• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Resource Centers
    • Cancer Resource Center
    • Covid Resource Center
  • Find A Doctor
  • BDO TV
Home / Cocoa Cure: The Truth About Your Acne & How To Control It

Cocoa Cure: The Truth About Your Acne & How To Control It

pretty african american woman putting moisturizer on her skin

Do you suffer from adult acne? BlackDoctor.org sat down with one of the nation’s leading dermatologists to give us the lowdown on acne. Dr. Jennell Nelson, founder of Nelson Dermatology, provides some helpful information on what acne is, why Black people are predisposed to it and how to best control and cure it.

Dr. Nelson is a board certified fellow of the America Academy of Dermatology with special interests in scarring and ethnic skin disorders. She’s been serving the North Virginia community for over 10 years as a clinical dermatologist and skin surgeon, and she also sees Virginia-based patients online at www.DermatologistOnCall.com. Dr. Nelson’s leadership in the field of dermatology has landed her in numerous publications and high ranking amongst the top physicians in America.

She sets the record straight for all those who think only hormonal teens are affected by acne. Grab a pen and paper and get ready to learn something new.

What is acne?

Dr. Nelson: Acne is a skin condition in which pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and sometimes boils appear on the face and less often, the neck, arms, chest or back.  It is caused by overactivity of oil (sebaceous) glands in these areas.  This is due to hormones that are released in the body at the onset of puberty.  In skin of color, acne lesions lead to hyperpigmentation.  It is important to treat acne to maintain a clear skin tone.

You May Also Like
15 Natural Remedies for Aches and Pains

Blackheads are caused by plugged pores and turn black due to a reaction between oil in the pores and the air.  Bacteria on the skin can cause further redness and irritation of acne. Two of every three teens suffer from some degree of acne, from the onset of puberty until adulthood. Although it is most common in adolescents, it may commonly also occur in adults.  Acne is not contagious, and it is not caused by diet, poor hygiene, or sexual thoughts or activity.  Your risk of developing acne is higher if you have a family history of acne.

What products or medications cause acne?

Dr. Nelson: Acne can be made worse with the use of some medications including certain birth control pills and testosterone (both hormones); by using certain types of makeup, hair products, soaps and cleansers that irritate the skin; by abrasive or harsh scrubbing; by popping or pinching pimples and blackheads (this forces the oils into the surrounding skin); stress; and for some women, their menstrual cycle.

Prescription medications known to promote acne development include progesterone-based birth control like the Depo-Provera shot or Mirena IUD, topical or oral corticosteroids, lithium, some antiepileptics, and iodides.

An old favorite product, original Noxema, is known to worsen acne.  It contains linum usitatissiumum seed oil (linseed) and glycine soja oil (soybean) which are known to promote the clogged pore that can lead to acne.

You May Also Like
Bacon and other meats May Increase Your Risk for This Lung Disease
Continue Reading

The Latest In Skin Problems

travel essentials

Traveling This Summer? Here Are 5 Essentials You Need

Listen, traveling all year round is the goal but it’s definitely more common to see many travelers during the spring and summertime. It’s absolutely amazing to see so many people want to travel the world and explore all it has read more about Traveling This Summer? Here Are 5 Essentials You Need
sunburn

Black Might Not Crack But It Can Burn

It’s still common for African Americans to believe that they don’t need sunscreen as much as other ethnicities. However, while the melanin in Black skin has some protective elements, it’s not enough to keep your skin from being damaged by read more about Black Might Not Crack But It Can Burn
skin

The Skincare Diet: Tips For Protecting Your Skin From The Inside Out

When it comes to healthy skin, what you put into your body can be just as important as what you use on it. Though researchers continue to finalize all the links between what people eat and their overall health, a read more about The Skincare Diet: Tips For Protecting Your Skin From The Inside Out
glowing skin

Keep Your Skin Glowing With Good Health

As summer draws near and we prepare to show more skin, you'll want to make sure your skin is glowing and healthy. Being good to your skin is a vital part of your health, and dermatologists have 10 ways to read more about Keep Your Skin Glowing With Good Health
Black skin

7 Facts Blacks Should Know About Their Skin

A few years ago, over 40% of licensed dermatologists disclosed that their medical training didn’t adequately prepare them for diagnosing skin issues specific to African Americans. Though this may seem shocking, it mirrors the overall healthcare disparity when it comes read more about 7 Facts Blacks Should Know About Their Skin
shingles symptoms

Shingles Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

With studies showing that one in three people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime, knowing how serious this viral infection is and how it can affect you is important. What are shingles? Also known as “herpes read more about Shingles Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • Marjorie Harvey: Fit, Fine & 57!Marjorie Harvey: Fit, Fine & 57!
  • LL Cool J & Wife Simone Smith Celebrate 25 Years Married: “We Celebrate Life”LL Cool J & Wife Simone Smith Celebrate 25 Years Married: "We Celebrate Life"
  • Snoop Dogg & Wife: 26 Years And Still Going StrongSnoop Dogg & Wife: 26 Years And Still Going Strong
  • Halle Berry: Over 50 ‘Just Keeps Getting Better With Time’Halle Berry: Over 50 'Just Keeps Getting Better With Time'
  • Queen Latifah Sheds Light on BMI Chart Flaws: “I’m Just Thick”Queen Latifah Sheds Light on BMI Chart Flaws: "I'm Just Thick"

Podcast

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2022, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.