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What is Acne?


Acne Is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles are clogged with oil and dead skin cells. It often causes whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples and typically appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulder. Acne is more common in adolescents, although it affects people of all ages.

There are effective treatments are availble,but acne can be persistent. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one starts to go away, more seem to pop up.

Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scarring the skin. The earlier you start treatment, the less likely you are to experience such problems.


Acne Symptoms

Acne signs and symptoms vary depending on the severity of your condition:

  • Whiteheads (closed clogged pores)
  • Blackheads (clogged open pores)
  • Small, red, tender bumps (papules)
  • Pimples (pustules), which are papules with pus at the end
  • Large, solid, painful bumps below the surface of the skin (nodules)
  • Painful, pus-filled lumps below the surface of the skin (cystic lesions)

When to see a doctor

If the self-administered remedies do not eliminate your acne, consult your doctor. He or she can prescribe more powerful drugs. If the acne persists or is severe, you can seek medical treatment from a doctor specializing in the skin (dermatologist).

For many women, acne can linger for decades, with frequent flare-ups a week before menstruation. This type of acne tends to go away without treatment in women who use contraceptives.

In older people, a sudden onset of severe acne can signal an underlying disease requiring medical attention.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that certain acne lotions, cleansers, and other popular non-prescription skin products can cause a serious reaction. This type of reaction is quite rare, so don't confuse it with redness, irritation, or itching where you applied any medications or products.

After using the skin product, seek emergency medical help if you experience:

    • Discomfort
    • Difficulty in breathing
    • Swelling of the eyes, face, lips or tongue
    • Tight throat

    Acne causes

    Four main factors cause acne
    • Excessive oil production
    • Hair follicles clogged with oil and dead skin cells
    • Bacteria
    • Excess activity of a type of hormone (androgens)
    Acne usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders, as these areas of the skin have the most sebaceous glands. Hair follicles are connected to the sebaceous glands.

    The follicle wall may swell and produce a white spot. Or the plug may be open on the surface and darken, causing a black dot. A blackhead can look like dirt stuck in the pores. But in fact, the pore is clogged with bacteria and oil, which turns brown when exposed to air.


    Acne can have serious psychological consequences, such as scarring of the skin and redness of the hair follicles. Blockages and inflammation that grow deep inside hair follicles produce cyst-like bumps below the surface of your skin. The other pores in your skin, which are the openings for the sweat glands, are not usually involved in acne.

    Factors that may make acne worse

    These factors can trigger or worsen acne:

    Hormones: 

    Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to expand and more sebum to be produced. Hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and the use of birth control pills can also affect sebum production. And small amounts of androgens circulate in the blood of women and can make acne worse.

    Certain drugs: 

    Examples include drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone, or lithium.

    Diet: 

    Studies indicate that certain dietary factors, including skimmed milk and foods high in carbohydrates - like bread, bagels, and chips - can make acne worse.Chocolate has long been suspected of exacerbating acne worse. A small study of 14 men with acne found that consuming chocolate was linked to worsening symptoms. More study is needed to examine why this happens and whether people with acne would benefit from following specific dietary restrictions.

    Stress:

     Stress can make acne worse.


    Myths about acne

    These factors have little effect on acne:

    • Fatty foods: Eating fatty foods has little or no effect on acne. While working in an oily area, such as a kitchen with frying pans, does so because the oil can stick to the skin and block the hair follicles. This further irritates the skin or promotes acne.

    • Hygiene: Acne is not caused by dirty skin. In fact, rubbing the skin too hard or cleaning with harsh soaps or chemicals irritates the skin and can make acne worse.

    • Beauty products: Cosmetics don't necessarily make acne worse, especially if you use oil-free makeup that doesn't clog pores (non-comedogenic) and remove makeup regularly. Non-greasy cosmetics do not interfere with the effectiveness of acne medications.

    Risk factors

    Risk factors for acne include:

    Age: People of all ages can get acne, but it's mostly in teenagers.


    Hormonal changes: Such changes are common during adolescence, in women and girls, and in people taking certain medications containing corticosteroids, androgens, or lithium.


    Family story: Genetics play a role in acne. If both parents have acne, you are at risk of developing it as well.


    Greasy or oily substances: You can develop acne when your skin comes in contact with oily lotions and creams or grease in a work area, such as a kitchen with frying pans.


    Friction or pressure on your skin: It can be caused by items such as phones, cellphones, helmets, tight collars, and backpacks.


    Stress: Stress doesn't cause acne, but if you already have acne it can make it worse.


    Acne treatment

    Treatment for acne depends on its severity and persistence.

    Mild acne

    Mild acne can be easily treated with over-the-counter medications like gels, soaps, creams, tampons, and lotions. If you have sensitive skin, creams and lotions are best because alcohol-based gels dry out the skin and are more suitable for oily skin.

    Moderate to severe acne

    If your acne is severe, it is best to see a dermatologist. Your dermis may provide you with a strong gel, oral or topical creams, or antibiotics.

    Corticosteroid injection

    If an acne cyst becomes severely inflamed, it can rupture, which can lead to scarring. An inflamed cyst is treated by injecting a diluted corticosteroid.

    Oral antibiotics

    Oral antibiotics can be given for up to six months for people with severe acne problems.

    Oral contraceptives

    These help by removing the overactive gland and are used as a long term treatment.

    Topical antimicrobials

    Topical antimicrobials work by reducing P acne. Examples are sodium sulfacetamide, clindamycin, and retinoid.

    Isotretinoin

    Isotretinoin is a strong oral retinoid used for the treatment of severe cystic acne and acne that has not responded to other medications.

    The drug can cause serious side effects. The patient must sign a form, agreeing to understand the risks.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article should not be taken as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your treating physician for further details.