skin problems

acne

acne

what is acne? acne or acne vulgaris is a skin problem that occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog up your pores. acne is most commonly known or characterized by blackheads, blemishes, whiteheads, pimples, or zits and can be categorized into mild or severe acne.

mild forms of acne are classified by an appearance of several red spots or pimples. severe acne occurs when the face, neck, chest, and back are significantly covered by hundreds of pimples, or even appear on the skin as cysts, manifesting in big, solid, painful red lumps.

acne is very common among teens during their adolescent years although it is common to outgrow skin problem associated with acne post puberty. in some cases however, women who may not have experienced acne in their teen years may still experience acne as an adult, when breakouts occur most commonly before a menstrual period.

knowing how to tackle acne is beneficial to your overall wellness and may impact you physically, psychologically as well as emotionally. how you feel about your acne may not be related to its resulting appearance ie. how mild or severe it is. studies have shown that while some people with severe acne are not bothered by it, others may suffer from embarrassment or experience negative emotions despite the appearance of just a few pimples. the good news is that managing acne as well as the emotions related to it has never been more successful. there are many high quality and excellent treatments available that can help you get your acne under control.

types and causes of acne

what causes acne? acne is caused as a result of oil and dead skin cells that accumulate and clog the skin’s pores. when germs enter the pores, it results in swelling, redness, and pus. this forms what we know as acne. see a picture of how pimples form.

for the majority of people, acne begins during the teen years. this is due to hormonal changes that increase oil production in the skin once a young adolescent comes into puberty.

acne is also known to be genetic. if one of your parents has had severe acne, you are more likely to experience similar skin problem.

in addition, using oil-based skin products or cosmetics only make acne worse. to manage an onset of acne, be sure to use skin products that will not clog your pores such as products with “non-comedogenic” on the label.

symptoms of acne

symptoms of acne include whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. these can occur on the face, neck, shoulders, back, or chest. pimples that are large and deep are called cystic lesions and can be painful if they become infected. they can also lead to scarring of the skin.

types of acne

acne vulgaris or cystic acne

acne vulgaris (or cystic acne) is a common human skin disease, characterized by areas of skin with seborrhea (scaly red skin), comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules (pinheads), pustules (pimples), nodules (large papules) and possibly scarring. it mostly affects skin with the densest population of sebaceous follicles; these areas include the face, the upper part of the chest, and the back. severe acne is inflammatory, but acne can also manifest in non-inflammatory forms. the lesions are caused by changes in pilosebaceous units (structure consisting of hair, hair follicle, arrector pili muscle, and sebaceous gland) and changes that require androgen stimulation

grades of acne conditions

knowing the grade of your acne is an important step in treating acne. all acne grades require different treatment methods. understanding the grade of your acne can help you choose the most effective course of treatment and assist you in selecting the right products to treat your acne. it will also help you decide if your acne is suited to being treated at home, or if more severe, whether you should see your dermatologist.

grade i

grade i acne is the mildest form of acne. these are minor pimples that are usually small in appearance, surface only very occasionally, and found in small numbers (one or two). blackheads and milia will also be present, sometimes in great numbers, but there is no inflammation as a result of grade i acne.

grade i acne is commonly seen in early adolescence, especially in the nose and/or forehead. however, many adults also experience grade i acne as blackheads on the nose and forehead. milia is commonly found around the eye area and chin in this stage of acne.

this type of acne can be successfully treated at home using an over-the-counter product containing salicylic acid. results are generally seen very quickly. treating acne while it is still in its early stages helps prevent acne from progressing, especially in teens. grade i acne may progress to grade ii if left untreated.

grade ii

grade ii acne is considered moderate acne. blackheads and milia are present at this stage, generally in greater numbers. you will start seeing more papules and the formation of pustules in this stage as well. they will appear with greater frequency, and general breakout activity will become more obvious. slight inflammation of the skin is now apparent.

in teens, you may notice the acne progress from the nose and forehead to other areas of the face. acne may start to affect the chest and shoulders, with occasional breakouts on the back, especially in men. adult women may find greater breakout activity in the cheeks, chin, and jaw line area, especially just before and during their menstrual cycle.

like grade i acne, grade ii acne can still be treated at home, using over-the-counter products. in addition to a salicylic acid, a benzoyl peroxide lotion should be used daily to kill the bacteria that causes inflamed breakouts. however, if your acne does not significantly improve after several weeks of home treatment, it is time to see a dermatologist. grade ii acne may progress to grade iii acne, especially if pimples are habitually picked at or squeezed.

grade iii

this type of acne is considered a severe form of acne. the main difference between grade ii acne and grade iii acne is the amount of inflammation present. the skin is now visibly reddened and inflamed. papules and pustules have developed in greater numbers and nodules are present.

grade iii acne is usually found in other areas of the body, such as the neck, chest, shoulders, and/or upper back, as well as the face. the chances of scarring are increased as the infection spreads and becomes deeper.

oral medication should be taken to treat acne at this stage. grade iii acne is usually treated with both topical and systemic therapies available only by prescription. left untreated, grade iii acne may progress to grade iv acne.

grade iv

as the most serious form of acne, grade iv acne is often referred to as nodulocystic or cystic acne. the skin will display numerous papules, pustules, and nodules, in addition to cysts. there is a pronounced amount of inflammation and the breakouts are severe. cystic acne is very painful.

acne of this severity usually extends beyond the face, and may affect the entire back, chest, shoulders and upper arms. the infection is deep and widespread. nearly all cystic acne sufferers develop scarring.

grade IV acne must be treated by a dermatologist. It tends to be hard to control, and almost always requires powerful systemic medications in addition to topicaltreatments.

acne treatments

acne can be treated in the following ways depending on how mild or severe it is.

home treatments

to help control acne, keeping your skin clean is of vital importance. when buying skin care products, avoiding products that will clog your pores is the first step. look for products that say “noncomedogenic” on the label. wash your skin once or twice a day with a gentle soap or acne wash. try not to scrub or pick at your pimples. these can make them worse and scarring may occur as a result.

if you have just a few pimples to treat, you can get an acne cream without a prescription. look for one that has benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. this works best when used according to the application instructions on the packaging.

treating acne takes time and it can take as long or as short a time to get acne under control. however, if you find that your acne condition has still not improved by using nonprescription products after 3 months, it’s time to visit your doctor! a prescription gel or skin cream may be all you need!