Acne is a skin problem very common with teenagers, it can also affect some people during their adult life as well, most commonly women. On average acne can last for up to eight years if left untreated. It affects mainly the face, sometimes the back, shoulders and chest, causing different types of spots.
In general girls tend to develop acne at early teens, boys tend to start much later and by their early twenties the acne has settled in most people.
What causes acne?
The changes that take place around puberty can affect the skin causing acne. These changes are thought to be caused by the male hormone androgens.
Acne can appear when the sebaceous glands increase the production of sebum or grease.
Combination of blockage of the skin pores due to the increased quantity of sebum and accumulation of unshed cells on the skin surface.
As well as increased numbers of bacteria in the blocked pores and skin surface.
Type of Spots:
Blackheads or comedones – caused by the build up of dead skin cells, bacteria and grease blocking the pores. The dark colour of blackheads is caused by melanin (skin pigment) accumulation in the pores.
Whiteheads – These are skin coloured and can become inflamed and infected, changing into papules, pustules or cysts. The skin can turn red, inflamed and greasy because the material inside the pores cannot escape.
Red spots or papules – these are inflamed whiteheads, if it develops a head it is called pustules. The spot can be large or small depending on the extension of the inflammation the skin can become tender, lasting between 3 to 10 days, stubborn cysts can last for few months. Pustules can cysts sometimes can scar the skin in some people.
Some skin conditions can be mistaken for acne, such as acne rosacea, common in older people, affecting mainly the nose and cheeks, with lots of papules and pustules, but there are no blackheads. The skin tends react to heat, emotion, drinking alcohol or eating spicy food, becoming flushed and turning red.
Isolated spots can be common from time to time and can be mistaken for acne during teenage hood. Spots can also be related to some other infections, like impetigo or viruses, like shingles or chickenpox.
How to look after the skin with acne?
- Wash your skin at least twice daily, morning and evening, to unblock the pores and help prevent spots.
- Use an antiseptic or antibacterial cleanser or lotion to on the skin to remove grease and kill the bacteria on the skin.
- Apply topical treatments to kill bacteria, calm the skin and unblock pores.
- Don’t pick, squeeze or pop inflamed spots as it can actually worsen the condition by infecting the surrounding skin, it can also leave a permanent scar on the skin.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Types of treatment for acne:
For a mild acne condition the skin can be treated with topical creams, gel or liquid applied directly to the skin, more severe acne can be treated with oral tables.
Benzoyl peroxide is an example of topical cream used to treat acne, it works by peeling off the dead skin cells on the top layer of the skin, shedding blackheads and unblocking pores. It is also an effective antibacterial helping to stop spots from getting inflamed or infected.
Other topical treatments include salicylic acid, resorcinol and sulphur, these are abrasives, which also help to shed the top layer of the skin, and open blocked pores, products containing triclosan works by reducing the amount of bacteria on the skin’s surface.
Moderate acne can be treated with oral antibiotic tablets, as well as topical solutions. Female patients can be treated with hormonal treatment, using contraceptive pill, such as Dianette, helping to reduce the amount of grease produced by sebaceous gland in the skin.
Severe cases of acne can be treated effectively with oral tablets containing isotretinoin, derivative of vitamin A, such as Roaccutane or Accutane. There are also topic solutions, such as Isotrex or Isotrexin which also contain isotretinoin. Read more about acne treatment with Roaccunate.
Most treatments for acne need to the followed on for several months before an improvement is noticed. If the treatment is working some improvement can be expected after a couple of months, further improvement can be expected after that. It may take between four to eight months before a treatment is completed.
Acne can cause discomfort, anxiety and embarrassment, in some cases it can lead to depression, even if it is not severe, sometimes preventing people from going out and enjoy a normal social life. See your doctor at the first site of acne for an effective treatment and to prevent permanent scarring of the skin.