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Acne Treatment

by Cura Med Curamed Medical & Aesthetic Clinic

All About Acne

We have been there. Staring at the mirror, eyes fixed at those small, red and painful bumps that won’t go away. A quick search online for home remedies seem to have little effect.

Often called pimples, this term is simply just one type of acne. Many others remain depending on the severity of the condition. Sometimes, it is confusing because these lumps can be misunderstood for other skin conditions as well.

For both men and women alike, the appearance of acne is never welcomed.

What is there to know about this skin condition that affects so many worldwide of all ages and gender? As they say, knowing your enemy well is half the battle won. By gaining a deeper understanding of what acne is, you can better know how to prevent and when to seek proper treatment.

What is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition that occurs in people of all ages. It can be found primarily on the face, forehead, scalp, back, shoulders and chest.

These areas contain the most oil glands and therefore have the greatest possibility of acne showing up.

Acne can be stubbornly persistent on the skin, with more emerging after treatment. Therefore, much patience and diligence are required in the healing process.

Causes of Acne

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When oil glands joined to hair follicles are triggered during puberty or hormonal changes, acne can occur. The hair follicle becomes plugged by oil and dead skin cells when oil production increases.

This follicle grows and may burst, becoming an opening for irritants and bacteria to enter. Inflammation results, and a deep inflammation ends up as a pimple.

Some think that acne is caused by bacteria, but that is not the case. Yes, it plays a role in the buildup leading to acne, but it does not stem from it. Neither is it due to dirt or sweat, which is formed by another completely different gland.

In fact, acne is a result of a few different factors. They include increased oil production, irritants and bacteria seeping into the skin’s deep layers, inflammation and hormonal changes.

Acne Risk and Exacerbating Factors

Certain factors can lead to a greater risk of acne developing. One such factor is genetics, where parents with serious acne can cause their offspring to face more challenges in controlling it.

Age is also a major factor. Teenagers are more likely to get acne due to the hormonal changes they go through, especially during puberty. The hormone androgen heightens during puberty, causing oil glands to enlarge and produce more sebum.

Oral contraceptives and hormonal transitions related to pregnancy can also alter oil production.

The workplace is also a risk area. Industrial products that touch your skin or oil and grease from a workplace, like a kitchen that practices deep-frying, can let acne develop. On the contrary, eating oily food does not.

Instead of dirty skin, daily activities like face cleansing can worsen existing acne. This is because excessive washing can dry up and irritate the skin. Using harsh chemicals is also another reason.

Some cosmetics containing oil can also contribute to acne due to their pore-clogging effects. Water-based products are usually less harmful.

Certain studies have also indicated the acne-worsening effects of foods rich in carbohydrates. If you love your bagels, cakes, biscuits and more, it may be time to cut back.

Sweet food like chocolate in particular have also been found in relation to exacerbating acne symptoms. It is, however, not to be confused with greasy food, which has minimal effect on acne.

People may also attribute acne to stress, but it is not a direct cause of it, even though it can worsen the condition.

Medications like drugs that contain testosterone, androgens, corticosteroids and anabolic steroids can also aggravate acne.

Types of Acne

Acne can take a few different forms. There are a few types identified by their characteristics and severity:

· Whiteheads

· Blackheads

· Papules

· Pustule

· Nodules

· cysts

Acne Symptoms

How do you identify acne and distinguish it from other similar skin conditions like rosacea? There are certain telltale signs and symptoms as disclosed below for the different types.

Whiteheads are the whitish, closed plugged pores. Blackheads are the opposite as dark, open plugged pores. Both kinds are also known as occluded pores, or comedones.

Papules come next, with the look of small, red and sore bumps.

Pastules are commonly known as pimples, which are essentially papules with pus located at their tops. This happens when blocked hair follicles are infected by bacteria or become inflamed.

The bigger, harder and tender bulges below the skin’s surface are known as nodules.

Lastly, cysts are a result of extreme inflammation, characterised by unpleasant, painful bumps filled with pus below the skin’s surface. Prolonged, untreated cysts can eventually leave acne scars and depressions on the skin.

Clinical Treatment Methods

For many women, acne can take a long time to clear up. It requires much patience and diligence – you have to hold back the urge to scratch your pimples and apply medication as needed.

When home remedies don’t work and the problem persists or worsens, it is best to seek a doctor’s help.

· Topical Treatments

There is an array of effective topical creams and gels you can get for acne treatment. They usually have active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide that eliminates bacteria, azelaic acid that prevents oil eruptions, and tretinoin or retinoids that unclog blocked pores.

A dermatologist will typically prescribe gels or creams similar to over-the-counter medications, or antibiotics taken orally. Antibiotics reduce skin redness and get rid of excess bacteria.

For inflammatory acne treatment, dapsone is recommended.

Using both oral antibiotics and topical medications are good for reducing the likelihood of antibiotic resistance developing.

In cases of severe acne, isotretinoin is a potent drug used if other treatments do not work.

· Therapies

Patients can also opt for skin therapies either on a standalone basis or together with these medications. Examples of therapies are chemical peels, lasers, steroid injections and extractions.

1. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels use chemical solutions like salicylic and glycolic acids to treat acne as well as acne scars. Superficial peels are used for acne treatment by entering only the skin’s surface layer to remove cells located there.

Such peels also help lower oil gland secretions momentarily and are also anti-inflammatory. It is found to be more effective when used in conjunction with other treatments.

2. Laser Therapies

Laser and light therapies have also been helpful for acne treatment. Some varieties are photodynamic therapy, photopneumatic therapy and infrared light. The first treats serious acne like cysts, the second whiteheads, blackheads, some pimples, and the last only heals pimples.

3. Steroid Injections

This form of injection involves directly jabbing nodules and cysts with a steroid drug like cortisone. Doing so significantly diminishes inflammation and boosts the healing process. It is extremely useful for scar prevention.

4. Extractions

An extraction can help better a sudden acne breakout. Specialised and sterile tools are used to remove whiteheads and blackheads by expelling the fluids inside.

Take note that trending nonprescription acne products can magnify existing acne problems instead of helping. Do not confuse it with the itchiness, reddening or irritation you may experience from applying proper medication. Before starting on any medication, make sure that your doctor has seen and declared it fit for use.