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Acne
Acne is not just a problem for teenagers, it can affect people from ages 10 through to 40. Acne can be upsetting and annoyingly persistent. Acne lesions heal slowly, and when one begins to resolve, others seem to arrive.
Hormones play a role in the development of acne, making the condition most common in teenagers. Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional suffering and lead to scarring of the skin.
Symptoms Acne typically appears on the face, neck, chest, back and shoulders, which are the areas of the skin with the largest number of functional oil glands. Acne can appear on the skin as any of the following: - Comedones (whiteheads and blackheads) are created when the openings of hair follicles become blocked with oil secretions, dead skin cells and occasionally bacteria
- Papules are small raised bumps that indicate inflammation or infection in the hair follicles. Papules may be red and sore
- Pustules are red, painful bumps with white pus at their tips
- Nodules are large, solid, painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin. They're formed by the build up of secretions deep within hair follicles
- Cysts are painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin. These boil-like infections can cause scarring
Causes No one factor causes acne, in fact, three factors contribute to the formation of acne:- Overproduction of oil (sebum)
- Cells close to the surface block the openings of the sebaceous glands and cause a build up of oil beneath the surface
- Bacteria then begin to multiply and cause the surrounding tissue to become inflamed
This inflammation may cause the follicle wall to bulge and produce a whitehead or, it may open to the surface and darken, causing a blackhead. Pimples are raised red spots with a white centre that develop when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected. Blockages and inflammation that develop deep inside hair follicles produce lumps beneath the surface of your skin called cysts.
It's not known what causes the increased production of sebum that leads to acne but a number of factors — including hormones, bacteria, certain medications and heredity — play a role.
The following factors don't usually cause acne, at least not by themselves:- Heredity. Except with very severe acne, most people do not have the exact acne problem that their parents had
- Food. Contrary to popular belief, greasy foods and chocolate don't cause acne or make it worse
- Dirt. Acne is not caused by dirt. Scrubbing the skin too hard or cleansing with harsh soaps or chemicals can irritate the skin and make acne worse
Risk Factors Hormonal changes in your body can provoke or aggravate acne. Such changes are common in:- Teenagers, both in boys and girls
- Women and girls, two to seven days before their periods
- Pregnant women
- People using certain medications, including cortisone
Other risk factors include:- Direct skin exposure to greasy or oily substances, or to certain cosmetics applied directly to the skin
- A family history of very severe acne
- Friction or pressure on your skin caused by various items, such as telephones or cell phones, helmets, tight collars and backpacks
- Occupations, in some jobs exposure to industrial products may cause acne
What Can You Do About Acne On Your Own? Focus on:
1. Unclogging pores
2. Killing bacteria
3. Minimising oil
Self care techniques:- Wash problem areas with a gentle cleanser
- Try over-the-counter acne lotions to dry excess oil and promote peeling.
- Avoid irritants
- Watch what touches your face
- Don't pick or squeeze blemishes
Treatments and Drugs Acne treatments work by reducing oil production, speeding up skin cell turnover, fighting bacterial infection, reducing the inflammation or doing all four. With most prescription acne treatments, you may not see results for four to eight weeks, and your skin may get worse before it gets better.
Your doctor or dermatologist may recommend a prescription medication you apply to your skin (topical medication) or take by mouth (oral medication). Oral prescription medications for acne should not be used during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.
Types of acne treatments include: - Over-the-counter topical treatments. Acne lotions may dry up the oil, kill bacteria and promote removal of dead skin cells. Over-the-counter (OTC) lotions are generally mild and contain products that can be helpful for very mild acne
- Topical treatments available by prescription. If your acne doesn't respond to OTC treatments, you may want to see a doctor or dermatologist. A number of topical antibiotics are available. They work by killing excess skin bacteria
- Antibiotics. For moderate to severe acne, you may need a short course of prescription oral antibiotics to reduce bacteria and fight inflammation
- Isotretinoin. For deep cysts, antibiotics may not be enough. Isotretinoin is a powerful medication available for scarring cystic acne or acne that doesn't respond to other treatments. This medicine is reserved for the most severe forms of acne. It's very effective, but people who take it need close monitoring by a dermatologist because of the possibility of severe side effects. Isotretinoin is associated with severe birth defects, so it can't be safely taken by pregnant women or women who may become pregnant during the course of treatment or within several weeks of concluding treatment. Isotretinoin commonly causes side effects such as dry eyes, mouth, lips, nose and skin, as well as itching, nosebleeds, muscle aches, sun sensitivity and poor night vision. The drug may also increase the levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood and may increase liver enzyme levels
- Oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptives can improve acne in women
- Laser and light therapy. Laser- and light-based therapies reach the deeper layers of skin without harming the skin's surface. Laser treatment is thought to damage the oil (sebaceous) glands, causing them to produce less oil. Light therapy targets the bacteria that cause acne inflammation. These therapies can also improve skin texture and lessen the appearance of scars
Treating acne requires patience and perseverance. Any treatment may take two to three months to start working, it is important to give each treatment enough time to start working before giving up on it and moving to other methods.
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