our easy overnight treatment has you covered.

American Academy of Dermatology

Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. Though common, accurate information about acne can be scarce. This can make it difficult to get clearer skin. The information on this site can help you understand acne and how to successfully treat it.

American Osteopathic College of Dermatology

Waiting to "outgrow" acne can be a serious mistake. Medical treatment can improve your appearance and self esteem, and prevent the development of lifelong scars.

DermNet NZ

Acne and other Follicular Disorders.

SkinSite.com

There are many different treatments for acne. Not all people respond to the same treatments. If the first medications do not work, chances are the second ones will.

KidsHealth

If you're almost a teen, chances are pretty good that you have some acne. About 8 in 10 preteens and teens have acne, along with many adults. In fact, about 17 million people in the United States have acne.

MayoClinic

Zits. Pimples. Blemishes. No matter what you call them, acne can be distressing and annoyingly persistent. Acne lesions heal slowly, and when one begins to resolve, others seem to crop up.

MedlinePlus

No one knows exactly what causes acne. Hormone changes, such as those during the teenage years and pregnancy, probably play a role. There are many myths about what causes acne.